Of Domestical Duties, Treatise 3 · Section 11 – Section 19
§. 11. Of *Treat. 4. §. 15.wiue-like courteſie and obeyſance.
Courteſie is that vertue whereby a wife taketh occaſion to teſtifie her acknowledgement of her husbands ſuperiority by ſome outward obeyſance to him. Rebekah, ſo ſoone as ſhe ſaw Iſaak, whom ſhe had taken for her husband, lighted from her Camell and came to him on foot, which was a kinde of obeyſance. This is not ſo to be taken as if no difference were to be made betwixt the carriage of a ſeruant, or childe, and a wife: or as if a wife ſhould bow at eueryevery word that ſhe ſpeaketh to her husband. Though in the kinde and extent of many duties the ſame things are required of wiues which are required of children and ſeruants, becauſe God hath made them all inferiours, and exacted ſubiection of all: yet in the manner and meaſure of many duties there is great difference: as in this, the obeyſance of children and ſeruants ought to be more ſubmiſſiue, and more frequent. Yet becauſe God hath placed authority in the husband ouer his wife, ſhe is eueryevery way to teſtifie her reuerend reſpect of her husband, and therefore at ſome times, on ſome occaſions (as when he is going on a iourney for a time from her, or when he returneth home againe, or when ſhe hath a ſolemne and great ſute to make vntounto him, or when he offereth an eſpeciall and extraordinary fauour vntounto her, or (as I hauehave obſerued ſuch wiues as know what beſeemeth their place, and are not aſhamed to manifeſt as much) when ſhe ſitteth 1. A wiuelike courteſie worketh a good reſpect in her huſband to her.downe or riſeth vp from table) to declare her reuerence by ſome obeyſance. This cannot but much worke on the heart of a good and kinde husband, and make him the more to reſpect his wife, when he beholdeth this euidence of her reſpect to him. Yea it cannot but be a good patterne to children 2. It maketh her husband be honoured of others.and ſeruants, and a motiue to ſtirre them vp to yeeld all ſubmiſſiue obeyſance both to her husband and to her ſelfe. For it may make them thus to reaſon with themſelues, ſhall 3. It bringeth honour to her ſelfe.we ſcorne or thinke much to yeeld that to our father or maſter which our mother or miſtreſſe thinketh not much to yeeld to her husband? ſhall-ſhe bow to him, and ſhall not we much more bow to her? Thus a wiues honouring of her husband by yeelding obeyſance to him, maketh both him and her ſelfe to be more honoured of others.
Contrarily minded are they, who not only altogether omit Contrary ſcorne in wiues.this dutie, but alſo gibe and ſcoffe at the very hearing thereof, ſaying, thus wiues ſhall be made no better then children or ſeruants. But though ſcornefull dames deride theſe outward euidences of their ſubiection, yet ſuch wiues as feare the Lord ought not to be hindered thereby from doing their dutie: for by ſuch euill examples they might be diſcouraged from eueryevery good dutie. It is ſufficient that ſuch holy women as truſted in God ſo behaued themſelues. But for this particular, we know that equals ſcorne not vponupon occaſions to performe this kinde of courteſie in making obeyſance one to another: how much leſſe ought wiues, who are their husbands inferiours?
§. 12. Of *Treat. 4. §. 49, 52. 1 Tim. 2 9. 1 Pet. 3. 3.wife-like modeſtie in apparell.
Modeſtie appertaining to a wife is much manifeſted in her apparell. S. Paul requireth this modeſtie in generall of all ſorts of women: but S. Peter preſſeth it in particular vponupon wiues. For as it well beſeemeth all women, ſo wiues after a peculiar manner, namely, in attiring themſelues, to reſpect rather their husbands place and ſtate, then their owne birth and parentage, but much rather then their owne minde and humour. A wiues modeſtie therefore requireth that her apparell be neither for coſtlineſſe aboue her husbands abilitie, nor for curiouſneſſe vn beſeeming his calling. As a poore mans wife muſt not affect coſtly apparell, ſo neither Miniſters, graue Counſellours, ſage Magiſtrates, no nor conſcionable Profeſſours wiues, hunt after new faſhions, or in light and gariſh apparell attire themſelues. It is a token of great reuerence in a wife towards her husband, to hauehave an eye to his place and ſtate in her apparell.
