Christian Commonwealth, Part 2

Christian Commonwealth · Part 2

The duty of Wiues.

The Sixt Chapter.

YOu ſee I hauehave proued that the duties of Husbands are wholy grounded vponupon LoueLove, but we ſhall find that the duty of the Wife reacheth yet further then ſo, for it is not enough for her toIt is not enough for a woman to louelove her Husband, but ſhee muſt be ruled and gouerned by him alſo. be kind & louing vntounto her Husband, but ſhee muſt be obedient and dutifull, and vnderunder the ſubiection & gouernement of him alſo, but becauſe I will not bee offenſiue by preſuming to write any thing herein of my ſelfe, I p. 48will lay my foundations on a ſure ground, and goe no farther then the word of God ſhall giuegive mee warrant heerein.

Wee find that for the ſinne of diſobediēce in our grandmother Eue vntounto her maker, amongſt the reſt of her puniſhments laid vponupon her for it, this is one, Thy deſire ſhall be ſubiect to thine Husband, Gen. 3.Gen 3and he ſhall rule ouer thee: yee ſee here what duty is layd vponupon the the woman, & that by the Commandement of God himſelfe, you hauehave now no power left vntounto your ſelues to order your owne wils and deſires as your owne ſelues pleaſe: no, your wils muſt accord to the wils of your Husbands, & your deſires muſt be ſubiect to their wils: it is your duties to yeeld them obedience & the preheminence of rule: the very heathen Phyloſophers p. 49which knew not the word of God, yet could teach that the rule for the Wife to liue by, was her Husband, if he liued obedient to the lawes publique: how much more then if they liue according to the lawes of God, are you bound to performe it: butSimile. as a blocke though it bee decked with Gold and Iewels is not to be reſpected, except it repreſent the ſhape of ſomewhat, euen ſo a wife, bee ſhee neuer ſo rich, if ſhee bee not obedient vntounto her Husband, ſhee is nothing worth to be regarded: and whatſoeuer or wherſoeuer we ſhall find any thing concerning this duty of the Wife in the whole booke of God, we ſhall find it to bee built vponupon this foundation, which God himſelfe hath layde.

S. Paul well vnderſtanding the myſterie of his Maiſters mind, p. 50hath very plainely in many of his Epiſtles largely expreſſed thisEphe. 5.Eph 5 matter, teaching wiues to ſubmit thēſelues vntounto their Husbands as vntounto the Lord: here is the louelove taught you, that you muſt performe vntounto them, & here is the duty too. For as you muſt performe all harty louelove and true affectioned zeale vntounto the Lord, with all faithfull obedience vntounto his holy and heauenly will: ſo you, vnderunder your Husbands & vntounto them, muſt performe the like, and Saint Paul ſheweth the reaſon too, why you muſt doe this, (for ſaith hee) The Husband is the Wiues head, euen as Chriſt is Ephe. 5.Eph 5the head of the Congregation, and hee is the Sauiour of the whole body, therefore as the whole congregation is in ſubiection to Chriſt, likewiſe let the wiues bee in ſubiection to their Husbands p. 51in all things.

Thus you ſee how Saint Paul hath laboured to expeſſe this duty vntounto you, and Saint Peter he teacheth the ſame in effect alſo in theſe words, ye women be ſubiect 1. Pet. 3.1 Pet 3to your Husbands, that euen they which beleeue not the word, may without the word, be wonne by your conuerſation when they behold your conuerſation in feare: And againe,1. Cor. 14.1 Cor 14 let your wiues keepe ſilence with all ſubiectiō, ſuffer not a womā to teach, nor to hauehave authority ouer the man, but for to bee in ſilence, for AdamGen. 3.Gen 3 was firſt formed, then Eve, alſo Adam was not deceiued, but the woman was deceiued, and hath brought in the tranſgreſſion: Againe, Let your wiues keepe ſilence in the congregation, for it ſhall not bee permitted vntounto them to ſpeake, but to bee vnderunder obedience, as the Law ſaith, but if they will learne any thing, let p. 52them aske their Husbands at home, for it becommeth not a woman to ſpeake in the Congregation, yea, a man ſhall bee Lord and ruler in his owne houſe, and the woman ſhall bee ſubiect vntounto her Husband.

