On Choosing a Spouse

I promised to share more gems from Baxter's The Godly Family.  Here is one for all the singles to consider, and for the parents to pass on to their children:

If you fear God, your chief end in marriage will be to have one who will be a helper to your soul and further you in the way to heaven. p42

Going on Baxter gives some advice in evaluating potential prospects,

1. "Judge them by their love...If they love the Word and the servants and worship of God and love a holy life and hate the contrary, you may embrace such, though their knowledge is small and abilities weak.  But is they have no love to these and live a common, careless, sensual life, you may avoid them as ungodly."p43-44
2. Be able to identify why you love them.  "To say you love but that you do not know why is more beseeming children or the insane than those who are soberly entering upon a change of life of so great importance to them.  A blind love that makes you think a person excellent and amiable who, in the eyes of the wisest who are impartial, is nothing so or that make you overvalue the person whom you fancy who in the eyes of others is next to contemptible - this is but the index and evidence of your folly." p 39-40
3. Pay attention to their nature and disposition.  Make sure you can stand it.  Are they easy to please?  Can they match wits and intellect with you?  Are they humble?  Can they be quiet?  Will they speak?  Each of these is important.

If Christians were to pay attention to these guidelines from the 1700's, marriages would have such a better foundation and success rate.  particularly #1, for if one hates being around god's people, or says they love the Bible but refuses to ever read it with you and pray with you, this is a sure sign to be concerned.