THE Wedding Garment , &c. Mark 10.39 .

And they twain shall be one Flesh : so then they are no more twain , but one Flesh . Whom therefore God hath joyned together , let no Man put asunder .

THE Occasion of these Words of ou● blessed Saviour , may be taken from that Question which the Pharisees asked him ; Ver . 1.2 . but it was only to tempt him , saying , Is it lawful for a Ma● to put away his Wife ? Jesus answered him Ver. 3. What did Moses command you . An● they said , Ver . 4. Moses suffered to write a Bi● of Divorsement , and to put her away . An● Jesus answered and said unto them , Verse 〈◇〉 that for the hardness of your Hearts he wr● you this Precept : But from the beginning of th● Creation God made them Male and Femal● Ver . 6. And then he adds here in my Tex● For this Cause shall a Man leave Father and Mather , and cleave to his Wife : And they main shall Be one Flesh : so then they are no more twain , out one Flesh . Wh●m therefore God hath joyned together , let no Man put asunder . I might insist upon all these three Verses , but the main scope and drift of my Discourse shall be only on the middle most of them , which is this .

And they twain shall be one Flesh : so then they art no more twain , but one Flesh . From this Text of Scripture , we may learn what Unity there is betwixt Man and Wise , when they are joyned together in Marriage . And they twain shall be one Flesh : so then they are no more twain , but one Flesh . Whom therefore God hath joyned together , let no man put asunder .

The Doctrine which I shall observe from these Words , is thi .

That Man and Wise being joined together by God in the holy State of Matrimony , they cannot , must not , and ought not to be parted . For this Cause , saith Christ , shall a man leave Father and Mother , and cleave to his Wife And they twain shall be one Flesh : so then they are no more twain , but one Flesh . Whom there God hath joined together , let no man put asunder .

Now in my farther prosecution of this subject , I shall proceed after this Order .

First , I shall shew you who they be that are joyned together by God .

Secondly , That those that are thus joined by God , they must not , nor ought not to be parted .

Thirdly , The reason why they cannot , and must not be parted , is because of the near Union that is betwixt them , for they twain are one Flesh .

And lastly , I shall make some use of it by way of Application .

I begin with the first .

Who they are that are joined together by Good ; they are such as joyn together in Marriage , according to God's own Word ; that is , for those Causes for which Matrimony was at first ordained : I will name these three .

First , It was ordained for the Propagation of Children , that they might be brought up in the fear of the Lord . God hath ordained Marriage for the Increase of Mankind , that his Name might be glorified in them , and by them .

Secondly , God hath ordained Marriage for the preventing of Sin , and the avoiding of Fornication ; this is one chief end why Matrimony was ordained . Now mark , the Words of St. Paul , where he treats concerning Marriage , 1 Cor . 7.1 , 2. Now concerning the things whereof ye wrote unto me : It is good for a Man not to touch a Woman . But neveetheless , saith he , to avoid Fornication , let every Man have his own Wife , and let every Woman have her own Husband . It is good for a man not to touch a woman , because thereby the Devil is apt to be tempting such to sin . But yet when a man hath not the Gift of Continency ; when he cannot contain so as to keep his Body pure and undefiled , then let him marry , nay upon that Case , he must and ought to marry , for he sins if he doth not marry ; nay , in not marrying , he commits a double sin : 1. the sin of Fornication or Adultery , which he runs himself into , having not the Gift of Continency . Secondly , He sins , in that he lives in a neglect of that holy Ordinance which God hath ordained and instituted for the preventing of sin ; indeed Matrimony is a thing in it self indifferent , for a man sins not , let him marry or not marry ; for saith the Apostle , Ver . 27. Art thou loosed from a Wife , seek not a Wife ? Art thou bound to a Wife , seek not to be loosed ? St. Paul speaks there of indifferency , when a Man hath Power over his Will , and hath a Gift to contain , and keep his Body the pure and clean Temple of the Holy Ghost ; nay , in that , a single Life of the two is the best ; for , saith he , Ver . 38. He that giveth her in Marriage doth well ; but he that giveth her not in Marriage doth better . And the Apostle wisheth that all were , even as he is , that is single : And the reason he gives , is this , That such shall have trouble in the Plesh , Ver . 28. for Ver 32. He would have them without Carefulness ; for he that is unmarried careth for the things of the Lord , how bemay please the Lord : But he that is married , careth for the things of the World , how he may please his Wife . So in that respect an unmarried Life is the best of the two : But yet saith the same Apostle , If he be married he hath not sinned , not yet doth he sin if he marries not . But yet when a Man hath not the Gift of Continency , when a Man and a Virgin burns in Lust one towards another , and yet doth not marry , they sin double ; for besides the sin of Fornication , they sin against that holy Ordinance which God hath ordained for the preventing of sin . You may see it plain in respect of other sins , as Drunkenness and Murder : suppose God hath given Means for the preventing of these sins , though the Means are indifferent in themselves , they may be used , and they may not ; but yet when a Man through Temptation , runs into these sins of Drunkenness and Murder , and may use Means to prevent it , he sins not only in the groser act , but he sins in not using the Means to prevent it . So it is in respect of Marriage ; the Apostle having told them , Ver . 8. that it is good for them if they continue even as he is : But saith he , Ver . 9 : If they cannot contain , let them marry : for it is better to marry than to burn : That is , to burn in Lust . Mark another Scripture , which I shall hint unto you , and that is in Heb . 13.4 . Marriage is honourable in all things , and the Bed undefiled ; but Whoremongers and Adulterers God will Judge . Mark it , Marriage is honourable , the Marriage-Bed is honourable , and Children are a great Blessing ; but as for Whoremongers and Adulterers , they shall not escape God's just Judgments . That 's the second Cause why Matrimony was ordained ; it was ordained for the preventing of Sin , and the avoiding of Fornication .