Yea, we ſhall find that among the ordinances which Moſes gaue vntounto the Children of Iſrael, this is one, That if a woman hauing a Num. 30.Num 30Husband, voweth or pronounceth ought with her lips, either by …ath or Women oughr not to make vowes without the conſent of their Husbands.ſolemne promiſe, whereby ſhee bindeth her ſelfe: if her Husband heard it, and holdeth his peace concerning her the ſame day he heareth it, then her vow ſhall stand, and her bond wherewith ſhee bound her ſelfe, ſhall ſtand in effect: but if her Husband diſallow, her the ſame day that hee heareth it, then ſhall hee make her vowe which ſhee had made, and that which ſhee pronounced with her lips, when ſhee bound her ſelfe, of none p. 53effect, and the Lord ſhall forgiue her. Thus you ſee how the Scriptures do all accord to that which God in the beginning had commanded: namely, That the woman Gen. 18.Gen 18ſhould be ſubiect to the rule and gouernement of her Husband, to thisGen. 31.Gen 31 hauehave all good women euer accorded. The obedience of Sarah vntounto Abraham calling him1. King. 1.1 Kgs 1 Lord, approueth her duty: The obedience of Rachell and Lea vntountoEſter. 8. their Husband Iacob affirmeth it, no leſſe doth the reuerent duty of Bathſheba vntounto Dauid expreſſe it, the obedience of Eſter vntounto Aſhuerus, purchaſed not onelyonly her owne life & renowne, but the liues of the whole Nation of the Iewes. And although it cannot be gaine ſaid of any, but that this Cōmandement of Almighty God ought reuerently to be obeyed of all women, yet p. 54how much it is diſobeyed in theſe dayes wee dayly ſee: nay, deſpiſed & diſdayned at, ſo that we may iuſtly complaine againſt them, and ſay, they bee a rebellious ſeede.

For, as in the beginning they rebelled againſt their Almighty God, ſo doe they ſtill repugne againſt him, refuſing to bee gouerned according to his will, & the ordinance which he hath appoynted to gouerne them by, for by their husbands now many of them will not bee gouerned, they will gouerne both themſeluesMany women very vnquiet, if they may not hauehave the rule of the whole family, which by them ought not ſo to be. and their Husbands, yea and the whole family too, or elſe there ſhall bee no quiet rule there, ſo that now it is growne to a prouerbe, that where the wife beareth the ſway, the houſe is the quieter all the day: is not this badge giuen you to your p. 55ſhame? and yet you will not ſee it, in theſe dayes the Diuell hath ſo bewitched you, that many of you do not ſtick to ſay, that your Husbands hauehave not wit enough to performe ſuch matters: think you that he that gaue them their authority, cannot giuegive them wit enough to peforme that charge which hee committeth vntounto them, but that you muſt bee vmpire and iudge too in your owne cauſe, to take the authority out of his hand, and as falſe vſurpers make vſe of that authority to which you hauehave no lawfull right?

If you ſuppoſe ſuch a defectIf any defect be in the Huſband, how it ſhould bee redreſſed. to be in them, why doe not you rather pray for them, that God may ſupply their defects and wants? but it is too common a thing amongſt you now a dayes, to make your choyſe of ſuch p. 56men as you may thus deale withall, and I would ſome of you did indent before marriage for theſe things: but ſuch womē as would rather hauehave fooliſh Husbands, whome they might rule, rather then to bee ruled by ſober wiſe men, are like to him that would rather bee led of a blind man in an vnknown way, then to follow one that can ſee & know the way well. Oh that your ſuppoſed knowledge or wiſedome on which you ſo much depend, would open vntounto you the danger in which you ſtand by committing this error! but it cannot, ſo long as your wils do not with all obedience, ſubiect themſelues vntounto the will & commandement of him vntounto whom all power ſhould yeeld their obedience.

The Seauenth Chapter.

I Had almoſt ouerſlipt the repetition of an vndutifull Wife of whom we reade in Scripture, but I may not, for it is worthy your beſt conſideration, I meane of Vaſta Queene and wife of Ahaſhueroſh Eſter. 1.the great King of Perſia & Media, whom vponupon a certaine feaſt day the King commanded to bee brought before him in her great eſtate of pompe, euen with the Crowne Royall vponupon her head, that as his louelove was great vntounto her, ſo ſhee beeing brought vntounto him in that glorious pompe which hee deſired, the delights p. 58of his heart might be ſatiſfied in her comely and beautifull perſon, and likewiſe his Princes & Peeres might ſee the ſame.

And wee would thinke that this was but a ſmall requeſt which the King required of her, & yet many a man doth require as little as this at the hands of his wife, or leſſe, and yet obtaines it not: well, the ſtorie telleth vsus ſhee did no better, but euen ſo, for though ſhee were a Queene, and ſhould hauehave been a patterne of obedience vntounto all women, both in her Court & Kingdome, yet ſhee refuſed to come, and would not come, although commanded by her Husband, yea, & that a King.