On the contrarie, ſuch proud daines as muſt hauehave their owne will in their attire, and thinke it nothing appertaineth Contrarie wiues attire not fitting their huſbands ſtate or place.to their husbands to order them therein, who care not what their husbands abilitie, or what his place and calling be, they ſhew little reſpect and reuerence to their husbands. Such are they, who are no whit moued with their husbands example: but though the mans apparell be plaine and graue, yet the wiues ſhall be coſtly and gariſh. Yea many there be that ſtand in ſome more awe of their husbands ſight, but ſhew little more reſpect vntounto him, who hauehave their ſilken gownes, Beauer hats, and other like attire not agreeable to their place and ſtate, lie in the countrey, if they be of the citie; or in the citie, if they be of the countrey, in a friends houſe where their husbands ſhall Quae ſe pingit comitque ſecus quàm viro gratum eſſe nouit, ſatis declarat ſeſe pluribus velle placcre quàm oportet mulierem pudicam, cuius praecipua laus eſt vni placuiſſe cui deſponſata eſt. Eraſm. Inſtit. Matr.not know it, and when their husbands are not with them, weare them, and paint their faces, lay out their haire, and in euerie thing follow the faſhion. What can they which behold this thinke, but that ſuch a wiues care is more to pleaſe other light vaine perſons, then her graue, diſcreet husband: or that her husband can nothing at all preuaile with her: which as it ſtaineth her owne credit, ſo it leaueth a blot of diſhonour euen vponupon him. If the care of a wife were to giuegive euidence of the reuerence which ſhe beareth to her husband, his deſire and example would in this reſpect more preuaile with her, then the humour of her owne heart.
§. 13. Of a wiues *Treat. 4. §. 24.reuerend ſpeech to her husband.
As by geſture, ſo by ſpeech alſo, muſt a wiues reuerence be manifeſted: this muſt be anſwerable to that. For by words as well as by deeds, the affection of the heart is manifeſted, aMatt. 12. 34.Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth ſpeaketh. A wiues reuerence is manifeſted by her ſpeech, both in her husbands preſence, and alſo in his abſence. For this end in his preſence her words muſt be few, reuerend and meeke. Firſt few: For the A wiues words in her huſbands preſence muſt be few.Apoſtle enioyneth b1 Tim. 2. 12.ſilence to wiues in their husbands preſence, and inforceth that dutie with a ſtrong reaſon in theſe words: I permit not the woman to vſurpe authoritie ouer the man, but to be in ſilence: the inference of the latter clauſe vponupon the former ſheweth that he ſpeaketh not only of a womans ſilence in the Church, but alſo of a wiues ſilence before her husband: which is further cleared by another like place, where the ſame Apoſtle enioyneth wiues to c1 Cor. 14. 35.learne of their husbands at home. The reaſon before mentioned for ſilence, on the one ſide implieth a reuerend ſubiection, as on the other ſide too much ſpeech implieth an vſurpation of authoritie.
Obiect. Then belike a wife muſt be alwayes mute before her husband.
Anſw. No ſuch matter: for ſilence in that place is not oppoſed to ſpeech, as if ſhe ſhould not ſpeake at all, but to loquacitie, to talkatiueneſſe, to ouer-much tatling: her husbands preſence muſt ſome what reſtraine her tongue, and ſo will her verie ſilence teſtifie a reuerend reſpect. Otherwiſe ſilence, as it is oppoſed to ſpeech, would imply ſtoutneſſe of ſtomacke, and ſtubbornneſſe of heart, which is an extreme contrarie to loquacitie. But the meane betwixt both, is for a wife to be ſparing in ſpeech, to expect a fit time and iuſt occaſion of ſpeech, to be willing to hearken to the word of knowledge comming out of her husbands mouth. This argueth reuerence. dIob 32. 6.Elihu manifeſted thereuerend reſpect, which as a younger he bare to his elders, by for bearing to ſpeake while they had any thing to ſay. How much more ought wiues in regard both of their ſex and of their place?
Contrarie is their practiſe, who muſt and will hauehave all the Contrarie too much prate.prate. If their husbands hauehave begun to ſpeake, their ſlipperie tongues cannot expect and tarrie till he hauehave done: if (as verie haſtile and forward they are to ſpeake) they preuent not their husbands, they will ſurely take the tale out of his mouth before he hauehave done: Thus-they diſgrace themſelues, and diſhonour their husbands.
§. 14. Of the *Treat. 4. §. 24.titles which wiues giuegive their husbands.