Thirdly ; It was ordained for the mutual Society , Help and Comfort that Man and Wife ought to have of one another , both in Prosperity and in Adversity . Now this is the first Cause that the Scripture mentions , why Matrimony was ordained , it is Gen. 2.18 . God said , it is not meet that the Man should be alone , but that there should be an Help-meet for him : So the Lord God caused a deep Sleep to fall upon Adam , and he slept , and the Lord opened his Side , and took out a Rib , and of that Rib made he Woman . It is true , Adam had all sorts of living Creatures with him to keep him company , as all sorts of Beast and Fowls , and Fishes ; but none of these was fitting to be a Help meet for him ; therefore it pleased God to make one of his Likeness to be a Help and Comfort to him ; and from this we must learn , that when a Man and a Woman is joined together in Marriage , they ought to be a Help and Comfort to one another as long as they live together . Thus I have finished the first Particular , and shewed you who they are that are joined together by God ; that is , those that join together according to God's Laws ; or when they use Matrimony , for those three Causes for which it was ordained : Which is , 1. For the Propagation of Children . 2. For the avoiding of Fornication . 3. To be a Help and Comfort one to another .

Secondly , My second Particular is this , That those whom God hath thus joined together , must not , nor ought not to be parted . There are but two Causes in the Scripture for Man and Wife lawfully to part . The 1. is mentioned by the Apostle , 1 Cor . 7.15 . When Man and Wife can by no possible means agree , but live in continual Strife and Debate , and in danger of one another Lives , then they , if they will , may part asunder : For , saith the Apostle , a Brother or a Sister is not under Bondage in such Cases ; but God hath called us unto Peace .

2. The other Cause is mentioned by our blessed Saviour ; Mat . 5.32 . for the Cause of Fornication ; when he tells the Pharisees , That whoso will put away his Wife , let him write her a Bill of Divorcement . But I say unto you , whosoever putteth away his Wife , save for the cause of Fornication , causeth her to commit Adultery . This teacheth us , that for the cause of Fornication a Man may lawfully put away his Wife : And the reason of it is very good , for as long as Man and Wife faithfully keep the Marriage-Bed , and remain true and constant one to the other , he to her , and she to him , they two remain one Flesh ; but when she once forsakes his Bed , and goes after other Lovers , then the Union is broken , they are no longer one Flesh , and therefore may lawfully be parted ; but for no other Cause than this may a Man put away his Wife : Whom therefore God hath joined together , let no man put asunder . Consider this , that Man and Woman ought not to be parted ; not only after they are joined in Marriage , but before , even as soon as the Contract is made betwixt them . For consider , when once a Man and his Virgin hath made a Contract and Bargain one with another , in the Presence of God , to remain for ever true and constant one to another , I tell you , they are as truly Man and Wife as if they were never so much married ; for publick Matrimony was ordained by Law , only to confirm the Contract before Men , which they have made in the sight of God : And upon this account the publick use of Matrimony is very necessary , because , if they are not married according to the Laws of the Church of England , then they might join themselves together by way of Contract , and then go off , and prove fasse one to another , and the Laws of Man never reach them : for man cannot have any assurance that such are joined together by way of Contract , until it is confirmed by Marriage . But let such consider , that when once the Contract and Promise is made betwixt them , they twain immediately become one Flesh , they are streight Man and Wise together ; and though they are not publickly married as yet , yet let them know , they cannot lawfully be parted , though the Laws of Man does not bind them from parting , yet the Laws of God doth ; for God , who seeth and knows all things , takes Notes of what passes betwixt them ; and therefore , though they do escape Mans Laws , yet they shall not escape the just Judgment of God . That Example is most dreadful , of a Maid , who made a Contract and Promise with one whose Name was Bateman , it was so firm , that there passed a piece of Gold betwixt them to confirm it , and then after all , she unfaithfully left him , and went and was married to another ; but in so doing , she ruined him , and brought God's dreadful Judgments upon her self . And some Parents there are , who go about to hinder their Childrens Marriage , when the Knot of Love and Unity is past between them , and by that means they bring them to Ruine . Thus we see , that when once Man and Woman is joined together , and become one Flesh , they cannot lawfully be parted , For whom God hath joined together , let no Man put asunder . Thus for the second Particular , That those whom God hath joined together , they cannot , must not , and ought not to be parted .

