The first Chapter .

ANd the cause why I haue first begun with this duty of Husbands , is for that I find it to bee the first degree which God gaue vnto Man after his Creation : & therein , that when God gaue vnto man the rule of the whole earth , and the domination of all Gen. 2. the creatures therein contained , yet , vntill hee gaue vnto him a Wife , hee had no true content in all the rest besides , for euery creature had solace in their kind except Man : but so was it not with Man till God gaue vnto Man had no true content till God gaue vnto him a Wife . him a Wife : Then finding her a companion fit to associate him selfe withall , with her he setled his content . And this did God for Man in the time of his innocencie , giue vnto him this wife , thereby leauing vnto vs this instruction , that we also ought to liue so vprightly , so holily , and so purely in the state of wedlocke , that we sinne not against God , nor against one another : And heere is one especiall thing to be noted , that God gaue vnto Man but one Wife , and not two or three , or many , and yet hee could haue giuen him more as well as one , if he had knowne it meete so to be : But the Prophet Malachie doth tell vs why hee gaue him but one : because saith Malachie . 2. he , he sought a godly seed .

See heere my bretheren , God reiecteth your seed of bastardie , begotten in your filthy fornication and abomninable adultery , he chuseth none of these , it is the seed of lawfull wedlocke whereof he maketh his choyse to inherite his Kingdome , and raigne in glory with his beloued Sonne .

And whence proceeded this breach of Gods Commandement at first ? came it not from that wicked blood of Caine , was not Lamech that murtherer like The first breach of wedlocke from Lamech . his Father the first author therof ? yea he was so : for you plainly see that God at the first ordained it not so to be , and what he Gen. 4. first ordained , hee still confirmeth : for when hee drowned Gen. 7. the whole world , yet he preserued vnto Noah but one woman , and that his owne Wife , thereby teaching vnto man that he ought to keepe himselfe vnto his owne wife onely , & when he gaue his lawes vnto his owne chosen people with his owne hand writing , Exodus . 20. he then saith , Thou shalt not couet thy neighbours wife , speaking in the singular number , so that by him we find no nomination of any plurall .

Obiect . But it may be you will obiect and say , that the Saints and servants of God as Abraham , Iacob , Dauid and others , haue not obserued this rule , but haue had diuers wiues , and therefore being the beloued and chosen of God , they could not erre in these things . Answer . To this I answer , it pleased God to permit his seruants to doe many things which hee commanded not , he suffered Abraham to say Sarah his wife was Gen. 11. his sister , and Ioseph to sweare by Gen. 44. the life of Pharoah , and Dauid to 2. Sam. 11. commit adultery and murther , and many other the like , and yet we know that all these thinges were directly against the will of 1. King . 11. God , Salomon had many wiues indeed , but they drew him to Idolatry .

We reade that Moses suffered the people of Israell to giue their wiues a bill of diuorcement , Deu. 24. and so to put them away , but our blessed Sauiour telleth Math. 10. the Iewes that it was for the hardnes of their hearts , and to preuent further euils that Moses permitted it so to bee , and that from the beginning it was not so .

But to returne to our former matter againe , let vs see from whence this wife came that God If a man will respect the gift of his friend , for his friends sake , how much more ought he to esteeme of his wife which God giues vnto him ? hath giuen vnto man , that so of him she may accordingly be regarded , as indeed shee should : we find it to be most true that of mans owne selfe , God made him this compannion and wife , and that not from the head of man neither , least shee should claime to rule where her power consists not , nor of the foot , least shee should be disdayned & despised of her Husband , but from the very body is shee taken , nay it is not enough for thee to spare of thine own flesh for to make thee a wife of , but thou must spare a bone too , if thou wilt haue a fit companion for thee .

