Selected quad for the lemma: duty_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
duty_n	family_n	husband_n	wife_n	3,861	5	7.2804	4	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A20524	Bathshebaes instructions to her sonne Lemuel containing a fruitfull and plaine exposition of the last chapter of the Prouerbs. Describing the duties of a great-man, and the vertures of a gracious woman. Penned by a godly and learned man, now with God. Perused, and published for the use of Gods church, by Iohn Dod, and William Hinde.	Dod, John, 1549?-1645.; Hinde, William, 1569?-1629.; Cleaver, Robert, 1561 or 2-ca. 1625, attributed name.	1614 (1614)	STC 6935; ESTC S109713	33,460	85

bee sought for from the vtmost parts of the kingdome Psal 101 2 6 much more wiues which are ioyned in a more straight and inuiolable band for which cause Gen. 24 3 4 we see that Abraham sent his seruant vnto another country to take a wife for his sonne Isaac And if Assuerus for the beauty of a woman Est 2 3 did cause all his kingdome to bee sought and surueyed How much more ought Christian Princes to seeke her for her vertue And if wee shall well examine the matter this is one and a chiefe cause of this rarenesse because there are so few men which doe seeke after such women For if they were oftentimes and of many men sought for no doubt but there would be greater plenty of such women But now when women doe consider in themselues that vertue and piety is not regarded but beauty nobility and riches and that if onely they haue them they please their wooers Therfore are they so carefull for them and doe set their rest vpon them Whereof also it is that the chiefe care of Parents is to make them most beautiful most rich altogether neglecting piety and good huswiferie Howbeit in their words there is so great vanity in their countenance so deepe dissembling and in their manners for the time so much counterfaiting and hypocrisie that no man although of the sharpest wit is able to iudge soundly and perfectly of them Wherefore they which doe take this in hand trusting vnto their owne wit are most grossely deceiued vnlesse the helpe of God first craued by praier doe prosper and giue good successe vnto their labors Wherefore Salomon in another place saith Pro. 19.14 18.22 that Inheritance is left vnto children by their Parents but a prudent wife is the gift of God And in Ecclesiastes making mention of the great mischiefe of a wicked woman he saith that he which is good in the sight of the Lord Eccles 7.26 is deliuered from her but that the sinner is snared by her Shee is further described by another adiunct of her price which is often wont to arise from the former rarenesse for those things which are rare are good and that which is rare is deere But her price or worth is set forth by a comparison of the lesser to wit of carbuncles not one but many vvhich also is amplified by a comparison of the greater for he doth not only say that her value is a aboue carbuncles but that it is far aboue them So as it should seeme an vniust thing to bring them in comparison together and as it were so weigh them together in balance That wife therefore may bee sufficiently endowed which is well nurture and that not onely because vertue of it selfe is a certaine treasure but because God doth most commonly follow such a woman with the blessing of riches But the iudgment of men is farre otherwise for except a woman be endowed either vvith a great stocke or large rents shee is no more esteemed for her piety then a flint or any other contemptible stone vvhich lieth abroad in the streets and high-vvaies But vvhat things are here spoken of a woman of strength the same may also by a little turning of the word bee fitly carried and applied vnto such a man After that he hath generally described this excellent woman he deuideth her duty into two parts whereof the former is concerning her duety towards her husband the other towards the whole family Both which being briefly comprehended in this verse are afterwards more largely vnfolded And that which concerneth the former doth seeme rather to belong to the praise of the husband then of the wife For it is the commendation of the husband to trust his wife not to be ouer iealous towards her neither to suspect her faithfulnesse towards him which many men doe who vndeseruedly doe suspect their wiues But hee which shall more throughly enter into this matter shall finde it rather to bee referred to the praise of the wife For he teacheth that so great and so absolutely perfect is her faithfulne● both in words and behauiour alone and in company that her husband may surely rest vpon her For it is otherwise with this woman Pro. 7.10.18 19.20 then with that which is spoken of otherwhere Whereof also that doth appeare that it is not sufficient that women doe keepe themselues chaste and vntouched of vicious men vnlesse also they be of that integrity and vprightnesse that they minister not so much as the least occasion of suspition For you may see many women which although sometimes they be