FOR the better opening and vnderstanding of this Scripture , you may obserue : first , who brought her ; God , which a little before , had made her out of the rib of Adam . Secondly , whom he brought ; Eue , the first of women . Thirdly , to whom God brought her ; to Adam , the first of men , the father of vs all . Fourthly , why hee brought her ; to bee Adams wife , Genes. 2.18 . for God did not thinke it meete that Adam should be alone , therefore he made Eue , and gaue her to Adam to bee an helper meete for him . Vers. 20. Fifthly , Adams accepting and taking her to be his wife this now is bone of my bones , and flesh of my flesh . In which words , Adam doth not only shew , that God made her of a fleshie rib , that was taken from him : but also that now they two , were become one flesh , being ioyned together in holy mariage by God and their mutuall consents . Thus in these , though briefely , yet you may plainely see , the meaning of this Scripture ; And he brought her to the man , &c.

Whereas it hath bin an auncient and laudable custome , Zanch. lib. 4. cap. 2. de Matrimo . thes. 2. de consecrat . nupt. as Zanchius obserueth , out of Christs turning water into wine , at the mariage of Canaan , to grace the married couple with diuers presents : I , in steade of better things , haue brought vnto the Bridgrome and his mate , & to this most Christian assemblie , a few countrie flowers ; O let them find grace in your eyes , they are gathered out of the garden of Eden , out of the garden of the Lord . Of which , the first is the Prime-rose , take you al of this ; God giues Eue vnto Adam ; let all your mariages begin in the Lord ; The second is the Maydens-blush , a flower for you maydens ; Eue comes not , and giues her selfe , this did not stand with her maydens modestie : but God brings her , and giues her to Adam . So should you attend your parents pleasure , till he bring and giue you vnto man . The third is the sweete , cooling , cordial , and low growing Violet : for you the Bride , and for all you women , which either are , or would bee ioyned in mariage with man . When GOD saw that it was not meete for man to liue alone , Genes. 2 . 2● . he made Eue , and he gaue her , to be an helper meete for man . Remember ô ye daughters of Eue , that you were made for man , that you were giuen to man , not to be hurters , but to be helpers meere for them . Shew by your obedience , that you are low growing Violets ; by your louely carriage , that you are sweete ; by your milde patience , that you are cooling ; by your loyall faithfulnes , that you are cordial ; by your gratious helpe , that you are like this sweete , cooling , cordial and low growing Violet , the flower that God heere commends vnto you . The last is the Rosemary , the flower of men ; for you the Bridegrome , and for all you maried men , that are ioyned in holy wedlocke with your wiues : although the Rosemary ouertops all the flowers in the garden , and thereby boasts his rule ; yet remember that Rosemary is good for the head , rule with wisedome ; helpfull to the heart , rule with loue : that it is alway greene , be alwaies louely and loyall to your wiues . When God had giuen Eue to Adam , Adam takes her , and of her he faith , this is bone of my bones , and flesh of my flesh , there is his loue : he cleaues to his wife , and they two become one flesh , there is his loyaltie : this God inspired in him , there is his wisedome . Smell sweet ô ye flowers , in your natiue sweetnes ; be not adulterated with the water of this world : ô shew your selues in your proper beauties , The Prime-rose for all . and be not gilded with the idle arte of man .