And now ( oh man ) hauing receiued so rich a Iewell , rich and deare indeed being so neare vnto thee , and that from the onely hand of the great and Almighty God , shee being the worke of his owne hands , sure it must needs be exceeding good which he maketh , and of an exceeding value which he vouchsafeth to giue , and consider it well and you shall find it so to bee : wee haue an old prouerbe , that it is a sweet collop that is cut out of the owne flesh , but I am sure it must needs bee sweet and deere , for that is both of thine owne flesh and bone : Oh man , be wise in vsing this thy Iewell as thou oughtest , least thou bee found vnworthy of her by him that gaue her vnto thee , and so hee take her againe , & then too late thou lament thy losse .

Will you haue my aduice herein ? I see no better way then to be How to keepe a good wi●e when a man hath her . wise and discreet in the vsing of her , nor any fitter place to keepe her in , then that from whence shee came , neere thy heart man , I meane , I know shee came from thence , lay her there againe , lay her there againe , let her not stray from thence , nay , locke her in there with the key of good discretion , and so shalt thou be sure to find a comfortable treasure of her at thy need , a comfortable treasure indeed as thou mayest vse her .

You will happily say vnto me , Obiect . I speake well for a good Wife , for shee deserues that place indeed : but there are many wiues of such lewd and froward condition , that their Husbands are most happiest when they are farthest from them , and such a wife deserues not that place . I answer Answer . with the words of Salomon , Eccle. 16. A vertuous woman shall bee giuen vnto him that feareth the Lord , and therefore he that will haue Good counsell for a man to get a good wife by . such a one , let him seeke to bee vertuous himselfe first , that so he may obtayne such a blessing of the Lord , for sure happy is the man that hath such a one , her price is farre aboue the pearles , his treasure is vnvaluable , if I should explaine her vertues as much as Salomon , yet I should not at full expresse her worth , but leaue her as he hath done , that her owne workes may giue her her due praise .

The Second Chapter .

ANd now wee see that God hath giuen vnto man so deare and pretious a Companion to liue with him , let vs see what dutyes he would haue these to performe one towards the other , and first to beginne with the man , because he is the head , Gen. 3. for so we find him to bee : And if in this case wee seeke the whole booke of God through , yet wee shall find the effect and end thereof to be wholy and only loue , for Saint Paule teacheth Ephe. 5. that men ought to loue their wiues as their owne bodies , and he sheweth the reason of it , for saith he , no man euer yet hated his owne flesh , but nourisheth & cherisheth it , euen as Christ doth the Church , for thus the Gen. 23. Saints and seruants of God gouerned their wiues in times past , Abraham loued Sarah his Wife , Isaack loued Rebecka his Wife , Gen. 26. yea , the storie recordeth that they sported together .

This hath that great Prophet It is not enough for a man to liue quietly with his wife , but he must liue louingly with her also . & seruant of God Moses expressed thereby , to show vnto men , that it is not enough for them to liue peacably and quietly with their wiues , but they must liue louingly with them also : thus did Iacob loue his wife , yeelding Gen. 28. service to his vnckle and maister Fourteen yeares , to the end hee might enioy her after : Elkana 1. Sam. 1. loued Hanna his wife , and Sampson Iudg. 1. Tob. ● his wife , and Tobias and others their wiues : And you see it must be no ordinary loue neither , but it must bee like that extraordinary great loue which Christ shewed vnto his Church , Ephe. 5. who gaue himselfe for it , that Man is to loue his wife as Christ his Church . hee might make it vnto himselfe a glorious Church , not hauing spot or wrinckle , or any such thing , but that it should be wholy & without blame . I will say with the blessed Apostle , this is a great secret , yea such a one which man is not commaunded in all poynts to imitate , for the man is not commanded to giue his life for his wife , as Christ did for his Church , and yet he is to In what poynts to Imitate Christ . protect her in all perils and dangers , euen as hee doth his Church : he must gouerne her in his wisedome by the word of God , both by continuall instructions from thence , and by his owne louing and gentle behauiour towards her and all others , yea , he must be laborious in his calling , that so he may prouide all thinges necessary for her , for so doth Christ for his Church , he is alwaies protecting it and prouiding for it , For this cause shall a man leaue his Father & Mat. 19. 5. his Mother , and shall cleaue vnto his wife , and they twayne shall bee one flesh .