farre from the crime of adultery not onely in act but also in consent notwithstanding by reason of their gesture and behauiour they are not free from all markes and notes of immodestie Wherein the sincerity of elder times may condemne the loosenesse of this age Gen. 26 8 9.10 whereas by the sporting onely of Isaac with Rebecca their mariage contrary to that which they pretented was coniectured which is so much the more worthy the noting in as much as it was not lawfull for the brother to sport with his owne sister For whereas Rebecca by the aduise of her husband Gen. 26.7 had carried her selfe as Isaacs sister and Isaac had carried himselfe as Rebeccaes brother the counterfeiting of them both was by this sporting discouered Amongst prophane heathen in times past such great honesty of manners was obserued that it was accounted an vnhonest thing Alex. Gen. lib. 4. c. 20. p. 243. for Parents with their children and Fathers in law with their sonnes in law to be bathed together in one bath But how much good and quietnesse there is in this faithfulnesse and chastity of the wife whereby the husband is free from all suspicion of dishonesty may bee easily discerned by the contrary torment of such men as are vexed with the spirit of iealousie And this by a little turning of the words may be drawne to the duety of the man towards his wife The other duety is prouiding for her familie and it is declared by the effect of a woman of strength to wit procuring of plenty especially of houshould furniture which is set forth by likning her to those which hauing obtained the victory and slaine their enemies doe bring the spoiles home to their houses By which metaphor hee sheweth that shee doth by her labour and industry helpe very much for the maintaining of their estate But hereof more shall be spoken in the rest of the Chapter Verse 12. He afterwards returneth to the description of her duety towards her husband which first is propounded by the effect that is that shee will doe good vnto her husband which is amplified by denying of the contrary By which manner of speech he declareth that shee will doe nothing but that which shall be good and commodious vnto him for shee is giuen him of God for a helper Gen. 2 18. He teacheth therefore

that it is the part of a good wife to please her husband in all things so farre as it may agree with the duty of a good and godly woman for if for his good shee doth sometimes that which may displease him shee doth not against her duty Hitherto therefore shee ought to bend her endeauor that shee may be praised without all exception But there are to bee found many women of whom it is said shee is a faithfull and chast woman but yet a froward peece shee is a good wife but curst and somewhat too talkatiue and hasty to answere But of this woman it is generally said that shee is loiall gentle perfect in euery iust good duty Afterwards this duty is amplified by the adiunct of the length of time that is to say all the daies of his life It is growen to a common Prouerbe amongst vs to call the first moneth after mariage the hony moon Wherby men wil shew that the beginnings of mariage are pleasant but that there follow after many bitter yeeres By another similitude also they do compare the ioy of a widow desiring mariage to a fire of thornes which after a short blaze is presently put out and quenched But this duty of a godly woman is not comprehended in lesse then the whole life of time For she will not onely do good to her husband whilest he is young but when he is old also not only in health but also in sicknesse not only in prosperitie but also in aduersitie And these duties are also to be performed of the husband toward his wife and so much the more grieuously doth hee offend if hee swarne from his dutie in as much as God hath made him more strong and furnished him with greater gifts Verse 13. She seeketh wooll and flaxe and worketh it according to the willingnesse of her hands Verse 14. Shee is like the ships of the Merchant Shee fetcheth her foode from farre Verse 15. And rising vvhile it is yet night shee giueth the portion to her house and the ordinary to her maids Verse 16. She thinketh of a field which she taketh of the fruites of her hand she planteth a Vineyard THis care for prouiding of wool and flaxe seemeth little to agree with the wife of Salomon so magnificent a King for whom it should seeme to bee more fit to be carefull to deck and trimme her selfe by the glasse that her beautie might be the more gracious and pleasing vnto the King but especially it seemeth to differ much from the roiall dignitie and Princely maiestie that she should with her owne hands handle the distaffe and as it followeth after in the 19. verse that shee should put her hands to the wheele her hands hold the spindle For it seemeth she should sufficiently discharge the dutie of a mother of a family if she do cause her maidens and seruants to doe this But howsoeuer things may seeme to vs and our carnall iudgement iudging of duty according to the present shewe notwithstanding