An hard Knot must have an answerable Wedg els in a cruel Pitty we betray their souls The Wounds of secure sinners will not be healed with sweet Words The holy Ghost came as well in firy Tongues as in the likeness of a dove c. Object 3. The Opinions of most orthodox Divines who treat or speak on this subject or of Conjugall Duties are against Beating of Wives and although some seemed to allow it yet they have since retracted and are reduc'd into the streame of Dissenters who leave none other Remedies or Comforts to the aggrieved Husband in his greatest Conflicts but Humiliation for his ill Choice together with Prayer Patience and Yeilding Some I suppose pleasantly noting that he rather deserves Beating for chusing no better And for illustration or instruction an Instance is added in a cholerick Couple who meeting in Marriage and the good Man asked how they could ever accord c. He answer'd That when the Fit was on his Wife he yeilded to her as Abraham did to Sarah and so shee on the contrary Answ 1. I confess that after I had made a large entrance into this Theme and heard of some worthy Men to be otherwise minded especially when I was told of the said Retractation by a reverend Divine I was a little disheartned from proceeding to a period And although I never harbour'd so much as a thought of thwarting any good Mans Opinion much less many as labouring only to enlighten my own Judgement and conscience yet I have been carried on u Neh. 2.18 Pr. 16.9 Ezr. 7.28 under Gods powerfull directing hand with these and the like Considerations As 1. That they being but Men as others will not I suppose affirme their Judgements x Witness the said Retractation of an esteemed orthodox Divine if yet it may be counted a Retractation For I hear not so much as a syllable in it sounding towards a Retreat These Words indeed and the like I finde therein viz. Let nothing be counted a Sin which Scripture doth not condemn as a Sin and what the Word the Rule of Truth and Falshood doth not shew us to be unlawfull That let us hold to be lawfull Safely may one conclude in all manner of Actions I will take that as warrantable against which I finde nothing written Care-cl p. 12. And Generals not limited by God doe give our Consciences Warrant to their utmost Generality so farr as they may not dash against some other Commandment Ibid. p. 20 infallible in Matters wherein the Word is not express but rather what they speak in such case to be at most y 1 Co. 7.6 by permission and not of Commandement and that all Men fetching their Arguments from the same Fountain One may hit or miss the Mark as soon as another And truly it may stand as a just Apology for many judicious worthy Divines That their urgent Avocations otherwise have not allowed them a thorow Search or Pensitation of this Point especially the case not pinching so near upon them 2. I could not but contract some Animation even from the said Retractation it self which must needs be more slenderly grounded then the Authors fore-going Assertion 3. I have seen I suppose the most eminent or accepted Writers on this Subject z Heb. 11.4 who being dead do yet speak whose Memory I have good cause to honour But with humble submission to graver Judgements these have not perhaps for the preceding Reason come fully home to the Point nor raught me satisfaction They allow the Wife indeed which no good Man denies to his good One to be sublevant to his Burden of guiding the Houshold which rightly understood