in particular concerning the sinne of speaking evill of the godly and the point is That Gods gracious visitation doth cure that disease exactly Hee will never raile any more that is truly gathered unto God in his day of visitation It is possible Christians may speake evill one of another in particular and it is lamentable when they doe so but that is upon supposall of particular faults in those of whom they speake evill But that a man should speake evill of godly men in generall because they are godly with desire hee might finde them evill doers is a vice not found in such as are truly called And therefore let such as are guilty of that sin of speaking evill of good Christians because they follow goodnesse know That their day of visitation is not yet come Verse 13. Submit your selves to every ordinance of man for the Lords sake whether to the King as superior FRom the thirteenth Verse of the first Chapter to the ninth Verse of the third Chapter is contained matter of exhortation and the exhortation is either generall or speciall The generall exhortation concernes all Christians and hath beene set downe from the thirteenth Verse of the first Chapter to the end of the eleventh Verse of this second Chapter Now those words and those that follow to the ninth Verse of the next Chapter containe speciall exhortations which concerne some Christians onely namely subjects servants wives and husbands Of the duty of subjects hee entreats from Verse 13. to Verse 18. Of the duty of servants from Verse 18. to the end of this Chapter of the duty of wives in the seven first Verses of the third Chapter and of the duty of husbands in the eighth Verse of that Chapter So that the Apostle having taught all Christians before how to behave themselves in their generall calling hee now undertakes to teach some sorts of Christians in particular how to order themselves in their particular callings and so hee teacheth them in some things that concerne the Politickes and in some things that concerne the Oeconomickes Unto order in a Common wealth belongs the duty of Subjects and unto houshold government belongs the duty of Servants Wives and Husbands From the coherence and the generall consideration of the whole exhortation divers things may bee noted before I breake open the particulars of the Text. 1 The Word of God must bee the warrant of all the actions of our life it not onely gives order about the businesses of Religion but it prescribes matter of obedience in all our conversation it tells us what to doe in our houses and in the Common wealth as well as what to doe at Church which shewes us the perfection of the Scripture Theologie is the Mistresse of all Sciences it perfects the sound knowledge of the Ethicks Politickes or Oeconomickes and it should teach therefore in our callings whether generall or particular to seeke warrant from the Word which warrant wee may finde either expressed particularly or else implyed in generall directions and withall wee should take heed that wee make not more sinnes in any estate of life than are made in Scripture and so not affright or disquiet our selves with vaine fears that way 2 The Apostle would have Christians in a speciall manner carefull that they offend not the lawes of the Princes of this world this appeares in that hee enjoines them the duties of subjects first and in that they doe teach them the duty of submission both in this and other Scriptures with great force and violence as it were of arguments which shewes that they were wonderfull desirous to charge and instruct the Christians so that if it were possible they might not offend that way and the reasons are divers and many why Christians should bee above all men carefull to keepe the lawes of Princes first because by breaking the lawes of men they sinne against God Secondly because evill minded men have in all ages watched godly Christians to see whether they could finde any fault by them in the matters of the kingdome Thirdly because if earthly Princes be provoked it may cause a generall trouble of the Churches the offendors many times suffer not alone but many others upon displeasure raised by them Fourthly because if earthly Princes bee good the carefull obedience of their Subjects may incourage them to be great helpes to Religion even to be Nursing-fathers and Nursing-mothers to the Churches 1 Tim. 2.2 Fiftly because perversnesse and contempt and carelesse neglect of the lawes of Princes many times proves scandalous and Wee must not offend them that are without 1 Cor. 10.2 Col. 4.5 Many that were somewhat enclined to embrace the sincerity of the Gospell have beene cast backe and professe that therefore they abhorre such people because they observe their disobedience against humane government either through indiscretion or nice scruples or perverse wilfulnesse The use may be to reprove the carelesnesse of many Christians this way and that for divers offences as first for sluggishnesse in not studying the Lawes of the Countries where they live Some Christians have a secret jealousie against the Lawes of men and doe in heart thinke meanly of them and unlesse the equity of the Law stare them in the face they doe without any further consideration securely cast aside the care of it and rush into the breach of it Secondly divers Christians doe much sin against the holy desire and direction of the Apostles in the intemperancy of their words when in ordinary discourse they speake with much scorne of the observation of the Lawes of men which they understand not A Christian that will not study to be quiet in respect of the Lawes of men is a singular plague to the Church where he lives Doct. 3. We may hence note that it is necessary for Ministers often to teach their hearers their duty to Magistrates to shew the power that Princes have to make Lawes to governe them by And this is fit to be noted because of the strange weakenesse and perversnesse of some Christians that are much offended with their Teachers if they fall upon doctrine of this nature with any application to the times they mistrust them or censure them to be temporizers and to speake out of flattery or wilfulnesse or the like corruption of conscience I speake not now of such Ministers as pleade the rights of Princes onely for their owne ends or in such a manner as they discover an apparent hatred of godlinesse it selfe for these are worthy to bee blamed but even of such Ministers as prove the rights of Christian Princes with compassion and love and meeknesse without provoking or reviling tearmes even these I say are mistrusted and censured though we heare and see in other Scriptures that they are bound to prove and defend the authority of the Magistrate in any thing wherein it is unjustly questioned Doct. 4. It is necessary wee should first bee taught our duty to God and those
thing he would have kept safe Secondly seeing he is the Bishop of our soules we should learne not to give to any man above what is written seeing they are but stewards of his graces and servants under him Thirdly we should especially strive to be such as Christ may take the charge of us and may prove that we belong to his charge If we be of Christs charge then first we must heare his voice all our dayes with great attention and affection His sheepe heare his voice and the voice of a stranger they will not heare Iohn 16. Secondly we must be sure we have returned and repented us of our former wandrings else he is not the Bishop of our soules Thirdly we must resolve all our dayes to obey him that is thus declared to have the over-sight of us and be ruled by such messengers as he sends unto us in his name Bishops also and Ministers should here learne to know what a good worke it is to have the charge of soules under Christ and accordingly carry themselves with all faithfulnesse and diligence and justice and humility not Lording it over Gods heritage but as such as give account unto the chiefe Bishop at his comming 1 Pet. 5.2 3. 1 Tim. 4.1 2 3. and 3.1 They are but Christs Curates Lastly woe to such as are complained of to this Bishop there will be no escaping he will not be corrupted they may escape the punishment of earthly Bishops but they shall never escape the punishment of this heavenly Bishop Matth. 3.5 FINIS SERMONS UPON PART OF THE THIRD CHAPTER OF THE FIRST Epistle of St. PETER Being the last that were preached by the late faithfull and painefull Minister of Gods Word Nicolas Byfield VVherein Method Sense Doctrine and Use is with great variety of matter profitably handled and sundry heads of Divinitie largely discussed Published since the Authors death by WILLIAM GOUGE LONDON Printed by ROBERT YOUNG 1637. TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE SIR HORATIO VEERE KNIGHT LORD Veere of Tilbery and Generall of the English Forces in the service of the high and mighty Lords the States Generall of the united Provinces of the Netherlands And to his pious and vertuous Consort the Lady Mary Veere such increase of grace as may bring them to fulnesse of Glory Right Honourable THe Almighties gracious acceptation of such oblations as are brought to him encourageth sons of men to offer their Sacrifices on the Altar of his Grace Like ground of encouragement have I to lay this Oblation on the Altar of your Honours patronage Of your gracious acceptation thereof these reasons assure me 1. This Impe now presented to your Honâ—urs is a twin to that Posthumus which was heretofore presented to and accepted of your Honours 2. This together with his other brothers was by their owne Father while he lived devoted to your Honours to divert them otherwaies would be plaine plagium 3. Your Honours did many waies manifest a very good respect to the forementioned Father of this Orphane 4. This Impe it selfe is a goodly Impe and giveth assured hope of doing much good to Gods Church 5. Your Honours high esteeme of all good and faithfull Ministers of their function of their labours and workâ—s is well knowne 6. Your Honours mutuall entire affection and sincere and sweet conversation and carriage one towards another is a lively representation and evident demonstration of the truth of that doctrine concerning Husband and Wife which is principally handled in this Treatise 7. Your Honour my good Lord hath all your dayes beene a valiant and faithfull Champion for the Church maintaining her safety and liberty with the perill of your owne life wherein though Communis Mars bellique casus sit incertus yet successe hath oft crowned your valour instance among other famous victories the incomparable conquest by your Honours more than ordinary courage obtained in New-port-field Can now doubt be made of your Honours favour in countenancing this child of the Church 8. Your Honour my good Lady was a diligent frequenter of his Ministery who preached these Sermons and hearing the distinct points when they were first out of the Pulpet uttered so approved them as oft you desired the publishing of them for they were Cygnean songs the last and sweetest of all 9. As the sacred Scriptures so good Commentaries thereon such as this is are a solace to your Honours in reading whereof you have manifested much delight Finally many and great are the favours and kindnesses which from time to time your Honours have done to the Publisher of this worke which as in duty hee is bound be willingly taketh this occasion in all humility with all thankfulnesse to acknowledge The premisses considered the said Publisher confidently resteth upon yâ—ur Hâ—nours patronage and boweth his knees before the Throne of Grace for a mercifull Remembrance and bountiâ—ull Remuneration of that Goodnesse which your Honours have done to the Church of God to the poore members and faithfull Ministers thereof and in speciall to the Author of this Commentary yea and to the Publisher thereof Black-Friers London 25. Ian. 1625. Your Honours much obliged WILLIAM GOUGE AN EXPOSITION OF Part of the third Chapter of the first Epistle generall of Saint PETER 1 Pet. 3. 1 2 3. 1. Likewise let the Wives be subject to their Husbands that even they which obey not the Word may without the Word be won by the conversation of the Wives 2. While they behold your pure conversation which is with feare 3. Whose apparelling let it not be outward as with broided haire and gold put about or in putting on of apparell 4. But let the hid man of the heart be uncorrupt with a meek and quiet spirit which is before God a thing much set by FRom the thirteenth verse of the former Chapter to the eighth verse of this chapter the Apostle exhorts to such duties as concerne particular Christians and so either in the Common-wealth where he exhorts subjects from verse 13. to 18. or in the Family where he exhorts either servants verse 18. to the end of the former Chapter or wives and husbands in the first seven verses of this Chapter So that in these first seven verses the Apostle intreats of the duties betweene man and wife and first sets downe the wives duty from ver 1. to 7. and then the mens dutie in the seventh verse In laying downe the wives duty he proceeds in this order First he briefly propounds the service of her duty in the first words Wives be subject Secondly he expounds upon it by shewing divers particular things she must expresse in her conversation as Amiablenesse ver 1. Chastitie and Feare ver 2. Meeknesse ver 3 4. Then thirdly he confirmes all by two reasons both taken from example first of godly women in generall ver 5. secondly of Sarah in particular ver 6. Before I set upon the particular parts of the Text divers things would be noted in generall First in that this
infected with temptations evill counsell evill example c. 3. Because the inferiour must mend first and therefore the Apostle begins with the wives and would faine have them in order before they require respect from their husbands 4. Because if the women be gained to religion they may be great meanes to worke good upon their husbands for as they are pernitious instruments of the divell to doe their husbands hurt if they bee wickedly bent so may they bee great meanes to doe them good if they bee soudly reformed themselves as the Apostle imports in the first verse of this chapter Besides if the mother be godly and carefull though the father should not be so yet the children may be by her instructed and well brought up and the advantage from her for the childrens good is the geater because shee is most with the children and usually they more affect her than the father 5. Because many times their provocations from absurd husbands are so great as if God did not speake very much to them they could never indure it with subjection To conclude when things are much urged or repeated in Scripture usually thereby three things are imported about the matter so urged the one is difficulty the other necessity and the third excellency all three may bee well thought on here The Lord is very long in giving the charge to wives and it is both because it is a very hard taske to learne to be a good wife and because it is a thing wonderfull necessary and because a good wife is a creature much set by of God The Lord accounts it a great worke and excellent when hee can informe and instruct women so farre as to make them good wives Which should bee a great incouragement to wives though God set them long lessons to learne yet it imports he will make great account of them if they bee teachable scholars Againe we may hence gather the vanity of all earthly felicities Before marriage men and women promise themselves much happinesse in their married estate and thinke they could live together with all delight but yet after they are married they see they are deceived and therefore need to goe to schoole to learne how to behave themselves one to another Further husbands may hence learne of God how to deale with their wives to make them such as might please them they must treat with them by good arguments and not by fretting or reviling or complayning of them Thus in generall The first part of the charge given to wives is the proposition in these words Likewise ye wives be subject to your owne husbands In which words foure things may be noted 1. The terme of connexion Likewise 2. The parties charged Yee Wives 3. The duty required viz. Be in subjection 4. The parties to whom the duty must bee performed viz. To your owne Husbands Likewise This terme leads us to the duty of servants intreated of before or else to the worke of coversion to Christ mentioned in the last verses of the former chapter If it lead us as is most likely to the dutie of servants in the whole latter part of the former chapter then the Apostle would thereby tell wives that God is no respecter of persons Hee that requires servants should obey them requires also that wives should obey their husbands and will indifferently punish the faults of both yea if they would have their servants obey them they must make conscience to obey their husbands else it is just with God they should bee vexed by their servants that care not to bee a vexation to their hâ—sbands And if it be referred to the worke of returning to Christ then it â—eacheth that women must so thinke of the conversion of their soules as that they make not religion a pretence for negligence or disobedience they must so seeke the Lord Jesus as withall they remember to be subject to their husbands and to looke to I their callings in their family Yee Wives Note here first that in speaking to women hee gives them such a title as imports onely their relation totheir husbands they have now lost their owne names and their fathers names and are now stiled by the terme that binds them only to their husbands Note againe that the charge of subjection is to all wives indifferently no difference of age state nation degree or the like can make any difference in the charge God requires subjection of all wives whether poore rich noble wife yonger or old or of what state or quality A Queen hath no more priviledge than the poorest Cottagers wife Hester 1. Psal. 45.10 Tit. 2.5 and so contrariwise poore mens wives must reverence and obey their husbands as well as those that are more curiously brought up which should be a comfort to such wives because no more is required of them than what is required of all Note thirdly that the Apostle speakes to women as if hee would single them out by name Ye Wives which should teach them to heare their duties as if God did speake particularly to them Be subject Concerning the subjection of the wives many things may be considered 1. The proofes that it is indispensably required Gen. 3.19 Eph. 5. 24. Col. 3.18 Tit. 3.5 2. The reasons why they must be subject and so many reasons may be assigned 1. Because it is God expresse will he will have it to be so It is not arbitrary but necessary in respect of Gods commandement and they that will not be subject must thinke what accounts to give to God for the breach of his commandement 2. It is afterwards urged for example all godly women mentioned in Scripture have obeyed their husbands 3. Because it is equall and meet for if God give the wife power over all in the family but one it is great reason she should bee subject to him God deales fairely with the wife in that hee makes her subject but to one and lets her rule many 4. Because her husband is her head and the body is governed by the head 1 Cor. 11.3 5. Because the man was not of the woman but the woman of the man 1 Cor. 11.8 neither was the man created for the woman but the woman for the man vers 9. 6. Because the Angels of heaven doe look for this in all wives 1 Cor. 11.10 7. Because it is comely Colos. 3.18 A wife never carries her selfe with better grace reputation or honour than when shee shews most obedience and subjection to her husband It is a wicked and senslesse pride in many women that they thinke it is basenesse and dishonour to bee at their husbands appointment and to be made to doe what he lists But these are utterly deceived for their disobedience can commend them to none but such as have an uncleane divell in them What more comely in a child than to obey his parents so is it in Wives Were it comely for the body to stand above the head and to rule it Doth