The first of these flowers , is the Prime-rose , of this let vs first speake , and as in the first of the yeere , the Prime-rose is desirously gathered of all , so let this with the first be accepted of you all . God gaue Eue to Adam , let all your mariages begin in the Lord . Let God giue the woman to the man , and ioyne man vnto the woman : for if he ioyne not , how can the maried couple look for a blessing of the Lord ? It should not be with you , ô ye yong men and maydens , as it is with the beasts , that euery one should take his mate , and after an vnseemely manner come together : but God must giue Eue to Adam ; of you it should be said , that God hath ioyned you together . For what is the cause that the bed of many maried couples is defiled , that many husbands and wiues , iarre , as instruments that are out of tune , and want the sweete content of that blessed estate ? God gaue not Eue to Adam , they were maried , but yet not in the Lord . Wherefore let this Prime-rose , be in the prime of thy desires , seeke for a wife at the hands of the Highest , Prou. 19.14 . seeke to be maried in the Lord . For surely as wise Salomon speaketh , houses and riches are the inheritance of the fathers ; but an vnderstanding wife commeth from the Lord . Genes. 24.9 . This made aged Abraham to charge his seruant , and that by oath , to seeke a wife for his sonne Isaak , not among the daughters of Canaan , but among the people where he was borne . Vers. 12. This made his charged seruant , to pray to the God of his maister Abraham , for successe : and God heard his prayer , Vers. 58. and so moued the heart of Rebecca to giue consent ; Vers. 50. that her brother Laban , and father Bethuel , were enforced to confesse , that it was proceeded of the Lord . In such manner offer vp your prayers to the Highest , ô ye that desire to be maried ; that he would blesse you in this your weightie busines , so shall you to your comfort find , Toby 7.11 . that your lot is fallen on a good ground , that it is proceeded of the Lord Remember how Sara , the daughter of Raguel , was maried to seuen , & how euery of them , that night they came in to her , that night they died . What was the reason ? Toby 8.7 . God gaue not Sara in mariage to them . After yong Toby marieth , commeth in to her , and liueth : marke the reasons noted in the story , Toby 8.4 . he came not in to her for fornication , but vprightly : he prayed to the God of his fathers , God gaue Sara a wife to him , they were maried in the Lord . Wherefore accept of this sweete Prime-rose , you that are in the prime and spring of your liues , seeke by prayer and all good meanes , that God may giue Eue to Adam , a wife to you , that you may be maried in the Lord . The Maydēsblush for maydens .

The second flower is the Maydens-blush , a flower for you maydens ; Eue comes not of herselfe , nor giues her selfe to Adam , this doth not stand with her maydens modestie : but God brings Eue , and God giues her to Adam : euen so should you attend your fathers pleasure , till he brings and giues you vnto man . For you sweete maydens beare your fathers name , he gaue you life , and from him you haue whatsoeuer you seeme for to enioy : will you then rob your father of his child and vnkindly despise the author of your life ? shall the flattering speeches , and baynfull bates of one , but a few daies knowne , more preuaile with you , than parents words , than all that they haue done , and are likely to doe for you hereafter ? Numb. 30.5 . If thou hadest made a vow to God , yet vnlesse thy father approued it , thou shouldest not performe it to the Highest : shall God go from his right , to maintaine thy fathers power ; and wilt thou , to the wrong of thy father , hurt of thy selfe , keepe touch with thy supposed louer , Exod. 22.16 . that keepeth no touch and faith with God ? In the old Law it was said , if a man had entised a mayden , which was not promised , and had sayne with her : If the father would not giue her to him , the offender was to giue a dowry to her , ( whom he had humbled ) and he might not take her vnto wife . Heare ô ye maydens , your parents consent is not only required , as Peter Lombard speaketh , ad honestatem , sed ad necessitatem , not only to grace and honest your mariages , Concil. Lateran Can. 51. but to make them lawfull and good . Therefore in the Councell of Lateran , those priuie mariages which are made , without the parents consent , are pronounced as vnlawfull , as they that are made , within the prohibited degrees of consanguinitie , & affinitie . Wherfore ô ye maydens , take at my hands this sweet flower of the Maydens-blush , it will grace your mayden-heads , please your parents , and make you be beloued both of man and God . And when in your espousals , it shall be asked , Who giues this mayden vnto wife ; cause not thy aged father to withhold his hand , but cause him rather to steppe forth with ioy , and before God and his Church , to performe for thee that blessed worke .

