MADAM,  
EVer since I had a resolution to make a change in my life by Marriage, I have had thoughts of declaring my Reasons for it; partly, because I believed all would not be satisfied with it; and partly, that all might see. I desire to walk openly and in the light, which, I conceive, is every true Christians duty; but hitherto I could not attain the fulfilling of my purpose through continual distractions, yet now in some measure I hope to reach it.  
Your Ladyship knows, we have a command in the Gospel, that all things should be done to Edification; and according to this Rule, all that are faithful subjects of Christ's Kingdom ought to order all their actions, to the end, that all might be built up in the knowledge of their duty, by the prudent and Godly example one of another, and none offended. And I may say truly, that by this Rule I have aimed to walk, that God might be honoured by all the undertake and circumstances of my life. But as justly can I say, that my heart accuseth me of a careless observance and pursuing this aim; and therefore, the justice of God may suffer my best actions to be mistaken and so deprive me of the comfort of seeing others informed or strengthened by my walk: Something of that nature, (I mean misunderstanding) I find in the apprehensions of people concerning my late Marriage; and therefore I do the more willingly take occasion to lay down the Reason of my change from a single life (which condition my inclinations preferred before the other incomparably) with great desires, that if the Lord judge it their benefit, he would bless my discourse with giving them a right understanding of those Principles, by which I see it necessary that my actions should be governed.  
Madam, you know the End of our being is God's glory, and that the same, and no less, should be the End of every action of a Christians life, and consequently of Marriage: concerning which, that I may speak distinctly and freely, I will tell what I apprehend it to be, and then what I conceive every lively Member of Christ should aim at, in entering upon that state. For Marriage, I take it to be a solemn & public Covenant between two, instituted by God himself, from whose intention in his institution we must discover the second thing, which is, what the Aim of a true Christian ought to be, in making that Covenant with another.  
The last and chief End of God in this institution (as I conceive) was that which he proposed in the Creation and Governing of all things, viz. his own Glory, which he wills to manifest, as well in this institution as in other acts of his Providence, by declaring his goodness to his Creatures; which Goodness is declared by ordaining a special way for them, to be a help one to another for the advancing of his Kingdom in their own spirits, that they may advance it in others, upon which follows their Eternal happiness, and also by making them a comfort one to another in this life, by discerning themselves a help one to another for that most excellent End of advancing his Kingdom, and by that to glorify him in his Son. This is the comfort which I believe, God intends true Christians by their Union in Marriage, that their joy might arise from nothing below himself. And certainly, none such can have any comfort but in doing the will of their Heavenly Father; and consequently, they shall have comfort in whatsoever is a help to that, though it be accompanied with never so many and great difficulties. Thus then, I say, we may gather from God's intention what our Aim should be in Marriage; namely, God's Glory (for upon that our eyes must be perpetually fixed as upon the main ground of all actions:) and secondly, as the Means to produce that effect, to be a help one to another for the advancement of his Kingdom. This in general aught to be the principal Aim of Christians in Marriage. (As for other things, which though inferior, yet may have a consideration in making that Covenant, I pass them over, well knowing few or none but considers them sufficiently) which I have here expressed, that upon that ground I might lay down the particular Reasons which induced me to Marry, and those briefly are these following.  
First, I conceive, that ordinarily a woman cannot serve the advance of Christ's Kingdom in a single estate, so well as being united to a godly Man for the  Aims. For surely if she could, God would not have instituted that which would prove an impediment to the best way of serving him.  
Secondly, I saw evidently I could not. For Marriage was for that End (so oft already mentioned) proposed to me, and more than ordinary Means and Opportunities of serving C●rist were made apparent tome, suchas the declaring of them would by such as understand not such undertake be judged) vanity at least in me, and therefore I mention no particulars, but rather say, that I had long since bound myself to the service of the Members of Christ, and from all self-seeking, as well by a particular vow, as by the seals of the Covenant which con●rmes God's mercy to us when we are found faithful in giving up ourselves to live and die unto God, and not to ourselves.  
Lastly, I had seen a very great hand of providence leading me to Marriage, manifested in many strange passages and circumstances, carrying me contrary to all my own inclinations to what I would feign have resisted; and withal I found, God denying me all the other ways that I proposed or sought out for the fulfilling of that which I judged must be the End and labour of my whole life, namely, a Living to the service of others without more respect unto myself then what was required to make me fit for that. Thus, Madam, you see the ground I went upon in this great change in the manner of my life; in my heart I wish, it may be so understood, that some may see the necessity and benefit of proposing God's Goorie for the main Aim of all the Actions and circumstances of their Lives, that so they may be delighted with the knowledge of the excellent Communion and Spiritual Workings between God and the Soul, which the constant performance of this duty brings unto us even in this life, and that is the worst I wish unto my censurers. Now, Madam, should I speak something in answer to the Exceptions made against me, I fear prolixity, and yet I cannot well omit to tell you, they are not better then carnal, and such, as to either Gracious or Moral Men will soon be answered. They are, I perceive, two:  
First, That I Married below my degree.  