many that seeme to be of the better sort is a meere formality as this very signe proves Psal. 86.11 Isaiah 50.10 Thirdly a great ghesse may be had at mens feare of God by their care and conscience they make of their obedience in their particular calling A man may have comfort that his feare of God and profession of Religion is right if he hate idlenesse lying covetousnesse deceit frowardnesse and unjust dealing in his calling For though to deale justly with all men be no infallible signe of the true feare of God yet it is a probable one and where it is not there can be no true feare of God Thus Magistrates must prove that they feare God 2 Chron. 19.27 Exod. 18.21 and thus every man in his place yea if women would have the reputation to be such as feare God they must let their workes praise them If they be idle froward undutifull busie-bodies and carelesse of their domesticall duties what feare of God can be in them Fourthly it will be manifest that our obedience flowes from the true feare of God if we will obey against our profit or ease or credit or our own carnall reasons or affections Hereby the Lord said he knew that Abraham feared him because he spared not his owne sonne Gen. 22.12 And thus of the feare of God The last part of the charge concernes our loyalty to the King Honour the King The Apostlè intends in these words but briefly to urge the practice of their duty urged in the exhortation Ver. 13. fave that the termes have something in them of explication of that doctrine and something for confirmation for we must honour the King 1. In our hearts 2. In our words 3. In our workes First we must honour him in our hearts and shew it two wayes 1. We must not curse the King no not in secret no not in our thoughts we must not entertaine impatient and vile thoughts of the King but from our hearts esteeme him for his greatnesse authority and gifts 2. When the King commands any thing that seemes to others or to us harsh inconvenient or doubtfull we must honour the King by interpreting his Lawes in the best sense If love must not thinke evill but hope all things of all sorts of men then much more of Kings It were greatly to be longed for that this note might enter into the breasts of some men they would then be afraid to charge so much evill of the Kings ordinances not only when they might finde a fairer sense but oftentimes expresly against the intent and meaning of the ordinance Secondly we must honour the King in our words three wayes 1. By reverent speeches to him and of him 2. By a thankfull acknowledgement of the good is in him and we receive by him 3. By praying to God with all manner of prayer for him 1. Tim. 2.1 Thirdly we must honour him in our workes 1. By paying him tributes and customes 2. By submitting and yeelding to his ordinances preferring the obedience thereunto before the censures or contrary opinions of what men soever And this is the maine thing intended verse the 13. of this Chapter And therefore I will omit the larger handling of this point in this place Verse 18. Servants be subject to your Masters with all feare not onely to the good and gentle but also to the froward HItherto of the duties of subjects and so of the exhortation as it is politicall and concernes the Commonwealth Now the Apostle proceeds to give directions oeconomicall that concerne the family or houshold government Before I consider of the particular exhortations some thing would bee said in generall concerning a family A family is the society of divers men dwelling together in one house for preservation and happinesse Where three things are to bee explicated First what the persons are that take upon them to constitute this societie Secondly what is the difference between this society and their humane societies Thirdly what is the end of this societie First the persons that constitute a family or families societie are to bee considered either as the family is perfect or unperfect 1. A perfect familie consists of a triple societie first the one betweene man and wife secondly the other between parents and children thirdly and the third between Masters and servants 2. The unperfect is when any of these societies are wanting as when there are not either children or servants or wives or husbands in it The Apostles directions here do forme only an unperfect familie For he gives not directions about parents and children Secondly the difference of this society from others is in those words dwelling together in one house For thereby is imported that this is the first society of all others and the foundation of all the rest For a City comprehends many families a Countrie many Cities a Monarchie many Nations and the World many Monarchies Thirdly the end of a fraternity is preservation and happinesse and so to speake distinctly there are three things requisite to make this society happy and to preserve it so namely first commodity secondly delight and thirdly Religion Unto commoditie is requisite possession of goods and the mutuall lawfull labour of the persons in the family unto delight is requisite quietnesse and love unto Religion is required the constant and right serving of God If commodity be wanting the family cannot bee at all If delight be wanting it cannot be well and if religion be wanting it cannot be for ever Thus of a family in generall and two things may be in generall noted from the Apostles charge about the family First that God himselfe doth binde all sorts of persons as strictly to the good behaviour in their owne houses or towards one another as he doth toward those in his house Secondly that the conscience is bound immediatly from God to nourish all good duties And this is proved by the fift Commandement and Pro. 14.13 with many other places of Scripture There may be divers reasons assigned why God gives Commandement to binde us to domesticall duties First from his owne right For though there be many Administrators as of a Church a Common-wealth a Family c. yet there is but one Lord God is the Head of this society as well as of any other 1. Cor. 12. Secondly because this is the first society God brought into the world and therefore he would have it honoured and carefully preserved to the end of the world The first society in Paradise was this and Religion was professed for many hundred yeers by this society only even till the people came out of Egypt Thirdly because the persons we live withall in the family are the neerest companions of our lives and therefore we should live with all due respect one of another Fourthly because the family is the Seminarie both of Church and Common-wealth Fiftly because the family is the most usuall place for us to practise our Religion in
prayers be not hindred HItherto of the duties of Wives the Husbands dutie followes in the words of this Verse Where three things are to be observed 1. The proposition of their dutie Husbands dwell with them 2. The exposition shewing how they must doe it viz. as men of knowledge and such as honour them 3. The Reasons which are three 1. Because they are the weaker vessell and therefore need to be carefully and continually well used 2. Because they are both alike heires of Gods grace 3. Because else their prayers and Gods service will be much interrupted and hindred In the Proposition may be observed First the word of connexion Likewise Secondly the terme of application Yee Thirdly the persons charged Husbands Fourthly the dutie imposed viz. Dwell with them Likewise This terme bindes these words to the former and shewes that God doth charge husbands to looke to their duties as well as wives Now if God charge the husband it imports that evill husbands must give account to God of all the evill they doe though no law of man punish them yet God will that gave them this law And withall it may comfort such husbands as are censured without cause God that hath given them their charge knowes their integritie whatsoever foolish wives object or a vaine world imputes to them And in generall God will accept and reward the carefull behaviour of good husbands But before I proceed two questions may be asked Quest. 1. Why are husbands charged in the last place Answ. There may be two reasons given of it first to shew the respect that God gives to husbands He first by his precept informes his wife before his face and shews him a patterne how he shall walke towards him and therefore now may the more willingly attend to his owne dutie Secondly because things last spoken have usually the greatest and longest impression upon the heart and this is a matter of greater consequence that the husband be soundly carefull of the discharge of his dutie The well-being of the family and the well-doing of both man and wife depends much upon the husbands right behaviour If the head bee out of order how can the body bee well and the wife being the image of the husband what shall she learne of him if he give an ill patterne If the eye be darke how can the bodie be light If the Pilot of the Ship be ignorant and carelesse what safety can the Ship be in Besides what a world of hurt will the ill example of the husband doe in the family either in children or servants Quest. 2. But why are husbands charged with so few words Ans. Because it is to be supposed that they have a larger knowledge of Gods will And besides in that tender age of the Christian world the Apostles in discretion said lesse to superiours to avoide provocation of irreligious husbands and the better to allure them to the Christian faith when they should see their wives so largely instructed in their behaviour towards them And further ever the shorter their lesson is the more shame for them not to learne it and shew themselves exact both in the understanding and in the practise it Yee Husbands God speakes to them in the second person to import that they should heare these words as if God were present to speak to them in his owne person and withall to teach them that the right hearing of this doctrine is for everie man to heare it as spoken directly to himselfe God doth single them out to heare their charge and speakes to them as if he named them in particular Husbands The persons charged are husbands and the word is a terme that imports that speciall relation in which God binds one man to one woman investing the man in prerogatives of a superiour in that union Before I come to the dutie charged upon husbands it will not be unprofitable by way of preface to use some motives to such husbands as will make conscience of their waies to perswade them to be verie carefull of their charge The reasons used in the Text afterwards I will not now meddle withall but only put them in mind of some few things which ought to be effectuall to perswade them The motives may be drawn from foure fountaines 1. From commandement and there let them consider who commandeth them and how Who commandeth them and so let them marke first that God himselfe hath given them their law of walking They are not tyed by mans laws but by Gods owne law Secondly God speakes to them by the Ministerie of great Apostles it was one part of the Commission of those high Ambassadours sent into the Christian world to give husbands their charge Thirdly it should somewhat the more move them that S. Peter was himselfe a married man and therefore did practise what he taught them and did know by experience that a husband mightwith comfort undertake this taske And then it should much move them to observe how God hath given his commandement to them he first chargeth their wives before he charâ—â—tâ— them And besides he hath given a long charge to the wives but a short charge to them 2. From their relation to their wives They are their wives heads and therefore should be carefull how they order themselves They are the life of their lives as it were God hath made the wife to depend upon them for comfort and direction and preservation 3. From their prerogatives God hath given them great power more than the wives They are heads to their wives and besides they are images of Jesus Christ they shew in the family what Christ is in the Church they doe as it were act Christs part and resemble him in his relation to the Church and therefore they had need to thinke of it how they carrie themselves They are types of Jesus Christ and will they shame him by acting folly passion pride and dissolutenesse Did Christ doe so to the Church Besides it should much move him that God hath in the most things left the husband free from the lawes of men He hath no man to controule him in his office and hath not God made him both King and Priest in his family His houshold is a little Kingdome or a little Church where he is of soveraigne power and hath great supremacie and if the world acknowledge not the glory of his place yet it is acknowledged in heaven 4. From the maner of his comming into this relation he was not borne a husband but made so and made so by the gift of God for God gave him his wife as he did Eve to Adam yea let him consider that God gave him the wife that was of his owne choosing and whom with so much desire he longed after and it may be prayed for But especially let him consider that God hath bound him to his wife by covenant yea that he hath bound himselfe to God by covenant for this thing yea that the oath of