Now as to the parent , God hath giuen power to bestow his daughter ; so also that he do it well and wifely , Deut. 7.3 . God requires at his hand . God saith , Thou shalt not giue thy daughter to a Cananite . There he giues thee power to bestow thy daughter in mariage , 1. Cor. 7.37 . but yet no power to bestow her on a Cananite . He that giueth his daughter in mariage , doth well : Vers. 39. Eccles. 7.25 . the parent hath power to giue his daughter in mariage , saith the Apostle ; but yet he must doe it well , he must do it in the Lord. He that hath maried his daughter , ( saith Iesus the sonne of Syrach ) hath performed a good work . Thou hast power to marie thy daughter , but withall performe a good worke , giue her to a man of vnderstanding , as in that place it followeth . Marrie not thy daughter to wealth and worship , but marry her vnto a man : for a man may get wealth and worship , but wealth and worship neuer gets a man . For on thee , thy modest daughters eyes are fastned , thou art vnto her that piller of light , when thou mouest , she moueth , when thou standest still , shee standeth ; well perswaded of thy fatherly loue , and prouident wisedome , shee resigneth ouer her will to thine , Chrysost. in Epist. ad Coloss. Homil. 12. and yeeldeth her selfe to be disposed by thee . Seeke therefore for a man for thy daughter ( as Chrysostom speaketh ) which in loue shall cherish her , in wisedome shall rule her : now thou art to resigne thy power of her , Decret. 25.26 Caus 31. Q. 2● . cap. 3. which once resigned , thou canst not reclaime : now thou art on her tender selfe to set an head Wherefore do not as Vrban Bishop of Rome , wrote to Sanctio a King of Arragon in Spaine , either by thy fatherly authoritie ouer awe her ; or by the deceiuing reasons of wealth and worship , seeke to perswade her , Matth. 19 , ● . to like a man whom she cannot loue . For although thou wast the father of her body , yet God it was that gaue her her soule , whose only it is , in a true liking loue to ioyne man & wife together . Do not therfore wrong God in his right , in seeking to ioyne those together , whom the Lord neither yet hath nor would haue ioyned : for if thou doest , & thy daughter loath to giue any farther nay , yeeldeth with her woe , to thy desire ; thou hast not performed a good worke , thou hast not done wel , thou hast not maried her in the Lord , thou must beare the blame of their after-varyings , and whatsoeuer other their fouler faults . Heare ô ye maydens , how sweete this flower is , of the Maydens-blush , how in ioyning you in blessed mariage , it requireth Gods , fathers , and also your consents . Wherefore if your parents , or they that are in place of parents , Genes. 24.57 . will not call you as Bethuel did Rebecca , and aske of you your free consents ; yet mayest thou in thy maydens modestie , without offence giuen vnto thy father , deny to like where thou canst not loue , or to giue thy hand , where thou canst not giue thy heart . Marke 10.9 . And with this must all parents rest contented ; for to ioyne the hearts of man and wife together , is not the worke of man , but of God Otherwise , if contrarie to thy liking , thou sufferest thy selfe to be ioyned to another ; it may boe , ô ouer modest mayden , thou wilt staine this Maydens-blush with thy wiuish teares , thou wilt be the cause of thine owne future troubles , which now may be staned , but then cannot be remedied : thou must eate the bread of discontent , and he in the bed where thou wouldest not be ; your after-varyings , if it proceed not to worse , will be a trouble to your friends , and griefe vnto your selfe . Wherefore with you , ô maydens , let me leaue this flower , it is the Maydens-blush . As the father is to giue Eue to Adam , so must he do it in the Lord , and with Eues free consent . The Violet for maried wiues , first is helpfull .

