II. The next thing I am to consider , is the Necessity of Marriage for the Propagation of the World , and the good of Mankind . Indeed , if God had left Man as undetermined , as he has done other Creatures , which multiply their several kinds , then there would have been no such thing as Marriage ; but having not only framed Man , and made him fit to propagate his Species by multiplying Individuals ; but likewise determined him as to the Manner and Lawfulness of it by a Solemn Matrimonial Contract , which he has done in no other Species besides that I know of ; it must needs be a Sin in any to break the Rules of this Determination ; because it is an open Violation of a perpetual Law , for which an Account must be given in the Day of Judgement . And hence is it , that if Men must contiune to the World's end , 't is necessary that People marry ; otherwise they must Sin against God , and their Off-spring will be unlawful . This I would not have so understood , as that there is a necessity upon every one in particular to Marry ; but that Mankind ought not , and therefore cannot lawfully be perpetuated in the World , save only by Wedlock . I know the * Jewish Canonists and Civilians affirm , That all Men are obliged to Marry ; and they ground their Opinion on these words of Scripture ; † Be fruitful and multiply and replenish the Earth , and subdue it . This is the first Commandment according to their Account ; and is by them from the words of the Text , called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , i. e. Lex ad procreationem & multiplicationem liberorum obligans . But I think they mistake the Sense of the Text , which in my Opinion is not so to be interpreted , as if it laid an Injunction upon every one to Marry ; for they themselves exempt from it , * some the whole Female Sex † , others some Men either intirely , or till later years than the Obligation of this Law according to their Decisions generally commenceth . And * again , the same words are spoken of other Creatures which are capable of no such positive Law. And therefore I judge they denote , by a figurative Manner of Speech , the inward Disposition , Frame , and Nature of Mankind for multiplying themselves and peopling the World. God hath so made and ordained Man , that he is naturally apt and prone to propagate his own kind . God ( says Moses ) created Man in his own image , in the image of God created he him ; male and female created he them . And God blessed them , and God said unto them , be fruitful and multiply and replenish the earth , and subdue it . Where the Hebrew word , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , which we translate , and he blessed them , seems to intimate Gods furnishing Man in his very Nature with powers and willingness to answer the end of his Creation , particularly that of perpetuating his Posterity to the end of the World. This is an Observation ( * tho borrowed from another ) of a † Learned and Late Critick upon the 22 Verse of this Chapter : Whom with * another , that is ashamed very often of his Name , and therefore * goes under many other : I may justy call Audacious and Ungodly Dealers with the Word of God. For they appear to me to labour on purpose by their Criticisms , of which to unbridled Wits , there will never be an end , to undermine the Scriptures ( as others do by their Whimsical Notions of Modish Philosophy ) and to render them altogether useless for the ends of Piety and Religion , which God designed them for . May he in his due time by ways best known to himself , and agreeable to his Wisdom , blast such attempts upon his Sacred Oracles , which these men look on as a good old Book they may Criticize upon , and not as it is the Rule of our Faith and Manners . In short then , the forementioned Text containing a Benediction founded in the Nature and Faculties of Men , the use and exercise of them ought to be , and are , ( as I have shewed before ) regulated by the Law of God , as all our Powers governable by Reason must be .

And therefore , as God has ordained Marriage as the only means for the Continuation of Men in the World , none can violate this method without sinning most heinously against him . For whoever is such a Transgressor , turns the Sin of his Soul into the Fruit of his Body ; makes himself polluted and brutish ; propagates the Seed of Baseness , Reproach , and Corruption ; lets his Lusts and Vile Affections hurry him on to break the Laws of God , and he kindles and fans that burning Flame which will destroy him in the lowest Hell. God has restrained all licentiousness by a Maraiage Institution ; and why then should men transgress this Law which is so Sacred and Perpetual ; hardly any Sins are more provoking than Adultery , Fornication , and Uncleanness : God will avenge such severely , he will punish them dreadfully , if we may believe his written Word ; and therefore those that are guilty of them , cannot escape Everlasting Fire . Now , from all this , you see what an Honour is reflected on Marriage from God ; it makes the Bed undefiled ; legitimates the World ; makes Parents honest , credits their Off-spring , and derives a Blessing from Heaven . In fine , it gives Being , Honour , Priviledges , Rights , and Blessings to Children , amongst all Civilized Nations .