the wisedome of God hath thought this to agree with the Maiestie of the greatest Princes that they should exercise themselues both in these and other duties belonging to women Wee read of Sara Gen. 18 6 7 who beeing a great Princesse yet shee kneaded dough Gen. 27 9 17 and dressed meate Of Rebecca wee read how by her cunning in cookery she was able to counterfait meates to cause that to appeare to be venison which indeed was not 2. Sam. 13 5 6 9 Of Thamar the Kings daughter how shee was so well practiced in cookery that shee was able to make daintie and pleasant meates for her brother faining himselfe sicke In this our age if any woman be of more noble birth or haue riches aboue others their manner is to bee so proud and disdainefull that they thinke nothing may beseeme their greatnesse but what is ioined with notable idlenesse and ceasing from all honest businesse they may handle nothing which may make their hands hard do nothing which may impaire their beauty Gen. 20 1 It appeareth by holy Scriptures that Sara and Rebecca euen in their olde age kept the traces and features of their beautie they had in their youth and therfore no doubt but they had a care to continue their beauty that they might be most gracious and pleasing to their husbands but that through this care of their beauty they did cease from all honest labour and businesse it neither can agree with their duty nor with those excellent vertues wherewith they were endued But if to Princesses and honorable women it be not allowed to be idle and to cease from honest businesse whereas they notwithstanding in regard of the weakenesse of their sexe both are and ought to bee fauoured aboue others can it bee lawfull for men to take vnto them this licence to liue at their pleasure without any imployment Wherein the men of our age doe more grieuously offend then the women For what man is there that hath rents and possessions aboue the common sort which by this bountifulnesse of God towards him doth not thinke himselfe freed and discharged from all honest imployment so as hee thinketh he is in good state if abstaining from doing wrong to others he doe in the meane time giue himselfe to all loosenes of minde spending his time both in hunting hauking and other pleasures of this life Furthermore whereas shee doth her selfe seeke wooll and flaxe not staying till they should be prouided by her husband hereby is set forth her readinesse to labor which is proued by the words following for whereas he saith that shee doth these things according to the willingnesse of her hands hee doth thereby teach that shee doth readily and cheerefully goe about her worke wherein aboue all things her strength is declared For such things as are laid vpon vs by reason of our calling ought to be done merrily and with a cherefull minde for like as the sunne like a giant doth gird it selfe that it may in 24. houres runne his whole circuit about the world so likewise ought wee to stirre and raise vp our selues to that worke which is laid vpon vs. Men therefore which haue a minde of more courage and are of greater strength of body may bee ashamed to lye downe vnder the burden of such labors as are enioyned them And this cherefulnesse is therefore propounded that he may shew that thereby the worke is the more easily and speedily dispatched Verse 14. It is though that the wife hath sufficientlie performed her duty if shee doe safely preserue and keepe those things which her husband hath brought in But the holy Ghost teacheth vs that it is the wiues duety to prouide those things wherewith the familie is fed and not such things onely as are neere at hand but which also are brought from farre countries from whence hee sheweth that shee fetcheth them in marchants ships because shee bringeth her foode from farre Wherein seemeth some

regard of the weakenesse of their sexe and of their paines of childe-bearing yet are they not freed from those duties which are ioined with some paine and tediousnesse Furthermore it is to be noted that by this her working she is not only her selfe exercised but shee doth also take away all color of idlenesse from her maides for it were a shame for the maides to plucke their hands from such work as their mistris her self doth not disdaine to doe For here is that Prouerbe true which is sanctified by the holy mouth of Christ that it is well with the seruant if he be in the same condition with his master it is well with the hand-maide if shee be in no worse case then her mistris But this example of paines taking which she giueth to her maides is of more force to worke in their mindes then many admonitions or chastisemēts which are vsed without example This point also is to be obserued to confirme and strengthen vs in the common duties of this life as things acceptable vnto God considering that the Anabaptists do esteeme of those things as too vile for Christians to exercise themselues in But the Papists although they condemne not these things yet they make the hands of godly women more slacke whilest they doe so