The next flower that commeth to my hand , is the sweet , cooling , cordial , and low growing Violet . This commends it selfe vnto the Bride , and to euery of you that either are , or would be maried wiues . It is the sweetest flower in the garden of Eden , Genes. 2.18 . Vers. 20. and me thinkes it best beseemeth you . When God saw , that it was not meete for man to liue alone , he made Eue , and he gaue her to Adam , to be an helper meete for him . Forget not ô ye wiues why Eue was made , why she was brought and maried to Adam : sure not to be an hurter , but to be an helper meet for man . Of all the flowers in the garden , none is so helpfull as is the Violet : of all the creatures , none such helpers meete for man , as is the woman . If man swell with pride , and lift vp his nose among his neighbours ; she with her lowly and humble cariage , remembers him , that he is no better than his fore-fathers , which are returned to the earth from whence they came . If man burnes in the flames of his fleshlie lust ; she is the cooler of those flames , to auoyd fornication , 1. Cor. 7.2 . let euery man haue his wife : * * Vers. 9. it is better to marrie than to burne . If man sparkle with anger , in that vnseemely heate ; she with her soft and wel-pleasing speech , soone abateth that heate , and maketh him to see , James 1.20 . that the wrath of man neuer fulfilleth the righteousnes of God . If man be heauie , and vnquiered within , either for wronges imposed , or sustained losse ; she as a cordiall comfort caseth those his sorrowes , and satisfieth his soule with sweete content . What man getteth abroad , shee saueth at home , and vnder him , with his gaine and credit , gouerneth his familie and home-affaires , being as Augustine speaketh , August . adu . Pollent . lib. 2. cap. 12. infirmitatis remedium , humanitatis solatium ; a medicine of mans maladies , & sweete procurer of his best content . So helpfull vnto man is this sweet , cooling , cordial , and low growing Violet . Wherefore ô ye maried wiues , remember that man was not made for the woman , but the woman for the man , 1. Corin. 11.9 . as the Apostle speaketh . Remember you were made to be helpers meete for man , do not degenerate from the cause of your creation . O , how vnworthy is it your sweet selues , that as Adam complained of Eue , the woman that thou gauest mee , shee gaue mee of the fruit to eate : Genes. 3.12 . so thy husband should complaine of thee , the woman that thou gauest me , she hath hurt me , she hath entised me to sin ! Although , this wil not serue thy husband for excuse , yet this wil shew , that thou despisest the end for which thou wast created , and with sinne neglectest thy imposed duty , to be an helper meete for man .

Secondly the Violet growes low . Now after the helpe the Violet affords , in the second place I pray you consider how it groweth by the ground , it groweth low : euen so must all you maried wiues , grow low , you must be subiect to your husbands . This is the sentence of God giuen on Eue , and on all Eues daughters , which may not be reuoked , Genes. 3.16 . that not only in sorrow you should bring forth your children ( which you all do to this day feele ) but that your desires must be subiect to your husbands , and they must rule ouer you . In vaine thou pleadest for thy selfe ô woman , that thou art one flesh with him . For although that be true that which thou vrgest , Ambros . de Paradiso cap. 14. yet as Ambrose obserueth , for two causes God commandeth thee to be subiect to thy husband . First , because thou wast made of man ; but especially , because by thee sinne entered into the world , man was entised for to sinne . So Chrysostom bringeth in God in this sort , Chrysost. hom. 17. in Genes. speaking to the woman : I made thee equall , and gaue thee Princedome with thy husband , but because thou hast abused it vnto thy husbands hurt : from hence-forth I make thee subiect , he shall rule ouer thee . Hence it is , that the mayden , when she is maried , leaueth to be called after her fathers name , and from thence forth is called after her husbands . So Eue of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 was called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . Hence it is that the womans contracts and bargaines are of no force , either by the lawes of God or of man , except the husband do approue the same . Nay hence it is that the maried wife , may not performe the vowes shee hath made to GOD , Numb. 30.9 . Aug. epist. 