Thirdly , A ●●●rd thing considerable in the Text , is the reason why they that are joined by God cannot be parted ; and that is because of the near Union that is betwixt them ; They twain are one Flesh , so then they are no more twain , but one Flesh . There was a near Union betwixt Adam and his Wife , because she was made out of him ; For the Lord God caused a deep Sleep to fall upon Adam , and then he opened his Side , and took out a Rib , and closed up the Flesh instead thereof ; and of that Rib he made Eve his Wife , and by that means they became one Flesh , and as near a Union there is betwixt Man and Wife that is joined together in Marriage : therefore for this Cause , saith Almighty God , Gen. 2.21 . shall a Man leave Father and Mother , and cleave to has Wife : And they twain shall be one Flesh . Compared with Mark 10.7 . Mat , 19.6 . Eph. 5.31 . Now the Unity between Man and Wife may be considered in these Three Respects .

1. In respect of the Contract and Promise that is made betwixt them , to be true and faithful one to the other , and to forsake all others , and keep together as long as Life shall last . Now in this respect they become one Flesh ; for when once they break their Marriage Covenant in forsaking the Marriage-Bed , and going after Harlots , then their Union is broken , they are no longer one Flesh .

2. Man and Wife being joined together in Marriage , become one , in respect also of the near Relation that is betwixt them : for when once a Man and a Woman is joined together in Wedlock , then whosoever is related to one , becomes also related to the other ; as in particular , his Father becomes her Father , his Mother becomes her Mother , his Brethren her Brethren , his Sisters her Sisters ; his Children which he had before they came together , now in respect of their Union , they become her Children also .

Thirdly and lastly , Man and Woman being joined together in Marriage , become one also , in respect of the Substance and earthly Endowments : His House becomes hers , his Land hers , his Money hers , and her House , and Land , and Money is also hers ; so that whatsoever is his , is also hers , and whatsoever is hers , is also his ; and whosoever is related to the one , is also related to the other . Now in all these Respects , Man and Woman being joined together are one . Now consider , that whosoever you be that are not only married , but are already entered into a Covenent and Contract one with another , your Relation is so near that you cannot lawfully be parted . And so I have gone through these three particular Branches of the Text : 1. Who they are that are joined by God . 2. They that are thus joined by God , cannot , nor ought not to be parted . 3. The Reason why they ought not to be parted , is because they are one Flesh : For they twain are one Flesh ; so then they are no more twain , but one Flesh . Whom therefore God hath joined together , let no man put asunder . Thus much for the doctrinal Part .

The APPLICATION .

THE first and main Use that I shall make of this Point , shall be of Exhortation . 1. I exhort you especially , you that are newly entred into the holy State of Matrimony , that you would live together , as becomes those that are joined by God in that holy State , in the performing of those Duties which God hath required of one to the other : for as there are several Duties which Parents and Children , Masters and Servants owe one to the other : so there are several Duties which Husbands and Wives owe one to the other . Now there are some Duties which Husbands o●e unto their Wives , and also there are some Duties which Wives owe unto their Husbands : I shall but just name them .