doth more betoken his Trust then her Authority his Ease then her Honour and shee is to take the Staff as he delivers it not twitch it out of his hand and usurp his Authority for shee may chance have more need of ordering then all the rest This seems to be the Meaning of these good Men in that they require a precedent strict Obedience in the Wife but herein I humbly conceive they come short they leave the Husband lame and remediless in point of Coertion the life of Power and Command 4. I presume they hold not Marriage it self unlawfull to All or Any sorts of Men because a 1 Co. 7.7 c. Paul that chast and chosen Vessel and some few of his temper have contained or yet because Paul himself who had good cause to b 1 Co. 7.40 think he had the spirit of God yea to be sure he knew c 1 Co. 2 16. the Mind of Christ d 1 Co. 7.1,7 8. wished that all Men universally indefinitly were even as he to wit unmarried or unminded that way seeming also directly e 1 Co. 7.37,38 1 T. 5.11 to disswade from Marriage or yet because even all the Disciples the f See p. 25. n ult c. secretaries and especiall g L. 22.28,29 Jo. 16.27 Favourites of God the Lights of the World c. said h Mat. 19.10 It is not good to Marry For then how should i Gen. 1.28 9.7 35.11 Mankind be propagated and the l Isa 66.5 Jo. 17.12,20,21 10.16 1 Th. 4.15,17 elect Number especially made up and perfected according to Gods Purpose and appointment Therefore Paul for his part concludes m 1 Co. 7.9 t is better to Marry then to burne and n Ver. 36. 1 T. 5.14 bids let them marry insinuating a Necessity which is also to be understood in our present Case as at large anon And for the Disciples see in the place forecited Christ his most wise and mild Arguing and Answer to take off their erroneous Conceit Besides o Gen. 15.2,4,5 21.2,3 25.21 49.25 Ex. 23.26 Deu. 7 13,14 Jud. 13.3,24 1 S. 1,5,11,20 2.5 2 K. 4.14,16 Ps 113 9. 127.3 L. 1.7,13,36,57 1 T. 2.15 5.14 Child-bearing is pronounced a Blessing but p Gen. 20.17,18 Lev. 20.20,21 2 S. 6.20,23 Pr. 30.16 Jer. 22.30 Barrenness q Hos 9.14 miscarrying Womb dry Brests and r Ps 78.63 Maidens not given to Marriage are accounted sore Judgements Yet howsoever there seemeth more restraint from Mariage then here from Beating For why might we not thence argue thus It were well and better the Wife could not deserve Blows but if they be due or needfull or best for her why should they be denied her This Branch of Answer were more genuine to the 2. Obj. but I hope not altogether improper here 5. That commonly these Men of God have Offertures made unto them of none but Godly-disposed or at least well bred and civilized Women to Wives Or if they find them not so yet the very s Lev. 21.6,8 Ez. 42.14 L. 1.70 Jo. 20.22,23 Acts 3.21 1 Co. 4.1 Tit. 1.8 2 P. 1.21 sacred Function and sublime Parts of such Men inviteth and inforceth an awfull-reverent Respect unto them this again
all Things to them t 1 Jo. 4.8,16 Love it self but if it may please all Parties we shall distinguish them thus viz. his Positive tender and pleasing Love his privative tart and punitive Love The former being not disputed for it is his u Cant 2.4 proper Ensign these few Texts do briefly yet clearly display viz. in its x Ex. 33.19 Deu. 4.37 7.7,8 23.5 Ps 33.12 103.4 147.19,20 Isa 41.2,9 43.4 63.9 Jer. 1.5 Ez. 16.6 to 15. Hos 11.1,4 14.4 Mal. 1.2 Mat. 18.27 20.15,16 L. 1.48 12.32 Jo. 10.17,18 13.34 15.16 Ro. 9.15 Eph. 1.4 2.7,8 2 Th. 2.13 2 T. 1.2 Tit. 3.4,5 Ja. 2.5 1 P. 1.3 1 