A COMMENTARY VPON THE THREE FIRST CHAPTERS OF THE FIRST EPISTLE generall of St. PETER VVHERIN ARE MOST JUDICIously and profitably handled such points of Doctrine as naturally flow from the TEXT Together with very usefull Application thereof and many good Rules for a godly life By NICHOLAS BYFIELD Preacher of Gods Word at Isleworth in Middlesex To which is now newly added an Alphabeticall TABLE not formerly published 1 PET. 1.13 Wherefore gird up the loynes of your minde be sober and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Iesus Christ. LONDON Printed by MILES FLESHER and ROBERT YOUNG MDCXXXVII TO THE RIGHT HONORABLE AND MOST noble Lady the Lady LVCY Countesse of Bedford Grace and peace be multiplied MADAM BY reason of my Lords absence and your Honours a great part of the yeare past I have had more leisure than I desired and thereby opportunity to write out my notes on the first chapter of Peter and not knowing which way to testifie so fully as I ought my observance and duty to your Honor or to satisfie the daily opportunity of many friends I have adventured againe to come under the Presse that so receiving daily an increase of favors from your Honor I might thus publikely take occasion to professe my vowes of service and thankfulnesse beseeching your Honor to vouchsafe the acceptation protection and perusall of this abridgement of those Sermons many of which your Honor hath bin pleased to heare with great attention As for the desire of many goâ—â—y friends herein I should not have beene easily inclined to hearken to it the world abounding with bookes even to loathing but that in writings of this nature and upon this Epistle there is some want and that I have received incouragement from the acceptation of my former labours and that I know the matter herein contained is wholesome and not unprofitable and besides having suffered an involuntary vacation in my weeke-daies attendance in your Honors family and an extreame losse in the want of divers of my chiefe bearers I was resolved to try whether I might be helpfull to the Church of God abroad by such an imploiment of my selfe in the houres I could spare from my study for the Lords day My most humble request to your Honour is that you would bee pleased to grace these notes with the liberty to passe under the protection of your name and favour I should much rejoyce if the reading hereof may make any supply of my intermitted service to your Honor and your worthy family The God of mercy and father of glory that hath abounded towards your Honor not only in the outward happinesse of unstained nobility greatnesse of meanes and favour with the highest on our earth but which is greatest of all in the unsearchable riches of Iesus Christ in the largenesse and eminency of many singular gifts and in aboundance of all good workes make you perfect to doe his will and worke in you an increase of al that is pleasing in his sight that you may never lose what you have wrought but be kept without offence till the day of Iesus Christ. Isleworth Iuly 1617. Your Honours servant in things of Iesus Christ to be commanded N. BYFIELD THE LOGICALL ANALYSIS OF THE first Chapter of the first Epistle of ST. PETER THis Chapter hath in it 2 things 1. matter of salutation verses 1 2. 2. matter of doctrine verse 3. to the end In the salutation consider 1. the person saluting 2. the persons saluted 3. the forme of salutation The person saluting is described 1. By his proper name Peter 2. By his office an Apostle 3. By the author of his office Iesus Christ. The persons saluted are described 1. By their outward estate 2. By their spirituall estate In their outward estate consider first what it was they were strangers dispersed here and there 2. where it was viz through Pontus Asia Galatia c. For their spirituall estate they were the Elect of God and their Election is amplified 1. By the foundation of it the foreknowledge of God the Father 2. By the meanes of execution of it the sanctification of the Spirit 3. By the ends of it which are two 1. the obedience of their lives 2. the fruition of the benefits purchased by the blood of Christ and applied by the sprinkling of his blood The forme of the salutation is in the end of the second verse grace and peace be multiplied c. Thus much of the salutation the doctrine of the Chapter followes which conteins both matter of consolation matter of exhortation The consolation is from verse 3. to verse 13 where consider both the proposition of the consolation verses 3 4 5. and the confirmation of it verse 6. to 13. In the proposition consider first the manner of propounding it 2. The arguments themselves The manner of the proposition is that it is exprest in forme of thanksgiving Blessed be the God and father of our Lord Iesus Christ. The arguments are three The first taken from their regeneration verse 3. The second from their glorification verse 4. The third from their preservation unto glory verse 5. The consolation raised from their regeneration is amplified 1. By the impulsive cause the aboundant mercy of God 2. By the effect viz a lively hope 3. By the cause of merit or efficacie viz the resurrection of Iesus Christ. The second argument is taken from our glorification which is said to be the â—nheritance of the Saints which is amplified 1. By the properties of it which are three For it is first incorruptible 2. undefâ—led 3. immaâ—cessible it withereth not Secondly by the manner of their present interest It is not now possessed but laid up for them Thirdly by the place where it lyeth and that is heaven The third argument is taken from our preservation unto glory verse 5 where consider 1. the meanes of our preservation which is both power in God and faith in us 2. The end which is salvation which is amplifâ—ed by the things that goe before it viz preparation and revelation in these words prepared to be revealed as also for the â—ime when it shal be communicated viz in the last time Thus of the proposition of the consolation the confirmation followes which is performed two waies 1. By prolepsis or the answer of objections verse 6. to 10. 2. By the testimonie of the Prophets verses 10 11 12. First the Apostle labors to confirm them against two objections The first objection might be taken from their crosses to which the Apostle gives answer by yeelding foure reasons why their manifold temptations should not dismay them 1. Because they may have much joy in the midst of many crosses verse 6. 2. Their heavinesse is but for a season verse 6. also 3. They are not bound alwaies to grieve at their crosses but when need requires verse 6. also 4. Because their temptations doe them good for they try their faith
you two things First the signes and markes of a man without Guile even of a true Israelite Secondly the encouragement and comforts that belong to such men c. For the first a true Nathaniel hath these praises and especiall markes 1. He shunnes Guile in his spirit as well as in his words or workes Psal. 32.2 What hee accounts vile to speake hee accounts vile to thinke 2. His praise is of God and not of men Rom. 2.26 Hee more strives to doe good then to get credit and applause and if God accept him hee cares not though all the world deride him 3. When he confesseth his fault to God he will not hide his sinne but confesseth all his sins that is all sorts of sins and his sin without extenuation or excuse Psal. 32.2 5. 4. If he offend it is of ignorance and he will not receive doctrine of trust and if he be shewed the truth he quietly yeelds and gives glory to God Iohn 1.46 47 48. 5. He is a plaine man and speakes the truth in his heart What hee saith he saith without fraud or dissembling he saith it from his heart his heart and his words agree he hateth lying and all deceit Psal. 15.2 Zeph. 3.13 though he might gaine never so much yet will he practise no untruth 6. He is a constant man just of his word he will performe his promise though it be to his owne hinderance Psal. 15.4 He will not deny the truth though it be to his extreame danger Such men as these have many encouragements to hold on their courses It was a chiefe praise of Christ that he was without Guile 1 Pet. 2.7 and so was it in the Martyrs and Saints Rev. 14.15 It is one of the signes and markes of Gods houshold servants Psal. 15.2 Of a true Convert Zeph. 3.13 These men are faithfull with the Saints and rule with God Hos. 11. 12. Such as these will abide the Balance to be weighed and God will acknowledge their integrity Iob 31.5 The wealth of these men gotten by labour and just dealing shall increase when riches gotten by vanity shall diminish Prov. 13.11 And those lips of Truth shall be established for ever when lying tongues shall be but for a moment Prov. 12.19 And thus much of Guile Onely before I passe further it is worthy the noting that he sayes of these two first sins that all Malice and all Guile must be laid aside which imports that howsoever some other infirmities bee in the godly yet they should be found farre from all Malice and Guile not a jot of either of them should be found in them Malice must bee in them in no kinde nor in no measure neither secret nor open Malice neither grudge nor desire of revenge neither at home nor abroad neither in civill things nor in matters of Religion neither in any of the aggravations nor in the least drop of it And the like may be said of Guile It were a shamefull thing that any kinde of Guile should be found in a Christian in any of his dealings at any time with any sort of men or in any measure For if but a drop of Malice or Guile bee left in us it may breake out againe and our hearts prove like a festered sore Malice is like leaven a little of it will sowre the whole lumpe It is like Poyson a drop may spoile us It is like a coale of fire within it wants nothing but the devill to blow it and then into what a flame may it kindle And therefore we should all looke to our hearts to see that we be free from Malice and look to our wayes that we be guilty of no kinde of Guile Such as are reconciled should note this point to see to it that they keepe not the least drop of the poysonfull grudge in their hearts It is not enough that they say daily they will forgive or can receive the Sacrament For if they cannot respect them with a free heart without reservation they are still infected with the disease of Malice Hypocrisie The third sin to be avoided is Hypocrisie Concerning Hypocrisie I propound two things to be considered First how many wayes men commit Hypocrisie Secondly what reasons there are to disswade us from Hypocrisie For the first the Scriptures discover many wayes of the practise of Hypocrisie In the 23. of Matthew our Saviour notes eight wayes of being guilty of Hypocrisie 1. To say and not doe ver 3. 2. To require much of others and plead for great things to be done by others and not at all doe it our selves as we prescribe it to others ver 4. 3. To doe what we doe to be seen of men ver 5. This is at large opened Mat. 6.1 to the middle of the chapter 4. To affect greatnesse in the respects and entertainments of others ver 6. to 12. 5. To doe duties of Religion of purpose to hide some soule sinne ver 14. 6. To be curious and strict in small matters and neglect the greater duties ver 23 24. 7. To be carefull to avoid outward faults and to make no conscience of the inward foulnesse of the heart ver 25 27. 8. To commend and magnifie the godly absent or of former ages and to hate and abuse the godly present and of our owne times verse 29. to 36. There are divers other Hypocriticall practices noted in other Scripture As 9. To serve God outwardly and yet our hearts to be caried away with vile distractions Esay 28.13 This is a chiefe Hypocrisie to be avoided in such as come to the word 10. To pray onely in the time of sicknesse or danger when we are forced to it and to shew no love of prayer or delight in God in time of prosperity or deliverance Iob 27.8 9. 11. To judge others severely for smaller faults and to be guilty themselves of greater crimes Mat. 7.5 12. To be just overmuch I meane to make sins where God makes none Luke 13.15 13. To be convinced in his owne conscience and yet not confesse it nor yeeld though they know the truth Luke 12.56 57. c. Thus of the divers wayes of Hypocrisie There are many reasons to declare the hatefulnesse of this sin of Hypocrisie I will instance onely in the reasons from the effects The effects of Hypocrisie are either first to others Or secondly to the Hypocrite himselfe First to others the Hypocrite is a continuall snare He walkes in a net that converseth with an Hypocrite Iob 34.30 Secondly to himselfe the effects of Hypocrisie in the Hypocrite are both privative and positive The privative effects which the Scripture instanceth in are chiefly three The first is that the Hypocrite loseth all his service of God In vaine doe Hypocrites worship God Mat. 15. Secondly hee infecteth all his gifts and praises Hypocrisie is like leaven Luke 12.1 It sowreth all gifts and graces a little of it will marre all his praises and gifts whatsoever for the
what we learne at Church is for the most part to bee practised at home Many have little occasion of practice abroad Sixtly because the comfort and contentment of mans life lieth much in this How are the lives of many men made uncomfortable by disordered servants wicked children idle froward vicious wives God gave the woman at the first as a speciall help to man to shew that at home the chief help of his life was to be had Use. The Use should be therefore to teach Christians in their severall places in the family to make conscience of their dealing both to know it and to doe it as ever they would have God to come to them and dwell with them Psal. 10.1 2. and as they desire to be no hypocrites in Religion for such as make no conscience of doing their duties in the family whether themselves wives servants or children are not sound Christians they are but hypocrites They are not compleat Christians that are not good at home aswell as abroad they walke not in a perfect way Psal. 101.2 And besides till domesticall disorders be redressed the family will never be established Pro. 14.3 Secondly it is to be noted that Inferiours in the family are either onely or first or with most words charged about their duties as here servants and not masters and servants and wives with many words and there may bee divers reasons assigned of it 1. To preserve order God hath subjected the Inferiours to the Superiours and the Superiour in a family is Gods Image the Lord is therefore carefull to preserve his authoritie The Superiours receive lawes from God but not from their Inferiours The Inferiours are to learne their dutie without prescribing lawes to their Superiours 2. Because the disorders of Inferiours are for the most part most dangerous to the troubling of the family because the businesses of the family are done by their hands the Superiour providing for the common good by common instruments If the Master of the family bee never so godly-wise yet oftentimes the family may be destroyed by wicked servants and vicious wives Pro. 14.1 3. Because faults in the Inferiours are most scandalous against Religion especially where the family is unequally yoked as if the Head of the family be an unbeleever and the Members beleevers disorder in the beleevers is most extremely scandalous 4. Because if the Head of the family be disordâ—ed the orderly behaviour of the Inferiours may bring him into order and win him both to Religion and good order at home A conversation with fear in wives may win their husbands as chap. 3.1 2. of this Epistle 5. Because God would hereby shew that the Inferiours must alwayes doe their duties before they looke after the duties of Superiours they must be first served 6. By this course the Apostles did labour to intice the Gentiles to Religion by letting them see how carefull they were to breed goodnesse and love in their wives servants and children and the Apostles did wisely in so doing because it is a greater gain to Religion to gaine one master than many servants because such a master may doe more good The Use should be therefore to interest the obligation upon the consciences of wives servants and children and even the more they see that God saith unto them the more they should be carefull of their duties and ever the more desirous they see the Lord to bee to have them live without offence the more abominable they should account it to dare to offend still and if they have not masters or husbands they should strive to be good themselves before they complaine of the fault of their Superiours and should thinke with themselves If I were a better wife or servant I should finde my husband or servant better to mee Thus in the generall The first thing then the Apostle gives in charge concerns servants from verse 18. to the end of this chapter where observe First the proposition enjoyning servants to bee subject to their masters verse 18. Secondly the exposition shewing both how they should be subject viz. with all feare and to what masters viz. not only to the good but to the froward verse 18. Thirdly the confirmation of it by three reasons viz. from the consideration 1. Of the acceptation of such subjection with God verse 19.20 2. Of their calling verse 21. 3. Of the example of Christ which is urged 1. For the use of servants verses 22.23 2. For the use of all Christians by digression verses 24.25 First then of the proposition where we are to consider first the persons charged Servants secondly the duty imposed be subject thirdly the persons to whom they owe it to your Masters Servants Two things are to be inquired into about servants First the originall of their estâ—â—e and secondly the bond that ties them to this subjection There are servants of God servants of sinne servants of men It is the servants of men that are here meant Servants of men are not all of one sort neither For first such as apply themselves to satisfie the unreasonable humors of men are said to be servants of men and condemned 1. Cor. 7.23 Secondly such as make themselves beholding to other men through their pride are forc't many times to become their servants Thus the borrower is a servant to the lender Pro. 22.7 Thirdly such as imploy their estates or bodies for the honour or preservation of their superiours are said to bee servants thus subjects serve Princes 1. Sam. 8.17 Fourthly such as imploy their labours and spend themselves for the common good are said to be servants thus Ministers are the peoples servants 2. Cor. 4.5 1. Cor. 9.19 But none of these are here meant These servants are domesticall servants such as are under the yoke of particular Masters in a family Those servants in the Apostles time were of two sorts some were bond servants such as were bought and sold in the markets over whom the Masters had absolute and perpetuall power some were hired servants that did serve by covenant and contract as servants do now for the most part with us Concerning these it may be inquired how it comes to passe that men that by creation have the same nature with other men should in their condition be abased to so low and meane estate as to serve them that are in nature alike to them This seemes to be a grievous inequalitie and therefore first to be searched into for the originall and causes of it It is out of doubt that before the Fall if man had staied in his Innocency there had beene no servitude because all men had been made after the Image of God both for holinesse and glory and so had been on earth as the Saints shall be in Heaven The first cause then of subjection and servitude was the confusion and sin of our first parents brought upon the world the earth being cursed for mans sake A necessity of toylesome â—â—bour lay upon men