1. There are some Duties which Husbands owe unto their Wives : 1. Is endearing Love , like unto the Love of Christ unto his Church , as you are commanded , Eph. 5.25 . Husbands love your Wives , even as Christ loved his Church , and gave himself for it : not giving them bitter Speeches , reviling them , and railing at them for their good Counsel ; but let your Speeches and Behaviour toward her , be sweet , meek and loving , Gal. 3.19 Husbands love your Wives , and be not bitter against them .

2. Live with your Wives , and do not depart from them : 1 Pet . 3.7 . Husbands , dwell with them according to knowledge . So , Prov. 5.18 , 19. Rejoyce with the Wife of thy youth : Let her be as the loving Hind , and pleasant Roe ; let her Breast satisfie thee at all times , and be thou ravished always with her Love .

3. They ought to do their Endeavour , as far as they are able , to provide for their Wives Food and Raiment , and to nourish and cherish the was their own Bodies : Eph. 5.28 , 29. So ought Men to love their Wives as their 〈◇〉 Bodies ; for he that loveth his Wife , loveth himself for no man ever yet hateth his own Flesh , but nourisheth it , and cherisheth it .

4. Another Duty which Husbands owe unto their Wives , is Faithfulness to the Bed , in keeping their Marriage Covenant , in cleaving to none but to their Wives , Hos . 3.3 .

5. Protection of them from Wrongs , and covering their Infirmities , as David defended his two Wives , 1 Sam . 30.18 . Also care to please them in all lawful things .

Sixthly , and lastly , A last Duty which I shall mention , that Husbands owe to their Wives , is to pray with them , and for them , to perform Family Duties with them every Night and Morning , in Reading and Praying .

Beloved Friends , if you are entered now into the holy State of Matrimony , and are joined to a Wife , O be you careful to help her in the way to Heaven ! If she be ignorant , instruct her in the ways of God , which will make for her everlasting Peace ; and timely admonish her of such sins as you know her to be guilty of , and exhort her to Repentance . And do you also encourage her in the way of well doing .

Friends , If you meeting here in the State of Wedlock will but be an occasion of your meeting together in Heaven . O it is then a happy Meeting , indeed ! O let it be your care to make it so ! Will it not be a joyful thing for you and your Wife to meet at last in Heaven ? O now you have a happy Opportunity to help one another in the way thither , 1 Pet . 3.7 . Husbands , dwell with them according to knowledge , as being Heirs together of the Grace of Life , that your Prayers be not hindered .

But as there are Duties which Husbands owe to their Wives , so , 2. There are some Duties which Wives owe unto their Husbands . I shall but just name them .

The First , Is to love them above all others in the World : Wives are commanded to love their Husbands , Tit . 2.4 .

2. To be faithful to their Husbands , in reference to their Marriage Covenant , to their Estate , or to any Secret their Husbands intrusts them with , 1 Tim 3.11 . Even so must the Wives be , sober , grave and faithful in all things .

3. Wives owe to their Husbands Reverence , Eph. 5.33 . Let the Wife see that she reverence her Husband .

4. Wives must be subject to their Husbands in all lawful things , as unto Christ , Eph. 5.22.24 . Wives , submit your selves unto your own Husbands , as unto the Lord . So Ver . 24. As the Church is subject unto Christ , so let the Wives be unto their own Husband , in all things .

5. Another Duty , is Carefulness to please their Husbands , suiting themselves to their Dispositions .

6. To help her Husband to provide for their Family . Now this is a Character which Solomon gives of a good Wife , Prov. 31.27 . She looketh well to the ways of her Houshold , and eateth not the Bread of Idleness .

Sevently and lastly , A last Duty which Wives owe to their Husbands , is to give ear to their godly Counsels and Admonitions , to reprove and admonish them of their wicked Vices , to teach them the ways of God , if they are ignorant ; to exhort them to repent , to encourage them in well-doing , and help them in their way to Heaven , and to pray for them . This is a godly Counsel which St. Peter gives to Wives , 1 Pet . 3.1 , 2. Ye Wives , be in subjection to your own Husbands , that if any obey not the Word , they also may without the Word be won by the Conversation of the Wife : Whilst they behold chast Conversation coupled with Fear . These are those Duties which Husbands and Wives owe one to another . And that shall suffice for my first Use , which is of Exhortation .

I will make but one Use more , and that shall be of Instruction . Now from this Subject , concerning the Union betwixt Man and Wife , we may learn these two things .