highly extol the counterfait workes of their Nunnes no wayes approued by the holy Ghost Hee hath alreadie spoken of the industry and diligence which she vseth in the dispatch of her worke and of the happy euent and successe thereof There followeth both the varietie and number of the workes wherein she is occupied and also the end whereunto they are referred which doth crowne all her former workes and without the which it skilleth not much whether the mothers of families be sloathful or diligent in their worke For if she should only lay vp in a chest these her riches gotten with paine should heape vp treasures or bestow them in trifles and toies there were no cause why this praise should be giuen her But now when as both in getting them her industry is declared and in disposing them her piety and wisdome appeareth no sufficient cōmendation can easily be giuen vnto her For to som God hath plentifully and abundantly giuen discretion to bestow them to their iust and due vses In the verses following he describeth the ends Verse 20. whereto she referreth her riches gotten with such diligence and continuall labor wherof the first is that she may succor the poore and such as are oppressed vvith want This is confirmed by the testimonie of the Apostle Ephes 4.28 Prouer. 3.26.27 Whereby appeareth how few there are which are indued with true piety for how few men shal be found which do know this end of getting riches And of those which propound vnto themselues this end the number is farre lesse Furthermore whereas shee stretcheth forth and extendeth her hand it teacheth how readily and cherefully how bountifully also and liberally she doth it for God loueth a cheerefull giuer Psal 112 9 Eccles 11.1 He sovveth his seede in a fat and fruitfull soyle from vvhence he looketh for a hundred folde This manner of speech also declareth that she is none of those delicate and tender women which cannot indure to behold those that are in misery and affliction It is also to bee considered that the first fruits of her labours are giuen to the poore For whereas that which is distributed to the poore is sayd to be consecrated to the Lord and there is none so ignorant which knowes not that the first fruites are to be dedicated to God Pro. 3 9 10 it is manifest that there is a principall regard to bee had to the poore 1. King ●7 17 1● Her next care is for her family Deut 26.13 14 Verse 21. that it be well and sufficiently cloathed that there be none in all her householde which should be in any sort hurt by the weather either cold heat winde or raine c. so farre are they from going with torne and ragged cloathes In the 1. King 10. It appeareth that the Queene of Saba gaue her iudgement of the wisedome of Salomon by the apparell of his seruants For as of the foode so also of the cloathing of the household the Gouernors must be carefull whereas diuers in many households are not only not wholsomely apparelled but not so much as honestly and seemely couered which as it is hurtfull to those of the family so it is also an inconuenince to the Gouernors themselues in as much as their necessary busines by these meanes is hindered for want of health Moreouer where it is sayde that she feareth not her family for the snow therein is some difficultie for it seemeth not to swarne from the duty of a wife and godly woman to feare the incommodities of her selfe and hers for feare is a spurre vnto vs to auoide those things whereof wee are afraid for a wise-man feareth the euill and eschevveth it Contrariwise we may see many women which hauing little care of the diet and cloathing of their family do leaue them destitute of things necessary I answere that it is want of feare which proceedeth from hence that being inconsiderate and vnaduised they doe not foresee the things which are profitable for the family in the time to come especially long time after But this want of feare is vtterly to bee condemned Howbeit that a woman which in a due consideration of the inconueniences which may happen doth stand in feare of them and fearing doth stirre vp her selfe to all care and regard to prouide such things which do belong vnto the maintenance of life shee truely is not to be blamed And that woman which in a timely foresight of those things whereby her houshold may be sufficiently maintained doth so addresse her selfe to all honest skill and means to defend the same as shee may safely and securely cast away all carefulnesse and feare of her family shee indeed worthely deserueth praise Iob. 5.21 By this meanes commeth it to passe that by diligent labor and continuall painfulnesse men do rid themselues of many cares and griefes wherewith others are pained when as they doe handle their matters according to the prescript of Gods Word Verse 22. She prouideth her tents fine linnen and purple is her cloathing Verse 23. Her Husband is knowen in in the gates when hee sitteth with the Elders of the land Verse 24. Shee maketh fine linnen which she selleth and deliuereth a girdle to the Merchaunt HEr next care is for the furniture of her house prouided and beautified with those ornaments which may most set forth the fairenes of the house and the honor of the gouernor For it is not the least commendation of a Matrone to prouide that the house be thoroughly furnished of bedding hangings tapestry and other such like necessaries both for the necessity of life and also for honest delight For a man may see many women very sumptuously