Jo. 4.10,19 Rev. 3.9 21.6 freeness y 2 K. 19.31 Car. 4.6 c. 7.1 to 9. Isa 9.7 Hos 11.8 His jealousie also implyes this fervency z Ps 36.7 103.4 Isa 53.3,4,5,6 12. Jo. 3.16 15 13. Acts 20.28 Ro. 5.8 Gal. 2.20 Eph. 2.4,5 5.2.25 Col. 2.13 1 P. 3.18 1 Jo. 3.1,16 4.9 Rev. 1.5 mirability a 2 S. 7.15 Neh. 9.17,31 Ps 89.33,34 Mal. 3.6 Jo. 13.1 2 T. 2.13 Ja. 1.17 constancy and b Isa 54.8,10 Jer. 31.3 Hos 2.19 Jo. 10.28 Ro. 8.35,38,39 eternity In the latter of Anger which we may term his c 2 Ch. 36.16 Isa 7.13 Jer. 2.32 15.6 Ez. 6.9 14.23 Jer. 44.22 forced Affection it may be requisite to shew the Cause we need not it s too wel known to be sin but his Progress and Proceeding in it from d Ex. 20.5 34.14 Deu. 6.15 Jealousie which in him is e Deu. 32.16,21 1 K. 14.22 Ps 78.58 1 Co. 10.22 Ez. 23.30,31 never needless to f Jer. 3.1 22.21 Ez. 6.9 16.15 to 36. 23.5 to 22. Hos 4.17 Exprobations g Lev. 26.17 c. Deu. 28.16 c. 32.23 c. 1 K. 9.7 Isa 65.12 Jer. 19.8,11 20.4 44.11 Ez. 5.15 6.11,12 7.25,26 16.37 to 41. 21.5 to 15. 14.21 Hos 2.3,4 9.12,16 Zeph. 1.3 Rev. 2.5,16 To instance in all were more tedious then usefull Rebukes and Threats from these to h Ps 2.12 Isa 9.1 54.8 Jer. 30.11 49.12 Zec. 1.15 L. 12.48 less or greater Punishments and the i Lev. 26.18,21,24,28 Job 16.14 Isa 5.25 40.2 Jer. 16.18 Ez. 21.14 12.11 Jo. 5.14 Iterations or Aggravations thereof as l 1 S. 4.3 2 K. 10.32 1 Ch. 21.7 Job 9.34 23.2 Ps 39.10 69.26 73.14 Isa 9.13 Jer. 5.3 14.17,19 Lam. 3.1 Mic. 6.13,1 Co. 4 11.2 Co. 6.5,9 11.23 c. 12.7 Blows m Deu. 32.39 Job 5.18 9.17 34.6 Ps 38.2,9 69.26 Jer. 10.19 30.14 Hos 5.13 6.1 L. 2.35 Wounds n Job 9.17 16.12 c. Ps 22.14 31.12 38.8 94.5 129.3 Jer. 1â— 17 19.10,11 31.28 Lam. 1.15 3.11 Hos 6.1 Nah. 3.19 Bruising and Breaking o Job 30.17 Ps 22.14 51.8 Isa 38.13 Lam. 1.13 3.4,16 of Bones p Ex. 15.26 Num. 11.33 16.46 31.16 Deu. 28 59 c. 29.22 Jos 22.17 2 Ch. 21.14 Job 2.7,8 7.5 30.18 Ps 38.3,7 77.2 106.29 Isa 3.17 38.12,21 Hos 5.12,13 Mic. 6.13 Hab. 3.16 1 Co. 11.30 Diseases q Gen. 21.9 Deu. 28.37 1 K. 9.7 2 K. 2.23 2 Ch. 30.10 36.16 Neh. 2.19 4.1,2 Job 12.4 16.20 17.6 30.1,9 Ps 22.6,7,8 35 16. and 44.9,13,14,16 and 69.7,10,11,12,20 and 80.6 and 109.25 and 137.3 Isa 8.18 and 43.28 Jer. 20.7,8 and 24.9 and 51.58 Lam. 1.7 3.14,45,46 Ez. 5.14,15 20.49 23.32 Dan. 9.16 Hos 7 16. Acts 2.13 1 Co. 4.13 2 Co. 6.8 1 T. 4.10 Heb. 10.33 11.36 Jude 18. Disgraces r Deu. 20.8,31,48 Jud. 2 14. 1 S. 2.7 Jud. 6.3,4 2 K. 17.20 20.17 Ezr. 9.7 Job 1.21 Ps 44.10 and 119.61 Pr. 1.13 Isa 42.22 24. Jer. 4.20 15.13 20.5 Lam 2.2 Ez 7.24 16.39 23.29 Hos 7.1 Am. 4.9 Mic 2.4 Hag 2.17 1 Co 4.11 Ph 3.8 Heb 10.34 Impoverishment s Gen. 15.13 Ex. 1.14 6.9 Lev 26.17 Deu 28.48 Acts 7.6 Jer 13.17 2 K 15.29 24.16 2 Ch 18.17 Ps 127.3 L. 21.24 Bondage or Captivity t Gen 39.20 Ps 105.18 Num. 21.1 Jud. 16.21 1 K. 22.27 2 Ch. 16.10 Job 13.27 36.8 Ps 79.11 107.10 Isa 42.22 Jer 32.2 37.15 21. 38.6,28 Lam 3.7,53 Ez 7.23 19.4,9 Mat 4.12 11.2 M. 1.14 L. 3.20 21.12 A s 5.18 12.4 16.23 20.23 21.33 24.27 28.17,20 22.19 26.10 2 Co 6.5 11.23 Eph. 3.1 6.20 Col 4.3,18 2 T. 1.8 2.9 Phil 1,10 Heb 11.36 13.3 Rev 2.10 Imprisonment Death Death not u Num. 16.29 common or x Ex. 21 28. Num. 35.11 Deu 19.5 21.1 Jos 20.3 1 K 22.34 cafual but as it were y Jer 5.9 44.27 Ez. 7.6 21.9 c. Dan 9.14 Hos 7.2 consulted and z Jer 13.14 15.2,3,5 16.4 21.7 Lam 2.21 3.43 Ez 7.3,4 8.18 Hos 9.12 cruel nor onely of a Gen 4.8 1 S. 4.18 2 S. 4.7,11.2 Ch 24.21 35.23,24 Mat 14.10 23.35 M. 6.27 Acts 7.59 