1. The Union betwixt Christ and his Church , whereof every Saint is a Member ; for , as saith the Apostle , Ephes . 5. As the Husband is the Head of the Wife , even so Christ is the Head of the Church . Therefore he exhorts Men to love their Wives , even as Christ loved the Church , and gave himself for it ; the Church calls Christ her Husband , and Christ calls her his Spouse . Now in this respect St. Paul quotes the Words of our blessed Saviour , in the Words before my Text , Eph. 5.31 . For this Cause shall a Man leave Father and Mother , and be joyned to his Wife , and they twain shall be one Flesh . But then afterwards the Apostle calls it a Mystery , and then shews them his meaning , Ver . 33. that he speaks concerning Christ and his Church , for as it is in regard of Man and Wife , before a Man takes her to be his Wife , he is as it were a Stranger unto her ; but as soon as ever they are entred into a Covenant one with another , and make a Contract with one another , then they are united and become one . Thus it is betwixt Christ and a Member of his Church ; all the time a Man is out of Christ , and in his natural Estate , he is a meer Stranger to Christ , and to all his Benefits ; but as soon as ever he hath covenanted to be Christ's , as soon as ever as he hath made a firm Contract , and is married to Christ , then he becomes one with Christ , then Christ is his , and he is Christ's ; Christ is in him , and he in Christ : This the Apostle proves , 1 ●or . 6.16.17 . What , know ye not that he that is joined to an Harlot is one Body ? for two ( saith he ) is one Flesh : But he that is joined to the Lord , is one Spirit . As there is a fleshly Union betwixt a Man and Woman when they are joined in Marriage , even so there is a spiritual Union betwixt Christ and a Believer ; when they are joined by Faith , when a Believer is joined to Christ by Faith . Now I shall compare the Union betwixt Christ and his Church , to the Union betwixt Man and Wife in these Respects .

1. Before a Man was joined to his Wife by a Marriage Covenant , it may be his Love was set upon others besides her ; but now being entered into a Marriage Covenant with her , now he forsakes all his other Loves , and cleaves fully and wholly to her , and remains true and constant to her so long as they both shall live . So it is betwixt Christ and a Believer ; all the time that he was out of Christ , he had many Lovers , the World was his Lover , the Flesh was his Beloved , his carnal Pleasures his merry Companions , his sinful Delights , all these were his Lovers . Ay , But now he hath made a Covenant with Christ to be his , now he is married to Christ by Faith , and therefore now he forsakes all his other Lovers , he casteth them all out of his Heart , and cleaves fully and wholly to Christ . Now he is content to forsake Father and Mother , and all whatsoever is near or dear unto him for Christ's Sake ; now Christ himself saith , Mat . 10.37 . He that forsaketh not , he that loveth Father or Mother more than me , is not worthy of me ; he that loveth Son or Daughter more than me , is not worthy of me . So also he that loveth any one , doting on Lust more than Christ , is not worthy of him . So , Luke 14.26 . He that hateth not Father and Mother , yea , and his own Life too , for my sake , cannot be my Disciple . That is , when they stand in competition with Christ , they that would be Christ's Spouse , must take him , not only as their Husband , but also as their Lord and Saviour , their Lord and Master , to be ruled and governed by him , and forsake all sinful Delights which are dear and pleasant to them for his Sake .

2. The Union betwixt Christ and his Church , is compared to the Union betwixt Man and Wife , in respect of the new Relation and Benefits which comes by this Union . When once a Virgin is betrothed to a Man , then whosoever is related unto him , doth also become related to her ; his Father is her Father , his Brothers and Sisters , becomes her Brothers and Sisters , his House is her House , his Land her Land ; so whatsoever is his , becomes hers .

Thus it is , when a Believer is married unto Jesus Christ , then that Believer is immediately received into a new Relation ; for God , who is the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ , becomes his Father , and he being united to Christ , becomes God's adopted Son ; the Spirit of God is his to comfort him , and at the last , the Kingdom of Heaven shall be his , and he shall be a Co-heir with Christ , and reign with him for ever and ever . Believers , when once they are married unto Christ , then all things becomes theirs ; as it is , 1 Cor . 3.22 , 23. Whether Paul , or Apollos , or Cephas , or the World , or Life , or Death , or things present , or things to come , all are yours : And you are Christs , and Christ is Gods . Indeed a wicked Man , though he enjoys most of the World , yet he can claim a Right to nothing ; but a Saint , though he enjoys least , yet he hath a Right to all things ; but on the other side , a Sinner that is out of Christ , he is of all others the most miserable , for God is none of his , and Christ is none of his , and he hath no Right to Heaven , nor no Right to any thing but Hell and Damnation .