But Ecce, Ecce, behold, behold, ſhe refuſing to come to her Husband with the Crowne on her head who gaue it her, and firſt p. 59placed it there, her royalty and regaltie was therefore taken from her by him as vnworthy of ſuch a glory, and becauſe ſhe refuſed to bee obedient vntounto the Commandement of her Husband, whom ſhee ought with all reuerence to hauehave obeyed, ſhee was not onelyonly reiected of her Husband for being Queene, butA Queene puniſhed for diſobedience vntounto her Husband. vtterly abandoned of him for euer, and diuorced from him by law: nay, this was not all, for it was not long before ſhee ſaw another enioy that maieſty honour and pleaſure which ſhe but lately poſſeſſed, & by her owne folly loſt, & what greater hartgriefe in the world can come to a woman then this, to ſee her ſelfe degraded and diſgraced, & another to poſſeſſe that honour which was hers, before her face? and thus ſhee which ſhould hauehave p. 60beene a mirror vntounto others in her obedience, is now made for diſobedience a mirror vntounto all women in her puniſhment: I could not omit this hiſtorie being ſo fitting to this matter of the wiues obedience: but ſhall I tell you good wiues, it is well for you that this law is not executed now in theſe dayes amongſt vsus, for I aſſure you if it were, we ſhould hauehave Ten wiues diuorſed before one buried, ſo apt are you to peforme this bad act of diſobedience.

And therefore I cannot yet paſſe it ouer, for the Apoſtle doth open this poynt of duty vntounto you very plaine, and therfore I beſeech you bee not ignorant of it, but marke it well, I recited the words in the former Chapter: Hee would hauehave you ſo ſubiect your ſelues to your Husbands, that p. 61euen they which beleeue not the word, may without the word be won by your conuerſation, when they ſhall behold your conuerſation in feare.

See, you muſt ſo ſubiect yourThe Wife ought to be fearefull of giuing any cauſe of offence vntounto her Husband. ſelues vntounto them, that you ſhall euen feare to giuegive any occaſion of offence vntounto them. I know there bee many that will not like of this, that the wife ſhould ſo ſubiect her ſelfe vntounto her Husband, that ſhee ſhal ſtand in feare of him, and yet it muſt be ſo, for do we not reade that God commandeth that eueryevery man ſhall ſtand in feare of his Father and Mother, he doth not ſay that eueryevery child onelyonly ſhall feare, but that eueryevery man ſhal feare, if then it muſt bee ſo, how much more ſhould the woman performe this vntounto her Husband, vnderunder whoſe ſubiection he hath committed her as a portion of her p. 62puniſhment for her diſobedience vntounto him.

But will you know what kindWhat kinde of feare it is which is required of women towards their husband of feare this is which is here required, and how it muſt be performed? for it is not a ſlauiſh kind of feare which is here required where the Apoſtle ſayth, your cōuerſation muſt be in feare, but here is required of you a holy conuerſatiō, zealous towards God and pure and vndefiled towards the world, with vertue, chaſtity, modeſty, temperance, ſobriety, faithfulneſſe, and louing obedience, for ſurely ſhee that is fully poſſeſſed with theſe vertues, will ſo louelove and ſo liue that ſhee will feare to offend her Husband, but rather yeeld all humility and obedience for the commandement ſake, & thus by this holy cariage of your ſelues, ſhall you winne thoſe that are without p. 63the knowledge of God or his word, to the knowledg both of him and his word, when they ſhall behold your godly converſation in feare.

And ſee farther the mercy of our good God, vntounto whom he hath cōmitted you to be gouerned by, not vntounto your enemies or vntounto ſtrangers, but vntounto a kind & louing Husband, vntounto whom you are as neere as the very fleſh vntounto his skin, and as deare vntounto him as the aple of his eye, whoſe tender harted affections are alwaies yeelding vntounto a dutifull & louing wife. I hope now that good wiues will willingly yeeld vntounto this their duty of obedience vntounto their Husbands, ſeeing by whom it is commanded, and to whom it ought to be done.

And the rather for that the mercy of God doth extend it p. 64ſelfe vntounto them euen to the full, in that notwithſtanding their tranſgreſſion againſt him, yet he hath ordayned them to eternall ſalvation by the merits of his1. Tim. 2.1 Tim 2 beloued Sonne, the words are worthy your beſt obſeruation, and theſe they are: Notwithſtanding through bearing of Children ſhee ſhall bee ſaued, if they continue in the faith, and louelove, and holineſſe with modeſty: ſee here the benefit of Mariage which bringeth ſo great a bleſſing with it: And note I beſeech you, you that are women of vnderſtanding, here is ſaluatiō offered vntounto you by bearing of Children indeed, but it is with a prouiſo if, if you continue in the faith, and louelove, and holineſſe with modeſty: you muſt yeeld allThe firſt duty of the Wife is obedience. harty obedience vntounto the bleſſed will of God, elſe what is the fruits of your faith? or where is p. 65it, or the hope of your ſaluatiō? ſo you ſee it alludes vntounto al theſe vertues I formerly ſpake of, and the obedience which God himſelfe commandeth, for all theſe ſhould bee in women: for if you marke it, as it is worthy your marking, you ſhall ſee that al our poeticall paynters, whereſoeuer they doe paynt or ſet forth any of the vertues, as Faith, Hope, Eight chiefe vertues which ought to be in women.LoueLove, Charity, Patience, Chaſtity, Temperance, Humility, & the like, all theſe they doe not ſet forth vntounto vsus in the ſhaddow of men, but in the ſhaddow of women, ſhewing thereby, that in them theſe vertues dwell, or ſhould at the leaſtwiſe. I will run no farther in this poynt of obedience, but will turne mee to the next duty of the Wife, which is LoueLove.

