they are open, they are declared as Ifa. 3. 9.. Sodoms were. They that have in braced them, are not ashamed of them Yea, they have got the boldness to plead for them, and to count them their enemies that feek to reform them. All tables are full of Vomit and filthiness. And for Pride and Covetousness for loathing of the Gospel, and contemning holiness, as these have covered the face of the Nation : fo they have infected most of them,, that now name the name of Christ.

And I fay again, when you find out a profeffor that is not horribly tainted with fome of these things, (I exclude not the Ministers nor their families) let him be as a Beacon upon an Hill, or as an Infign in our Land. But fays one, would you have us fingular? and fays another would you have us make our felves ridiculous ? and fays as third, fuch and fuch more Godly Wife than we, do fo. But I answer, if God has made you fingular, and called you to grace, that's fingular, and bid you walk in ways that are fingu-GS.. lar,

lar, and diverfe from the ways of all others. Yea, if to depart from iniquity will make you ridiculous, if to be holy in all manner of converfation will make you ridiculous,then be contented to be counted fo. As for the Godly-wife you fpeak of, let them manifeft themselves to be fuch by departing from iniquity. I am fure that their being tainted with fins of the day, will not prove them godly-wife. Behold, I have taught you, faid Mofes, Statutes and Judgments, even as the Lord my God commanded me, that ye fhould do fo in the Land whither ye go to poffefs it. Keep therefore, and do them, for this is your wisdom, and your understanding in the fight of the Nations, which fhall bear of all thefe Statutes, and fay, furely this great Nation is a wife and understanding people. Here then is wisdom, and this is that that manifefteth a people to be understanding, and godly-wife, even the keeping of the commandments of God. And why, follow the apifh fashions of the world, hath the God of wifdom fet them on foot among us? or is it because the Devil and wick

ed

ed men (the inventors of these vain

toyes) have out-witted the law of

God? What Nation is there fo great, Deut. 4.S who hath God fo nigh unto them as his 6,7,8. people have, and as he is in all things that we call upon him for? and what Nation is there fo great, that hath Statutes and Judgments fo righteous, as all this law, faid Mofes, which I fet before you this day. This then is that which declareth us to be godlywife, when we keep our foul diligently to the holy words of God: and fit not only our tongues and lips, but also our lives thereto.

Fourthly, But again, let them that Anfw.4 name the name of Chrift depart from the iniquity,that is,as I may call it, from family-iniquity. There is an houfe-iniquity; an iniquity that loves not to walk abroad, but to harbor within door. This the holy man David was aware of, therefore he said that he would behave himself wifely, in a perfect. way; yea, faith he, I will walk with Pfal. 1912in my house, with a perfect heart.

Now this houf iniquity ftandeth

in these things.

2.

1. In Domestick broyls and quarrels.

2. In Domestick Chambrings, and wantonnefs.

3. In Domestick misorders of Children and Servants.

First, For houfe broyles and quarrels, it is an iniquity to be departed from, whether it be betwixt Hufband and Wife, or otherwife. This, as I faid, is an iniquity that loves not to walk abroad, but yet it is an horrible plague within doors. And many that shew like Saints abroad, yet act the part of Devils when they are at home, by giving way to this houfe-iniquity, by cherish ing of this houfe-iniquity. This iniquity meetèth the man and his wife at the very threshold of the door, and will not fuffer them to enter, no not with one foot into the house in peace, but how far this is from walking together as heirs of the grace of life, is eafie Ephes. to be determined. Men fhould carry 21,22. 23, it in love to their wives, as Chrift 24, 25, 26, doth to his Church; and wives fhould carry it to their husbands, as the Church ought to carry it to

27, 28.

et 3.7.

her

her Saviour and untill each relation be managed with refpect to thefe things this houfe-iniquity. will be cherished there. O! God fees within doors as well as without, and will judge too for the ini quity of the houfe as well as for that more open.

2dly, As houfe-iniquity ftandeth in domestick broyls, and Contentions: So it alfo ftandeth in Chambrings Ro. 13.13. and wantonnefs. Wherefore the Apostle puteth them both together, faying, not in chambring and wan nefs, not in ftrife and envy. This chambring and wantonnefs is of a more genneral extent, being entertained by all, infomuch that fometimes from the head to the foot all are horribly guilty. But, it is a fhame to fpeak of those things that Eph. 5.12. are done of fome in fecret: For through Rom. I. the lufts of their own hearts, they dif- 24, 27. honour their own bodies between them. Selves, working that which is unfeemly,to their ignominy and contempt; if not with their fellows, yet with God, who fees them; for the dark. Pfal.139. nefs hideth not from him. It was for 12. this kind of iniquity with other, that