Lastly , As when a Man and his Wife is joined together in Marriage , they cannot lawfully be parted ; even so there is no parting Christ and a Believer asunder ; for saith the Apostle , Rom. 0.38 . For I am perswaded , that neither Death , nor Life , nor Principalities , nor Powers , nor things present , nor things to come , nor Heighth , nor Depth , nor any other Creature shall be able to separate us from the love of God , which is in Christ Jesus our Lord .

2. From the Union that is betwixt Man and Wife that are joined in Marriage , we may learn something also concerning the Union that shall be betwixt the Saints hereafter in Heaven . As Man and Wife being joined together in Marriage , are one in a natural sence , even so the Saints , the Spouse of Christ , are one in a spiritual sence ; the Saints are both one with Christ , and one with another ; the Union betwixt the Saints are so near , that they make but one Church Militant hear on Earth , and they shall make but one Church Triumphant in Heaven . Now in Mat . 22.23 , 24 , 25 , 26. The Sadduces , which say there is no Resurrection , came to Christ , and asked him , saying , Master , Moses said , if a Man die , having no Children , his Brother shall marry his Wife , and raise up Seed unto his Brother . Now , saith he , there were seven Brethren , and the first , when he had married a Wife , deceased , and having no Issue , left his Wife unto his Brother : Likewise the second also , and the third , unto the seventh : And last of all the Woman died also . Therefore , say they , in the Resurrection , whose Wife will she be of the seven , for they have all had her . But then see what our Saviour answered them , Ver . 29.30 . Ye do err in your Hearts , not knowing the Scriptures , nor the Power of God : For in the Resurrection they neither marry , nor are given in Marriage ; but are like the Angels of God . This therefore was a very silly Question which the Pharisees asked our Saviour Christ , as if in Heaven there were Marrying and giving in Marriage ; whereas there shall be no need of them , for all Ordinances shall then vanish away all the Saints in Heaven shall be so near united together , so there shall be none of the Union of Marriage . Now when Christ told the Pharisees , that in the Resurrection they neither marry , nor are given in Marriage ; is as much as if he had told them in plain Words , you ask whose Wife she shall be of the seven ; why as many of the seven as were married to Christ ; that is , if she were also married to Christ ; so many of them she will own for her Husbands , and no more ; if they were all married to Christ , then she will own them all for her Husbands . As a godly Father will own none of all his Children at the Resurrection , but such of them as were God's Children ; even so the godly Husband will own none of his Wives , though he have had never so many Wives , but such of them as were Married to Christ . So also , if a Wife has had never so many Husbands , yet at the Resurrection , she will own none of them , but such as were married to Christ at the Resurrection ; these seven Husbands , as many of them as were married to Christ , shall own one another as Brethren : And they shall own her as their Wife , and she shall own them as her Husbands ; and besides , when this Woman , and these her Husbands shall meet in Heaven , there shall be as near a Union betwixt these Brethren , as there shall be betwixt she and them ; yet there shall not be a greater Union betwixt these Brethren , or betwixt them and their Wife , then there shall be betwixt them and all the rest of the Saints , the greatest part of which were before Strangers unto them here upon Earth ; for I told you before , that all the Saints in Heaven shall make but one triumphant Church ; Christ and they make but one Body ; Christ is the Head , and they are all Members , and therefore there must needs be a near Union betwixt all Christ's Members in Heaven ; there shall not only be a near Union betwixt near Relations , as Husbands and Wives , Parents and Children ; but amongst all the Saints in general : there shall be a nearer and sweeter Union amongst all the Saints in Heaven , than ever there was betwixt Man and Wife here upon Earth ; for the lovingest Couple that ever lived , have had some Strifes , some Jars and Tumults , some Feuds and Debates in several Points ; but when once we come to Heaven , we shall then be all perfectly agreed , then we shall all with one Heart and Mind , rejoyce one with another , and that for ever .

Let therefore Man and Wife so live together in this World instructing , exhorting , and admonishing one another , and praying with , and for one another , and helping one another in the way to Heaven ; and then at last you shall meet together in everlasting Glory , and sit down to rest with Abraham , Isaac and Jacob ; where you shall behold God Face to Face ; in whose Presence there is fulness of Joy , and at whose Righthand there are Pleasures for evermore .

Which God of his Mercy grant unto us all . Amen . FINIS .