Apostle and other Apostles think it fit with such effectuall termes when they write to the Churches to give such speciall charge to Husbands and Wives it shewes That God doth greatly desire that they should in a speciall maner be carefull to leade an orderly and comfortable life together Whatsoever in domesticall matters is sometimes omitted in the Text yet seldome in any place that treats of family-family-duties is the duty of Husbands and Wives left out Here it is vehemently urged and so in the Epistle to the Ephesians which should worke in all that feare God a caâ—e and conscience of these duties and of carrying themselves in the best manner they can one towards another Now the substance of an orderly life betweene man and wife is to love one another with all constancy tendernesse and fidelity to shew one heart in all things helping one another to doe the duties of the family especially in the service of God and in carrying the crosses may light upon them in their callings encouraging and comforting one another honouring one another before others and â—earing one with another in respect of infirmities and each of them striving to doe exactly the duty that belongs to each Now that men and women may be carefull hereof many motives may be alledged and ought to be thought upon 1. Because this society betweene one man and one woman in marriage was instituted of God himselfe and was the first society that he brought into the world and had the honour to be ordained in the blessedest place in this visible world even Paradise and was made betweene two persons that were like God himselfe and therefore God doth expect that men and women should walke very carefully in this estate Gen. 2. 2. Because man and wife had so heere an originall and dependance one upon another The woman was made of the rib of a man which Adam perceiving by a spirit of prophecy said she was bone of his bone and flesh of his flesh that is another selfe or himselfe in another shape or sexe and therefore whosoever disagreed they should agree it being most unnaturall for a man to hate or disagree with himselfe Gen. 2. Ephes. 5. and ever the more miraculous the forming of the woman was the more extraordinary should the affection betweene man and wife be 3. Because they are but two of them they would hardly please many that cannot please one 4. Because they are appointed necessarily to be companions in life withouâ— parting or dissolution and therefore since they live alwaies together they should resolve to dispose of themselves so as their lives might be comfortable 5. Because from man and wife is the originall of all mankind of Church and Common-wealth and all other societies now those Husbands and Wives that live disorderly dishonour the whole kind What would they have the streames to be when the fountaines are so troubled and impure 6. Because marriage is honourable in Gods account and ought to be so amongst men therefore it being a great dignity to which they are called it is as shamefull a fault to live disorderly in that estate as in the estate of a Magistrate or Minister or the like Heb. 13. 7. Note that the fift Commandement that concernes family-duties and the order should be in our dwellings stands betweene the Commandement of the first Table and the rest of the Commandements of the second Table to signifie that from the carefull performance of domesticall duties men are fitter to serve God in the first Table or converse with men in the world in the second Table yea all we get from God in the first Table or from men in the second we bring it home to our houses or to the place of well imploying it Note the last words of verse 7. of this Chapter 8. Because man and wife resemble Christ and the Church by way of type or image and will men or women dare say that Christ and the Church carry themselves so unlovingly or disorderly one to another as they doe one to another Doe you not think it had beene a hatefull thing for any man that was to be a type of Christ to have exprest the type by false or wicked waies Even so is it for man and wife to carry themselves one to another so as Christ and the Church doe one to another Ephes. 5. 9. The end of marriage is Gods glory now if God may not have glory by the loving and orderly carriage of man and wife one to another he will winne himselfe glory to his Justice in revenging the quarrell of the Covenant which they have broken 10. Because usually the carriage of man and wife is the originall cause of good or evill order in the family partly because thereby they are the more inabled or disabled for their carriage towards others in the family and besides their courses are exemplary and withall they thereby lay the ground of their owne honour or dishonour in the hearts of children and servants 11. Because Gods commandement injoyning them their duties one to another binds the conscience as hard as any of the other Commandements so as God is as well provoked by these disorders betweene man and wife as by swearing or cursing or Idolatry or murther or whordome or drunkennesse or the like yea they that live in the customary breach of these duties are unjust and dishonest as well as if they broke any other Commandements 12. The Apostles were the more earnest in pressing husbands and wives to a loving and orderly behaviour one towards another because of the scandall or honour came to Religion by it It did greatly adorne and become the Gospel if they lived amiably together it made men like of their Religion the better and contrariwise it was a foule scandall and caused Religion to bee lesse esteemed or else hated when they lived so ungodly and unquietly together 13. Because if they live lovingly together they are like to have a quiet conscience and a cleane heart whereas if they jangle and live in discontentment it is a thousand to one the conscience will be very froward and their hearts filled with foule lusts after others Pro. 5. And that the conscience should be froward how can it be otherwise when they live in the direct breach of Gods commandement which as was shewed before binds as strongly in this as in any other duty 14. Because this commandement is the first commandement with promise To the faithfull discharge of these domesticall duties is promised a long and happie life in the land God hath planted men in 15. Because men and women may greatly further their salvation by living according to Gods will in this estate as is intimated 1 Tim. 2.15 16. Lastly let husbands and wives remember their accounts at the last day Will it not be a wofuli miserie for a rebellious and froward wife to be throwne to hell and see her quiet and religious husband goe to heaven and so on the
not experience shew that such wives as are so monstrous as to professe they will not be subject or doe in practice crosse their husbands or rule them doe we not see I say that such creatures are hatefull to God and men doe not all sorts of people detest them in their discourse The wife is the image and glory of the man 1 Cor. 11. is it not an ill favoured sight to see a scurvie picture that resembles the substance after a vile fashion As man by obedience is Gods image so is the woman by obedience mans image 8. Wives must bee obedient to their husbands that the Gospel be not evill spoken of especially the younger wives Tit. 2.5 To conclude this point it is to be noted that he faith Ye wives be subject that is ye Christian wives that professe religion as if he would say religion should make you not only better women but better wives The husband should feele the benefit of the wives religion even in her carriage towards him the should make it appeare that the more shee heard sermons or read the Scripture or praied to God the better she would become to her husband Thirdly it may bee asked why the Apostle chargeth wives onely with subjection seeing many other things are required of them The answer may be first because this of all other things is most essentially requisite as that which characteristically differenceth the duty of the wife she must love her husband but that is so reqâ—iâ—ed of her as it is required of the husband also and the like may bee said of other things But subjection is a thing God so stands upon as if they had other praises as that they were wise provident chast rich faire yea religious yet if he may not prevaile with them in this point he is not pleased with the rest Secondly because this duty foundly performed doth imply the rest and in the practice of it causeth the practice of other duties Thirdly in that the Apostle doth reduce all their duties into one word he doth it thereby to cut off all excuse for if they cannot remember one word they can remember nothing and if they will not obey in one commandement it shewes that they are governed by a very spirit of profanenesse as being persons that resolve to live as they list Fourthly it would be considered in what things they must be subject and so wives must be subject to the husbands commandements to do in all things what he appoints or desires to be done They must shew a minde desirous to please their husbands in obeying the directions he gives in matters of the family or any other things may concerne his profit or contentment As the Church is ruled by the word of Christ so must the wife be ruled by the word of her husband His will must be her law to live by So likewise she must be subject to his reproofes to amend what he dislikes and to avoid what is displeasing to him so likewise she must be subject to his restraints and to the order he gives about her labour diet apparell companâ—e or the like striving in all things to please her husband 1 Cor. 7.34 Ephes. 5.23 and this subjection extends also to that due benevolence the Apostle requires 1 Cor. 7. 3 4 5. Fifthly we must consider in what maner wives must be subject and so divers things are required of them for their subjection must have in it care honour and sincerity First they must be subject with care and study to doe and dispose of all things so as the husband may not be displeased or disquieted A wise woman is said to build her house Pro. 14.2 which notes that the studies in every businesse how to set every thing in order as the Carpenter doth study how to set every part of the frame in joint Oh that this word Studie could be carved upon the hearts of women that they might never forget it what a world of unquietnesse and inconveniences might be prevented if care and studie did enter into their hearts Secondly they must be subject with honour to their husbands now wives honour their husbands and shew it divers wayes as by giving them reverent titles as Sarah called her husband Lord and by modest and shamefac't behaviour in her husbands presence her husband should be the covering of her eyes and by striving to imitate what is excellent in her husband so she should be his image and his glory as man is the image and glory of Christ and by avoiding all company that is suspected or disliked by the husband and by concealing and hiding his infirmities as much as she can Thirdly the sincerity of her subjection must appeare many wayes as first by being subject to him not in some things but in all things as the Church is subject to Christ. Secondly by being subject at all times and in all places at home as well as abroad and alwayes as well as for the first quarter of the yeare Thirdly by practising this subjection not in outward shew only but in her very spirit Mal. 2.15 and that not for feare or shame but for conscience sake and willingly out of the love and honour she beares to her husband performing this subjection to her husband as it were to the Lord himselfe Eph. 5.12 Finally she must make conscience to obey and be subject though the husband did not find fault or much require it even because God doth require it Sixtly it would be considered negatively in what cases or respects the wise is not subject to the will of the husband and so her subjection is qualified and limited or lightned divers wayes First in the quality of her subjection she is not to be subject with a servile subjection as a servant or vassall is subject to his Lord but in a sweet and familiar kind of subjection as the body is subject to the head and as one that is partner with him in many priviledges both temporall and eternall they remaine still companions and yoake-fellowes Secondly in the matter of subjection she is not subject to his will in matters of her soule and religion when his will is coâ—trary to Gods will Wives must be subject but it must be in the Lord Col. 3 15. The unbeleeving husband must not compell the beleeving wife to change her religion or to neglect the meanes of her salvation And againe she is not so subject but she may admonish and advise her husband with certaine cautions as if she be sure the thing she speakes against be sinfull and hurtfull and withall that she speake without passion or contempt with reverence and without frowardnesse or imperiousnesse Thus Abraham is bidden to heare his wife Gen 21. 12. Againe her subjection doth not bind her to consent to or conceale his whoredomes wherein he breakes the Covenant betwixt them and defiles the marriage bed nor is she bound to obey him in any thing she knowes to be a
sin nor am I of their mind that thinke she is subject to her husbands blowes and stripes for that doth import a fervile subjection and not a free subjection I meane that I doe not thinke it any part of the husbands power over his wife to correct her by blowes her vices that cannot be corrected by words must be committed either to the Magistrate or to the Church censures to reforme Likewise I conceive that she is not bound to deliver her body to her husband when she is apart for her disease Levit. 18.19 Ezek 8.6 Seventhly the sins by which wives transgresse against this subjection to their husbands be many viz. Usurping authority over the man by teaching him in matters of religion 1 Tim. 2.12 or busying her selfe in directing or finding fault with him in matters belonging to his calling are out of her reach Impatience and frowardnesse passion brawling chiding crying c. Idlenesse and slothfulnesse especially when they disappoint usually the trust or desires of the husbands in things wherein they might and ought to be helpfull in their labours or in the oversight of the workes of their servants Vile estimation of their husbands though but in the heart but much more when it is shewed by unreverent termes or nick-names or words of reproach or by complaining of the infirmities of their husbands and finding fault with them before others Suspicious and base interpretations of the actions of their husbands as when Michol so censured David for his dancing before the Arke Wastefulnesse either by improvidence or vaine expences Pro. 14.1 especially when they are so impudently monstrous as to professe they will not be ruled by their husbands but will be masters And thus of the duty charged upon the Wives The parties to whom they owe this duty followes and they are their owne Husbands To your owne Husbands Two things may be noted 1 That all husbands have the same right and authority over their wives Wives must be subject though their husbands be poore yea though they be froward and perverse yea as the coherence shewes here though they be carnall and wicked persons and so though they be ignorant and not able to dwell with them as men of knowledge though they be diseased and in great affliction as Iob was 2 That wives are to be subject onely to their husbands not to their children or servants much lesse to a strange woman if the wicked husband should bring any into the family and she must be subject to her owne husband to be directed and ordered by him not by the husband of another woman Thus of the proposition the explication of it followes where the Apostle requires three things of the wife 1 Amiablenesse in her carriage that she might win her husband if it were possible ver 1. 2. A chaste conversation with feare ver 2. 3. Meeknesse and a quiet spirit ver 3 4. For the first part we are to note two things about the amiablenesse of her behaviour First the fruit to be hoped for by it viz. the winning of the husband Secondly the meanes how it should be done viz. by conversation Might be won What kind of winning doth he here meane I answer first an obedient carefull wife may win her husband to be a good husband that was before a froward unruly unkind violent or injurious husband But I thinke that is not that which is here meant or not all the Apostle meanes for he meanes it of winning of the carnall husband to religion Quest. But can any man be made a religious man without the Word can a man be saved and find the way to heaven without the preaching of the Gospel Answ. I take it the Apostle doth meane only of a winning by way of preparation in generall as the good conversation of the wife may win the husband not to think so ill of the religion she professeth as he did and may win him to be contented to goe to the means to heare the Word by which means he may be effectually called and sanctified For the better understanding of this point you must understand that men are said to be won in Scripture by divers meanes as some have beene won to beleeve for the miracles they saw and yet Christ did not trust many of them Iohn 2. some have beene won by private admonition but that is to be understood of perswading them to some good dutie or to receive some truth or to forsake some sin or errour Iames 5. ult some have beene won by judgements and afflictions as the Israelites many times came crying to God for mercie when the hand of God was upon them and yet fell away againe afterwards some have beene won by the faire conversation of others as here but the only ordinary meanes to win a soule effectually to God is the Word of God preached Rom. 10 14 17. But one thing we may note here that a man may be won and yet not effectually A man may convert and change and suffer much alteration and yet not be a new creature yea other Scriptures shew that a man may be won by the Word it selfe so as in his owne judgement and the hope of others it seemes his soule is indeed won and yet it will come to nothing in the end Wicked men have somtimes great remorses are much touched promise reformation consent for the time to enter into the profession of religion like of the way of God in the generall resolve to heare the Word constantly c. and yet all this comes to nothing but vanisheth and they returne to their old courses The causes of their revolting are in divers men or times divers Some flie off againe because of reproach Some for want of meanes to nourish what is begun Some are driven backe because they had not cast up their accounts what it would cost them to build the Tower of godlinesse or what would be necessary to overcome so many enemies Some are choaked with worldly cares and lusts but in all the reason is because they were not soundly converted The old heart would never hold out to doe the taske of godlinesse Quest. But being won so farre as to like of religion to feele remorse to resolve to become religious c. what did they want of sound conversion Ans. In those that are won only to a temporary kind of grace or generall preparation divers things appeare to be wanting as either they had no sound sorrowes for their sins or never soundly turned from the love of the world or could not forsake particular beloved sinnes or were never throughly perswaded to forsake carnall dependancies or did not think of hiring themselves to doe the worke of godlinesse for ever or had no hearty love to such as feare God or the like The consideration hereof should awaken all sorts especially such as newly entred into the profession of religion to looke to themselves and try their estates foundly whether they be won effectually
