FIRST, As it is limited to one man: And so it is taken particularly: Man, for the first man. When all other creatures had their mates, Adam wanted his; though he was the emperor of the earth, and the admiral of the seas, yet in Paradise without a companion; though he was truly happy, yet he was not fully happy; though he had enough for his board, yet he had not enough for his bed; though he had many creatures to serve him, yet he wanted a creature to solace him; when he was compounded in creation, he must be completed by conjunction; when he had no sin to hurt him, then he must have a wife to help him: _It is not good that man should be alone_. SECONDLY, As it is lengthened to all men: And so it is taken universally, Heb. xiii. 4. _Marriage is honourable unto all_. It is not only warrantable, but honourable. The whole trinity hath conspired together to set a crown of glory upon the head of matrimony. 1. God the Father. Marriage was a tree planted within the walls of Paradise; the flower first grew in God’s garden. 2. The Son. Marriage is a crystal glass, wherein Christ and the saints do see each other’s faces. 3. The Holy Ghost, by his overshadowing of the blessed virgin. Well might the world when it saw her pregnancy, suspect her virginity; but her matremonial condition was a grave to that suspicion: without this, her innocency had not prevented her infamy; she needed a shield to defend that chastity abroad which was kept inviolable at home. Too many that have not worth enough to preserve their virginity, have yet will enough to cover their unchastity; turning the medicine of frailty into the mantle of filthiness. Certainly she is mad that cuts off her leg to get her a crutch; or that venoms her face to wear a mask. Paul makes it one of the characters of those that should cherish the faith, 1 Tim. iv. 3. _not to forbear marriage_; which is not only lawful but also honourable; to forbid which, is damnably sinful, and only taught by the influence of devils. One of the Popes of Rome sprinkles this unholy and impure drop upon it, _Carnis pollutionem et immundiliem_.