199 Annot. in Tertull . de veland . Virgi . except the husband giueth way to her desires . Hence it is , that to this day , the Persian Ladies , vpon the top of their coronets , haue the signe of the foot ; in token that the top of their glorie must stoope , euen to their husbands feet . They still remember the auncient decree of Ahashuerosh and his Princes , that all women great and small , Hest. 1.20 . must giue honor to their husbands ; Vers. 22. and that euery man must beare rule in his owne house . They acknowledge that Queene Vashty , for refusing to come , when the King her husband sent for her ; was worthily by the sentence of the King and all his nobles , Vers. 16. put from her royall seate : in that shee had done euill against the King , and against all the Princes , and all the people : Vers. 17. in leauing her selfe an ill example , to all other women to despise their husbands . Thus by the first Law of God , nature , and of nations , this is imposed vpon women , that they be subiect to their husbands ; the same is required in the Gospell . Ephes. 5.22 . Therefore Paul , Wines be subiect to your husbands as to the Lord , for the husband is the head of the wife , as Christ is the head of the Church . As the Church to Christ , so let the wife be subiect to her husband , in all things . Where marke , wiues be subiect to your husbands , there is the precept ; he is your head , there is the reason : as to the Lord , as the Church is to Christ , there is the manner . In what should they be subiect ? in the end it is said , in all things . It is not enough for you to be good to your husbands , but you must bee subiect too ; as St. Paul speaketh , You must be good , and subiect to your husbands . Titus 2.5 . Amongst many other reasons alledged for this required subiection ; S. Paul saith to the Colossians , It is meete . Indeed meet , that the Moone should giue glory to the Sunne , Coloss. 3.18 . from whom she receiueth all her light : the woman subiection to her husband , from whom she deriueth all her worship . S. Peter , that by their submisse & reuerend cariage , 1. Pet. 3.1 . they might winne their husbands to the faith . Nothing more preuailes with man , then the submisse cariage of his wife . Titus 2.5 . St. Paul addeth a third reason , lest the Word of God be euil spoken of for your sakes . For when women make shew of religion , and yet will not be subiect and obedient to their husbands , their faults in this are ascribed to the blamelesse Gospell of our Christ . Wherefore heare ô ye maried wiues , Hieron . comment . in Titum . what S. Hierom speaketh vpon this place : Since the husband is the head of the woman , as Christ is the head of man ; what wife soeuer is not subiect to her husband , is as much in fault , as man is , when he is not subiect vnto Christ . ( marke his reasons ) For the first sentence that God gaue ( wherin she is charged to be subiect ) is despised , and Christs Gospell infamed , when a Christian woman will not do that to her husband , which the Heathen women willingly performe . Wherefore grow low , ô ye helpfull Violets , bee not only good , but be good and subject to your husbands . Hierom. Epist. 14. cap. 6. And as Hierom writ to Celantia , so I to you ; Let the authority of thy husband be vpholden by thee and let all the house learne of thee to honor him : do thou shew him to be a master by thy obsequiousnes , to be great by thy humblenes ; for in this thou shalt be the more reuerenced , by how much the more thou doest reuerence him .

Thirdly the Violet is sweet Let not this moue your patience , ô ye maried wiues , that I present vnto you , this low growing Violet ; although it grow low , yet , which in the third place I obserue , the Violet is sweete . For such are ye women , full of sweetnes , full of loue . That which is spoken of Christs Spouse in the Canticles , Cantic. 4.10 . hath place in you : Faire is thy loue , better then wine , sweeter then the sauor of all spices , thy lips drop as hony-combes ( so sweete are her words ) thy plants are as an Orchard of Pomegranats ; so sweet are her deeds . Although God made Eue subiect , yet God also made her sweet . Sweet in her fauour , sweete in her cariage ; by which shee mastereth the heart of man , and draweth him in loue , vnto her liking . Although man be hard and heauie as the iron , that will not bow , or hardly moue ; yet her sweet loue shall be as the Adamant , that shal draw him to her , and cause him to forsake father and mother , the things of high price , and to cleaue to her . Wherefore , forget not your nature ▪ ò ye sweet Violets : the Violet alway smelleth sweet . Take view I pray you , of your dainty selues , how with sweet odors you are delighted , and with ill sauors , you are nothing pleased : and by your selues measure your husbands ; it is the sweete and not the sowre , that is gratefull to them . I pray you consider , that although the sweete Rose hath prickles , yet the Violet hath none ; that it is the sweetnes , and not the prickles , that pleaseth man .