unto reformation if they will carefully observe these rules following 1. They must study to be quiet 1 Thes. 4.12 They must not trust their owne conceits of things but with good conscience study how to prevent occasions of unquietnesse and how to carry themselves discreetly and with meeknesse It doth require much study to live quietly 2. They must be sure they meddle with their owne businesse as it is further added in the same place They must be sure to place their greatest care in learning how to discharge their owne duties to others and not allow themselves liberty to suspect or censure the waies of others with whom they converse Such wives as are so diligent to studie their husbands duties and to finde fault with them in their callings seldome or never live quietly with their husbands whereas the Apostle here would have such wives as have ill husbands to lay the ground of a quiet life in the care of sound discharge of their owne duties to their husbands 3. They must heartily repent for their faults of unquietnesse and frowardnesse past and not only humble their soules in secret before God for such sins but also shew their repentance to those with whom they converse by an humble acknowledgement of their vile nature and froward behaviour even in the particulars of it Repentance for knowne trespasses can never be sound if it be secret and not made knowne to the parties grieved 4. It will wonderfully help them if they pray constantly to the Lord Jesus that left such a patterne of meeknesse and to entreat him by influence of his grace to quiet and sweeten their natures Beseech the Lord Jesus even by his meeknesse to make us meek and able to expresse his vertue in a quiet conversation 5. They must not give place to wrath but if they perceive their hearts rising and inclined to passion and provoking and censorious words they must presently lay necessity of silence upon themselves till they be able to speake quietly and without frowardnesse This one rule constantly for a while observed would breed a great alteration in their dispositions quickly and in time weare out the force of the disease Unquietnesse is much enlarged by the words are uttered after the offence is taken And thus of a meek and quiet spirit only we may note from the indefinite requiring of meeknesse That Christians and in particular Christian wives must exercise meeknesse and quietnesse towards all persons and at all times and in all places In all places I say and so both at home and abroad towards all persons and so they must carry themselves quietly not only towards their husbands but towards their servants and their neighbours whether they be poore or rich and at all times they must not be young Saints and old Divells as the Proverb is that is of a soft and gentle behaviour at first and then grow froward afterwards Age and infirmities are not sufficient excuses for vicious anger and unquietnesse Besides in that the Apostle resembles meeknesse to apparell it imports That by nature we are borne without it our soules being as naked in respect of meeknesse as our bodies be in respect of cloathes and withall that it should be our every-daies care to put on meeknesse and fit our selves for quietnesse as wee would put on our cloathes And further as it is not enough to put on our cloathes but we must tie them and fit them handsomely so must we use discretion in the putting on of meeknesse and quietnesse fitting the vertue to the reasons and occasions of the day Thus of the second part of this verse The third and last is the reason why women should be so carefull of this kind of dressing and apparell and that is because it is a thing of great price in the sight of God Which in the sight of God is of great price Divers things may be hence observed 1. That God doth highly esteeme of the vertues and true grace and good behaviour of his servants and therefore in this place their vertues are said to be very rich in Gods sight and in the Scriptures he gives the terme of riches to their gifts 1 Cor. 1.5 and grace is called glory Esay 4.5 and God is described as if he were in love with his people when they carry themselves graciously Iohn 14.21 And this serves greatly to exalt the praise of Gods good nature and tender affection to man and the more because all good things in us are his owne gift Iames 1.17 and because our best gifts have many imperfections in them and our best workes are defiled with sinne Esay 64. and besides because he greatly esteemes them even the least beginnings of goodnesse in his servants as their desires to be good and their very preparations of their hearts to goodnesse Esay 55.1 2. Psal. 10.17 2 Christians are bound in all their behaviour to carry themselves so as that God may accept of them and esteeme what they doe and this is required of them in every state of life They are tyed to this not only in what they doe in Gods house but in what they doe in their owne house This all are charged Heb. 12.28 and so wives here and so servants Eph. 6. 5 6 7. The praise and acceptation of God should be ever before their eyes the reasons are because the formes and rules of all behaviour are given by God his Word is the light to our feet and the lanthorne to our paths Psal. 119. and is only able to make the man of God perfect in every good word and worke 2 Tim. 3. ult and besides if we doe well we are sure never to faile of the praise of God whereas if we seeke the praise of men wee may be deceived For either they may praise us for that which is abominable in the sight of God Luke 16.15 or they may dispraise us when wee doe well or at best their praise is mutable And further it is God that must reward our good conversation Eph. 6.8 and therefore reason that hee bee looked after in what wee doe Lastly this is a signe of difference betweene the godly and the wicked in doing good duties a godly man is knowne by this signe that his praise is of God and not of men Rom. 2.29 Mat. 6. The Use should be to teach us therefore in all our waies to labour to please God and above all things to seeke his acceptation Now if wee would have God pleased with what we doe we must looke to divers rules 1. Wee must bee sure that wee are not in the flesh for they that are in the flesh cannot please God Rom 8.8 Wee must be sure we are new creatures Gal. 6.15 2. Wee must set God alwaies before us and remember his holy presence Gen 17.2 Psal. 16.8 God cannot abide to be forgotten 3. Wee must come to the light that it may bee manifest that our workes are wrought in God Iohn 3.22 Wee must walke by
to use such evill courses as they doe for by the doctrine and reasons before it appeares plainely that they doe both holily and happily by committing all to God Psal. 14.4 7. 22.9 Thus of the second doctrine Doct. 3. It is a speciall praise in women to trust in God and the more praise because it is so rare in women who use to relie upon either their parents or their husbands to provide for them and seldome looke up to God And besides it produceth excellent effects for it makes them subject to their husbands and that with all quietnesse and meeknesse and feare to displease their husbands as is implied here And besides women that trust in God will be a great help and comfort to their husbands in their crosses they will encourage them to relie upon God in whom they put their trust which very help is worth great riches The Use should be therefore to perswade wives to be the more carefull of their faith and trust in God and to looke to it that it be a true faith and a right trust in God for such wives as are a vexation to their husbands by their carelesnesse and frowardnesse and unquietnesse and such as are so farre from comforting their husbands in distresse that they rather add affliction to their afflictions by censuring them and crossing them they may justly fear that their trust in God is not right Yea it maybe observed that some wives that professe religion and are unquiet and live frowardly and stubbornly towards their husbands they are unquiet in their consciences too and when crosses come upon them call their faith into question and cannot be established in their trust in God And it is just with God it should be so that such women as dare live in knowne transgressions against their husbands should not know their portion in the consolation of God God will not be loved when their husbands are not loved Thus of the fourth point The fift point is the effect and that is They adorned themselves Adorned themselves In all ages the comelinesse and ornameut of a wife as a wife was to obey her husband with meeknesse and feare and those were the comeliest and best apparelled women in the sight of God their husbands and good men that were most quiet and easie to be governed and willingest to please their husbands And so on the contrary a wife were a very unhandsome woman and not fit to please any wise man that were of a froward and unquiet disposition either through anger or crying or the like yea though she had otherwise never so great an estate or never so excellent gifts of nature of mind or bodie yea if she could be imagined to have true holinesse and grace yet she were but a loathsome creature And this doctrine as it should move all wives so especially such as have not other things to commend them but want either portion or beautie or skill or have but weake gifts in religion these should be the more carefull to recompence their husbands and strive to please them in this way of adorning themselves The matter of the example is subjection to their husbands and of that I have entreated in the exhorration it selfe The speciall argument is taken from the particular example of Sarah ver 6. Where we are to observe 1. What she did viz. she obeyed Abraham calling him Lord. 2. What fruit will follow to Christian wives if they follow her example viz. they shall become her daughters 3. Upon what condition they shall obtaine that honour viz. if they doe well and be not affraid of any amazement Sarah â— The names here mentioned are Sarah and Abraham and both their names are kept in the Christian Church not as they were at first but as they were changed of God out of his love and respect to their faith and obedience The woman was first called Saras which signified My Lady or My Mistris but after was changed into Sarah to signifie that she should be a Mistris to many or a Mistris indefinitely meaning that shee should have a great posteritie as the mans name was changed into Abraham and signified a father of many nations From the giving of the names wee may gather 1. Such as glorifie God by beleeving and keeping his covenant and patient bearing of adversitie shall be blessed of God and in particular shall have this blessing of a happy posteritie A godly life brings God to us and our families and an ungodly life drives him away 2. That God is no accepter of persons but godly wives shall have their part in the blessing of godly husbands This Christian wives may looke for if they be as Sarah holy women and such as obey their husbands and are a comfort and helpe to them in all the travels of their lives and no way hinder godlinesse in them Obeyed Abraham Divers things may be noted hence 1. That obedience is the chiefe thing required in the subjection of wives shewing how Sarah was subject he saith she obeyed him The maine thing required of wives is to be ruled by their husbands Those wives transgresse that are not carefull to see that done which their husbands require and with reason require and those that crosse their husbands and vexe them by opposing or censuring especially those that will not be quiet unlesse they may doe what they list and rule their husbands 2. That as much is due to everie husband as was due from Sarah to Abraham else this argument of the Apostle had not beene good They might have said that Abraham was a great man and holy and wise and loving c. but the Apostle requires that what women would doe for the substance of obedience if they had Abraham to their husband that must they doe to him that is now their husband And the reason is cleare because Gods commandement in the morall Law prescribes the same honour to be given to all husbands and in the New Testament obedience is required of all wives to all husbands And this was the more observable in Sarah because in obeying Abraham shee was faine to leave her owne countrey and be exposed to a world of paines and danger and wants 3. That the discharge of domesticall duties is a good worke and shall be had in everlasting remembrance Though all good wives have not the honour to be written in Gods booke of Scripture and praised therein yet they have the honour to be written in Gods booke of Remembrance which shall be opened at the last day and so contrariwise Calling him Lord. That shee did so call him the Apostle found written Gen. 18.12 Hence we may observe 1. That godly wives ought to acknowledge their husbands to have power over them as if they had beene servants bought with their money not that their subjection is no better than the subjection of servants but that the husbands have as well power over them as they have over their servants Sarah doth
