Exposition on John 5, Ephesians 5-6 · Verses 23-24 1
Verſ. 23, 24.
For the husband is the wiues head, euen as Chriſt is the head of the Church, and the ſame is the Sauiour of his body.
Therefore, as the Church, &c.
THeſe words containe in briefe fiue Reaſons, to vrge and preſſe the former duties.
1 Drawne from the husbands authority: becauſe the husband is in the Lords ſtead and roome.
2 VnderUnder a metaphor: B…cauſe the husband is the wiues head.
3 Becauſe heerein hee doth reſemble Chriſt.
4 That by vertue of his place, hee is a ſauiour of his wife.
5 The example of the Church.
The firſt reaſon is a cleare point, by that generall rule, that all who hauehave any lawfull authority ouer other, they are as gods vntounto them: as Moſes is ſaid to bee to Aaron.
Hence ariſe two concluſions: 1 That the wife in ſubiecting her ſelfe to her husband, ſubiects her ſelfe to Chriſt.
2 That in refuſing ſubiection to her husband, ſhee refuſeth ſubiection to Chriſt: prooued by example of Chriſt himſelfe, Mat. 11.40. Iohn 5.23. of Miniſters, 2 Cor. 5.20. Luke 10.16. 1 Sam. 8.7.
In thus doing, wiues ſhall be the wiues of Chriſt Ieſus. Now if wee conſider duly this reaſon, we ſhall ſee how ſtrong a motiue it is, to perſwade wiues to performe this duty of obedience.
2 1 Cor. 11.3. This reaſon ſheweth, that the huſband is to the wife, as the head of a naturall body is to it: hee is more eminent in place, more excellent in dignity; he hath power to rule and gouerne: and therefore it ſtands with the law of nature, that the wife doe ſubmit her ſelfe, 1 Cor. 11.14.
3 For the further vrging and preſſing the former reaſon, it is added, that the husbād herein hath a fellowſhip and copartnerſhip with Chriſt, and they are brethren in office. And though there be an infinite diſparity betweene Chriſt and the husband, yet may there be a reſemblance where is no parity, and a ſimilitude where there is no equality, and therefore this hinders not that fellowſhip: Hence two concluſions.
1 That hee is vntounto his wife as Chriſt to the Church, and therefore ſubiection is as well due vntounto the huſband by the wife, as ſubiection by the Church to Chriſt.
2 That they that do ſubiect themſelues to their huſbands, doe honour Chriſt: they that impeach the authority of their husbands, impeach the authority of Chriſt: yea, the very place of the head in a naturall body; as we ſee, he that impeacheth the authority of one Magiſtrate, impeacheth the authority of all in the ſame degree: See Eſter 1.16.
Corollary: 1 That Chriſt will ſurely maintaine the husbands authority, as Magiſtrates in the like caſe will doe one of another: Wherefore though the husband himſelfe forbeare, yet may ſtout and rebellious wiues iuſtly feare the reuengement of Chriſt.
4 The fourth reaſon ſheweth, that the husband hath this authority not ſo much for himſelfe, and for his wifes good. The name of Sauiour, is properly and truely applyed to Chriſt, Math. 1.21. Luke 2.22. Acts 4.12. Luke 1.69. and 2.30. He is called ſaluation, foreign. But heere in ſome ſence it is applyed to the huſband, in that hee is to protect his wife, to defe…d her from hurt and danger. to prouide for her, &c. And indeed the head is vnited to the body for this cauſe, not onelyonly for the authority and ſoueraignety, but for the good and benefit of it: Hence wee ſee,
1 That the ſubiection of the wife, is for her owne good.
2 That they who refuſe to be ſubiect, as they are iniurious to themſelues, ſo they are vngratefull to their husbands.
5 Taken from the example of the Church, which if either example it ſelfe (which wee ſee is of great force both without and againſt precept) or if the warrantable example of the Church, that is, of good and perfect men, can preuaile; it ought much to mooue wiues to the performance of theſe duties: Hence theſe Corollaries.
1 There is as good reaſon the wife ſhould yeeld ſubiection to her husband, as the Church to Chriſt.
2 That by this ſubiection, the wife ſhall hauehave an euidence within her, that ſhe is of the Church.
Now for the generall vſe of all. If theſe duties be required of wiues: how carefull ought parents to be to make choice of ſuch husbands for their daughters, as be men of knowledge, wiſedome, and fearing God, to whom they may willingly ſubmit themſelues?