7. Enter the sacred Bonds of _Matrimony_: 'Tis far better thou shouldest marry then burn. Take St. _Pauls_ counsel, who, [40]_to avoid fornication_, bids _every man have his own Wife, and every woman have her own Husband_. And though I cannot but esteem a single life and holy Cælibate (which was consecrated by the holy _Jesus_ in his proper person) to be an excellent Virtue; yet since every one hath not that gift of continence which our Saviour had, and God hath instituted Matrimony as an Ordinance, and the holy _Jesus_ hallowed it and made it honourable with the expence of the first Miracle (we read) he ever performed on Earth, and made it more sublimate by making it a Representation of the Union betwixt Him and his Spouse the Church; it is a thing highly commendable in it self, and to be made use of as a great Preservative against inordinacies in our Affections and unruly Passions: And a Learned Author puts it in the Catalogue of such _Arts_ [41]_without which a man cannot live well and {32} happily_; and says, "That although to live a single life is not totally repugnant to Humane Nature, yet it is repugnant to the Nature of most Men; Because a single life and cælibate are onely fitted for the most excellent Minds, and such as are refined from the dross of impure concupiscence." And another Author brings in _Romulus_ speaking to his neighbouring Nations, [42]_That they would not grudge to mix themselves together in a joynt Allyance and Consanguinity_. And though the _Roman_ State seemed to countenance a single life, because they afforded Dignities to certain Vestal Virgins, yet the number of those Vestals was but small; and then the Dignities and Priviledges which they had were no other but that they were made equal in State to married Wives; they were preferred before all that lived unmarried, but not before married persons.