not the duties of wives though they did never so much good other wayes yet they have not the praise of well-doing unlesse they doe their duties to their husbands the like may be said of Magistrates Ministers Husbands Parents Servants c. 7. Confidence in the flesh mars good duties when men trust to their own wits reason skill or any gifts and doe not all they doe in the name of Jesus Christ Col. 3.17 Phil. 3.3 and in particular conceitednesse and to be wise in themselves and proud will mar any action All should be done in meekenesse of wisedome 8. Inconstancie shames any action when we are wearie of well-doing or wavering or decline and goe backwards their righteousnesse being as the morning dew Quest. Can any thing we doe be well done seeing all our righteousnesse is as a menstruous cloth Esay 64.6 Answ. Our workes in themselves are none well done but by Gods indulgence assured unto us in the new Covenant where he 1. Accepts the will for the deed It is well done when our desire and endevour is to doe it as well as we can 2. He beholds the worke in Christ and for his intercession passeth by the evill that cleaves to our best workes 3. He regards it as proceeding from his owne Spirit in us who causeth us to doe good and worketh our workes for us as in the instance of prayer Rom. 8.26 Thus of the fourth observation Doct. 5. From the maner of the terme in the originall which hath a continuall respect to the present time and imports a continuall well-doing I note That a Christian should strive to be alwaies doing good he should let no time passe without well-doing 2 Tim. 2.21 2 Cor. 9.8 Psal. 106.2 Col. 3.10 1 Thes. 5.15 1 Tim. 5.10 And that for many reasons 1. Because he hath so little time left to worke in He should walke in the light while he hath the light the night will come when no man can worke and the rather since he hath lost so much time in doing workes of darknesse he should now redeeme the time Eph 5.15 1 Pet. 4.2 3. 2. Because he is Gods servant and therefore should be alwaies working Rom. 6. yea he is Gods Sacrifice therefore should he be wholly devoted to the doing of good Rom. 12.1 3. Because we have our taske set us and ever the more worke we doe the sooner we shall fulfill the measure prescribed us 4. Because hereby we shall much glorifie God Mat. 5.19 and silence wicked men 1 Pet. 2.12 15. 5. Because God is faithfull and will not forget our workes and labour we shall be rewarded accordingly If we sowe sparingly we â—hall reape sparingly 2 Cor. 9. Heb. 6.11 Gal. 6.9 God giveth us richly to enjoy all things in this world 1 Tim. 6.17 and our continuance in well-doing will be marvellously rewarded in heaven Rom. 2.7 Now that we may doe much good we must pâ—ay God to establish us in every good word and worke 2 Thes. 2.17 and withall we must furnish our selves with directions out of the Scriptures and studie the rules of life there prescribed 2 Tim. 3.10 17. Iames 3.17 and then we must be sure to make use of all the opportunities of well-doing And be not affraid with any amazement These words may be diversly referred and so diversly expounded If they be referred to the exhortation to subjection to their husbands in the maner before shewed then the sense may be that they should not feare that they should be misused if they were subject or else it limits the maner of subjection that they should not be subject only for feare or out of basenesse of mind feare should not be the ground of their obedience but conscience of Gods Commandements and love to their husbands If they be referred to the example of Sarah they may be taken either as a promise or as a condition as a promise thus If they imitate Sarah in well-doing they need not be affraid of the troubles of a married estate for by this course those troubles will be prevented or the tribulation they shall have in the flesh will not be great Or they may bethe second as a condition of their filiation if they will be Sarahs daughters then they must learne of Sarah to beare the troubles and afflictions may befall them and their husbands without disquietnesse and amazement Sarah could leave her owne countrey and was a comfort to her husband and we never reade that shee any way discouraged her husband or complained of miserie though she was faine to live in many strange places and had not at any time any certain abode any where But I thinke the words may be interpreted in generall as containing a prohibition of excessive feares and consternation of mind which is often found in women to the great offence and disquieting of their husbands The word translated Amazâ—ment notes such a perplexitie of minde in which one is almost at his wits end and therefore the Verb of which this Noune is derived is used in the New Testament only in these cases as in the cases of rumours of wars or seditions readie to seize upon a people Luke 21.9 or in the case of a conceit that one sees a ghost or spirit Luke 24.37 And such as either of these doe women sometimes fall into and this the Apostle forbids He doth not forbid all feare for they must feare their husbands Ephes. 5. ult and they must feare God 2 Cor. 7.11 Nor doth he severely taxe that naturall fearefulnesse in women which followes their sexe but only such desperate vexations or passions as suffer them not to make use of their trust in God or love to their husbands Quest. What causes can there be imagined why these Christian wives should be in danger of any such consternation of minde Answ. The Apostle might well imagine divers causes of this frailtie 1. They had husbands that were Infidels which might be a great grievance to them and besides those husbands might perhaps absolutely forbid them or labour to restraine them from the exercises of Christian Religion which might put them into a great strait 2. Their profession of Christian Religion might bring upon them many tribulations and persecutions which women are not so able to beare 3. It may be the Apostle had observed that women were apt to fall into these desperate fits of passion and grieving when they were crossed by their husbands or servants or children Sure it is that many women now a daies if their husbands doe but crosse them in reasonable things they will cry and grieve as if they would die in the vexation of their hearts These strange humours and perplexities and desperate fits the Apostle absolutely forbids hee would not have any of them found in a Christian wife Ver. 7. Likewise ye husbands dwell with them according to knowledge giving honour unto the wife as unto the weaker vessell as being heires together of the grace of life that your
God is upon him he hath sworne before the Lord to doe his duty Thus of the generall motives Further in that he said Husbands indefinitely he shewes thereby That all husbands are bound to observe this charge and all alike God chargeth rich learned wise godly husbands as much and as well as poore unlearned and ill disposed men Two Uses may be made of this point for first hereby we may see cleerely that outward things make no difference before God when God gives a law he gives it to all men as if they were but one man Civill difference of bloud nations calling condition or common gifts makes no exception from any when God gives his law Secondly such husbands as finde an outward difference from other husbands either in their gifts or greatnesse of meanes or highnesse of office or calling should lay aside all thought of such things and shew as much respect to their wives as any other men that have no such things to boast of And yet one thing more I may add to such hearers as heare this doctrine seeing God chargeth all they should take heed of that common fault of thinking of other husbands and how the doctrine will fit them and so neglect application to themselves Dwell with them The duty charged upon husbands is contained briefly in these words and under this phrase of dwelling with them is comprehended in effect all essentiall matrimoniall duties for it imports 1. Not only cohabitation but also 2. Separation from all the world to a speciall fellowship with that woman 3. Communion of goods They that must be partners of Gods treasures in heaven must be partners in all outward blessings All things should be common so as the husband must provide maintenance for his wife and that not only while he lives with her but he ought as he is able to provide for her maintenance after he is dead 4. Mutuall benevolence or the mutuall use of each others bodies 1 Cor. 7. 5. Delight in her company so as to be loath to be absent from her it is not enough to be with her but he must dwell with her Pro. 5.19 6. Serving of God together as the last reason in the end of the verse shewes Now divers reasons may be given of this why husbands should dwell with their wives 1. From the institution of marriage divers things may be noted as that God said hee would provide a helper for man to be before him Gen. 2.18 and besides Adam confessed she was bone and flesh of his flesh which the Apostle urgeth Eph. 5. And further it is said For this cause shall a man leave father and mother and cleave to his wife and they shall bee one flesh All which imports a necessity of living together 2. From the example of Christ husbands should love their wives as Christ loved the Church Now how Christ desires to be with the Church may bee seene in the Canticles and hee hath promised he will be with his Church to the end of the world Mat. 28. 3. From the unnaturalnesse of the offence of living asunder Did ever any man hate his owne flesh saith the Apostle Ephes. 5. or can the arme or head in the naturall body live well from the other parts of the body no more either comely or convenient is it for husbands to live from their wives The use is therefore for great reproofe of many husbands that have so little desire or delight to converse in this holy and loving manner with their wives but study all occasions to draw them from home yea some men had rather live abroad with their dogs or hawkes than at home with their wives But especially those beasts are abominable that leave the society of their wives to follow strange women that is Whores Secondly here is somewhat for wives too If they would have their husbands to keepe home and delight in their company they must labour to be amiable and pleasing and study to be quiet and obedient that their husbands may be encouraged with delight to live with them Againe the indefinite propounding of the duty shews that they must dwell with them at alltimes not for the first quarter after they are married but for ever and that for conscience sake not only to avoide shame or the displeasure of the wives friends or onely while her portion lasts or for such like carnall respects But before I leave this point something would be said of foure cases of absence which may bee put as first the case of absence in respect of calling secondly the case of separation from bed and boord thirdly the case of nullities fourthly the case of divorce For the first when God gives a man a just calling to live from his wife or to goe into forraine parts it is lawfull to forbeare cohabitation for the time as in the case of Souldiers or Merchants or Ministers that are called to exercise their Ministeries in remote places In these cases when the wives cannot or will not goe with them they may lawfully live absent yea though their wives consent not to it because all relations to man must give place to our relation to God Now when God calls any man to any imploiment no man can disannull that calling and therefore such in the Ministery as have lawfull callings to exercise their Ministeries in other countries and have not fit imploiment at home doe very sinfully when they refuse to preach the Gospel in such places upon that silly pretence that they cannot get their wives to consent For the second viz. the case of separation from bed and boord it is for the most part very wicked and abominable because we have not either commandement or permission or example of any such in the Word of God And besides experience shews it breeds a world of scandalous inconveniences though I doubt not but in some speciall cases the Magistrate or Church may cause such a separation for a time but as it is ordinarily practised by divers husbands and wives it is very vile For the third viz. the case of nullities we must understand in divers cases though the man have bound himselfe by the contract or consummation of marriage to the woman yet he must not dwel with her because such contracts and marriages are meere nullities in the sight of God and of no force 1. If he marry her that is divorced for any other cause than fornication Mat. 19.9 2. If the marriage be incestuous that is within any of the degrees prohibited in the law of God see Lev. 18. Which lawes were not ceremoniall or politicall but morall and naturall which may appeare as by other reasons so by this one God saith he did destroy the Nations for such incestuous matches Lev. 18.24 Now God could not punish the Nations for breaking a law was never given them The ceremoniall and politicall lawes were given to the Jewes and not to the Gentiles thus it was not lawfull for Herod to
doth it not shall be beaten with many stripes See Rom. 1. ult Heb. 10.26 2 Pet. 2.21 Husbands and wives should in a speciall maner remember this for there is a great deale of need that they should take notice of this point Oh it is a grievous thing for a Christian to be wilfully corrupt to doe or leave things undone against his knowledge Doct. 7. One thing here is comfortable that God requires no more of his servants but to doe according to the knowledge they have Ignorances by the benefit of the new Covenant in Christ he will passe by so as they be carefull to get knowledge according to the meanes they have of knowledge This is a great comfort Doct. 8. In knowledge men should excell women therefore is knowledge here specially mentioned in giving the charge to men They are the headâ— of their wives and therefore in them should be the especiall seat of spirituall senses and understanding and their wives are charged if they doubt of any thing to aske their husbands at home It is a great dishonour to many men in this age in many places that women excell them in knowledge both for the measure of it and power of it and care to use the meanes to get it Thus of the generall Doctrines These words as they in particular order the duties of husbands shew divers things they are to look to in their carriage in dwelling with their wives To dwell with them according to knowledge imports 1. Matter of edification and so three wayes for first they must set up religion and the worship of God in their dwellings Iosh. 24.15 They must keepe off the curse of God from them and their wives and children by daily praying to God Ier. 10. ult They must diligently in their kinde instruct their family in the plaine things of Gods law talking and discoursing of the Word of God upon all occasions Deut. 6.7 Gen. 18.19 They must see that Gods Sabbaths bee kept and sanctified in their dwellings and therefore must not only restraine labour but bring their houshold to the exercises of religion and privately help them by examination or repetition Commandement 4. Exod. 20.4 yea and by sanctifying them to Gods worship Iob 1.5 which is done by exhorting them to holinesse and preparation and by humbling himselfe in prayer before God for himselfe and them and hee must sanctifie the creatures they use by prayer 1 Tim. 4.5 Secondly in speciall towards their wives they must use their knowledge in instructing them or resolving their doubts as there shall be occasion 1 Cor. 14.35 Thirdly they must teach their wives reformation and right order of behaviour by their example giving full proofe of their piety discretion providence painefulnesse and meeknesse not daring to commit the faults themselves they reprove in their wives and to live so as not to be liable to any just exception There is a question is often asked about the first branch of this answer and that is whether a woman may performe the duties of religion in the family in case of the absence or insufficiency of the husband Now for answer thereunto it is hard to give any peremptory rule because in this thing we have no Commandement from the Lord but yet seeing some of the duties of religion may be done by the wife as instructing of children and servants for the law of grace should be in her lips Pro. 31. and both Parents are charged with instructing the children Eph. 6. therefore I thinke by Anallogie it will follow that the wife may doe other duties as pray and repeat Sermons But yet it is most likely that this power extends not further than her children and her maids which was the power Hester used ch 4.16 or if it goe further it must be in some speciall cases and with observation of divers circumstances in which their safest way is to get direction and resolution from their learned Pastors 2. Matter of toleration and that in respect of the infirmities of his wife if her infirmities be bodily it must be the praise of his knowledge not to loath her for that because God layeth them on her and shee cannot helpe them And for her faults they are either meere frailties arising from ignorance or insufficiency she cannot help and those he must passe by altogether when he discerneth that she is not willing to offend in them Pro. 19.10 or else they are faults she committeth of knowledge and so they are either curable or incurable Curable are such faults of negligence or waiwardnesse that prove grievoâ—s to him or others for these his rule is he must not be bitter to her Col. 3.19 but shew himselfe to be gentle and easie to be intreated Iames 3.17 He must use all good meanes of counsell and forewarning of her and intreating and such reproofes as may be seasonable and secret as much as may be He must avoid raging and furious passion and reproaches If her faults be incurable that is such as he cannot mend by such courses then I suppose he may flie to the generall remedy of all Christians in the case of trespasses and that is to take one or two with him and admonish her and then if she mend not he may fly to his Pastor and such as have charge of soules with him and get them to admonish her But if none of these courses will serve I thinke the Pastor or others imployed in the businesse may give notice as they have occasion to other Christians of her incurablenesse and they may thereupon forsake her company and reject her as a Pagan or Publican but for the husband he must cohabite still and with patience beare the crosse God hath laid upon him waiting if at any time God will give her repentance or otherwise restraine her wickednesse 3. Matter of circumspection To dwell according to knowledge is to dwell with circumspection and that he must shew in matter of his owne right He must take heed that by no indulgence or remissenesse he lose his owne right He must keepe his authority and rule as head and not suffer things to be done or disposed ordinarily against his will And for the good ordering of necessary directions if his wife will not obey he must then provide to have things done as well as he can by his children or servants This I speake of things essentially expedient to the peace or well-being of the family he must not be his wives underling contrary to the order of nature and ordinance of God Gen. 3.16 1 Cor. 11.3 7 8 9. Eph. 5.23 1 Tim. 2.12 13 14. Secondly he must shew it in the care of his estate restraining her wastefulnesse if she be given to disorder or retchlesnesse in that kind Pro. 14.1 Thirdly in case of sin against God he muâ—t take heed that he nourish not sin in her by connivence or neglect of counsell or reproofe Iob 2.9 10. Fourthly in case of difference betweene her and her servants so