The Eight Chapter.

ANd now concerning the duty of LoueLoveThe ſecond duty of the Wife, is LoueLove. which eueryevery woman ought to performe vntounto her Husband, I hauehave in ſome manner touched it before as occaſion ſerued in the duty of obedience, for indeed they are as too twins, they goe hand in hand one with another, and may not well beeObedience and LoueLove ought not to be ſeparated. ſeparated, for where there is true obedience rightly performed, there alſo louelove will be attendant, & as an agent helpe to performe the buſineſſe, and in deed it is ſo naturall a thing for a woman to p. 67louelove a man, that we would think ſhe needed not be prompted or to bee inſtructed in this poynt, but to performe it truly & faithfully as it ought to be. I thinke wee ſhall ſcarce find one in fiue that doth it, no not among ten, I pray God there bee one in 20: And yet I make no doubt but that a woman loueth her Husband when ſhe marrieth with him▪ but the Apoſtle ſaith, ſhee muſt continue in louelove.

Why then it appeareth that the louelove ſhee muſt performe vntounto her Husband, muſt be like the ring wherwith he marrieth her,What the Marriage ring doth ſignifie. it muſt hauehave no end, it muſt continue as long as ſhee continues to him, yea if it be to the end of her life: and as the ring is not of any mixt or baſe mettall, but of the moſt precious & pure mettal which may be: ſo it teacheth the p. 68woman that the louelove ſhee muſt performe vnno her Husband, muſt bee pure, holy, and chaſt, it muſt allow no mixture, no copartner in this fellowſhip, but ſhe muſt remember to performe the vow ſhee made in the preſence of God, and before his Saints at the time of her Marriage, that ſhee would keepe her ſelfe onelyonly vntounto him ſo long as ſhee ſhould liue with him: and this you ſee the ceremony or vſe of the ring teacheth, and therefore with great and good conſideration hath our Church ordayned the vſe of it, and great in the error of thoſe men which refuſe at ſuch times to make vſe of it.

And now I hauehave begune to ſpeake of this vow which the woman maketh vntounto her Husband at the time of her Marriage, p. 69it giueth me an occaſion to take notice of the ſmall regard that women for the moſt part doe take of this buſineſſe, for if wee note the conuerſation ofA woman ought to hauehave regard of the vow that ſhee maketh at the time of her marriage. Wiues vntounto their Husbands in theſe times, it will appeare (as I ſayd) for the moſt part, that they neuer regard that vow they made, or know that they hauehave made any at all, for ſure I thinke there bee ſome ſo brutiſh they know it not, but rather thinke they bee but words of courſe or ceremonial rites of the Church, and not concerne them at all, yea, I doe know there bee ſuch, but alaſſe their errors is exceeding great in taking ſo little regard of ſo waighty a cauſe.

But I beſeech you in the feareNote. of God, note what I ſhal ſay vntounto you concerning this matter, for you ſhal ſee it is a vow which p. 70ſhee promiſeth with her lips, yea and a great vow, and ſuch a one as in the whole courſe of her life ſhee cannot make a greater, for if a woman ſhall ſay or proteſtNumb. 5.Num 5 ſhe will doe ſuch or ſuch a thing, this is a vow, ſhee bindeth her ſelfe to performe it, but as I ſaid before: If her Husband hearing her ſhall diſallow of it, and ſhall ſay ſhee ſhall not doe it, ſhee is then freed from her vow becauſe of his authority ouer her, and it is ſayd, the Lord ſhall forgiue her for vowing, ſo we ſee then it is a ſinne for a woman to vow or proteſt to doe any thing if ſhe performe it not, vnleſſe it bee contradicted by her Husband.

But here the caſe is otherwiſe and farre more greater, for whē ſhee commeth to be Married to a man, ſhee is then ſolie of her ſelfe, & free from the command p. 71of any, and hath free liberty to doe then for her ſelfe what ſheeHow great a ſinne it is to breake the vow made in Matrimony. will, and therefore her vow ſhee then maketh is of very great effect, and it is as great a ſinne to breake it, great indeed, in the regard of theſe things, the place where ſhee made it, the houſe of God, the congregation there the Saints of God, but far more greater in reſpect ſhee is demanded if ſhe (will performe theſe things) by the Angell and Miniſter of God in Gods behalfe, & ſhee then there anſwereth ſhe will.