12.2 Rev 2.13 this or that particular Saint but b 1 S. 4.10 2 S. 18.7 2 K. 10.32 2 Ch 13.17 Ps 79.2,3 Jer 9.1 14.18 Am 4.10 Heb 11 37. slaying and slaughtering even c Ps 44.22 Ro 8.36 daily without intermission more then like Sheep or Beasts by d Num 21.6 1 Ch 10.1 1 Co 10.5 and 11.30 Multitudes e Num 16.49 and 25.9 Jud 20.21,35 1 S. 4.10 2 S. 18.7 and 24.15 2 Ch 13.17 1 Co 10.8 Myriads f Ps 79.2,3 and 141.7 Isa 5.25 Jer 7.32 and 41.9 Ez 6.13 and 9.7 Rev 6.9 Heaps a g Jud 21.3,6 whole Tribe and h 2 Ch. 15.6 Ez 39.23 Lam 2.22 very near a Nation together leaving his Church hardly as we say with life more then i L. 10,30 half dead as if his Wrath were k Ps 85.5 Jer. 15.1 17.1 c. 23.39 Lam 2.1 Ez. 8.18 9.5,8,9,10 14.14,20 Am. 8.7 implacable and his Revenge l Isa 1.24 5.25 9.12 10.4 Lam. 2.2,3 c. insatiate Not taking the Refuse or vulgar onely but of the m 2 Ch. 13.17 Ps 78.31 chief and Choice of his People even n 1 K. 19.10 Neh. 9.26 2 Ch. 36.16 Lam. 2.20 Mat. 23.37 L. 11.49 Acts 7.52 Rev. 18.24 his Prophets Neither yet always cutting them off in the common Rode of violent and sudden Death wherein is Dispatch and o Job 3.13,17 present Ease but oft more bitter then Death it self in the p These need no further proof then History and Experience And note that pining and pinching the Saints by Imprisonment or any kinde of Hardship
Jos 8.34,35 2 K. 23.2 Ps 119.13 Jer. 1.17 26.2,15 Acts 5.20 4.19,20 10.33 18.9 20.27 Col. 4.3,4 1 Th. 2.4,16 Tit. 2.15 1 Joh. 1.3 conceal'd z Num. 22.38 24.13 Deu. 18.20 2 K. 22.13 Isa 8.20 Jer. 1.7 22.1 23.16,28 Ez. 2.7 3.4 33.8 Jon. 3.2 Acts 4.20 1 Th. 2.5 1 P. 4.11 counterfeited or varnished as if he should a Num. 23.19 Isa 14.24 40.8 46.10 Ez. 12.25 Jer. 44.28 give back or blush to avouch his Edicts or b Job 33.12,13 were accountable for his Actions to the Sons of Men or needed that any c Job 13.7 should speak wickedly or deceitfully for him 2. The danger of perverting may not hinder the publication of any divine Truth For it d Ps 33.9 Isa 55.11 Acts 6.7 12.24 13.44 19.20 Ro. 9.6 2 Th. 3.1 Ps 147.15 Jer. 1.12 accomplisheth his Pleasure it speeds and prospers in all Things whereunto he sends it whether in the e 2 Co. 2.16 savour of death unto death or of life unto life and he loseth no f Ex. 14.17,18 Isa 1.24 2 Th. 1.8 2 T. 2.20 See pag. 34. a b. Honour by either but gets by both We should deem it Madness as a Gospell-Friend fitly noteth to go naked lest we should be proud to destroy Vines lest any be drunk or to provide Food lest we be gluttonous For the Barbarous bruitish ferall Brood of Husbands and Wives there will befall them a particular Word of Caution anon But for the Present I know no safer nor sounder Rule to go by then what th' Apostle gives generally g Gal. 5.13 Brethren ye have been called unto Liberty Onely use not Liberty for an Occasion to the Flesh but by love serve one another I suppose all Objections of weight or Worth have received Answer and competent satisfaction if by chance we meet any more we shall endeavour the like Wherein if ought seem bitter tart or crude let it be candyed or concocted thus I presume all sorts of Objectors to have godly and vertuous or at least kind and quiet Wives and so to be less sensible of others sufferings Let it not be distastfull to tell such It s easy to be meek unmov'd Hee 's a Tyrant or devill that 's rigid and cruel without Provocation We find the h Num. 12.3 the Prototype Deu. 18.15,18 Mat. 17.3 M. 9.4 meekest Man on Earth except the