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ving no Room to cavil at Terms, and dispute upon Construction of Words, nicety of Expression, double Entendres and such Trifles. I resolve to speak plainly, and would be understood distinctly.
Matrimony is, according to the Words in the Office appointed in our Liturgy, GOD's Ordinance, that I shall prove to you presently; but 'tis moreover GOD's holy Ordinance. Now if it be a holy Ordinance, the married Life has a Sanction too, and ought to be preserved sacred, not be debauched with criminal Excesses of any kind; much less should it be made a cover and skreen for those matrimonial Intemperances which I now speak of, and which I shall prove to be not only scandalous to, but unworthy of Matrimony, as a sacred state of Life.
As it is GOD's Ordinance, and an holy Ordinance, so 'tis an honourable State; the Apostle says, Marriage is honourable, Heb. xiii. 4. But then you are to observe also, that it is immediately added, and the Bed undefiled. Now this nice Term of the Bed undefiled, requires some Explanation, and in that perhaps we may differ. They that think the Marriage-Bed cannot be defiled but by Adultery, will greatly differ from me; and 'tis my Business to prove they are mistaken, which, if I do not, I do nothing.
But, that I may do it with the more clearness, and leave no Room for Dispute, I therefore set apart this first Chapter to consider Matrimony in general, what it is, how we ought to understand it, and what the End and Design of GOD's Appointment in it was, and still is; and by this, I think, I may make Way for a more exact Observation of those Duties which