So wee find when God had determined to giuegive his choſen people the Children of Iſraell his law, whereby they might know how to performe their duty vntounto him, hee ſent his ſeruant Moſes vntounto them, to know if they would performe the law p. 72which he was to giuegive them, and they anſwered they would performe it, but as rhe Lord did tell them after hee had giuen them the Lawes, That if they did not regard his Commandements and obey Ex…. 19.his will, hee would ſend his puniſhment A proofe by example that God will puniſh the breach of the vow made in matrimony.vponupon them in abundance, vntill hee had vtterly conſumed them: ſo I muſt ſay vntounto eueryevery woman that regardeth not her vow and promiſe which ſhee maketh at the time of her marriage, and doth not endeauour to performe the ſame as ſhee ought to doe, let her aſſure her ſelfe ſhee ſhall no leſſe expect the iudgement and puniſhment of God, then they did.

Looke in your Booke of commonThe Booke of common prayer, a looking glaſſe for women to ſee their duties in Prayer in the ſolemnizatiō of Matrimony, and there you ſhall ſee what you hauehave vowed to performe, it is that you will p. 73liue with your Husbands according to the ordinance and Commandements of God, that you will obey and ſerue them, and this you ſee God hath commanded you to doe, & what greater vow then this can you make? and it followeth more there, that you vow to louelove, honour, and keepe them in ſickneſſe and in health, ſo here you ſee that louelove is the next thing for the woman here to doe, and this alſo ſhee voweth freely of her ſelfe to performe: alſo the next and laſt ſhee voweth to forſake all other men, and to keepe her ſelfe wholy & onelyonly to her Husband, here is the effect and end of her louelove, to be chaſt, pure, and without ſpot, this is the louelove which wiues ought to performe to their Husbands, & I know all thoſe which feare God will acknowledge & p. 74performe as much▪ but I appeale vntounto themſelues (euen againſt their owne ſect) if there bee not too many in theſe dayes, which liue ſo brutiſh, ſo obſtinate and rebellious againſt God and thei… Husbands, that they ſeeme not to know that either they owe this louelove as a duty vntounto their Husbands, or hauehave made ſo great a vow to performe it.

Looke but into one of their actes, & let the reſt (though many) alone, I meane their breach of wedlocke, thoſe Adultrous workes, and then where is this louelove? how many forſake their Husbands vntounto whom they hauehave made this vow of LoueLove and chaſtity, and yet liue adulterouſly with other men: oh how manyThe abhomominable whoredome of women. hauehave their ſecret friends & loues as they terme them at home in their Husbands abſence, or meeting p. 75them abroad in priuate places! nay, haunting common brothell houſes, ſo inſatiate, that euen whores in ſtewes are not more common: and what is the cauſe of this, but their diſobedience vntounto the Commandement of God which would direct thē to performe this duty of LoueLove holily as it ought to be, if they would.

But ſhall I diſplay their actions abroad with my pen? oh no, if I ſhould, I ſhould weary my ſelfe with writing and you in reading it, they themſelues by their lewd actions dayly committed, doe too much explaine themſelues to the world, and therefore to tell ſuch their duty to their Husbands, which will not learne to performe their duty towards GOD, will bee but vaine, before ſuch ſwine, I will not caſt p. 76ſuch pearles. But to thoſe which deſire to know their duty, to the end they may performe it, to theſe I write ſtill, let their louelove bee pure and ſteadfaſt, and their whole conuerſation ſo holy, that as the Apoſtle telleth them, others may bee wonne by their godly enſamples, and ſo ſhall they themſelues be brought vntounto eternall happineſſe.

The Ninth Chapter.

OVr bleſſed Apoſtle hauing giuen inſtructiōs vntounto▪ Women how they ought to behaue themſelues towards their Husbands, now proceedes to giuegive inſtructions vntounto them, alſo how to tyre and array themſelues, whoſe apparrell (ſayth he) ſhall 1. Pet. 3.1 Pet 3not bee outward with brayded haire and hanging on of gold, or in putting Women ought not to array themſelues in gorgeous apparell, but in decent a…tir…on of gorgeous array, but let the inward man of the heart be vncorrupt with a meeke and quiet ſpirit, which before God is much ſet by, for after this manner in the old time did the holy women which truſted p. 78in God ttyre themſelues, &… were obedient vntounto their Husbands euen as Sarah obeyed Abraham and called him Lord, againe in another place (he fayth) let the women array themſelues in 1. Tim. ….comely apparrell with ſhamefoſtneſſe and modeſty, not with broyded hayre or gold, or pearles or coſtly apparrell, but as becommeth women which profeſſe the feare of God with good workes.