i Mat. 11.29 the Type Mirrour of Meekness and Patience Himself the l Ps 16.10 Isa 49 7. Dan. 4.13 Hos 11.9 M. 1.24 L. 4.34 Acts 3.14 1 Jo. 2.20 holy and m Mat. 27.19,24 Act. 7.52 22.14 just One who n Isa 50.6 gave his back to the smiters and went o Isa 53.7 Acts 8.32 as a Lamb to the Slaughter without so much as opening his Mouth was p Ex 32.19,20,22 Num. 20.10 Ps 106.33 highly transported with Anger and perturbation of Mind insomuch as God hath been q Den. 1.37 32.51 Ps 106.30 expressly displeased with him for it yea sometime r Lev. 10.16,20 on easy or slender Occasion And indeed the Spirit of God seems s Deu. 19.6 to presuppose I say not permit some Passion in the purest of Men. But in imitation of Moses or other t Num. 25.7,8 1 S. 25.13,22,34 M. 3.17 L. 9.54 choice Favourites or Officers of God we are I confess to be very cautious and tender and to be sure it is as theirs in the Cause and Quarrell of God I say 't is easy to be meek unmov'd Hence it is That some out of Tenderness others of a conceited Equality as above do neither inflict nor allow Blows Not having the Occasion themselves they distast the Action in others which if they heed their u Jer. 17.9 own Hearts well they shall find true in other things too But briefly as the result of what is already said This may be modestly maintain'd and boldly believed That as it is not possible to produce any grounded Expression or Argument against a good Man's Beating his bad Wife so there do appeare many strong Consequences and pregnant Arguments from the sacred Word especially to approve it There seeming but this difference of Power 'twixt Christ and the pious Husband That Christ is the supreme Lord Paramount the Other his Delegate or vice-gerent Christ may kill or correct the Body at his Pleasure x Job 9.12,17 23.13 33.13 Eccl. 8.4 Jon. 1.4 without Account though his goodness usually gives it but Man may not do the first y Ex. 20.13 Deu. 5.17 Mat. 19.18 M. 10.19 L. 18.20 Ro. 13.9 at all nor the second in any Case without z Deu. 13.14 17.4 manifest and weighty Cause But that granted Christ is sometimes so nearly concerned and so highly affronted by Offenders that he hath not onely allowed but enjoin'd his People of old a Deu. 13.6 to 11 19.11,12,13 25.12 to set apart all humane Relation Affection and Compassion in Punishing which I confess is not imitable by us but with all Caution and good Conscience And this leads us on nearer the Quick viz. the moving Causes if so they may seem which may incite or warrant a Man to the last and worst of Remedies Correction CHAP. VII Conjectures at the Causes and Measure of Correction IN declaring hereof we are to have a twofold Respect 1. Vnto Women who are ingenuous acute and of perfect or competent Gifts or Qualities of Mind who as they may wilfully so they cannot but knowingly offend 2. To such as are defective weak or silly as they say and may offend of simplicity who doubtless are to be treated with much more Indulgence and therefore shall be dismissed with less Ado. Yet with this generall Rule observable in them as in all others to wit The more Knowledge Will Height and Custome do appear and prevail in sinning the sorer stroke and dint may justly be expected in suffering We chiefly follow the knowing and yet b L. 12.47 wilfull Offenders And here it must be laid for a Ground That as the impulsive Cause of Christs correcting his Church is sin so the Husband must in no Case act or attempt it without a sinfull Cause in the