Secondly, That I matched neither to a great nor certain fortune: the last I confess, the other I deny absolutely; and that I may give my Reason for what I deny, I must consider:  
First, our several conditions, relating the degrees of honour which God makes between Man and Man; and than that which Man's judgement makes of honour. As for the distinction of Equality or Inequality, which God makes between man and man; I conceive, it is only made in his intention by the employment in his own service which he calls men unto, that Man being invested in his esteem with the highest degree of honour who is most trusted by him; and that Man is most trusted by him who is most immediately in subordination to himself, set a work for the effecting of the highest End, which he proposed to himself in the Creation and Redemption of Man. Now, if this be granted a truth, as, I think, it must be, it will easily appear, that a man, called, qualified, & sent by God, as his Sons, Ambassador to dispense the Mysteries of Man's salvation, that he, I say, receives the greatest trust from God, and consequently the employment which gives him the highest degree of honour. This was the Office our Lord Christ chose to execute personally, when he refused the honour of governing an earthly Kingdom, & seeking rather that which came to him by erecting his Kingdom in the consciences of men, where spiritually he doth indeed reign as King. By this which I have said, Madam, you see I judge myself to have married most honourably, although I should confess him to be no Gentleman which the world so much values; but he cannot be denied the honour of being descended of both sides from an ancient Family, which even in carnal eyes makes an Equality at least. For all that he is not come from the Nobility immediately, and therefore wants the honour of that Titular Greatness, whose Original at the best had its rise but from humane Policy, and its suppott from the foolish Fancy of Men; certainly the honour of the title of a Lord will not equal the honour which God hath annexed to his own Ambassadors, neither in respect of the Institutor, nor the End of the Institution; the first being God himself, the End for his Glory, the other, Man, and the End his Glory, between which methinks very weak Christians should discern a very vast difference: Much might be said on this subject, and much more to prove even to rational men, that there is no such Inequality as some imagine, but it is not easy to fall so low in discourse with Christians as to debate things in a bare humane way, seeing that is not God's way, and it is below our privilege in Christianity.  
The Second ground of Censure, is, that I have not advantaged myself by getting either a present great, or future certain fortune; It is very true, I have not, nor do I think that the thing in Marriage that was called to aim at (as I have said before) For I believe the inheritance of God's Children is in Heaven, where we look to have eternal possessions, not on earth, and therefore not here we are commanded to lay up our Treasure, where we are sure it shall not be permanent, whereas here we have no abiding place, nor certainty of any thing in this life, which is not spiritual: And this Lesson God calls loudly our Nation to learn at this very instant, and surely he hath given me great cause in particular to study to know the duty of living by faith, which if we did understand, we should despise the reasonings of flesh, and blood, and keep ourselves in a joyful constant dependency upon God for unseen provisions, both for our selus and posterity; neither do we consider, that God doth govern all his dispensations and their circumstances in such a way as all the wit of Man cannot make any alteration of additions or diminution to them; which it we did, we might assure ourselves, both the quantity and certainty of the things of this life is in his hand to give, not in our power to take; or if we had it, not to keep it. But alas, contrariwise, Men look upon Estates, as things which we can make sure to ourselves, and judge them then only great, when there is enough to consume in the satisfying their foolish fantasies by fulfilling all sinful appetites, and observing every foolish superflous custom now taken up in practice, contrary to the humility, moderation, and simplicity of the Gospel; but they that tend to perfection must be otherwise minded, labouring to shake off those fetters that they may be free to work in Christ's Kingdom, and able to joy only in the increase of that & his power ●n it. Here, Madam you may see, worldly Riches were not my Aim, and therefore I have them not, and yet I have enough to keep me and my children from seeking necessary ●ood by this Match, to the distraction of which I might have been all my life exposed unto for aught I know, if God had not made Master N. instrumental to prevent it: For such who laid my condition to heart had their own straits as well as I, and therefore I could not depend upon that few number; so that in conclusion, I bless God for his seasonable mercy to me, even in regard of outward provision. Let others contemn it as much as they will; that shall not take me off from the gratitude and value which is due for so great a mercy, as by eating bread of mine own, in these miserable times I enjoy.  
I might here tell you, that I could not pay too great a gratitude to Master N. for his friendship to me and mine, keeping us from extremities, when else for a long time we must have been exposed to it; but your Ladyship is no stranger to that; and it is an argument (though considerable) for my Marriage of an inferior nature then what I have related, and willingly I cannot love to descend in such cases. And besides it is not my Aim to Apologise or satisfy men to remove their censure from myself (for that I can easily bear) but to inform those that are offended of my Principles. Therefore I will shut up this discourse, with humbly begging your constant prayers, that I may be found faithful in pursuing the Aim of my Covenant with Master N. that God may be glorified in, and over all the actions of  
5 May, New-stile, 1645. MADAM, Your Ladyship's most constant, faithful, and humble Servant,