When it says that "the man will leave his father and mother," this does not mean that marriage breaks the bond, which is also from God that a father should love his children as his own blood; children should also honour their father and mother, as those from whom they have their lives, for God does not contradict himself. There is harmony in all his works; we do not find variation or conflict in them.  Therefore, marriage must not break or abolish the obligation the father should have to his children and the connection of the children with their father and mother. And why then, does it say that the man will leave his father and mother to be joined with his wife? This is meant by comparison,, that is that previously he had to leave his father, mother, and wife, as when our Lord Jesus Christ says also "Whoever does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, and everything he has for the sake of the Gospel is not worthy of being among my discipes." Now these are not incompatible things, for a man to love his wife, honour his father and mother, and nevertheless for them all to serve God and have such zeal for maintaing his truth that they will not spare their own lives if need be.  But this, as I have said, is meant by comparison, that is, that there must be no excuse involving either wife or children, either father or mother, when it is a question of maintaining the doctrine of our salvation and making confession of our faith. If we consider everything that might happen and say: "I will put myself in danger of death, and then behold my poor wife who wil be a widow, I will leave my children orphans, I must take pity on them. I also have a father and I would not wish to annoy him, I am bound and obligated to him by nature." when I say I have alleged all this, these are very frivolous excuses, ,for we must not prefer the truth of God to all these human considerations. And thus, if a man must defect from his father and mother he has such a union with his wife that he must hold fast to that side. But these things are fully compatible, that is for a man to live peacably with his wife, knowing that they are two in one flesh, and at the same time to show reverence to his father and mother, to assist them, to employ himself in all the services he can do for them, to obey them and show himself subject to them: both these things can well be done.

Sermon on Genesis from 1559

A Puritan At Heart

Christ and his cross together are sweet company, and a blessed couple.My poison is my palace, my losses are rich losses, my pain easy pain, my heavy days are happy and holy days. I may tell a new tale of Christ to my friends.

--Samuel Rutherford