Saint Peter being himselfe a married man , doth giue many notable instructions like these , who speaking by the spirit of God , and in the knowledge hee had of marriage , yet imposeth this duty vnto men , ye Husbands dwell with your Wiues as men of 1. Pet. 3. knowledge , giuing honour vnto the woman as vnto the weaker vessell , euen ● they which are heyres together of the grace of life , that your prayers be not interrupted : and the wise man giueth thee this counsell , not to depart from a discreet and Eccle. 7. good woman which is fallen vnto thee for thy portion in the feare of the Lord , ( for sayth he ) the guift of her honesty is farre aboue gold : If thou haue a wife after thine owne mind , forsake her not , and commit not thy selfe to the hatefull , vse thy selfe to liue ioyfully with thy wife whom thou louest , all the dayes of thy life , which is but vaine that God hath giuen thee vnder the Sunne , all the dayes of thy vanity , for that is thy portion in this life of all thy labour and trauile that thou takest vnder the sunne .

And our Sauiour Christ himselfe confirming on earth what his Father had done in paradice , vouchsafed to grace a nuptiall feast with his blessed presence : & to expresse his loue the more which hee bare to the holy vnion then there knitte betwixt the Iohn . 2. Man and his wife , he expresseth his glory in shewing his first miracle which he wrought on earth at this mariage , & that of ioy , by turning there water into wine , to comfort and glad their hearts withall .

And now that wee haue found that the most principall duty of The principal duty of the Husband towards his wife is loue . the Husband towards his Wife is loue , & that the word of God teacheth vs in what nature to expresse it , let vs looke into the glasse of our times and see how this duty of loue is performed , but I feare that among a hundred wee shall scarce finde one that striueth to performe this duty of loue as he ought , and too many that know not of any duty at all Few to bee found which loue their wiues as they should . to be obserued , or at least wise will know of none , and euen of those that doe know all , and yet make no conscience to performe any : for who , or where is hee that loueth his wife as himselfe , and nourisheth and cherisheth her euen as Christ doth his Church , nay , see we not rather the contrary , doe wee not see dayly many which consume great estates which their wiues doe bring them , through their owne vicious liues , some by Foure chiefe causes of the ruinating of mans estate . idlenesse , some by gaming , some by drunkennesse , some by whoring , but of this I shall speake hereafter , some by one thing & some by another , who can deny but if there were loue in the man to his wife , he would be more carefull in preseruing his and her estate then thus ? and yet wee see dayly a good woman brought to beggery by such lewd Husbands : where is any duty or loue in such ?

And are there not others which to shew their authority , Churlish husbands voyd of the knowledge of the law of God . will hold their wiues ( in stead of fellowship ) in such subiection & seruitude , that no seruant will performe the like vnto them , being euen a very Nabal vnto them in churlishnes of speech & crabbed conditions , that the poore wife is euen at her wits end in seeking to giue him content● where is wisedome in such Husbands , that should gouerne their wiues according to knowledge ? alas it appeareth that these men forgetting their duty to God , know not how to performe any duty at all towards their Wiues : Others there are that will follow no vocation or labour at all , but liue idely and lewdly & put the poore woman to shift for all : shee must prouide for her selfe , her Children ; and her idle Husband too , or if he hap sometimes to get something abroad , yet shee shall bee sure to be neuer the better for it , he wil bring none home to comfort her , nay , not so much as to put cloathes to his owne backe , but that his poore Wife must prouide them , yea and discharge the Landlord too , or else shee shal want a house to put her head in : nay , hauing a profession to doe all this sufficiently of himselfe , yet will he no way benefit his wife or himselfe , but wil impose all still vpon her : what shall we say of such men ? and yet such there be , I protest vpon mine owne knowledge I know some of them . Saint Paul saith , he is worse then an Infidell that doth No feare of God , nor loue in them which doe not prouide for their families . not prouide for his family : but to cast pearles among such swine is not meet , for they will stoppe their eares at the voyce of the charmer , charme hee neuer so wisely : I will leaue them to the iust iudgement of God , who wil assuredly giue them their due , what loue doe these men show ? nay , is there any loue at all in them , or any feare of God either ?