As their words muſt be few, ſo thoſe few words muſt be reuerend and meeke: both which are alſo implied vnderunder the forenamed word a1 Tim. 2. 12. foreign.ſilence: which in the originall ſignifieth alſo a1 Tim. 2. 12. foreign.quietneſſe.
Reuerence hath reſpect to the titles whereby a wife nameth her husband. Meekneſſe to the manner of framing her ſpeech to him.Reuerend titles to be giuen to huſbands.
For the titles which a wife in ſpeaking to her husband, or naming him, giueth vntounto him, they muſt be ſuch as ſignifie ſuperioritie, and ſo ſauour of reuerence. Such are the titles wherewith husbands are named in the Scripture; *See §. 3.they are titles of honour. Such alſo are the titles which the Church (who by our Apoſtle is made a patterne for wiues in all ſubiection) giueth to her Spouſe Chriſt Ieſus, as may be gathered out of the Song of ſongs. It is likely that Sarah did vſually giuegive this title Lord to her husband. For hauing occaſion to thinke of him, preſently this title bGen. 18. 12.Lord was in her heart: which would not ſo ſuddenly hauehave riſen vp, if ſhe had not ordinarily vſed it. According to the vſuall titles which we giuegive to any, doe we in our hearts name them, when we hauehave occaſion to thinke of them. Among all other titles the name husband, as it is the moſt vſuall, ſo it is the fitteſt and meeteſt title. It intimateth reuerence, and ſauoureth not of niceneſſe & ſingularitie, as theſe titles, Head, Guide, Maſter, Man, and the like doe: which though they be lawfull titles, becauſe the Scripture attributeth them to husbands, and they ſignifie ſuperioritie, yet becauſe they are vnuſuall and ſauour of ſingularitie, they are not ſo meet. Common vſe and practiſe hath made the addition of the husbands ſurname to this title Maſter, more meet.
c1 Pet. 3. 6.Saint Peter by this argument proueth that Sarah obeyed Abraham, becauſe ſhe called him Lord.
Contrarie are thoſe compellations which argue equalitie or inferioritie rather then ſuperioritie, as Brother, Coſen, Friend, Man, &c. if a ſtranger be in preſence, how can he tell by this manner of compellation, that he whom thou ſpeakeſt vntounto is thy husband? If he eſpie any matrimoniall familiaritie betwixt you, what can he iudge of it otherwiſe to be, lightneſſe and wantonneſſe? Remember the fearefull iſſue that had like to hauehave fallen out by reaſon of ſuch compellations giuen by dGen. 12. 19. & 20. 2.Sarah and e& 26. 9.Rebekah to their husbands. Not vnlike to thoſe are ſuch as theſe, Sweet, Sweeting, Heart, Sweet-heart, LoueLove, Ioy, Deare, &c. and ſuch as theſe, Ducke, Chicke, Pigſnie, &c. and husbands Chriſtian names, as Iohn, Thomas, William, Henry, &c. which if they be contracted (as many vſe to contract them thus, Iack…, Tom, Will, Hall) they are much more vnſeemly: ſeruants are vſually ſo called.
But what may we ſay of thoſe titles giuen to an husband by his wife, not ſeldome in paſſion, but vſually in ordinarie ſpeech, which are not fit to be giuen to the baſeſt men that be, as Grub, Rogue, and the like, which I am euen aſhamed to name, but that the ſins of women are to be caſt as dirt on their faces, that they may be the more aſhamed?
Obiect. Many of the forenamed titles are titles of amitie and familiaritie.
Anſw. Subiection is that marke which wiues are directed to aime at in their thoughts, words, deeds, and whole conuerſation towards their husband. Such tokens of familiaritie as are not withall tokens of ſubiection and reuerence, are vnbeſeeming a wife, becauſe they ſwerue from that marke.
§. 15. Of wiues *Treat. 4. §. 24. &c.meekneſſe in their ſpeeches.
