miserie the Holy Ghost in diuers places doeth exhort married folkes to win and drawe one another vnto saluation 1. Cor. 7.16 1. Pet. 3.1 Q. What is the third generall dutie of man and wife 3. General and mutual duty betwixt man wife is the iointe care each of others coÌ„iugal chastitie A. They must be meanes or helpes to keepe and preserue the bodies and mindes one of another from the filthines of whoredome and vncleannes Q. Where is this dutie warranted The proofe of it A. In the foure first verses of the vii chap. of the 1. Epist to the Corinthians where it is by the Apostle Paul verie largely handled and inforced Q. What if married folkes will not yeeld vnto this Commaundement It is very daÌ„gerous to neglect this dutie on either part 4. General mutual duty is a iointe assistance in their household gouernment A. They ouerthrowe an especiall end of marriage and are the cause of many grieuous and fearefull mischiefes as Adulterie Murther excessiue Iealousie and such like Q. What is the fourth generall dutie A. They must ioyne together and assist one another in houshold gouernment for the gouernment and beweelding of a family is a principal matter and subiect whereabout the care and indeuour of man and wife is to be occupied and that in diuers respects This dutie is mutuallie to be performed in 3. Respects First to ouersee the behauiour of their seruants and children that nothing be done to the dishonour of God and contrarie to dutie Secondly to prouide all such things as may serue for their honest and sufficient maintenance Lastly to preserue and increase such goods and riches as God of his mercie shall put into their hands The proofe of it It is dangerous for either part to neglect this dutie 5. Gâ—neral mutual dutie is a ioint assistaÌ„ce for the natural welfare of their estate and persons Q. Wher is this required approued A. For the husband Pro. 10.2.3.4.5 and 26. Chap. 13 14.15 verses for the wife Prou. 14.1 and 37. almost the whole Chapter Q. What if either of the parties neglect their dutie A. All will to hauocke and pouertie commeth like an armed man Q. What is the fift generall dutie A. The husband wife must assist and comfort one another not onely in sicknesse but in all miseries sorrowes and calamities Q. What is the reason The reason of it A. It is a speciall end of marriage that the husband and wife should be mutuall helpes and comforts one to another and where can this appeare so well as in aduersitie according to that of the holy Ghost A friend is borne for aduersitie Wherefore the holy seruants of God liuing in marriage haue in all estates stucke one to another and cheerefully performed al duties of helpe and comfort Whereas Iobs wife is greatly condemned by the holy Ghost as a wicked woman who for that when her husband was in miserie she did not onely increase the anguish of his soule Iob. 2.9 19.7 but also left and for sooke him Q. What furthermore are married folkes to performe ioyntly together 6. Generall and mutuall dutie is a iointe care of peace and A. They are to maintaine peace and agreement amongst themselues and to remoue all disagreement and dissention Q. What reasons moue you thus to say A. Verie good reasons of weight and importance For first of all where discord and dissention doeth beare sway 3. Weightie Reasons moue heerevnto there the Lord God of peace is not present but rather Sathan the Diuell the father of all discord and mischiefe 1. Reason hath there his seate and abode Secondly 2. Reason where the man and wife are rent asunder there prayer and other exercises of Religion can haue no place at the least-wise no successe and blessing 1. Pet. 3.7 Thirdly 3. Reason where discord and dissention betweene married folkes do take place there nothing doth prosper for the Lord withdrawing his blessing all things goe backward yea waste and consume away as snowe or waxe against the heate of the Sunne therefore there is great reason that the husband shoulde liue in peace and vnitie with his wife and the wife with her husband Q. What is the last generall dutie A. Husbands and wiues are to pray one for another 7. Which is the last general and mutual dutie is most earnest and continual praier one for and with another There are 5. special duties to be performed of the husband to the wife 1. Special dutie of the husband toward the wife is the louing applying of all his gifts graces to the coÌ„fort benefit of his wife Such as are these 4. gifts following Q. You say well for this is warranted by examples in the holy Scripture But what are they to aske A. Not onely for the graces of Gods spirit and the increase thereof one vpon another but that their maried estate may be blessed and comforble vnto them both Q. Wee haue alreadie spoken of the generall or common duties betweene man and wife Now let vs come to the speciall and proper duties of the one toward the other And first of all what duties is the husband to performe to his wife A. They are diuerse and in the first place it is to be considered that as the husband is the wiues head so hath GOD endued him with excellent giftes and graces which hee is in tender loue to bestowe for the comfort and benefite of the wife Q. And what first The duties of the husband to his wife A. Hee is to imploy that courage and authoritie which hee hath in greater measure then the woman 1. Courage vppon her safetie and defence against all euils and daungers of soule and bodie against all outward violence that might hurt her person or impaire her life Of soule against al wicked persons who might allure and drawe her to commit any sinne to the dishonour of GOD and her owne destruction This was well knowne vnto the verie Heathen as appeareth in Abimelech speaking to Sarah Genes 20.16 in these wordes Beholde hee meaning Abraham is the vaile of thine eyes to all that are with thee and to all others So when the man is ioyned to the woman in marriage hee is saide to spread the wing of his garment ouer her Ruth 3.9 By which phrase it is meant that the Husband must bee to the Wife as it were a tower or wall of defence agaynst all euill Q. What secondly is required A. As the Husband is indued with greater strength and euerie way more fit for labour and all meanes to get and obtaine riches wealth 2. Strength so is hee to bestowe that his gift in all lawfull labours and trades not onely for the maintenaunce but for the vse and imployment of the care and faithfulnesse of his wife Q. But hath he no further to doe A. Yes 3. Wisdome as GOD hath bestowed vppon