Fourthly the Violet is cooling . As the Violet is sweete , so is it also cooling ; and such should you wiues be vnto your husbands , for since there are often two vnseemely heats in man , the one of lust , the other of anger : the woman as a sweet cooling Violet , is to asswage them both . For to speake , first of the fire of his lust , how it may be quenched , the Apostle sheweth , to auoyd fornication , let euery man haue his wife . It is the wife , 1. Cor. 7 12. and not the harlot , that should quench those lustfull flames . 1. Cor. 7.9 . It is better to marry , than to burne . For to man , the wife is giuen a remedie of his lust , a meanes for him to auoid fornication , a sweet cooler to abate this heate . Withdraw not therefore this your helpe from your husbands , but giue vnto them ( as the Apostle speaketh ) due beneuolence ; 1. Corinth. 7.3 . Vers. 4. for the woman hath not power ouer her owne body , but the man . The which cooling help if she shal deny , when he lawfully requireth it ; by that she may bee in part a cause , Vers. 5. that Satan tempt her husband vnto vncleannesse ; and for that , make him to blame her as some cause of his folly . It may be a fault in him , at sometime to require it ; yet is then thy yeelding no fault in thee , if otherwise he will not be satisfied ; August . contr. Jouin. cap. 10. this is as Augustine speaketh , venialis in vxore , in meretrice damnabilis , pardonable in a wife , though damnable in an harlot . It was an error of Syricius the Pope , who adiudged sinfull euery carnall coniunction of man and woman ; abusing those words of the Apostle , That they that were in the flesh could not please God . For God made male and female , Genes. 1.27 . Vers. 28. he willeth them to increase and fill the earth ; which yet they could not , without carnall coputation ; he said not only of mariage , Hebr. 13.4 . but of the carnall vse of the maried , The bed vndefiled is honorable among all men . The which Gregorie the great acknowledged , Gregor. mag. in Psal. Poenit. 4. Men are not therefore conceiued in sinne , because it is a sin for maried folkes , carnally to know one another : for that is a chast worke ; and no fault in the maried couple ; because the nuptiall contract , is not exorbitant from faith , God appointing mariage , and the coniunction too ; in that he made them male and female . Wherefore since the bed vndefiled is honorable , a chast worke , in the maried couple : shew your selues cooling Violets to your husbands , Gods ordained remedies for their lust .

The other heate , which sometime is vnseemely in man , is the heate of anger : by which all inflamed , he is caried beyond all bounds of reason , to doe the things that are not good : this also by her milde and patient cariage , the woman must seeke to coole , and to lay the stormes of those blustering winds , although it be with the showers of her teares . August . confes . lib. 9. cap. 9. For although she may not , as Augustine speaketh in the praise of his mother , either in word or deed resist her moued husband ; yet to him she must be a cooling Violet , to asswage his anger , & a meanes to bring him to his wonted quiet . And if to thee ô woman , any thing seemeth may be better ordered ; as Augustine aduised a matron , so I do thee , Aug. epist. 199. Reuerently impart it to thy husband , yet alway follow his authoritie , as thy heads ; that all may blesse the peace of your house . Yea if thy lot should fall so hard , as that thy husband to thee should proue a Nabal , 1. Sam. 25.3 . Vers. 17. churlish , euill conditioned , yea so wicked that a man may not speake to him , as the very seruants complained of their maister ; yet do thou performe the part of Abigail , Vers. 24. in seeking to pacifie those whom he hath offended ; and in all reuerence when opportunity serueth , Vers. 37. impart to thy husband his danger and his fault . Thus be to your husbands ô ye wiues , sweet cooling Violets , to quench the heate of their lust and anger .