attired whose houses notwithstanding lie empty and vnfurnished Neither truly doth the praise of this woman consist in this that shee buieth these ornaments with her mony but because shee maketh and weaueth them at her owne house Which is to bee vnderstood both of those things which haue beene spoken of before in the 20. and 22. verses and also of those which follow vnto the 25 verse Vnto this carefulnesse to prouide household furniture doth succeed care of trimming her owne body and that with things farre more pretious as fine linnen purple The which although it seeme scarce to agree with the turning of the wheele and handling of the spindle and distaffe yet the holy Ghost hath thought them very agreeable And here no doubt he bringeth in this woman so delicately apparelled that hee might thereby commend these womanly workes and exercises vnto all posterity as those which are worthy and fit for such as are cloathed in very delicate apparel so as their estate and degree will afford it Which is not to bee vnderstood of all women but according as euery ones estate will stretch for this womans husband was among the chiefe as appeareth in the 23. verse But here some man may aske whether it be fit that hee should first prouide for her owne selfe To whom I answere that it is meete that shee prepare necessary couering for those of her houshould before shee set her minde vpon delicacy and finenesse of apparel for her selfe euen as also shee ought to seeke for necessary foode for her family before shee take thought for dainty meates for her selfe Whereupon it followeth 1. Tim. 2 9. 1. Peter 3 3. that those testimonies against costly attire which the Apostle speakes of are not simply to be vnderstood but by comparison of godlinesse more carefully to be sought for then the finenes of apparell Neither is shee puffed vp with these so precious vestiments considering that shee is continually in labour a meanes that God vseth to schoole men to humility for the women which by delicacy of their apparell and soft array of their bodies Esay 3. are lifted vp in the pride of their hearts doe thereby turne their purple into sackcloath Another effect or end of her continuall labour consisteth in making ornaments Verse 23. whereby as by certaine markes and signes her husband may be knowne and discerned from other men which is amplified by an adiunct of the time when he goeth and fitteth in the assembly of the Eelder where specially it beseemeth him to be most comely apparelled But here some man may moue a doubt how it may stand with the duty of a louing wife that first shee prouideth ornaments for her selfe and afterwards for her husband Whereto I answere that the outward ornaments of the body are more fit for women then men and that there commeth credit and praise to the man by the comely apparell of his wife euen as it would be to his discredit if hee himselfe being gaily apparelled his wife should be without ornaments Sheee doth therefore trimme her selfe not so much for her owne as for her husbands both credit and delight From all which things it appeareth that there is nothing so great or so small in the houshould that there is none from the highest to the lowest from the head of the family euen vnto the foote whom her care doth not reach vnto For euen as in the common wealth those that are so carefull for one part as they neglect another they doe grieuously offend and contrariwise they doe safely gouerne the same which doe extend their care ouer all So likewise in a family shee which is so carefull for her husband and children that shee neglecteth her seruants and maides doth very dangerously offend Some man will thinke that she is maruelously diligent in vndergoing her labours Verse 24. which hath supplied so many and so great things both for the necessities and ornaments of her familie But this woman is of such an inuincible minde that these so great labours being endured shee doth not rest there but setteth vpon other workes also which being finished shee deliuereth to the merchants But all her other things in generall are costly and such whereof otherwise by reason of the long and doubtfull cariage the merchāt should neuer make perfect For it is such linnen as is weaued of very fine and slender threds The valew whereof may easily be gathered in as much as the body of Christ of whose honourable sepulture the scripture witnesseth was wrapped in the same And of the prize of the girdles wherewith men and women are girt the scripture is not without testimonies 2. Sam. 18.11 Ierm 2.32 Esay 3 24. Whereas by this manner of speech these lessons do belong euen vnto the Kings wife it teacheth