It is a harts griefe to any good Christian , or well minded man to see and heare the dayly contentions , vproares , quarrelles , and disagreements betwixt husbands and wiues in these dayes , and yet who can deny but the world is too full of such , what shall wee say to these thinges ? excuse it who will by laying the Faults in the Husband , prouing him the cause of the disagreeing betwixt his wife and himselfe . fault on the Wiues , I say still the greatest part is in the Husband , hee by his vnkind and churlish speeches not fitting a husband to giue vnto his wife , his vnthriftines in wasting abroad , what all doe labour for at home , his drunkenesse , his rash furiousnes , these with the rest aforesaid and a number more not here expressed , he ( I say ) by these occasions is dayly the cause of all these euills .

The third Chapter .

ANd there bee some of this number , that will know no other way to gouerne their wiues but by extreamity : why brother , No way for a man to bring his with to loue him by compulsion . dost thou thinke to make thy Wife loue thee by beating of her , alas silly man , how art thou deceiued ? loue is of another nature , shee will run freely of her selfe where she liketh , but will not bee drawne or compelled by any force how great soener .

And how canst thou thinke to haue her to shew any kindnesse or loue vnto thee , when thou seekest to rule by force ? would'st thou haue her to stand in awe of thee , it is thy seruants duty and thy childs , not thy Wifes : I confesse shee is to bee obedient vnto thee ? but her obedience must The wifes obedience must proceed from loue . proceed through loue , and a man may draw more from a woman by louing and kind vsing of her , More may be done by loue with a woman then by force . then any way by force , nay , more then he will or can expect of her , for shee is of that free nature where shee loueth , and is beloued , I speake not of supposition , but of knowledge .

But for a man to beate her whom both by the lawes of God and nature he is bound to loue , nourish , and cherish as his owne flesh , it doth shew great want of The man that beateth and doth misuse his wife , is voyd of the knowledge of God and of his lawes . knowledge both of God and of his lawes in such a man , for were the feare of God or wisedome in them , they would rather striue to gouerne them in another nature , I meane by loue and clementcie , & not by force : besids , what a scandall & reproach doth such men raise vpon themselues What scandals doe arise by varience betweene man and wife . amongst their neighbours , kindred and acquaintance who liue thus discentiously , making themselues a by-word or common talke among them , which many times are not onely affrighted with them in their owne houses with the outcries of them & their children , but are forced to spend their time & their mony to make the man and his wife friends : oh foolish madnes in men that cannot keepe their owne follies priuate to themselues , but they must make others acquainted with it !