Fifthly the Violet is cordiall . And yet before wee leaue this Violet , remember that which in the last we obserued , it is cordial . Such is a woman to her husband , when she is loyall . She should not suffer any strange fire to burne on her altar ; nor in her soyle any base stockes to grow , which her husband hath not planted . Shee must remember that of them two , the Scripture saith , Genes. 2.24 . Matth. 19.6 . that they are become one flesh , she may not ioyne it to another . If he be not loyall , nor keepe faith with her , yet must she with him ; Matth. 5.32 . she hath vowed it before Christ & his church ; she must therefore euer cleaue to her husband , and despise all other ; and as the Marigold that opens and shuts with the Sunne ; so alone with him she must open , and with him shut . This is a cordiall comfort , most pleasing to the heart of man . For when by her , he receiueth children , that he hath fathered to be heires of his labours , staffe of his old age , in whom his name & memorie is continued ; it is so welcome to his heart , that no cordiall comfort may be compared to it . Neither is she only cordiall in her truth and loyaltie ; but in this , that shee is an hauen of rest in mans greatest troubles , the ease of his griefes , helpe in his sickenes , a sweete companion in all his sorrowes . For , in silence to ouerpasse the rest , only see in the bed of her husbands sickenes , how , whilest there is hope , she ministereth with care , and feedeth with comfort : nay shee , when hope faileth , how against hope , she plieth the Physition , still seeking for help . Sometime casting vp her sighes and eies to heauen , often be dewing the earth with her teares , entertaining euery one with a welcome heart , that wil but speak for husbands help . How then can there be a more cordiall comfort vnto man , then this ? Wherefore with you , ô ye maried wiues , let me leaue this Violet , although it grow low , to remember you of your subiection ; yet since it is so helpefull , so sweet , so cooling , so cordiall , it is a flower most meet for you ; a flower which sheweth you what to your husbands you should be .

The last of the flowers is the Rosemary , The Rosemary is for maried men . the which by name , nature , and a continued vse , man challengeth as properly belonging to himselfe . In the which , although it ouertoppeth all the flowers in the garden , boasting mans rule ; and the Violet low groweth at his roote : yet let man remember that it helpeth the braine , strengtheneth memorie , and is very medicinable for the head . By which is inferred , that as man is to haue the rule ouer his wife , so he is to rule as the Rosemary , with a sound & not a sicke head , to rule in wisedome ; in that wisedome , with which heere Adam inspired , doth acknowledge his wife , to be bone of his bones , and flesh of his flesh , the only helper meete for himselfe . Wherefore if thy wife be not alway pleasing , but hath in her the infirmities of women ; yet of thee Peter requireth , that thou shouldest dwell with her , 1. Pet. 3.7 . according to knowledge , and giue her honor as to the weaker vessell . Thou must dwell with her according to knowledge , thy wise patience must be still continued : thou must giue honor to her , as to the weaker vessell , thou must seeke to please her in her weake desires . Although thy wife should be as the Moone , which alwaies hath her staines and spots , yea and which sometime with her owne disgrace , turneth her body from the Sunne : yet must thou still continue a sunne to her , not only in reaching to her the light of knowledge , but in releeuing her with thy beames of comfort . This is to dwell with her according to knowledge , and as Paul in other words speaketh , 1. Cor. 7.3 . to giue vnto her due beneuolence . The Philosophers diuiding the mind of man , make reason to sit on high , will to hold the middle , the affections to stand beneath : this reason , may bee compared to man ; this will to woman ; these affections vnto her desires . Now as the will , will not bee enforced , but ouerwayed with reason , yeeldeth to him her ready consent : so must a woman , not by threats and high swelling speeches , but by words of kindnes be woed to giue to her man in their different motions , her due consent . For heare ô ye men , reason doth not enforce , but seeketh to perswade the will . And although vnto you it be giuen for to rule , yet despise not the counsel of your wines , remember God made them helpers meete for you . Although it seemed grieuous in wise and faithfull Abrahams sight , to put away the bondwoman and her child , in so hard a matter to hearken to his wife : yet to him the Lord commanded saying , Genes. 21.12 . In all that Sarah shall say vnto thee , heare her voyce . For this is to rule in wisedome , readily to embrace the counsell of thy wife ; when thou shalt finde it better than thine owne : except Abigail had quenched the coales , that her husband Nabal by his churlishnes had kindled ; 1. Sam. 25.34 . Dauid had not left , by the dawning of the day , any one in Nabals house to make water against the wall . Wherefore ô yee men , although the Sunne rule by day , yet let the Moone rule by night : although you rule abroad , yet let your wiues beare some stroke at home ; although you rule as heads , yet let them rule also , like to such , as were taken out of your sides . Let the Rosemary be in your hands and heads , rule with wisedome , which giueth to euery one , and therefore to your wiues their due .