vs that it is no discredite for a Princess to deliuer vnto the merchants such workes as by her owne skill she hath made It is knowne that in the auncient Romane common wealth those of the chiefest nobility did sell the fruite of their orchards and gardens for mony and there remaine yet in Germany a sheard of the Romaine common wealth some signes of that custome But amongst vs men are grown to that pride that they are accounted for base people which should imitate that manner Verse 25. Strength and honour is her clothing and she laugheth Verse 26. She openeth her mouth in wisedome and doctrine is vpon her tongue Verse 27. She prieth into the waies of her househould and eateth not the bread of idlenesse HItherto hath beene spoken of the vertues which are more proper vnto the mother of the household there follow such vertues as are common to all godly people both men and women In the 22. verse it hath been said that she is cloathed and apparelled in fine linnen and purple but in this place he bringeth in mention of further a kinde of raiment This manner of cloathing is of the minde as the former was of the body Tim. 2 9 Pet. 3.34 This is the same which the Apostles doth principally commend vnto women and doth preferre before all other ornaments though neuer so precious and without the which euen she which is most neately and daintely cloathed is but naked and bare before God the Angels and holy men But of this inward cloathing there are two parts set downe strength and honour and comelines whereof in the one is noted the confidence of her minde whereby being without feare she enioyeth rest and quietnesse by the other those vertues which beside that they come from a minde well affected doe procure a singular bewty worthy of all men to be looked vpon And truely what things haue beene spoken hitherto as they doe belong to the duety of a good Matron so may they sometimes be found in women which are voide of all true piety in Iewes in Papists in Turkes But those things which doe follow are of that kinde which as they doe onely fal vnto godly

perish and such as are afflicted in minde to drowne themselues in drinke to make themselues sencelesse and blockish and yet a more liberall vse of wine is granted vnto them then to those that sit in iudgements seat thereof it followeth that Kings must drinke more sparingly and Iudges especially going to sit in iudgement Hitherto of those things which are forbidden and of the negatiue precepts there follow such things as are commaunded which doe either concerne the common weale or a priuate family whereof the first is handled in the two next verses the other in the chapter following Verse 8. Open thy mouth for the dumbe in the cause of all the children of destruction Verse 9. Open thy mouth iudge righteously and iudge the cause of the poore and needie THe scope and drift of these verses is to declare that wee ought to take vpon vs the defence as of all men so especially those that are destitute of helpe It is the duty of a iust and an vpright Iudge Isa 22 23 24. to take care for all men and to be as it were a naile in a wall whereupon may be hanged all vessels as well cups as other implements and vtensils but there ought to be a more speciall and chiefe care had of those who for their impotency cannot or dare not follow their iust cause of which sort are widdowes Isa 1 23. Ier. 5 28. orphanes or pupils and strangers And for that cause yee ought to imitate God the most iust Iudge who professeth himselfe to be the God of the widdow Exo. 22 21 22. Zach. 7 10. of the orphant and straunger that by how much the neerer such a one is to ruine and ouerthrow so much the rather should he feele experience of the Iudges helpe for the maintenance of his cause Iam. 1 27. Hereof it is which Iob saith that he purchased the blessing of him that was ready to perish to come vpon him and that he caused the heart of the widdow to sing for ioy that he deliuered the afflicted fatherlesse and him that had no helper Iob. 29.12.13.15 That he was eyes to the blinde feete to the lame the which Bathsheba doth here command when shee biddeth to open the mouth for the dumbe Verse 9. Yet shall hee not so fauour the poore in his cause that he giue sentence on his side in a wrongfull matter Exod. 23 3. Leuit. 19 15. for so it is in the law prescribed that the poore man is not to be acknowledged in law in a wrongfull matter as on the contrary part if his cause bee good the iudge shall not onely giue sentence on his side but shall also take his cause in hand and pleade for him In the former part of the chapter haue beene handled things belonging to policie and publike gouernement there follow such things as belong to a priuate family Wherein first is to be obserued the manner of the speech not onely a that is to say in the originall or heb●ew poeticall as the rest of the booke but moreouer also framed with greater skill and labour euery verse beginning in order b that is to say in the originall or heb●ew Alphabetically and that for no other purpose but that euery