III. Having thus far laid before you the Original and Necessity of a Married Life , both of which proceed from the Natural and Positive Law of God , I shall now in the next place consider the Blessings and Consolations of it : For it is a State which has its present Comforts ; and in the first Designation thereof , was ordained for the attainment of them ; and for this reason neither Sex can complain that God has imposed a burthen too heavy for them to bear . For ,

1. First , Moses says , That after Man was created , The Lord God said it is not good that man should be alone ; I will make him an help meet for him . It is not good ; that is to say , it is no way convenient or comfortable , or agreeable to him or his condition in the world , and therefore he created * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Help meet for him , as we interpret it : But the words are variously translated by others , viz. Anxilium simile sibi , in the vulgar Latin , followed by the Syriack Version , a Help like unto himself , i. e. one of the same Nature and Constitution with him ; one of equal Tenderness and Regard for him as he has for himself , or one created on purpose to perform all those kind offices of assistance which his condition in the world requires from her ; in the Septuagint , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , an Assistant according to himself ; that is , according to his * Nature and wants and wishes . In the Chaldaick Version of Onkelos , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the Samaritan , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Help , a Support , a Prop , as before him ; and in the Arabick , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of the same meaning ; so that in the sense of these three Translations , wherein the Grammatical signification of the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is expressed , and therefore put in the Margin of our English Bibles , the whole Sentence implies , that God created * one that would be a present and perpetual aid to man ; one that should be always at hand , in his power , and helpful . The Jerusalem Targum is somewhat obsure and paraphrastical , I will make him 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Yoke-fellow that may go out with him . * I shall pass by those extravagant Interpretations some Jews make on purpose to countenance their Opinions concerning Divorce , and shall content my self with * that Gloss of a Rabbi as I find him cited , because the Jews generally agree in it , I will make an help 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which shall be always with him , or at hand , to minister unto , and to observe him . But what needs Criticism ? the best way to interpret words is to confider things , and to direct the meaning of those to the nature and use of these ; and therefore by the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 we may understand , that the Woman was created , to perform all the Duties incumbent upon her towards the Man , not excluding his towards her ; and consequently she was not ordained or given to him for the Gratification of his Lust , but for the Comfort of his Life . And from hence you see for what God made such a Fellow creature ; It was not good for Man to be single and solitary , he wanted one to assist and cherish him ; to be his individual Companion ; a Constant , a most Intimate Familiar , and a Bosom-Friend .

We of all God's Creatures are born for Society ; of which Husband and Wife are the first two , a whole Family the next part , a City the third , and so on till you come to the last Complement or Combination of it : And as all Society is appointed for the good of every Individual of it , so is that of Man and Wife by the express Command and Counsel of God who made them . Adam in a Reply to God , calls her , The woman whom tho gavest to be with me . The Hebrew Words , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , The woman which thou gavest with me * , i. e. to stand by me ( as some seem to suppose ) are thus rendred by the Samaritan Version † , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , The woman which thou broughtest to me , viz. which thou didst betroth unto me , give to be my Spouse or Wife , and join to me in the strictest Bond of Union . So that from the sense of these two places , we fully learn what end God aimed at in the Creation of the Woman , and the Donation of her to the Man ; namely , That they should mutually assist each other , and be one and the same Person almost in every Condition of Life . They were to communicate in each others Joys , alleviate their Griefs , assist by their Prudence their Labour and Industry , and earnestly promote the welfare of one another . For thus , and thus only could the necessities of their Nature be supplied , and their Infirmities supported , which otherwise each of them must inevitably have laboured under if remaining Single . And if we will believe Inspired Writers , the Woman is not only the Comfort , but the Ornament of a Man's Life . A vertuous woman is a crown to her husband , Her price is for above rubies ; the heart of her husband doth fully trust in her ; she will do him good , and not evil , all the days of her Life . To which I will add these words of Syracides , He that getteth a Wife , beginneth a Possession ; a help like unto himself , and 4 Pillar of rest .

