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I cannot think, and have so many Reasons for my Opinion, I believe I shall never alter it; I say, I cannot think the Marriage can be lawful where there was not a resolved settled Affection, sincerely embraced before the Matrimony was contracted. I will not follow Mr. Milton, and carry it up to this, that it may be dissolved again upon that single Account: No, no, I shall open no Doors to the vitiated Wishes of the Times; where Men would have Marriage be a stated Contract; where as the Parties agreement made the Bargain, so the same mutual Agreement might dissolve it; where as insincere Love joined them, a sincere and perfect Hatred should part them again. This would fill the World with Confusion, would pollute the Ordinance of Matrimony instead of keeping it sacred as God's holy Ordinance; 'twould make Marriage a Stale, a Convenience, to gratify the sensual Part, and to be made use of as a thing not to be named; and when that Worst Part of the Affections was satiated, the Parties be left to please and gratify their wicked Appetite with Variety.
This is not talking like Christians, or like Men of Virtue, no, not like Men guided by human Prudence, or by civil Polity, much less Reason; for this would corrupt the Blood of Families, level Mankind with one another, confound Order, and, in a word, would fill the World with Whoredom.
No, no; if you will rush like the Horse into the Battle; if you will be mad, and follow rashly, and without Consideration, the raging heat of corrupt Inclination only, and go hoodwinked and blinded, you must take the Consequences to your selves; if you will wed with-out