Another property of the Rosemary is , it affects the hart : euen so should your hearts ô yee men , in true loue be affected to your wiues . This you may obserue in Adam here , no sooner God brought Eue & gaue her to him , but forthwith his soule cleaues to her ; but forthwith he saith , This is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh . Ephes. 5.33 . Forthwith he loues her as himselfe . Let euery man ( therefore as Paul speaketh ) loue his wife , euen as himselfe ; as himselfe , ô Paul , Vers. 25. nay more then himselfe , euen as before thou hast said , as Christ loued the Church , and gaue himselfe for it . For consider ô man , what thy wife doth , and hath done for thee . To thee she yeeldeth , ( which before thee none might euer touch ) to take the mayden flower of her vnconquered selfe , the which once gathered , thou canst neuer restore . For thy sake , she forgetteth her father , and her fathers house , and is now called after thy name . To thee she giueth her sweet selfe , and all the fruits of her first loue . By thee , shee submitteth her lowlie selfe , to be ruled and ouer-ruled : when yet a while , shee might bee free , not vnder couert , but of full power . And how then canst thou but loue thy wife , which with thee hath left so many knowne pledges of her vnfained loue ? To pleasure thee , she breedeth in paine ; and bringeth forth in sorrow , high priced children , chiefe of mans desires : which are called , not after hers , but after thine and thy fathers name ; these shee bringeth vp with care , gouerneth with loue , in pleasing them , seeking to pleasure thee : and how then canst thou but loue thy wife , of whom thou hast receiued children , the surest pledges of a womans loue ? If God hath shut vp her wombe , and for thy sins withholds from thee this desired blessing : yet at bord and at bed , at home and abroad , shee performeth to thee so many kind offices of her sweetest loue ; that thou canst not but confesse , that Elcanah did to barren Anna , that thou art better to her , nay that she is better to thee , than many sonnes . 1. Sam. 1.8 . Chrysost. in Epist. ad Coloss. hom. 10. Surely as Chrysostom speaketh , that beautie was giuen to a woman , lust vnto man ; sheweth nothing else ; but that this by the Almightie was therefore done , that the wife might bee beloued of her man . Wherefore as S. Paul speaketh to the Colossians , so I to you ; Coloss. 3.19 . Husbands loue your wiues , and bee not bitter vnto them . For your bitter dealings , nay speeches , nay lookes , ( for kindnes is killed by a bitter looke ) abates the sweetnes of a womans loue , and maketh them hate where they are bound to loue . Wherefore ô ye men , as the Rosemary affecteth your heads , and moueth you in wisedome for to rule ; so let it also affect your hearts , and moue you in kindnes for to loue . Remember , of all the creatures God had made , he found none , worthy a mans best loue , and that therefore he made the woman to be an helper meete for him . Genes. 2.20 . Do not ouer much tote on their faults , and please your discontented humors with their wants : this beseemeth not your wisedome , nor your loue . For as Zanchius speaketh , He truly loueth who when he findeth in his wife some things that do displease , Zanch. in 5. ad Ephes. not well beseeming her , and scarse agreeing with his profit ; doth yet loue her , and performe the duties of a good husband to her . Chrysost. in Epist. ad Ephes. Hom. 21. Which , as Chrysostom speaketh , hideth her wants , and gratifieth her in her due desires ; which saith not to her , this is thine and that is thine ; but which rather saith , all is thine , & I am thine , this is not the speech of him that flattereth , but rather of him that wisely loueth . Wherefore ô ye men , although the high growing Rosemary , sheweth your rule , yet let it remember you to rule in wisdome , to rule in loue .