verse being diligently and carefully weighed and considered may be the more faithfully retained in memory for it is requisite that the holy ghost sharpening his stile we should the more apply our wits and mindes vnto it that he is it were polishing and refining his speech we ought to haue our eares the more attentiue vnto it finally that he as it were setting an edge vpon his words we ought so much the rather to labour that no part of them doe escape vs. Furthermore we are by this speech and charge taught that euery one as he is set in higher place in the Common-wealth and in the Church by so much more carefully he is to endeuor that in the choise of his wife hee take great heed that hee match himselfe with one most fit for him For hence it is the holy Ghost doth here set before vs Leu. 2 13 14 what manner of woman a Princes wife ought to bee Hence also it was that heretofore the lawe did set downe Ezek 44 22 what manner of wife the high Priest ought to haue and did limit her in more straight bounds And finally hence it is that the Apostle dooth namely and expresly set forth with what vertues it is necessary the wiues of Bishops 1. Tim 3 2 11 and Deacons should be endued and adorned which I do not remember to haue beene performed by the holy Ghost in any other sort of men Whereby what is the drift of this speech it may easily appeare to wit that Bathsheba had respect to this to teach and informe her sonne Salomon what manner of woman he ought to begge of God in his prayers for his wife and himselfe ought carefully and diligently to seeke after and especially for that the first and principal thing which Kings are wont to looke into is the beautie and nobilitie of their wiues And moreouer also that euery woman maide or wife should vse this as a glasse wherby she may examine the beauty and deformity of her mind that for her good gifts shee may bee thankfull to God and contrariwise may bewaile and correct her deformities Verse 10. Who shall finde a woman of strength for her price is farre aboue the Carbuncles or Rubies Verse 11. The heart of her husband trusteth in her and hee shall not haue need of spoiles Verse 12. She doth him good not euil all the dayes of his life THe scope drift of these verses is as also of those that follow vnto the 28. to set forth vnto vs the vertues of a good wife And these vertues are first of all briefely comprehended in the 10. and 11. verses afterward they are more largely expressed And in the 10. verse she is expounded to be described by a general property then are reckoned vp the vertues which are more proper to the mother of the family which are diuided into two parts her duty towards the person of her husband and towards the wole family to the 25. verse Afterwards are rehearsed the vertues which are common both to godly men and godly women from the 25. to the 28. verse So as in this verse composed with such skill there are two things contained first the excellent vertue of a woman to the 28. verse afterward the reward of the same to the end of the booke And her commendation is first set forth by her rarenesse which is concluded by the difficultie and hardnesse to find her which difficulty is declared by a question Who shall finde her By which question she doth plainly declare that such a woman as here is described the King ought diligently to seeke after both by himselfe and his friends searching into euery corner of his kingdome For if faithfull seruants are to

doubt how a woman being by nature and calling limited to keepe home should fetch her foode from farre Whereto I answere that shee fetcheth her foode from farre not by trauelling into forraigne Countries or passing the seas but by sending the workes of her hands into strange Countries from whence shee may receaue either Corne or other marchandize in exchange and those things which at home are not to be had shee may fetch from other places commodiouslie But those things when they are spoken of the Queene what woman is there which ought in regard either of her owne or her husbands honour to bee freed from the duty of procuring those things which may be of vse not onely for her selfe but for the nourishing also of her whole family So as not the least part of the pompe and magnificence of the King may seeme to depend on the prouidence and labour of his wife and Princesse by which meanes also commeth great freedome vnto the subiects from tributes taxes subsidies and other exactions Wee reade that amongst some prophane heathen people the reuenues of a whole prouince hath beene allowed to the Kings Emperors wiues to buy them pins trifles And in this our age women of noble parentage and degree are so prodigally sumptuous that for the maintenance of their pompe their apparell their attendance and their delicates they are forced to make hauocke of their inheritance as if they were borne and made for the wasting and consuming of the fruites of the earth Hereof commeth the pilling and spoiling of their Citizens enhaunsing of rents and fines of their tenants and Husbandmen which