I do remember that a reuerend diuine writing vpon this matter saith , that hee that cannot gouerne his Wife without beating her , deserues to be beaten himselfe , because hee did chuse no better but such a one whom hee could not rule without beating : of all waies I assuer thee this is the worst to rule her by , for by this thou not only withdrawest her loue from thee , which otherwais to thy great comfort thou migh●estionioy , & for th● great good , but also hardnest her heart against thee , & makest her carelesse euen of thy good and her owne , yea many times such Dangerous euils arising by a mans vnkind dealing with his wife . hard and vnkind dealing of the husband vnto the wife , causeth her to fall into such inconuenience as bringeth the ruine both of her and of her husband and children , and is not this folly in men to wrong themselues thus by their misgouernement , respecting more their owne will , then their good & quiet ? yea all must bee ●●t afside to giue place vnto will , so it is not enough for such a one to bee Lord and ruler ouer his wife as it is reason he should , but he will shew it , and that not in priuate neither , but openly , taking a glory in doing it , thereby explaining the follies of her whose weakenes he should hide , and opening his owne , whome wisedome would he should keep secret : besides what euill examples Euill examples in maisters corrupting their families . giue such men by these thinges vnto their families ? yea , what haue such men to answer for vnto God which thus corrupt their families by these euill examples ? amongst whom as a vine , it will extend it selfe into many branches : such a sin is not easily put away , he hath more need of Mary Magdalens teares , and with Peter to weepe bitterly , that is corrupt with such a sinne , and yet when he hath all done , he may winne ( as I sayd ) more by loue , then hee shall get by force .

But I haue not yet done with this branch of Loue , for I must tell you , that that man that doth not loue and liue louingly with his Wife , the spirit of God is not in such a one , and I proue it by his words , who was directed by the spirit of truth in that hee spake , I meane the blessed Apostle Saint Iohn , for he saith , that 1. Iohn . 4. hee that dwelleth in loue , dwelleth in God , and God in him : so then it must needes appeare that hee that dwelleth not in loue , dwelleth not in God , nor God in him : yea , hee proueth his words by these following , hee that loueth not , knoweth not God , for God is loue : yea , he goeth so farre , that hee teacheth vs to know whether this loue be in vs , or no , for saith he , if we loue one another , we will loue God , & keepe his Commandements : also I know he speaketh there of the children of God : but as it ought so to bee in them one towards another , so it ought also more especially to bee in euery man particularly towards his owne Wife , & here is a toutchstone will tell euery man truly whether he liue with his wife as hee ought to doe , or no , namely , if hee liue in loue with her and according to the Commandements of God : S ▪ Iohn saith , that if any man saith hee loueth God and hateth his brother , hee is a liar , and if a man say hee loueth God , and yet loueth not his wife , I say he is a lyar also .

But what shall I say ? when I haue all done , I must leaue men to the consideration of what I haue witten , and wish and intreat them to be wise & submit themselues vnto the gouernement of the word of God , that so they may liue : quietly and louingly with their wiues , and not onely so , but ioyfully ( as the wise man saith ) for surely hee hath obtayned a good portion that hath a wife that hee can liue ioyfully with , for if that a man do abound with wealth , so that he is able to giue vnto himselfe as much pleasure as Salomon possessed as his Where peace and loue doe want , all other things do seeme vnpleasing . heart can desire , yet if hee liue not peaceably at home & in loue with his wife , euen all the rest are but a burthen vnto him : but the poore man ( hauing little and yet liuing frendly , louingly and ioyfully with his wife ) hath his heart more full of content then the rich man hath of all his wealth . Indeed as the old prouerbe sayth , in loue is no lacke , Where man wife agree , all thinges prosper well . 1. Sam. 6. for where loue is vnited in the feare of God in the harts of man and wife , they will ( like yoake fellowes ) draw together the right way , like the two Milch Kine which brought the Arke of God in the new cart from the land of the Philistims , yea , they will plow together , & sow together , & there is no doubt , but through the blessing of him which gouerneth them , they shall ( so doing ) receiue a plentifull haruest together . Thus we haue found that the principall duty of the Husband vnto the Wife is loue , and doe also finde that this duty is much neglected , contemned , & euen despised of many , as appeareth by the euills dayly arising betwixt man & wife here before expressed , which I confesse to bee to many , yet there is one mayne defect in husbands which I may not ouer-passe , because it is the greatest breach of loue that may bee , which I will speake of in the Chapter following .

The Fourth Chapter .

