Wise. That is the thing that I say, let them take heed, lest for their unadvisedness the smart, as this poor woman has done. And ah! methinks, that they that yet are single persons, and that are tempted to marry to such as Mr. Badman; would, to inform, and warn themselves in this matter, before they intangle themselves, but goe to some that already are in the snare, and ask them how it is with them, as to the suitable, or unsuitableness of their marriage, and desire their advice. Surely they would ring such a peal in their ears about the unequality, unsuitableness, disadvantages, and disquietments, and sins that attend such marriages, that would make them beware as long as they live. But the bird in the air, knows not the notes of the bird in the snare, untill she comes thither herself: Besides, to make up such marriages, Satan, and carnal Reason, and Lust, or at least Inconsiderateness, has the chiefest hand; and where these things bear sway, designs, though never so destructive, will goe headlong on: and therefore I fear, that but little warning will be taken by young Girls, at Mr. Badmans wives affliction.
Atten. But are there no disswasive arguments to lay before such, to prevent their future misery.
Wise. Yes: There is the Law of God, that forbiddeth marriage with unbelievers. These kind of marriages also are condemned even by irrational creatures. 1. It is forbidden by the Law of God both in the Old Testament and in the New. 1. In the Old. Thou shalt not make Marriages with them; Thy daughter thou shalt not give unto his son, nor his daughter shalt thou take unto thy son, Deut. 7. 4, 5. [80a] 2. In the New Testament it is forbidden. Be ye not unequally yoaked together with unbelievers; Let them marry to whom they will, only in the Lord. [80b]
Here now is a prohibition, [80c] plainly forbidding the Believer to marry with the Unbeliever, therefore they should not do it. Again, these unwarrantable Marriages, are, as I may so say, condemned by irrational creatures, who will not couple but with their own sort: Will the Sheep couple with a Dog, the Partridge with a Crow, or the Feasant with an Owl? No, they will strictly tye up themselves to those of their own sort only: Yea, it sets all the world a wondring, when they see or hear the contrary. Man only is most subject to wink at, and allow of these unlawful mixtures of men and women; Because man only is a sinful Beast, a sinful Bird, therefore he, above all, will take upon him by rebellious actions to answer, or rather to oppose and violate the Law of his God and Creator; nor shall these, or other Interogatories, [What fellowship? what concord? what agreement? what communion can there be in such Marriages?] be counted of weight, or thought worth the answering by him.
But further. The dangers [80d] that such do commonly run themselves into, should be to others a disswasive argument to stop them from doing the like: for besides the distresses of Mr. Badmans wife, many that have had very hopefull beginnings for heaven, have by vertue of the mischiefs that have attended these unlawfull marriages, miserably and fearfully miscarried. Soon after such marriages, Conviction (the first step toward heaven) hath ceased; Prayer (the next step toward Heaven) hath ceased; Hungrings and thirstings after salvation (another step towards the Kingdom of Heaven) have ceased. In a word, such marriages have estranged them from the Word, from their godly and faithful Friends, and have brought them again into carnal company, among carnal Friends, and also into carnal Delights, where, and with whom they have in conclusion both sinfully abode, and miserably perished.
And this is one reason why God hath forbidden this kind of unequal marriages. For they, saith he, meaning the ungodly, will turn away thy son from following me, that they may serve other Gods, so will the anger of the Lord be kindled against you, and destroy you suddenly. [81a] Now mark, there were some in Israel, that would, notwithstanding this prohibition, venture to marry to the Heathens and Unbelievers: But what followed? They served their Idols, they sacrificed their Sons and their Daughters unto Devils. Thus were they defiled with their own works, and went a whoring with their own Inventions. Therefore was the wrath of the Lord kindled against his people, insomuch that he abhorred his own Inheritance. [81b]
Atten. But let’s return again to Mr. Badman; had he any Children by his wife?
Wise. Yes, seven.
Atten. I doubt they were but badly brought up.
Wise. One of them loved its Mother dearly, and would constantly harken to her voice. Now that Child [81c] she had the opportunity to instruct in the Principles of Christian Religion, and it became a very gracious child. But that child Mr. Badman could not abide, he would seldom afford it a pleasant word, but would scowl and frown upon it, speak churlishly and doggedly to it, and though as to Nature it was the most feeble of the seven, yet it oftenest felt the weight of its Fathers fingers. Three of his Children did directly follow his steps, and began to be as vile as (in his youth) he was himself. The other that remained became a kind of mungrel Professors, not so bad as their Father, nor so good as their Mother, but were betwixt them both. They had their Mothers Notions, and their Fathers Actions, and were much like those that you read of in the Book of Nehemiah; These children spake half in the speech of Ashdod, and could not speak in the Jews Language, but according to the language of each people. [81d]