Meekneſſe in a wiues manner of framing her ſpeech to her husband, doth alſo commend her reuerend reſpect of him. This is an eſpeciall effect of that meeke and quiet ſpirit which S. Peter requireth of wiues; which dutie he doth ſtrongly inforce by this weighty argument, a1 Pet. 3. 4.which is before God a thing much ſet by. Is a wiues meekneſſe much ſet by before God, and ſhall not wiues hold it both a bounden dutie, and comely ornament, and grace vntounto them? As the forme of words which a wife vſeth in asking or anſwering queſtions, or any other kinde of diſcourſe which ſhee holdeth with her husband, ſo her moderation in perſiſting, arguing and preſſing matters, yea and the milde compoſition of her countenance in ſpeaking, declare her meekneſſe. If ſhe be deſirous to obtaine any thing of him, fairely ſhe muſt intreat it, as the b2 King. 4. 10. 22.Shunemite: If ſhe would moue him to performe a bounden dutie, mildly ſhe muſt perſwade him. If ſhe would reſtraine and keepe him from doing that which is euill, euen that alſo ſhe muſt doe with ſome meekneſſe, as cMatt. 27. 19.Pilats wife: If ſhe hauehave occaſion to tell him of a fault, therein ſhe ought to manifeſt humilitie and reuerence, by obſeruing a fit ſeaſon, and doing it after a gentle manner as d2 Sam. 25. 31, 37.Abigail: who as ſhe wiſely behaued her ſelfe in this reſpect with her husband in obſeruing a fit ſeaſon, ſo alſo with Dauid by intimating his fault vntounto him, rather then plainly reprouing him, when ſhe ſaid, It ſhall be no griefe nor offence vntounto my Lord, that he hath not ſhed bloud cauſeleſſe. This meekneſſe requireth alſo ſilence and patience, euen when ſhe is reproued.
Contrary is the waſpiſh and ſhrewiſh diſpoſition of many Contrary wiues ſhrewiſh ſpeeches to their huſbands.wiues to their husbands, who care not how haſtily and vnaduiſedly they ſpeake to them, like eGen. 30. 1.Rahel; nor how angerly and chidingly, like f1 King. 21. 7.Iezabel; nor how diſdainfully, and ſpightfully, like gExo. 4. 25, 26.Zipporah; nor how ſcoffingly, and frumpingly, like h2 Sam. 6. 20.Michal; nor how reproachfully and diſgracefully, like iIob 2. 9.Iobs wife. If they be reproued by their husbands, their husbands ſhall be reproached by them: & they are ready to anſwer again, not only word for word, but ten for one. Many wiues by their ſhrewiſh ſpeeches, ſhew no more reſpect to their husbands, then to their ſeruants, if ſo much. The leaſt occaſion moueth them not only inwardly to be angry and fret againſt them, but alſo outwardly to manifeſt the ſame by chiding and brawling. The very obiect whereupon many wiues vſually ſpit out their venomous words, is their husband; when their ſtomacks are full, they muſt needs eaſe them on their husbands: wherein their fault is doubled.
Let wiues therefore learne firſt to moderate their paſſion, and then to keepe in their tongues with bit and bridle, but moſt of all to take heed that their husbands taſte not of the bitterneſſe thereof, no not though they ſhould by ſome ouerſight of their husbands be prouoked. It is to be noted how Salomon calleth the iarres which are betweene man and wife, the contentions of a wife, whereby he intimateth that ſhe commonly Prou. 19. 13.is the cauſe thereof, either by prouoking her husband, or not bearing with him.
§. 16. Of a wiues ſpeech of her husband *Treat. 2. Part. 2. §. 36.in his abſence.
The reuerence which a wife beareth to her husband, muſt further be manifeſted by her ſpeeches of him in his abſence. So did Sarah manifeſt her reuerence, and ſo muſt all ſuch as deſire Gen. 18. 12.to be accounted the daughters of Sarah. The Church ſpeaking of her Spouſe, doth it with as great reuerence, as if ſhe Cant 5. 10. &c.had ſpoken to him. It was for honour and reuerence ſake, that the Virgin Mary called Ioſeph the Father of Ieſus, when ſhe Luke 2. 48.ſpake of him.
This ſheweth that a wiues reuerend ſpeeches in preſence of her husband and to his face, are not in flatterie to pleaſe him and fawne vponupon him, but in ſinceritie to pleaſe God and performe her dutie.
Contrary therefore to their dutie deale they, who in preſence Contrary wiues bitter ſpeeches behind their huſbands backs.can afford the faireſt and meek eſt ſpeeches that may be to their husbands face, but *See more hereof Treat 2. part 2. §. 36.behinde their backs ſpeake moſt reproachfully of them.
§. 17. Of a wiues obedience in generall.