THis duty of the Husband vnto the Wife being wholy included in the bonds of loue , it stretcheth it selfe farther into many branches : for we finde also by the word of God , that the Husband must dwell with his wife according to knowledge : so we see here that is not lawfull for the Husband to forsake his Wife , but howseuer , whether it be in weale or woe , in riches or in pouerty , yet he must abide & dwell with her still , onely Adultry No cause whatsoeuer should separate man and wife , except Adultry . separateth man and wife : for this cause a man may forsake his wife and shee her husband , but if the wife be not an Adultresse , thou must not forsake her , no , not for any other cause , I confesse the wise man saith , giue me any plague , but the plague of the tongue : and it may bee thy wife hath this fault , yet this is not a sufficient cause for to forsake her , for our Saviour Christ telleth Mat. 19. vs , it is not lawfull for a man to put away his wife , except it be for whoredome : yea hee doth vtterly forbid to separate whom God hath ioyned together : and saith further , that whosoeuer shall put away his wife , except it bee for fornication , causeth her to commit Adultery , and whosoeuer Whosoeuer marrieth her that is diuorced , doth commit Adultry . shall marry her that is diuorced , committeth Adultry .

But the firebrands of hell , I meane the wicked and abominable Adulterers of our time , ( neither respecting the word of God , nor yeelding any obedience to his Commandements , or fearing the iustice of his vengeance to come for their disobedience ) will notwithstanding ( like the swine possessed by the Deuill ) runne violently to their destructions : But Saint Paull 1. Cor. 6. telleth them plainely , that neither Fornicators , Adulterers , wantons , An item for whoremongers and Adulterers . nor such like , shall inherite the kingdome of God : whither they shall goe then I tremble to thinke of : for these men not regarding these things , will haue a wife here , & another there , one in this Country , and another in another country : or if thy cannot range abroad to doe thus , but must abide at home , they will keepe a whore euen there , and yet the poore wife must not know of it , or if shee doe , shee must not seeme to know it or dare to speake of it , though shee bee neuer so much wronged by it : nay , this will not serue the beastly minds of some , but they will haue a whore in this corner , and another in another corner , and bee continually seeking of whores and whorish places , for all bread is sweet to a whoremonger , saith the wise man , hee will not leaue off till hee perish : Eccle. 23. a man that breaketh wedlocke , and thinketh thus in his heart , who seeth me , I am compassed about with darkenesse , the walls couer mee , no body seeth mee , whom need I to feare ? the most high wil not remember my sins : the same man sayth , he shall bee punished in the streets of the citty , and shall bee chased like a young horse foale , and when he thinketh not vpon it , hee shall be taken : thus shall he be put to shame of euery man , because he would not vnderstand the feare of the Lord .

But what speake I of the wise mans words , when God himselfe saith Thou shalt not commit Adultry , Exodus . 20. and that thou shalt not couit thy neighbours Wife , nor his maide , nor his Daughter , and yet his wife , his maid , nor daughter , wil serue to satisfie the beastly minds of many men in this wicked age , but wiues , maides , and all that they may any way allure to their wicked purposes they will thus abuse : The Lord commanded there Deu. 23. should bee no whore-keepers among his people the Israelites , but if all such should bee swept out of this kingdome , I thinke a great part of our land would be vnpeopled , for neuer was this sin of whoredome & adultry at such a haight as at this day it is amongst , vs amongst young men it is now counted but a tricke of youth , & among others of more yeares which should haue more grace , it is called the sweet pleasing sin of Letchery .

Oh England , England ! Sodom & Gomorah committed not more sinne then thou dayly dost , and these haue felt the heauy hand of God long since , consuming them with fire and brimstone from heauen , and thinkest thou Heb. 13. to escape ? no , no , the bed vndefiled is honourable , but Whoremongers and Adulterers God will iudge . Saint Iohn telleth such Reu. 21. plainely , they shall haue their part in the lake that burneth with fire & brimstone : you will thinke I am too bold to bee thus sharpe with you , but I say the tongues of men can neuer speake enough of this sinne , for the Lord hath set himselfe against such , and will be aswift witnesse against them : ( for saith he ) They assemble themselues Mala. 3. by companies in the Harlots houses , and rise vp in the morning like fed horses , for euery man neigheth Iere. 5. after his neighbours wife , and now marke what followes : shall I not visit for these thinges sayth the Lord , shall not my soule be auenged on such a nation as this ?