2. That I may further shew how joyous and comfortable such a Life as this is ; it may be sufficient to observe , That Love which sweetens every thing we desire , or take in hand in this World , ought in Marriage to have a ruling share , or at least a very large Proportion . For it is not only that thing which may , but which must be the Bond of Matrimonial Union . 'T is this which must move the Heart and Affections of each Party , determine the Choice , gain Consent , ( * which is the most Essential Part of the Espousals ) and which will cast a perpetual Joy and Delight upon the Happy Pair . Every one that considers the State of Humane Nature , must know what an absolute Command this Passion has in the Bravest and Wisest Hearts . 'T is this that makes Men ruin themselves , or promote their own welfare ; for we often love what we should hate , and we hate what we should love ; and from hence is it that we are made Miserable . In truth , it requires great Art , much Watchfulness , strength of Judgment , a controuling Sway over our selves , a profound Fear of God , and Sense of Religion , to regulate this Passion , and to keep it upon right Objects , and within bounds of Moderation : But I may say , That in the Married State it can hardly have exceedings : the dearer the Affection , the better it is ; and the more intire , the more pure , the more lasting that love is , 't is the more commendable , and makes Life more comfortable . Husbands ( says St. Paul ) love your wives , for this cements them together into One ; it mingles their Affections , gives them one Heart and one Soul ; and whatever makes a Separation , is either the bitterness of Death , or the more tormenting Flames of Contention . He knows not what Love is , nor the Joys that follow it , i. e. he has nothing at all of Humanity in him , who perceives not in his mind the many Consolations which must arise from such united Hearts , from such a redoubled force of Kindness and Affection .

3. Further , Thirdly , That which may recommend a Married Life to all but Prophane and Lascivious Wretches is this , that it engages Men to Industry and Labour , to Honesty and Providence , and to be Religions and Useful in the World. For what are all Men , and the Riches of the World , but so many Monuments of Marriage Blessings ? What is it else that maintains the Port , and carries on the business of Humane Society ? The Being and Well-being of Families and Kingdoms ; nay , the Cloister it self which contends for Pre-eminence , does wholly depend upon it ; dares therefore any be so bold and impudent as to think slightly , or talk scurriously of that which has produced so much good in the World ! And of which he himself , unless he be Bise and Ignominious , is a Fruit and Production .

4. And lastly , When I have named Children , I have said enough upon this Head of my Discourse . For these are the greatest Worldly Blessings that God can bestow upon any ; they are the Repositories where Parents bestow the Fruits of their Industry and Labours ; they are the Darlings of their Affections , which ill Behaviour and Undutifulness can never wholly extinguish . Experience teaches us , and the young Part of Mankind may be glad of it , that nothing excites greater Love or Care in Parents than Children ; for which this reason may be given , that Nature , whose Inclinations and Propensions are unconquerable , has implanted in them a deep Tenderness and Love for their Off-spring : whereas God knows they have too too often very little cause to be kind and loving . Oh! how do they rejoyce at the blooming Hopes and Welfare of their Children ! They think no Pains too much , no Labour too tedious for a happy Provision for them : And why should not Fathers do so ? for their Children are nothing less than themselves multiplied , their Names and Beings in a manner made Immortal in the World , or continued down from Generation to Generation . This we find reckoned a Blessing from God on the Pious Man.

Blessed is every one that feareth the Lord : that walketh in his ways . For thou shalt eat the labour of thy hands : happy shalt thou be , and it shall be well with thee . Thy wife shall be as a fruitful vine by the sides of thine house : thy children like olive-plants round about thy table . They shall see thy childrens children . Again , Children are an heritage of the Lord : and the fruit of the womb is his reward . As arrows are in the hand of mighty men : so are children of the youth . Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them : they shall not be ashamed , but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate .

IV. The last thing I proposed , was to consider Marriage as an Antidote against the most notorio●s and crying Sins ; and now what are these ? Even the vilest that man can be guilty of , and which God has severely threatened and censured in his Revealed Word . They are such as neither Sex can commit till they have cast off all Modesty , all Manners , and all Fear of God. The very naming of them ( and for brevity and haste , I will but just name them ) is enough to make all Men detest and dread them ; they are Adultery , Fornication , and Acts of Uneleanness ; the horrid and damning Nature of which may be manifested , if we consider ,