I doe not a little admire thatMany women hauehave read concerning theſe things, yet make no good vſe of it, as they ought to doe. ſo many women which would bee accounted wiſe in their knowledge, & hauehave themſelues ſo often read theſe things, and been ſo long inſtructed in theſe principals, yet ſeeme either not that euer they themſelues hauehave read ſuch things, or euer hauehave heard them of others, for I am ſure ſo it ſeemeth in theſe dayes amongſt them, for the moſt p. 79part, but ſhal I tell you, you hauehave learned from the greateſt to the meaneſt, and the eldeſt to the yongeſt, to adore & decke your ſelues according to the faſhions of the world, which ſhall periſh and they which delight in them, but to array & decke your ſelues with modeſty and ſhamefaſtnes, and ſuch comely apparrell as becommeth thoſe that profeſſe the feare of God, in this you are all to ſeeke or diſdaine to learne to know, although God by his word commandeth it of you.

But if there bee any amongſt you which maketh conſcience of theſe things, and ſo ſtriue to liue according as they ought toWomen giuē to pride, mockers, and ſcoffers of thoſe whia… do religiouſly reforme them ſelues. doe, are not ſuch diſdayned and ſcorned of the reſt, & brāded by you with the name of Puritane & holy ſiſter? but where is your purity and holineſſe while you p. 80thus deride others in their well-doing? I anſwer you, if you will not endeauour to bee holy and pure whiles you are here vponupon earth, you ſhall neuer become Saints in heauen, but rather Diuels in hell, For bleſſed are the pur… in heart (ſaith our Sauiour Chriſt)Mat. 5.Matt 5 for they ſhall ſee God.

And hee himſelfe which beſt did know what was fit for you, did make your cloathing but of beaſts skinnes at the firſt, and when he ſent his Sonne into the world, hee did not ſend him by any Princes, or Lady of great ranke, or amongſt the proudA note for to pull downe the pride of women. ones of the world, hee deſpiſed your pompe and pride, and did chuſe a poore humble Virgin to be mother of his Sonne, & when he liued amongſt vsus, wee finde not that he gaue vsus any example of pride, but of humility: his p. 81garments were without lace or welt, yea, without ſeame alſo.

But if we view them in theſe dayes as they rae arrayed, wee would thinke that Hell were emptied of al her deuiſes, toyes, trickes and faſhions, & that women had got them all: for all that God hath made vnderunder heauen, the whole earth and the ſea, with all the creatures thereinIn all the whole earth not ſufficient to ſatsfie the pride of Women. are not ſufficient to ſatiſfie the pride of women in theſe dayes, the entrailes of the earth are dayly torne & rent to ſeeke for gold to adorne you with, the bottomeleſſe ſea & the poore fiſhes are dayly robbed to finde you pearles to deck your ſelues with, & the hard rockes digged down to find you variety of precious ſtones, nay, hauehave you not robbed all the creatures of God, both beaſts, birds, and wormes p. 82to furniſh vp this your pride? & yet all this will not ſerue to ſatisfie you, but ſtill you keepe yourNo marvaile if all that God hath made wil not ſerue to ſatisfie them, when his own worke will not content them in themſelues. workeman the Diuell in worke to find you more new faſhions, and made him make a iourney from hell to bring you beauty to paynt your ſelues withall, for from heauen I am ſure you had it not.

Oh woe bee to that ſoule on whoſe face God ſhall with anger looke, denying to know it becauſe it is not as hee made it! no maruaile though al that God hath made vnderunder heauen will not ſatiſfie your pride, when the workes of Gods owne handes in your ſelues will not content you, but that you will alter that: In all the hiſtories of the Scriptures. I neuer read but of one wicked woman that euer vſed this wicked art of paynting, p. 83(I meane Iezabel) & yet the iudgmentsKing. 9. of God vponupon her, in ſuffering the dogges to eate and conſume her, will not draw you from vſing this paynting trade, but ſtill you prouoke him to anger & ſtirre vp his iudgements againſt you dayly, with your abnominable pride, wherein you excell all that euer were before you. I know you wil thinke I am too bold with you, thus to meddle with your arraying your ſelues, in ſuch manner or faſhiōs as you pleaſe to vſe them, but thinke what you will, and ſay what you will, I muſt and will diſcharge my conſcience, the matter it ſelfe giueth me cauſe to doe it, being a duty of ſo great importance, belonging vntounto womē to reforme the abuſes thereof: and for which not only you your ſelues ſhal beare your owne p. 84deſtructions, but they alſo which hauehave the gouernement of you, becauſe they hauehave ſuffered you to commit ſuch thinges, I meane the Husbands of ſuch women.