Woe be to you Whoremongers Whoremongers & Adulterers , doe not onely draw vengeance on them selues , but also on the nations among whom they liue . and Adulterers , who not onely draw vengeance vpon your selues but even vpon the whole nation wherein you liue , against whom the Lord maketh ready the arrowes of his vengeance , whose portion is in that lake of fire vnquenchable , Oh consider this yee that forget God , least hee tare you in Psalme . 50. peeces , and there be none to helpe !

Regard the words of Salomon , keepe thee from the wicked woman , & flattery of the tongue of a strange woman , desire not her beauty in thine heart , neither let her take thee with her eye lids , for because of the whorish woman , a man is brought to a morcel of bread : And a woman will hunt for Pro. 6. the precious life of a man : can a man take fire in his bosom & not be burnt , or can he goe vpon coales , & his feete not be burnt : so he that goeth into his neighbours wife , shall not be innocent , whosoeuer toucheth her : should a man talke with one of these licentious liuers about some of his worldly affaires , he would thinke himselfe wise enough to conferre with any man , & in the eyes of the world seeme so , & yet Salomon proueth him ot be but a foole , for ( saith hee , ) hee that doth it , destroyeth his owne soule , yea he shall find a wound & dishonour , & his reproach shal neuer be put away : & againe in anothr place , The mouth of a strange Pro. 22. woman is a pit , and hee with whom the Lord is angry , shall fall therein : and thus I proceed somewhat the more largely in opening this breach of wedlocke , to the end you may see into what dangers these men doe dayly run into , which liue not louingly & faithfully with their owne wiues , as the word of God enioyneth them to doe .

The Fift Chapter .

WEe see now by our last Chapter , how farre many husbands come short of the performance of that duty , which by the word of God they are inioyned to performe vnto their wiues , and the whole cause or chiefe ground we also see there to be the want of loue , or rather of true loue : for if there were in them that true loue which the feare of God worketh in the heart of euery good Christian , then it would leade them to that knowledge wherewith S. Peter 1. Pet. 3. teacheth husbands to be furnished with : which I must a little further touch , for it is not enough for them to abide & dwel with their wiues , but they must dwell with them as men of knowledge , and men of vnderstanding , and experienced in the word of God , yeelding themselues wholy vnto the guide of his word , and the obedience of his will and holy Commandements , this is the knowledge wherewith he instructeth them , and this will bring Husbands to performe that which Saint Paul teacheth , which is to loue your wiues ▪ Ephe. 5. as Christ loued his Congregation : that is with a holy , harty and a constant Husbands ought to liue with their wiues as men of knowledge , experienced in the word of God . loue , for all these must bee performed by you : and except you labour to gather this knowledge from the word of God , as the Bee doth for her hony among the flowers , by your continual exercise & meditation therin assure your selues you shal neuer be able to performe your duties towards God , nor receiue true comfort by your Mariages .