Wife nor yet for any sinfull Cause neither It s not for every trifling Contradiction or sleight Affront to start a Fray I am not ignorant that In the first place Many familiar Compellations in a loving Way are and ought to be embraced by the Husband from the Wife 2. I will suppose the kindest Couples in the World some very few excepted to be scarce free from Houshold-talk as they term it or perhaps some hot Fits of dispute yet ought to pass for loving and loyall too The Wife must not be forgotten till shee forget her self to be the Weaker Vessell In this especially let the c Ph. 2.5 Ro. 15.1 1 P. 3.8 same heroick Mind be in us that
was in Christ Jesus To whom David complain'd d Ps 130.3 If thou Lord shouldest mark Iniquities O Lord Who shall stand Even the e Isa 57.16 spirit should fail before thee and the souls which thou hast made And we must not conceive of Christ as one that expects so regular and exact a Cariage in any of us Male or Female as to render us harmless and blameless much less One that lyes at Catch or advantage to take us tripping as if we had a strength of our own distinct from his whereby to stand against or without him For why then needed he be f Heb. 5.1,2 ordain'd an high Priest to have Compassion on the ignorant and them that are out of g Jer. 6.16 Ps 119.14 the way For while we stay or start aside to play with this or that Toy and Trifle he tarries on us and will not away without us hee 'l not leave nor lose one but the h Jo. 17.12 Son of Perdition c. though we are inconstant he i Mal. 3.6 changeth not yea though we l 2 T. 2.13 believe not he abideth Faithfull he cannot deny himself Or what needed he be m Heb. 4.15 tempted in all points as we are but that he might be touched with the feeling of our Infirmities and be able n Heb. 2.18 to succour the tempted to o 2 Co. 12.9 Ps 55 22. Isa 41.10 support us in all our weaknesses or rather p Isa 53.4 Mat. 8.17 sustain them for us For although never any Temptation q Heb. 4.15 could fasten on him or r Jo. 14.30 find place with him yet was he more forcibly and no doubt as frequently assaulted as we Causes in particular This Correction then if allowable at all must be for no less then high heady habituall sins and Affronts And these 1. Against God striking at his soveraignty by denying or disputing his Power and Providence by blaspheming his Name and Word with horrid Oaths and Execrations by reproaching his Religion Truth and People with Taunts Invectives and the like 2. Against her Husband Either 1. In his superiority as he is Gods deputy and vice-gerent over her For whom doth shee reproach and blaspheme Not Hezekiah not her Husband but s Isa 37.23 1 Th. 4.8 the holy one of Israel and t Tit. 2.5 his holy Word by lifting up her hand against him in the lowest or least Degree by not onely neglecting but contemning and rejecting his pious just or reasonable Commands and pleading against his Prerogative and Power It may be wished this Infirmity were less predominant in many of the weaker Vessels Where subjection is yeilded due although but lame and imperfect in the Performance it mollifieth much and hideth a multitude of Infirmities u 1 T. 2.12 But when Gods Ordinances are struck or levell'd at so near the root the Fence had need be the firmer the Repulses more impetuous or forcible He that magnifies the rib so much If he shall find it not content according to its naturall Inclination to ly crooked by his side but a-cross at his Head will he think it