Nay, this is not all, I would it ended ſo: but woe, woe be vntounto you, whoſe pride ſhall be notThe pride of woman, the deſtruction of themſelues & Husbands, & the whole common wealth where they liue. onelyonly the deſtruction of your ſelues and Husbands, but of the whole common wealth wherein you liue: of you becauſe you committed this ſinne, & of them becauſe they ſuffered you to cō mit it. Is it not then high time to write and ſpeake againſt this ſinne, and thoſe which commit it? yes, if either or both may be regarded: I write not theſe things from my owne braines, I menace you not, it is not I but the Lord that threatneth you & the whole land for it, looke into the third of Eſay, and ſee there p. 85what hee ſayth vntounto your pride.

Becauſe the Daughters of Sion are haughty, and walke with ſtretched-out neckes, and with wandring eyes, walking and minſing as they goe, and making a tinckling with their feete, therefore ſhall the Lord make the heads of the daughters of Sion bald, and the Lord ſhal diſcouer their ſecret parts, in that day ſhal the Lord take away the ornament of the ſlippers, and the calls, and the round tyers, the ſweete balls, and the bracelets, 3. Eſaythe bonnets, and the tyres of the head, & the ſlops, & the headbands, & the tablets, and the eare-rings, the rings and the mufflers, the coſtly apparrell, and the vailes, and the wi…ples, and the criſping pinnes, and the glaſſes, and the fine linnen, If God puniſh his owne peculiar people for their pride what can you expect.the hoods, and the lawnes: And in ſtead of ſweete ſauours, there ſhall bee ſtincke, & inſtead of a girdle, a rent, and in ſtead of dreſſing the hayre▪ p. 86baldneſſe, in ſtead of a ſtomacher, … girdle with ſack-cloath, and burning in ſtead of beauty, thy men ſhall fall by the ſword, and thy ſtrength in the battle: Then ſhall her gates mourne and lament, and ſhee being deſolate ſhall ſit vponupon the ground. Now you paynted butterflies of our time, which with the Camelion change your ſelues into all colours, what ſay you to theſe things? you ſee here what iudgements God threatneth to bring vponupon his owne choſen people, becauſe of the pride of the daughters of Sion, & you farre exceede them in all things, & yet thinke you to eſcape vnpuniſhed?

The prophet ſayth, that they were ſo proud that they went mincing & tinckling with their feet, but you are grown ſo proud that your feet may not beare you but that you muſt bee carried in p. 87Coaches & drawne with horſes, which (though it be an honour wherewith Kinges and Princes are pleaſed to grace their well reſpected ſubiects with) yet is it vnfit that Courtizans ſhould be coached, which ſhould rather be carted. I would it were not ſo, they were content with fine linnen, but no linnen or lawnes bee it neuer ſo pure, wil content you, but it muſt be died into collours, blue was, and now yellow is, & primroſe, and ſtrawe colour, & I know not what, but blacke will bee the next aſſure your ſelues, for as your pride hath excelled all before you, ſo I feare that your puniſhments when they come, will exceed all that were before you. I ſhould bee tedious vntounto the reader, ſhould I run farre into this poynt of the pride of women, but it is not my purpoſe p. 88to doe it, but rather to follow the example of the Apoſtle which telleth them that ſuch thinges ought not to be, and to wiſh them that they would array themſelues as becommeth women which profeſſe the faith of Ieſus Chriſt, in comely apparrell, with ſhamefaſtneſſe & modeſty, that the word of God bee not euill ſpoken of through you.

The Tenth Chapter.

THere bee yet many duties more, which are very needfull for women both to learne & to obſerue, as appeareth by the inſtructions which the bleſſed Apoſtle gaue vntounto his Sonne Titus, whereby to inſtruct theTimo. 2. p. 89Creets with, wherein he inſtructeth the elder women, that their behauiour bee ſuch as becommeth holineſſe, not falſe accuſers, not giuen to much wine, but teachers of honeſt things, that they may inſtruct the yonger women to be ſober minded, thatThe good properties which ought to be in women. they louelove their Huabands, that they louelove their Children, that they be diſcreet, chaſt, keeping at home, good and ſubiect to their Husbands, that the word of God be not euill ſpoken of, but many of theſe things I hauehave in ſome ſort touched before, only here I would hauehave women take noriſe of a thing or two not yet ſpoken of, and ſo I will draw to a concluſion.

The Apoſtle warneth them not to be falſe accuſers, and this toucheth buſie bodies of our time, which will goe pratling, to p. 90carrie newes and bring debatesThe Husbands ſmart ſometimes for the wiues tongues. and contention amongſt neighbours, by lying and ſlaunderouſe ſpeeches, ſo that many times the men ſmart for the womens tongus and neighbours liue at great varience one with another which otherwiſe would liue in louelove and peace together. This ought not to be amongſt womē, but to be ſuch as Salomō ſpeaketh of in the laſt of his Prouerbs, who ſpeaking there of a vertuous woman, ſhee will (ſaith he) open her mouth with wiſedome, and the law of grace is in her tongue, & doing thus, ſhould they bee able to performe the things here commanded, and to inſtruct others in the duties belonging vntounto them.