Hee telleth you also , that you must giue honour vnto the wife as vnto the weaker vessell , and because shee is the weaker vessel and more apt to frailty then thy selfe , thou must beare with her weakenes , and not expect to find that fulnesse of content which happily through thy wisedome thou wouldest shee should performe vnto thee in many things , for , for this cause also hast thou obtayned thy wisedome & thy knowledge and thy vnderstanding , that thou mightest beare with the weakenes of thy companion : we reade , that when Samuell had annoynted Saul to bee 1. Sam. 10. a King ouer the people , so soone as hee had annoynted him vnto that kingly office , God gaue vnto him another hart , fitting him thereby vnto the place and calling he had appoynted him : so no doubt but those men which he permitteth vnto that honorable function of Marriage , he furnisheth with gifts fitting for that calling , for it is a matter of no small waight when a man taketh vpon him the gouernement of a woman , but if he rightly consider what he taketh in hand , hee shall find he had need with Salomon to pray that the Lord will giue vnto him wisedome to rule & gouerne the wife whith he hath taken , as hee did for wisedome to gouerne his people , & both the Husband & the Wife when they come together to pray with Tobias and Sarah , that the power of Tob. 8. the Deuill haue no domination ouer them , and so he shall be strengthned and enabled to beare with the weakenesse of his companion .

Wee see if wee put strong waters into a single & weake glasse , it breaketh the glasse because it wanteth substance of nature to beare it : and therefore we will put such waters carefully into double glasses , which may conserue and keepe them : so wee should not ouerburthen the weake nature of the woman , by imposing vpon her , that which the husband himselfe ought to performe , of which ( I haue formerly spoken ) and this is one Simile . chiefe reason which should mooue the man to deale kindly with his wife , euen her weaknes : for wee see if we handle vessels A reason shewing why a man should deale kindly with his wife . of glasse and earth roughly or rashly , we crack & breake them , and I would that men were as wise and carefull to consider the weakensse of their wiues , and to deale kindly , gently , and louingly with them , so conseruing and preseruing that loue which ought to bee betwixt them , and would be if it were not expulsed by their rough and vnkind dealing with them .

And there is another reason or chiefe ground to be considered greater then any of the former , which should draw men to the performance of this their duty , for so St. Paul doth teach vs also , ( which is ) that euery man should Another more effectuall reason for the same cause haue a speciall care to performe these duties imposed vpon him , the rather or for this cause , because they are beires with you of the grace of life , elected by the fauor of God in Christ Iesus to that fellowship of Saints wherein you your selues hope to bee numbred , & as dearely beloued of God as your selues , bought out of the power of Satan by the precious blood of his deare Sonne , as well as you , and heyres also of that eternall life which you your selues hope to enioy : and therefore if you your selues thinke to liue as Saints in Heauen , you must liue together as Saints here on earth . These thinges as a loadestone should draw you to the performance of those dutyes which you ought to performe if you rightly consider it .

And so our blessed Apostle hauing giuen this godly & prudent counsaile vnto Husbands to performe vnto their Wiues , giueth a reason also wherefore these thinges should or ought to be thus performed , which is , that your prayers be not let or hindred , as if hee should say , if you liue discōtently or frowardly one with When man & wife agree not as they ought , they cannot pray as they should . another , it is vnpossible that you should performe that deuotion in your praiers , which you ought to performe to God , or haue them accepted of him as you would , & therfore if you would haue God to heare you when you pray vnto him , or to grant you the things which you pray for and desire of him , agree and liue in loue together , that so your praying together may receiue comfort together , and that the God of loue may blesse your Loues together .

I beseech you haue a care of these thinges , and separate not yourselues in these holy actions , for I know there be too many infected with these sins amongst vs in these dayes , which liue vntowardly and frowardly God knowes , & yet feare not to present themselues before his diuine Maiesty in this case , oh dangerous thing ! hath God ioyned you together that you might be one , and will you diuide your selues and then appeare before him , and bring him but halfe , when his due is to haue the whole , thinke you hee will bee serued thus ? no , hee is like the true Mother , which wil not haue 1. King . 3. her child diuided , he will either haue the whole or none , he will not haue you thus to separate your selues , and then to presume to come in his presence : but if any contention do arise betwixt the Man and his Wife , quench the fire before it doe burne too farre , reconcile yourselues one to another speedily , that your loues may not fade , nor your hearts stray , but ioyne together in God , that so your prayers be not interupted , but accepted of him , as you see the word of God teacheth you : & thus briefely for the duty of Husbands .