Hitherto of a wiues reuerence, it followeth to ſpeake of her obedience: The firſt law that euer was giuen to woman ſince her fall, laid vponupon her this dutie of Obedience to her husband, in theſe words, aGen. 3. 16.Thy deſire ſhall be to thine husband, and he ſhall rule ouer thee. How can an husband rule ouer a wife, if ſhe obey not him? The principall part of that ſubmiſſion which in this bEpheſ. 5. 22.text, and in many other places is required of a wife, conſiſteth in obedience: and therefore it is expreſly commended vntounto wiues in the example of Sarah who c1 Pet. 3. 6. foreign.obeyed Abraham. Thus by Obedience doth the Church manifeſt her ſubiection to Chriſt.
The place wherein God hath ſet an husband; namely, to be an dEpheſ. 5. 23.head; the authoritie which he hath giuen vntounto him, to be a e1 Pet. 3. 6.Lord and fEſter 1. 17.Maſter; the duty which he requireth of him gGen. 3. 16.to rule, doe all require obedience of a wife. Is not obedience to be yeelded to an Head, Lord, and Maſter? Take away all authoritie from an husband, if ye exempt a wife from obedience.
Contrary is the ſtoutneſſe of ſuch wiues as muſt hauehave their Contrary to obedience, ſtoutneſſe.own will, and doe what they liſt, or elſe all ſhall be out of quiet. Their will muſt be done, they muſt rule and ouer-rule all, they muſt command not only children and ſeruants, but husbands alſo, if at leaſt the husband will be at peace. Looke into families, obſerue the eſtate and condition of many of them, and then tell me if theſe things be not ſo. If an husband be a man of courage, and ſeeke to ſtand vponupon his right, and maintaine his authoritie by requiring obedience of his wife, ſtrange it is to behold what an hurly burly ſhe will make in the houſe: but if he be a milke-ſop, and baſely yeeld vntounto his wife, and ſuffer her to rule, then, it may be, there ſhall be ſome outward quiet. The ground hereof is an ambitious and proud humour in women, who muſt needs rule, or elſe they thinke themſelues ſlaues. But let them thinke as they liſt: aſſuredly herein they thwart Gods ordinance, peruert the order of nature, deface the image of Chriſt, ouerthrow the ground of all dutie, hinder the good of the family, become an ill patterne to children and ſeruants, lay themſelues open to Satan, and incurre many other miſchiefes which cannot but follow vponupon the violating of this maine duty of Obedience, which if it be not performed, how can other duties be expected?
§. 18. Of the caſes wherein a wife hath power to order things of the houſe without her husbands conſent.
| A wiues obedience requireth | Submiſſion. |
| Contentment. |
Submiſſion in yeelding to her husbands minde and will.
*See §. 49.Contentment in reſting ſatisfied and content with his eſtate and abilitie.
That Submiſſion conſiſteth in two things.
Firſt, in abſtaining from doing things againſt her husbands minde.
Secondly, in doing what her husband requireth. The former of theſe requireth that a wife hauehave her husbands conſent for the things which ſhe doth. For the better cleering whereof we are to conſider,
1. What kinde of husbands they muſt be whoſe conſent is required.
2. How many waies his conſent may be giuen.
3. What are the things whereabout his conſent is to be expected.
For the firſt, as on the one ſide it oft falleth out that a wife, In two caſes a wife hath power to order things of her ſelfe, without her husbands conſent.prouident, and religious man is maried to a fooliſh woman, a very ideot, that hath no vnderſtanding, of whom there can be no queſtion, but that ſuch a wife is to doe nothing of her ſelfe, and of her owne head, but altogether to be ordered by her husband: So on the other ſide, it oft falleth out that a wiſe, vertuous, and gratious woman, is maried to an husband deſtitute 1 In caſe of her husbands impotency.of vnderſtanding, to a very naturall (as we ſay) or a …renzy man, or to one made very blockiſh, and ſtupid, vnfit to manage his affaires through ſome diſtemper, wound, or ſickneſle. In ſuch a caſe the whole gouernment lieth vponupon the wife, ſo as her husbands conſent is not to be expected.
Queſt. What if the husband be a wicked and prophane man, and ſo blinded and ſtupified in his ſoule, doth not this ſpirituall blindneſſe and blockiſhneſe giuegive a religious wife as great libertie as naturall ſtupiditie?
Anſw. No verily: For S. Peter exhorteth faithfull wiues 1 Pet. 3. 1, 2.that were maried to Infidell husbands to be ſubiect to them, and that in feare.
The reaſon is cleare: For ſpirituall blindneſſe diſableth not from ciuill gouernment: indeed nothing that ſuch a man doth is acceptable to God, or auailable to his owne ſaluation; but yet it may be profitable to man: a wicked man may be prouident enough for wife, children, and whole family in outward temporall things.