and religiously in this present world Tit. 2.11 12. Thus of the third point viz. the cause of inheriting The maner followes viz. They inherit together Together The godly are heires together their inheritance lies all together Which may appeare by reckoning up the particular priviledges of the godly in which they all meet and are joynt heires and fellow heires as the Apostle calls them Rom. 8.17 Eph. 3.6 Christians hold their inheritance in Gavelkind I thinke that is the terme the Lawyers give for that tenure where all the brethren have the same inheritance divided amongst them and all alike heires And as they are so in the matter they inherit so in the manner of comming to their right for they are all the children of God and children by adoption and not by naturall generation so Christ only is Gods heire Now that it may distinctly appeare that they are heires together I will number some particulars as 1. They have all the same Father Eph. 4.6 who is in them all 2. They are all of the same body viz. members of the mysticall bodie of Christ Eph. 3.6 3. They have all one spirit Eph. 4.3 4. 4. They weare all the same apparell being cloathed with the same righteousnesse of Christ Gal. 3.27 28. 5. They weare all the same livery and badge of distinction they have all one Baptisme Eph. 4.6 6. They are all fed with the same commons at the Lords Table the bread is the communion of the body of Christ and so the wine of his bloud I say communion because all partake of it 1 Cor. 10.16 17. 7. They have all the same gifts for though in outward administrations and callings there be difference and in naturall endowments and in common graces yet in the gifts of saving grace they have all a part of all gifts and differ onely in the measure as they have but one faith and one hope and so in all other saving graces Ephes. 4.4 5. 1 Cor. 12. Ephes. 5.7 Rom. 12. 8. They have all the same promises Eph. 3.6 9. They have all the same or the like attendants viz. the Angels of heaven Heb. 1.13 10. They are governed by the same lawes have all one Lord Eph. 4.5 and have all the same way to heaven which is by Christ and have all interest in the Teachers of the Word of Christ their Lord 1 Cor. 3.22 11. They shall have all the same glory after this life for the inheritance of them all is immortall and undefiled and without end 1 Pet. 1.4 12. They shall hold their glory in the same place after this life viz. in heaven 1 Pet. 1.4 The Use of this should be greatly for the comfort of weake and poore Christians for though they differ from other men in outward calling or the measure of gifts yet they are in the substance of the inheritance provided for as well as the greatest Kings or Prophets or Apostles And besides it should teach the brethren of higher degree to carry themselves with all humility towards their poore brethren and it should teach all Christians to love as brethren to be courteous and tender hearted one towards another as followes in the next verse of this Chapter Thus of the fourth point 5. The fift point is concerning the persons that doe inherit and so the coherence shewes That both sexes are capable of inheriting women as well as men wives as well as husbands God is no respecter of persons but in all conditions of people such as feare him and believe in Christ and worke righteousnesse are accepted and adopted of him as these places shew Act. 10.35 Gal. 3.28 Col. 3.11 And this should teach all Christians not to have the glorious faith of Christ in respect of persons Iam. 2.1 2. And in particular such husbands as have religious wives should make the more account of them though God hath made them inferiour to them in outward condition yet he hath made them equall in the inheritance of life Lest praier be interrupted Hitherto of the second reason to perswade husbands to make conscience of their dutie towards their wives The third reason is taken from the ill effect if it be not done and that is that Gods service and in particular praier will be hindred and that divers waies First if he dwell not with her praier in the family is like to be omitted it being his worke as the head of the family to performe that duty and to see that his houshold serve God with him Josh. 24.14 And if he carrie not himselfe as a man of knowledge there may arise such discord amongst them that they will have no minde either to pray together or one for another at least their passions will tempt them many times to omit prayer and if he give not honour but despise her he will have no heart to pray for her whom he contemnes There are many observations to be gathered out of these words as Doct. 1. Prayer is a part of Gods service that is necessarily required and not left arbitrary for men to doe or not to doe it Psal. 105.1 1 Thess. 5.17 Mat. 7.7 Rom. 12.12 Eph. 6.18 Col. 4.2 Doct. 2. The exercise of prayer is not only a part of Gods service but it is an excellent part a chiefe part that which much excels Which may appeare first by the nature of it It is an exercise in which a mortall creature talkes with the immortall Creator Secondly by the antiquitie of it It is an exercise that godly men have betaken themselves to with great devotion from the first times of the world Gen. 4.26 21.33 Thirdly by the efficient cause of it God poures out his owne Spirit upon his people of purpose to make them able to pray and therefore is called The Spirit of prayer Zech. 12.11 Ioel 2.28 Rom. 8.26 Fourthly because they are things so precious as Christ takes them and presents them to God covering our imperfections and making them acceptable Rev. 8.3 Fiftly by the great priviledges this exercise enjoyes For first God is greatly delighted in it Pro. 15.8 and therefore one of his titles is that he is a God that heareth prayer Psal. 65.1 and heares with great attention his eares are open Psal. 34.15 and will not despise prayer for the infirmities of his servants Psal. 102.17 nor reproach them Iames 1.5 Secondly any man of any condition that hath an honest heart may be regarded with God in prayer Marke 7.7 Luke 11.10 Thirdly whatsoever is asked is obtained which is an unspeakable benefit Marke 11.24 Psal. 85.5 Lastly God hath promised salvation to all them that call upon his name Ioel 2. ult And this point should be a great encouragement to all true Christians to be much in prayer and to resist all dulnesse in themselves or temptations and objections against the exercise of prayer Doct. 3. Prayer is a dutie required of private Christians as well as of learned men or Ministers Husbands and wives are supposed to practise
thereof 235 236 Signes ibid. c. Guile Vide Deceit Hypocrisie The words acceptation 205 Why and how to be avoided 206 The miserie of Guilefull persons ibid. Of secret Guile 207 Signes of a man without Guile 209 Guile in words many wayes so in Hypocrisie 525 H HArdnesse Hardnesse of heart seemed to be fâ—lt more after assurance than before 113 Healing Wherein Christs Healing excels for our comfort 550 That we are all healed by Christs stripes 551 What we must doe to be healed by Christ 550 The bodies of all men by nature need Healing 552 Christ is a Physician as well for the body as the soule 553 Rules for such as desire to Heale their bodily griefes 554 Heart Adorned with eight graces maketh it acceptable to God 17 Eleven things in which a sanctified Heart rejoyceth ibid. Three speciall signes of a new Heart 415 What the hid man of the Heart is 607 Wherein it excells the outward man 608 By what meanes it may be mended 609 How to know when it is right ibid. Eight things to be done for getting a cleane heart 175 How our Hearts are purified in obeying the truth 176 Heaven Where and what wiâ—â— its excellencie above all other plâ—â—â—s 41 The glory of Heaven â—â—llâ—d grace in three respects 110 111 Heavinesse Foure sorts of Heavinesse 56 Heires How godly men become Heires 645 How they must behave themselves 648 Godly men and women are Heires together many wayes 688 Holy Ghost The Spirit why called the Holy Ghost 93 He is a Person distinct from Father and Son 94 Whether its mission doth signifie any inequalitie 95 Holinesse Foure sorts of Holinesse 122 God Holy three wayes ibid. Helpes with motives thereto 123 Christians are Holy many wayes 322 Rules for the right ordering of a Holy conversation 323 Inward Holinesse wherein it consists 174 175 Honest. Honestie What it signifies 388 Sixe things which make and manifest an Honest conversation 389 An Honest conversation is the way either to convince or convert the Gentiles 392 Honour How Christ is an Honour to us 292 By what wayes we may expresse our Honour to men 477 How we must honour the King 483 Hony The Word for sweetnesse compared to Hony 240 The excellent uses of it ibid. Hope The differences betweene a living and a dead Hope 36 Nine wayes to shew our Hope 108 Five things to be done to get assured Hope 108 109 The difference betweene Faith and Hope 160 161 Houshold Housholders Vide Familie Humble Humblenesse Humblenesse of mind hath sixe things in it 16 Humblenesse is shewed in three things 330 Husband For Husband and Wife to live together quietly there are sixteen motives 576 Five speciall causes of disorder betweene man and wife 577 Motives to make Husbands carefull of their duties 633 Their cohabitation 634 In what cases they may be absent 635 He must dwell with her in knowledge 637 How they honour their wives 641 Hypocrisie How many wayes men commit it 210 Motives against it with effects of it ibid. c. Excellent uses hereof 211 The sorts of Hypocrisie that we are most in danger of 212 Preservatives against it ibid. Hypocrites How an open Hypocrite may be discerned 213 What makes an Hypocrite and how a man may know himselfe not to be one ibid. c. Hypocrites in bondage whilst they seeme Freemen 471 Eight things for the discoverie of Hypocrites 177 I IGnorance The unregenerate charged with Ignorance 116 Signes of their Ignorance 117 How different from the Ignorance of the godly ibid. It is hatefull to be Ignorant in spirituall things 457 A hard thing to cure Ignorance 463 464 Imitation We must imitate God 118 Five things in which we are not to imitate Christ 328 Immortalitie Foure degrees of it 186 Incorruptible Seven things which are Incorruptible 611 Incorruptible things doe wonderfully adorne 612 Grace begotten in the hearts of the godly is Incorruptible in divers respects 188 Indifferent Things â—Indifferent in matters of religion though somâ—times inconvenient may be commanded and must be obeyed 434 Pretended inconveniences by humane lawes surveyed 435 About taking and giving of scandall at humane ceremonies 436 How Christian libertie is made a cloake of maliciousnesse in things indifferent 472 In thongs indifferent there be cases wherein Christian libertie is vilely abused ibid. Inheritance How the Saints inheritance is incorruptible even in foure respects 39 Undefiled in five respects ibid. Inventions Whether any Inventions of men may be obeyed 433 A catalogue of such Inventions as were used for religious ends without any commandement 434 Joy A Christian life is a joyfull life manifested in nine things 54 Gods servants may joy nine wayes ibid. How that their joy is preserved 55 How full his joy may be in earthly things 56 Sixâ— kinds of joy 72 Five kinds of divelish joy ibid. Eight signes of discerning the joy of the holy Ghost from all other joyes 73 Whether the joyes of the holy Ghost be felt of every Christian 74 What we must do to get the joy of God ib. How to preserve that joy ibid. The differences betweene joy temporarie and true joy 188 Judge God is a terrible Iudge to the wicked 529 He judgeth righteously 530 Judgement The day of judgement why called The last day 52 Why deferred ibid. Why the Day of judgement is called The Revelation of Iesus Christ 111 Of the last judgement and the certainty thereof 128 All must appeare at the day of judgement 129 We shall be judged according to our workes iibid How infants can be judged according to their workes 130 Iudgements inflicted on some particular offenders belong to all for divers reasons 301 K KIll Repentance for sin doth in divers respects kill a man 538 Kings Differences betweene spirituall and earthly Kings 319 Christians should live like Kings 320 King is a note of the highest dignitie on earth 440 The originall of Kings 441 The excellencie of Kings above others 442 Many encouragements to Subjects to beare Kings superioritie ibid. Kings must be honoured first in heart secondly in word thirdly in worke 483 Kin Vide Generation Onely good Christians are of the best kin 317 The uses of it ibid. They are of Royall kin and that in many respects 318 629 Knowledge The excellencie of divine Knowledge in many respects 637 It is required of all sorts of men 638 It is given for use and practice ibid. It ought to have a commanding power ibid. Meanes to give power to our knowledge ibid. c. It makes an impression in every mans life 639 In it men should excell women ibid. What it is for the husband to dwell with the wife in knowledge 640 Knowledge must have three properties and effects of it 652 653 L LAmb. Christ a Lamb in sixe respects 147 The Lambes in the ceremoniall law types of Christ ibid. c. The uses of it 148 Libertie Vide Freedome Christian Libertie is a great gift bestowed by Christ 466 A man may use his Libertie as a
the contrary ibid. c. In what cases we may not be of one mind with the Church of Rome 678 W WArre Warfare Vide Fight The Christian condition is military 42 He must keepe a fivefold garison 43 Foure kinds of Warre against the soule 384 The flesh warres against the soule five wayes ibid. Why God doth suffer this Ware 385 Our armour in this Warre what 386 How we may get victorie in this Warre 387 Weake Priviledges of Weake Christians 229 Encouragement for Weake Christians 237 Well-doing Well-doing is the best way to stop the 〈◊〉 of wicked man â—65 Excellent uses of it ibid. How we are said to doe well 639 631 Reasons why we ought alwayes to be Well-doing 631 Whisperers Vide Bacâ—biters 216 217 Wicked Wickednesse What Wicked men in particular are not under mercie 354 God doth oft suffer his children to live among Wicked men 391 In what case we may converse with wickedmen 392 Wife Sixteene motives for Husbands and Wives to live together quietly in marriage 576 Five speciall causes of disorder betweene Husband and Wife 577 Why the Apostle is so large in setting down the Wives duty 579 Eight reasons of the Wives subjection 581 In what 582 How and in what cases not ibid. Particular sins of the Wife in case of subjection 583 What meanes a Wife must use to win her Husband 595 596 Chastity in marriage is specially charged on the Wife 596 How chaste wife may be discerned 597 Wherein Wives should shew their feare to their Husbands 601 602 What is a Wives best ornament 627 Obedience and reverence are a Wives ornaments 628 Will. The Will of God is first Personall secondly Essentiall First Legall secondly Evangelicall 451 Gods Word is his Will in two respects 452 The Will is the rule of our actions 452 Whether a Christian can exactly doe Gods Will 453 Winne Divers kinds of Winning 590 What a Minister must doe to win soules 591 To be won what it 〈◊〉 ibid. Why all are not won at once 592 By what meanes we may win wicked men in our conversation 594 Wise Wisedome Why many Wise men are rather confounders than founders in grace and goodnesse 296 How the ignorant may herein notwithstanding be supported 297 Five waye 's we should shew forth the Wisdome of Christ 329 What this Wisedome must not have in is ibid. Woman In what things a Woman is more fraile than man 643 Word How powerfull 55 Vide Scripture How many wayes sin hinders the growth of the Word 200 How to be desired 221 How our affections to it may be discerned 222 Other signes of it ibid. c. Impediments thereof both externall and internall 223 224 Meanes to get desire to it 225 How to preserve our desires to it 226 Foure motives of getting it 227 How farre wicked men may desire the Word 230 The sweetnesse of the Word 240 Rules for applying the Word aright 288 When and how a man is said to be offended at the Word 310 The Word must be the warrant for all our actions 422 Its praise 189 The only outward meanes to beget the seed of grace in us 190 Eight things needfull in us to heare the Word of God as the Word of God ibid. How the Word is said to live 191 Sixe wayes to shew the life of the Word in our conversation ibid. c. Gods Word should be our maine care 199 The power of the Word Preached 200 Workes How men shall be judged according to their Workes 129 130 How infants 130 How poore men 131 Manifold distinctions of Gods works 148 How wonderfull Gods Workes are 274 The uses of it 275 To be a Worker of iniquity signifies three things 397 Wherein Workes are good 398 Rules to be observed in doing good Works 399 400 The divers kinds of good Works 400 401 How any man that is not absolutely good can be said to doe good Workes 401 402 What Workes are good for 402 How a man may lose his Workes 403 What Works may and ought to bee shewed 404 We should by good workes silence the wicked 454 World Contempt of the World shewed in foure things 331 Worship Actions about Gods Worship of two sorts 432 433 Many defects in Gods Worship 548 Wrongs Reasons against righting Wrongs by our owne private revenge 498 We may not in some cases resist but endure Wrongs ibid. To suffer Wrongs is profitable ibid. Places of Scripture herein expounded occasionally GEnesis 10. ver 9. p. 428 Exodus 26. ver 8. p. 98 Leviticus 14. à ver 4. ad 32. p. 165 ad 173. Cap. 16. ver 12 13 17 p. 26 Numbers 19. à ver 1 2. ad 7. p. 23. Psalme 19. ver 10. p. 240 Psalme 119. ver 103. ibid. Psalme 145. ver 8 9. p. 32 Proverbs 15. ver 30. p. 447 448 Proverbs 22. ver 1. p. 447 Esay 53. ver 7. ibid. Jeremiah 11. ver 19. ibid. Matthew 16. ver 18. p. 250 John 1. ver 29. 36. 147 Acts 5. ver 10 28 29. p. 435 Acts 17. ver 30. p. 127 Romans 2. ver 10. p. 449 Romans 12. ver 3. p. 104 2 Cor. 2. ver 14 15. p. 241 Ephesians 4. ver 17 18. p. 458 1 Thess. 5. ver 15. p. 686 Hebrewes 4. ver 12. p. 55 Hebrewes 12. ver 9. p. 374 2 Epist. Johan ver 8. p. 593 FINIS Verse 1. PETER an Apostle of Iesus Chr to the strangers scattred throughout Pontus Galatia Capadocia Asia Bithinia Verse 2. Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father through sanctification of the spirit unto obedience and sprinckling of the blood of Iesus Christ Grace unto you and peace be multiplied Verse 3. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Iesus Christ which according to his aboundant meâ—cy hath begotten us aâ—aine unto a lively hope by the resurrectiâ—n of Jesus Christ from the dead Verse 4. To an inheâ—â—â—ance incorruptible and undefiled and that fadeth not away reserved in heaven for you Verse 5. Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time Verse 6. Wherein yee greatly rejoice though now for a season if neede be you are in heavinesse through manifold tentations Verse 7. That the tryall of your faith being much more precious then of gold that perisheth though it be tryed by the fire might be sound unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Iesus Christ. Verse 8 Whom having not seene yee love in whom though now yee see him not yet beleeving yee rejoyce with joy unspeakable and full of glory Verse 9. Receiving the end of your faith even the salvation of your soules Verse 10. Of which salvation the Prophets have inquired and searched diligently who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you Verse 11. Searching what or what manner of time the spirit of Christ which was in them did signifie when it testified before hand the sufferings of Christ and the glory that should follow Ver 12. Vnto whom