Againe, hee commandeth that women be not giuen to much wine, & I would that women were more p. 91carefull to auoyd this ſinne thenWomen ought not to delight in much drinking of wine or ſtrong drinke. they be, for wee hauehave too many women-drunkards amongſt vsus, as well as men-drunkards now adayes, the more is the pitty, but woe bee to thoſe that riſe vp early to follow drunkeneſſe, and to them that continue vntill night, till the wine do enflame them: & woe be to them that Ecclu. …6.are mighty to drinke wine, and to thē that are ſtrong to powre in ſtrong drinke, great is the plague of a drunken woman (ſaith the wiſe man) for ſhee cannot couer her owne ſhame, we hauehave example of this in Noah and Lot, (though otherwaies a righteous man) yet being drunke with wine, cōmitted Inceſt with his owne Daughters.

And euen in theſe dayes wee ſee many that hauehave waſted greatIll diſeaſes & beggery the fruits of drunkenneſſe. ſubſtance by this meanes, and ſome bringing themſelues to diſeaſes, & ſhortning their owne p. 92dayes by inordinate drinking, theſe are the fruits of exceſſe, drinking and taking delight in wine and ſtrong drinke, therefore very great care had women need to take of themſelues that they be not giuen to much wine, or to take delight in ſtrong drinke.

Another thing I note that the Apoſtle doth admoniſh women of, and that is, that they bee homekeepers, or keepers of their owne houſes, hence it is that the woman is often called the howſe-wife, not the ſtreet wife, ſhee muſt be no gadder abroad, ſhee muſt not ſpinne ſtreat thread as too many doe, which when they hauehave forced their Husbands to lay more vponupon their backes, then he is able to put in his purſe along time after, their owne houſe will not hold them, but they muſt gad p. 93from this place to that place, andWomen ought not to bee gaddars abroad, but keepers of their owne houſes. eueryevery where, to ſhow their pride and their Husbands follie, thus did not that vertuous woman which I told you of before, which Salomon ſpeakes of, it will not bee amiſſe if I doe diſcribe her vntounto you, for ſurely ſhe that performeth that which the bleſſed Apoſtles hauehave here taught concerning the duty of Wiues, will omit nothing of that vertuous woman hee ſpeaketh of, or come ſhort of her perfections, and theſe are the words.

Who ſhal finde a vertuous woman, for her price is far aboue the pearles, the heart of her Husband truſteth in her, and hee ſhall hauehave no need of ſpoyles, ſhee will doe him good, and not ill all the dayes of her life, ſhee ſeeketh wooll and flaxe, and laboureth chearefully with her hands, ſhee is like the Shippes of Marchants, ſhee p. 94bringeth her foode from farr, and ſhe The diſcription of a good Wife.riſeth while it is yet night, and giueth the portion to her houſhold, and the ordinary to her maides, ſhee conſidereth a field and getteth it, and with the fruit of her hands ſhee planteth a Vineyard, ſhee girdeth her loynes with ſtrength, and ſtrengtheneth her armes, ſhee feeleth that her marchandiſe is good, and her candle is not put Pro. 31.Prov 31out by night, ſhee putteth her hands to the wheele, and her hands to the ſpindle, ſhee ſtretcheth out her hands to the poore, & putteth out her hands to the needy, ſhe feareth not the ſnow, for her family, for all her family are cloathed with ſcarlet, ſhe maketh her ſelfe carpets, fine linnen and purple is her garments, her Husband is known in the gates when hee ſitteth with the elders of the land, ſhe maketh ſheetes and ſelleth them, and giueth girdles vntounto the Marchants, ſtrength and honour is her cloathing, and in the p. 95latter day ſhee ſhall reioyſe, ſhee openeth her mouth with wiſedome and the law of grace is in her tongue, ſhee ouerſeeth the waies of her Houſhould, and eateth not the bread of idleneſſe, her Children riſe vp and call her bleſſed, her Husband ſhall prayſe her ſaying, many daughters hauehave done vertuouſly, but thou ſurmounteſt them all, fauour is deceitfull, and beauty is vanity, but a woman that feareth the Lord, ſhee ſhall bee prayſed, giuegive her the fruit of her hands, and let her owne workes prayſe her in the gates.

I hope now I ſhall not need to amplifie this duty of Wiues any further, ſeeing I hauehave already laboured thus farre in it, I will therefore conclude, leauing you to the conſideratiō of theſe things, & you to the tuitiō of our good God, whome I do beſeech to looke mercifully vponupon vsus all, p. 96and by his grace and powerfull ſpirit, to worke in our harts a true and ſpeedy reformation of our ſinfull liues, that ſo by the holy interceſſion of our bleſſed Mediator, and the merits of his bleſſed paſſion, wee may enioy that bleſſedneſſe, which eueryevery good ſoule doth long to enioy.

Amen.