Againe, it oft falleth out, that an husband is a long time 2In caſe of impoſſibilitie for her huſband to doe it.farre off abſent from the houſe: ſometimes by reaſon of his calling, as an Ambaſſadour, Souldier, or Mariner; ſometimes alſo careleſly or wilfully neglecting houſe, goods, wife, children and all: and in his abſence hath left no order for the ordering of things at home: in this caſe alſo there is no queſtion, but that the wife hath power to diſpoſe matters without her husbands conſent: prouided that ſhe obſerue thoſe rules of Gods word concerning iuſtice, equitie, truth and merciemercy, which an husband in his diſpoſing of them ought to obſerue.
The firſt of theſe caſes declareth an impotencie in the huſband: the other an impoſſibilitie for him to order matters: wherefore the wife being next to the husband, the power of ordering things is diuolued on her: ſhe is not bound to hauehave his conſent.
§. 19. Of diuers kindes of conſent.
II. A conſent may be generall or particular. A generall 1. A generall conſent.conſent is giuen, when without diſtinct reſpect to this or that particular, libertie is granted to a wife by her husband to doe all things as ſeemeth good in her owne eyes. aProu. 31. 10, &c.That excellent good wife, and notable good houſe-wife that is ſet forth by the Wiſe-man, had ſuch a conſent. For firſt, it is ſaid, bVerſ. 11.The heart of her husband truſteth in her; and then it is inferred, that ſhe ordereth all the things of the houſe, whereof many particulars are there ſpecified. Whence I gather, that her husband obſeruing her to be a godly, wiſe, faithfull, and induſtrious woman, gaue her power and liberty to doe in the houſe-hold affaires, what ſhe thought good, (he being a publike magiſtrate, for cVerſ. 23.he was knowne in the gates, ſitting among the Elders of the land) and accordingly ſhe vſed her liberty.
A particular conſent is that which is giuen to one or more particular 2. A particular conſent.things, as that conſent dGen. 16. 6.which Abraham gaue to Sarah about Hagar; and e1 Sam 1. 23.that which Elkanah gaue to Hanna about tarrying at home till her childe was weined.
This particular conſent may be expreſſed or implied. An expreſſed conſent is when the husband manifeſteth his good liking by word, writing, meſſage, or ſigne, and that whether his conſent be asked (as was noted in the example of Elkanah) or freely offered.
An implicit conſent, when by any probable coniecture it may be gathered that the husbands will is not againſt ſuch a thing, 4. An implicit conſent,though he hauehave not manifeſted his minde concerning that very particular. This implicit conſent may be gathered either by his ſilence when he is preſent to ſee a thing done, or otherwiſe hath knowledge thereof: or elſe when he is abſent, by his former cariage or diſpoſition in other like caſes. The Scripture accounteth an husbands ſilence, when he knoweth a thing and may, but doth not forbid it, to be a conſent: as fNum 30. 8.in the caſe of a wiues vow. For any thing we read to the contrary g2 King. 4. 10, 23.the Shunemite had no other conſent to prepare a chamber for the Prophet, and to goe vntounto him, then her husbands ſilence, and not forbidding it when he knew it.
As for the other kinde of implicit conſent, it may be ſet forth in this following inſtance: ſuppoſe a good wife hath an husband whom ſhe knoweth by his former cariage and diſpoſition to be a pittifull and charitable man, taking all occaſions to ſhew mercy, and in his abſence there falleth out a fit and needfull occaſion of ſhewing mercy; if ſhe take that occaſion to ſhew mercy, ſhe hath an implicit conſent, for ſhe may well thinke that if her husband knew it he would approue what ſhe doth. It is to be ſuppoſed that h1 Sam. 1. 11.Annah vponupon ſome ſuch ground vowed her childe to God. For it is not likely that ſhe who would not tarry at home to weine her childe without her husbands conſent, would much leſſe vow him to the Lord (which was a farre greater matter) without ſome perſwaſion of her husbands good liking thereof. Now that a wife may ſhew ſhe dealeth vprightly in this caſe vponupon a true perſwaſion of her heart concerning her husbands minde, ſhe ought (when conueniently ſhe can) to make known to her husband what ſhe hath done: as without all queſtion Annah did; and ſo much may be gathered out of theſe words which Elkanah vttered to Annah, i1 Sam. 1. 23.the Lord eſtabliſh his word.