till the ground Verse 15. Shee is further described by an adiunct of her watchfulnesse and taking little sleep For her mind being busied about her household affaires doth not suffer her to ouersleepe her selfe but like a watch dooth awake her betimes Many women there are which although they giue themselues much sleep being notwithstanding once wakened and raised they do with great readines diligence dispatch businesse of the house and in that respect they are praise-worthy But this womā here described by the holy Ghost doth not only merrily and cheerefully buckle her selfe to dispatch her matters but doth also betimes and early set her hand to her worke Heathen people and strangers from God could see that the Gouernour of the Common-wealth and the Councellor ought not to sleepe the whole night But the holy Ghost requireth this euen in the mother of a family that shee should rise before the night be spent True it is indeed that it is said in the 104. Psalme that man goeth forth to his labor at the sun-rising but this is no let at all but that those things which are to be done in the house as well of men as women may be begun before day For they cannot by the helpe of a lanthorne doe those things which are to bee done abroad and in the field whereas notwithstanding the things at home may bee dispatched by the candle-light But if it doe not well beseeme a woman of strength to sleepe till day light how ill may it beseeme a lusty man which hath the strength of his limbes And what things are in the sixt Chapter Pro. 6.6 and in sundry other places layde to the sloathfull mans charge the same no doubt in like manner may fitly be obiected to sloathfull and idle women This vigilancie or watchfulnesse he describeth by a double end whereof the first is that shee giueth to her whole family their foode and that according to the sexe and degree of those which are of the family for it hath been before sayd in the 27. Chap. 26.27 verses that there is one kinde of diet for the men seruants another for the maids one diet also for slaues another for freemen one for those that are strong another for such as are weake one for the whole another for the sicke The other end is that she setteth her maides and waiting seruants their taske where is to be noted that shee is carefull for foode for the whole family but not that she doth therefore appoint the men seruanes their worke which belongeth to her husband but onely to her maidens Then it is further to be noted that she giueth foode and that she appointeth the workes and prescribeth both the portion and the taske For there are women to be found which doe appoint worke enough and more then enough but doe allow but a small portion Others there are which doe allow plentie of foode but haue small care of the performance of their worke neither of these is to approued neither of them is free from danger for the one bewraieth a basenesse and vilenesse of the minde the other bringeth pride and arrogancie Verse 16. Her diligence and watchfulnesse is further declared by the effect to wit that she considereth a field which she purchaseth and planteth with vines For so farre is she from diminishing the Kings rents as she doth rather enlarge them Pro. 14.1 Prouerb 14. It is said of a woman of strength that she buildeth her house which is amplified by the contrary And this is a verie orderly thing that to the end she may builde a house she doe first set her minde to buy a fielde For the rule is good of them which say there is lesse profit in a house without a fielde then a fielde without a house Whereto also belongeth the counsell of Salomon Prepare thy worke without Pro. 24 27 and make ready that which thou hast in the field that afterward thou maist build a house Moreouer here is to be obserued that she doth not first prouide her selfe of pleasant and delightful things but those things wherwith these are maintained Verse 17. She girdeth her loynes with strength and strengtheneth her arms Verse 18. Shee feeleth that her Merchandise is good her light is not put out by night Verse 19. She putteth her hands to the wheel and her hands hold the spindle Verse 20. Shee stretcheth forth her hand to the poore and putteth forth her hands to the needie Verse 21. She feareth not her family for the snowe for her whole householde is cloathed vvith double raiment HEre first of all is propounded to be considered her continuall and vncessant labor to procure riches vnto the 20 verse then doth he adde for what vse she getteth wealth vnto the 24. v. In the former part are contained two effects of a woman of strength and a cause of the effects The effects are comprehended in the 17.19 and latter part of the 18. verse And the cause of these effects is declared in the former part of the 18 verse First of all therefore a man may here aske how this manner of speech which is here attributed to a woman that she grideth her selfe with strength and strengtheneth her armes may stand with the glory of God forasmuch as that which is proper to God alone is caried to a woman For