seemly or sufferable I suspect not Or 2. In his Personall-domestick Quiet by customary scolding railing and Clamors against him especially or others in his Presence with uncoth and odious Names or bitter and biting Terms Or 3. In his Credit and Reputation by either Raising seconding or seeming to countenance or allow any scandall or Reproach upon him abhorring as some do to hear of the least Good or good Parts in him as if a part of her Reproach and Infamy Or 4. In his Estate by wilfull excessive and sinfull Wast unto Riot and Luxury 3. Against their Neighbours by sowing discord among them or betwixt any and her Husband by frequent scolding Reviling Tale-bearing and the like And all or any of this after and in contempt of the fair and frequent Expostulation of her Husband and when neither Perswasion or Reproof can penetrate If these I say or any of these be wilfully persisted in by the Wife after Reproof where now lyeth a Mans Relief for himself or hope of her Reformation It will not be much unseasonable here to insert how that when I asked an esteemed able Minister of the Gospell what course was to be taken for Coertion or Reducement of an unreasonable-unruly Woman He replyed adding that it was also the Resolution of other Judicious Divines in this very Case That even in point of Scandall where the Wife is notoriously in Fault yet the harmless Husband is to be convened and questioned by the Church It should seem then I said That you account of the Husband as Judge Justice and Bishop to the Wife He replyed yes The Ecclesiasticall Power then it seems will not interpose 'twixt Man and Wife herein at all What the Civil or secular Power can do I perfectly know not but I suppose it will not meddle except in case of extreme Cruelty and mortall danger It seems the Wife is Exlex out of all Jurisdiction So that the Husband by like hath no Refuge or Remedy left him in any lower Respect but his own Power and Prudence Nor these neither if he be strictly restraind as in the Objection to Prayer Patience and Humiliation But I hear it Objected again Object Why Those Virago's are but rare that will offer any such violence or vile Indignities to God or their Husband as are laid down If any do the Man must demean and defend himself as well as he may And for the Trespass of the Tongue 't is not worth heeding or talking of Words are but Wind a Woman hath none other Weapon shee is the weaker Vessell and must be born with and the like Answ 1. Yea many such Man-keen Amazons no doubt there are in the World that mantle it both against God and their Husbands These God will surely deal withall if Man cannot 2. David and other holy Men of God where they treat of the x Pr. 21.23 31.10,26 Profit and Praise the y Ps 52.2,4 73 2. 120.2 Pr. 4.24 18.21 21.9,19 27.15 Jer. 18.18 Poison and Pernitiousness the z Ps 12.3 52.5 59.12,13 64.8 120.3,4 140.9,10,11 Plague and Punishment of the Tongue do make no distinction of sex And Women must shew us better Warrant for their Exemption and Liberty then their bare Word for that 's not so easily admissible a 1 Co. 14.35 1 T. 2.11,12 in the Church as in Market or other Meetings But let us once more salute them in their own Logick Words they say are but wind It s true But if Satan b It s a common not so true yet practis'd Proverb That must needs go which the D drives blow the Bellows it often proves so venemous and violent as to blast or bear down all before it Words are their onely VVeapons Be it so and while