the 〈◊〉 use of tâ—th Vse Vse Doct. 1. Vse Doct. Vse Doct. Vse Doct. The glory given to Christ after his resurrection shewed in 8. things Vse Difference betweene faith and hope Doct. 1. Vse Divers questions and doubts resolved Ten things that assault faith against which we should be armed Doct. 2. Vse Doct. 3. Vse A large explication of the ceremonies about the clensing of the Leper as it concerns the sanctification of the sinner Vse Vse Rev. 2.22 Iam. 4.8 8. Things to be done to get a cleane heart What truth is What it is to obey truth How our hearts are purified in obeying the truth Vse Vse Vse Vse 8 Things for the discovery of hypocrites How men may know their obedience be right or no. Doct. In 8 things the Spirit worketh our obedience Vse Vse Doct. Vse How we may know who are godly The good men may get by conversing with the godly Why the most men have no mind to converse with the godly Doct. Vse â— Signes of unfained love Vse The impediments of brotherly love Of purity of heart both as it respects God and man How we may know that our hearts are pure towards others What we must doe to get and increase purity of heart How the ferventnesse of love may be discerned 7. Signes Nine causes of want of fervent love What must be done that our love might be fervent 〈…〉 new birth Whâ—â—â—â— diffâ—rences between true repentance and false Vse Why it is needfull to be often put in minde of our new birth The lets of the new birth Vse Vse 1. Foure degrees of immortality Vse Vse The differenâ—e between true 〈◊〉 and temporary joyes Esay 4.6 Tit. 2.5 Vse Vse 8 Thinâ—s to be observed if wâ— will heare thâ— word as the wâ—rd oâ— God How the word may be said to live Vse Six waies to shew the life of the word in our conversation Mat. 13. Doct. Vse Mat. 6. Ioh. 1.12 2 Cor. 5.1 Gal. 5.24 Gal. 1.10 Psal. 16 10. Prov. Psal. 49. Ps. 92.6 7. Vse Ier. 9.24 Pâ—al 49. Dan. 2.37 Phil. 2.3 1 Thes. 2.6 â— Cor. 11 18. Esay 8.7 Doct. Mans glory vaine for six reasons Eccles. 5. What is mans true glory The inconveniences men bring upon themselves by forgetting death Quest. Answ. Esay 21.9 Quest. Answ. Doct. Ioh. â— 31 c. Vse The coherence The Analysis of the first part of this chapter 5. Things to be avoided if we would profit by the word Generall observations The benefit of briefe catalogues of sins or duties or graces How many wayes the sins â—ere mentioned doe hinder the word Of Malice Acceptation of the word Signes of malice Reasons against malice From the causes From the effects 1. In us 2. In God Vses Aggravations of malice Note Remedies for malice 1. In our selves Note 2. In others Of Guile The acceptation of the word Object Solut. Why Guile is to be avoided Vseâ— The misery of deceitfull persons The â—gâ—â—avaâ—ons of the sin of dâ—â—â—it 1. The maner of deceiving 2. The persons upon whom it is pâ—actised 3. The time Object 1. Solut. Oâ— the misery of such as 〈◊〉 by dâ—â—â—â—â— Note Object 2. Solut. Servants must not use lying and deceit to please thâ—â— mastâ—â—s Object 3. Solut. Of 〈◊〉 câ—◠〈◊〉 Object 4. Solut. Vse 2. The iniquity of the time Vse 3. Against â—quivocation Vse 4. The signes of a man without guile IncouragemeÌ„ts to such men Note that he sayes all malice and all Guile How many wayes men commit Hypocrisie 〈…〉 〈…〉 What may befall him What will befall â—hem The objections of hypocrites removed Vses For information Note For instruction The sorts of Hypocrisie we are most in danger of Preservatives against Hypocrisie Note Object Solut. About censuring other men for Hypocrisie Quest. Answ. How an open hypocrite may be discerned Object Solut. What makes an hypocrite Vse 3. Quest. Answ. First when a man had rather be good then seeme so How a man may know that he is not an hypocrite The haâ—â—fulnesse of the 〈◊〉 of envy Signes of a man free from envy The aggravation of evill speaking Râ—asons to disswadâ— from Evill speakâ—ng Note Rules against evill speaking What we should doe to avoid evill speaking in others 5. Generall doctrines Note For tryall How we may disâ—eâ—ne our desire and affection after the word Note Other signes of true desire Impediments to true desires externall Inwaâ—d 〈◊〉 wicked mâ—n 〈◊〉 of affection in the godly Meanes to get true desires â—o the word Rules for the preserving of good desires Rules for such as be afflicted with melancholy The Motives The causes why the most are but babes in religion Note Speciall duties of such as be but new borne babes Speciall praises in children by nature to be expressed by us Priviledges of weake Christians How far wicked men may desire after the word Note Note Divers kindes of growth In what graces christians ought especially to grow Philip. 1.10 1. Thes. 3.12 Philip. 2.13 Ephes 4 3.4 Rules to helpe our growth Impediments of growth Signes of growth Vnprofitablenesse of life aggravated in many respects Apostasie is twofold Encouragement for weake Châ—istians Wherein Gods graciousnesse is â—cene What we must doe to taste the goodnesse of God Doct. 2. Note A true taste is scene by the cause and effects of it Wherein the taste of wicked men and the godly differ How far the taste of wicked men may goe Vse Divers things noted for clearing the sin against the holy Ghost Doct. 4. The causes why so many have little or no taste of the word Christ is diversly described by the Apostle Eph. 1.7 Christ doth many waies excell earthly Lords towards his servants Christ is three waies called a stone 〈…〉 1 Cor. 7.8 Matth. 16.18 What kind of men disallow Christ. Christ chosen of God diversly Christ is precious many â—â—yes Causes why Christ is no more precious with men Pro. 8.11 16. Five points in generall We come to Christ many 〈◊〉 Esay 9.6 In what manner we must come to Christ. Psal. 40.7 Many are the reasons why we should come to Christ. Matth. 22. In what respects the godly are likened to stones Reasons why we ought to be lively stones How vve 〈◊〉 our livelinesse What vve must doe to quicken our hearts Means to build up a Christian. Prov. 24.17 Luke 14. 23. Causes why many are so little edified Ioh. 13. 21. Christ hath a five-fold Tabernacle Esay 40. 22. A godly man like the Tabernacle in divers respects Godly men are Priests in many respects Exod. 29.21 Vses Divers sorts of sacrifices for Christians Mark 8.34.35 1 Ioh. 2.2 Rom. 3.25 Prov. 23.26 Speciall laâ—es to be observed in offering up our sacrifices What we must doe to get our works acceptable to God What is meant by Scripture and why it isso called Wherein the Scriptures exceede all other writings Malach. 3.1 Esay 55.4 Esay 62.11 Math. 4.11 Vse That Christ is laid as a foundation-stone imports many things The Church is like Mount Sion in
16.8 Or else in respect of the second table 2. Defects in the manner of doing righteously and so 1. In generall 5. waies Many defects in Gods worship How the 〈◊〉 comâ— 5 to be diseased The diseases of the soule are grievous many wayes Why many feel not the diseases of their soules Wherein Christs healing excels for our comâ—ort Ezek. 36. Hâ—s 14.2.3 Esay 19 2â— Jer. 17.14 What we must doâ— to be healed of Christ. Psal. 147.3 Esay 57.15 18. Gal. 6.14 Rules for such as desire Christ to heale or help their bodily griefes What is meant by going astray The misery of such aâ— goe astray â—ppears in divers râ—spects Aggravations of their misery 〈…〉 mens 〈◊〉 asâ—ray Esay 16 1â— Job 12.28 Signes of a lâ—sâ— sheepâ— Divers things that give hope of curing to such as be out of the way 〈…〉 〈…〉 The time of returning 〈…〉 returning 〈…〉 against dâ—vers the 〈◊〉 aggravations against divers that returned 〈…〉 of lost 〈◊〉 do 〈…〉 The meanes of returning 〈…〉 〈…〉 Qâ—â—st 〈…〉 What attributes are given to Christ as a Shepheard Christ is one Shepheard He is the true Shepheard He is the good Shepheard 1 Tim. 1.13 16 1 Cor. 9 10 11 Hee is the great Shepheard and that in divers respects The happinesse of such as live under this Shepheard appeares in ten particular priviledges Cant. 1.7 Zach. 11 9.10 Explanation of the tearme Bishop Christ excels all other Bishops in ten respects Such are happy that live under the charge of this Bishop Duties of such as be under the charge of this Bishop Generall scope Note Sixteene motives fâ—r man and wife to live quietly and comfortably together Use. Five speciall causes of disorder betweene man and wife Helps for man and wife to attain an orderly and quiet life Reasons to prove that women ought to be taught their duties as well as men Why the Apostle is so large in setting down wives duties What thingâ— are imported by often repeating of them Note Eight reasons why Wives ought to be subject Why the Apostle chargeth wives only with subjection In what things they are to be subject The maner how they must submit In what cases the wife ought not to subjâ—ct her selfe Particular sins of the wife again subjection Divers waies of winning men Note Causes oâ— revolting in many are divers Nine signes to know whether we be won effectually Sixe things required to sound obedience Divers kinds of winning Note What a Minister must doe to win soules To be won what it imports Note Why all are not converted at once Divers waies from God to further our salvation Doct. 1. By what meanes we may win wicked men in our conversation What things a wife must especially practise to win her husband Note Use. In what respects godly men are said to be pure Note Motives to chastity Preservatives of châ—stity How a chaste wife may be discerned Reasons why wicked men are sinitten with a serviâ—e feare Feare two 〈…〉 Reasons why we ought to expresse this fâ—â—re of God in our conversation By what waies we must shew this feare of God By what waies we are to expresse this feare of God towards men What sorts of men have not Gods feare Wherein wives shew their fear of their husbands Elâ—vâ—n reaâ—oâ—â— against vâ—ine â—ttâ—re in â—omen Foureteene waies by which appâ—râ—ll or dressing our sâ—lâ—â—s becomes vicious Whâ—t the man of the â—eart iâ— His originall Whâ—râ—in he eâ—cells the outward man His naturall condition very miserable many wayes Especially in his workes which are abominable By what means the man of the â—eart may be menâ—ed How we may know when the man oâ— the heart is right Not◠〈…〉 Note What things are requisite to meâ—knesse Motives to meeknesse Oâ—iousnesse of frowardnesse from the cause and effects of it Helps for the attaining of quietnesse and meeknesse Rules for our practise so as God may bee pleased with 〈◊〉 Two singular vertues in a good example When an example binds In what things Antiquity is ill pleaded In what cases respect is to be bad unto old times Use. Signes of such as trust in God Reasons proving the excellency of this trusting in God Admirable effects of this trusting in God Helps to attain this grace of trusting in God Rules to be observed in our right trusting in God Vid 1 Tim. 5.5 Ier. 49.11 Note Doct. Gaâ—ly women daâ—gâ—ters of Sarâ—h three waâ—es What things mar a good action How we are said to do well Reasons why we 〈◊〉 alwaies to be doing well Causes of amazement in wives Why Husbands duties are noted in the last place Moâ—â—vâ—◠〈◊〉 persâ—ade Husbands to be carefull of their duties What things cohabitatâ—â—n doth import In what cases it is 〈◊〉 full for the husband to be absent Whether separation from bed and brood be lawfull Cases of nullitie Concerning divorce what rule is to be observed Excellency of divine knowledge in many respects Means to give power to our knowledge What this dwelling with knowledge imports How many waies husbands honour their wives In what things women are more fraile than men Hâ—w godly men come to be heires Wherein the greatnesse and glory of our adoption appeareth What kind of persons we must be to attaine this adoption Marks of Gods heirs and adopted children How Gods â—eires must carry themselves Naturall life but a meane thing in divers respects Degrees of spirituall life The originall of this life It hath its originall from God three waies The nature of it consists in a saving knowledge or celestiall light Which knowledge must have these properties and effects in it Divers things nourish this life This life differs from eternall life many waies 1. In respect of place 2. In respect of the means that preserve this life 3. In respect of the company 4. In respect of the quality of the life it selfe 5. In resect of the effects of life in â—â—ch degree 1. For righteousnesse 2. â—â—r peace 3. For joy Whâ—t men must dâ—e to attaine this life A Christian hath many helps to attaine it Signes of this life are six Properties of this life are five What duties this doctrine should compell godly men to practise Grace manifold What is meant here by grace Two wayes considered What it excludes What it includes What priviledges follow on such as enjoy Gods grace Men trâ—nsgresse against the grace of God many wayes Godly men and women are heires together many wayes The excellency of prayer appeares in many respects Fâ—om whence the sorts and difference of Prayer doth arise Prayer may be hindred seven waies in the hearing of it How it is interrupted in the making of it Five things of singular use to keep us quiet in trouble Note For what reasons we ought to be all of one mind Helps unto unity of mind 2 Pet. 1. ult Aggravations against discord in opinion Many are the ill causes of dissenting In what things we may not be of one minde with the Church of Rome Wherein â—e expresse our compassâ—on The motives or reasons to perswade us to it Who are brethren Reasons to perswade us to love as brethren With what kind of love we are to love the brethren Rules to be observed that brotherly love many continue Either such things we are to avoid Or such things we are to practise How to order our selves towards our brethren in case of sinne against God or trespasse against us Three caveats to be looked unto in our loving of them What things bowels of compassion or mercy import When our bowels of mercy are right Motivés to be pitifull What things are comprehended under courtesie Divers kinds of blessing When we blesse in deed Wherein particularly For what reasons â— Christian should be much affected with the conâ—ideration of his calling Reasons proving the necessity of knowing our calling and assurance By what means a Christian comes to know his calling Divers sorts of Christians Causes why many weake Christians know not their calling Note Godly men doe inherit blessing many wayes 1. From men 2. From their own consciences 3. From God and that divers wayes In this life godly men have Gods blessing three wayes What we must doe to get Gods blessing How godly men may grow in the comforts of Gods blessing Note Note For what reasons men ought to take off their affections from the love of this life In what respects the vanity of earthly things appeare Men have no reason to be in love withearthly commodities and that for divers causes In what cases it may be lawfull for some persons to be in love with this life What such must doe to prolong their life What daies are evill in respect of wicked men Wherein godly mens daies are evill Great difference betweenâ— the evill daies of wicked and godly men Evill daies common to wicked and godly men 2 Sam. 19.36 What are good daies in generall In particular there are divers sorts of good daies to the godly Mans life is short In what respect it is short Causes why most mens lives are so short Uses