Matthew Poole and continuators on 1 Corinthians 7:37

37 Nevertheless, he that standeth stedfast in his heart , having no necessity , but hath power over his own will , and hath so decreed in his heart that he will keep his virgin , doth well .

If a man be resolved to keep his daughter a Virgin, not uncertain in his own mind, and wavering what he should do, upon a just consideration of circumstances,

and doth not see a necessity to dispose of her, either for the avo[illegible: 1 letter]ding some sin against God, or for the better providing for himself and the rest of his family,

but hath a perfect freedom in his own will, so that his will be not contradicted by his daughters fondness of a married life; for in such a case the father, though he would willingly not dispose of his daughter in marriage, yet ought to be over-ruled by the will of his daughter, and so hath not a power over his own will, being forced by the rules of Religion to take care of the soul and spiritual welfare of his child; for though the parent hath a great power over his child, and ought to consent to the marriage of his child, yet he hath no such power, as wholly to hinder them from marriage.

If he be fully resolved upon a due consideration of all circumstances, and the Virgin be satisfied, and yields up her self in the case to her fathers pleasure,

in such a case, if the father doth not put her upon marriage, but resolves to keep her unmarried, he doth well, that is, not only he shall not sin against God, but he doth that which is more eligible, considering the present circumstances of things, and better than if he did find out an husband for her, and give her to him (as it is expounded in the next verse)