the honour and good name of his wife and therefore he is not willingly to accuse and blame his wife in the presence of others otherwise it will be verie offensiue and vnpleasant vnto her Lastly 6. as the husband is to condemne vices and sinnes amiffe so is he to commend and praise such vertues and good things as he seeth in her This is a course not onely warranted by God but sauoureth of loue and may serue to incourage her in good and to turne her away from that which is euill 4. Special dutie of the husband to his wire is that he do deale honorably with her in al things Q. What is the fourth dutie of the husband to the wife A. Although the Husbande bee the Wiues heade and superiour yet is hee not to contemne her or deale with her as a base person or vassall But because God hath created her out of a principall part of himselfe and â—oyned her so neere vnto him he is to honour her and in all things to gouerne her in a reuerend manner preferring her before all others euen his owne children and them that are most neerely allied vnto him remembring alwaies that as she is not the head so is she not the foote but an excellent creature partaker with him of many graces and prerogatiues pertaining to this life and to the life to come and therefore he is not onely to carrie a reuerend estimation of her in his heart 5. Special dutie of the husband toward the wife is that he is to be cheerefull with her not withstanding anie in combrances that the married estaâ—e may briâ—g with it but to deale with her after the same manner that the soule being a principall part of man doeth vse in gouerning the bodie Q. What is a man lastly to doe A. If any trouble euill or incomberance falleth out in marriage he is not to blame the holy institution of marriage for the same or to ascribe or impute it to the wife but rather to accuse his owne sinnes as the cause thereof The duties of the wife to her husband and therefore he is not onely to humble himselfe to God by true repentance but to labour that the image of God may be restored to him that so marriage may be sweete and comfortable to him as it was to Adam before the transgression Q. Hauing said somewhat of the duties of the Husband to the wife Let vs passe ouer to the duties of the wife which are they A. They are diuers And first of all it is the dutie of the wife to beare and bring forth children according to the ordinance of God Gen. 1.28 Q. If the woman had not transgressed The duties to be performed of the wife to the husband are 7. as they are henceforth set downe this dutie would haue beene performed with ease and comfort but now the Lord hath decreed as a punishment that woman should be are and bring forth children in sorrowe and paine Gen. 3.16 Q. What is to be said to this A. She must notwithstanding this patieÌ„tly beare al trials 1. Dutie is to beare and bring forth children submit her selfe to the ordinance of God which he hath appointed for the increasing vpholding and continuance of mankind vnto the ende of the world Q. What reasons may incourage her hereunto There are 3. Reasons whence the wife may be incouraged to beare children to her husband 1. Reason A. First of all for that it is no reproach for a married woman to beare children but rather a crowne and honour Againe God might haue pursued the sinne of the woman with a greater punishment in her selfe and in all her sexe and posteritie 2. Reason Lastly it is no meanes to hinder women from saluation and the kingdome of God 3. Reason but rather to further them as appeareth 1. Tim. 1.15 2. Dutie of the wife toward her husband is to nurse and bring vp her children Q. What is secondly required in the woman A. She must nurse and bring vp her children Q. How is it warranted that Mothers must nurse their children A. First by the example of many holy women in the holy Scripture There are 5. Reasons to moue Mothers to nurse their owne childreÌ„ 1. Reason as Sarah Gen. 22.7 Hannah the Mother of Samuel 1. Sam. 1.23 and such like who performed this dutie and are commended for the same by the Holy Ghost Besides the nursing of children is set downe as the note of a faithfull woman 2. 1. Tim. 5. Furthermore 3. naturall equitie doeth require it for is it not reason that the woman should nurse that creature which is a part of her selfe and were it reason that seeing she did giue the child nourishment when it was in her wombe she should now forsake it when it is brought forth committed to her care tuition Fourthly 4. to what end doeth the prouidence of God yeeld vnto the woman two Pappes as it were fountaines and that in the most comely and fit place of her bodie besides that filled them with most sweet and pretious liquor is it that these excellent things should be dried vp destroyed not rather that they shuld minister fit nourishmeÌ„t vnto the infant so set forth the glorie of God 4. Reason mouing mothers to nurse their owne children the great and most wise Creator Lastly the holy ghost doth coÌ„deÌ„ne certain vnreasonable creatures as vnnaturall monstrous for that they will not tender nourish their yong ones as appeareth Iob. 39.17.18 19. much more monstrous and vnnaturall in a mother indued with reason if she cast off her young one who doeth wholy depend vpon her If the mother haue any necessarie hinderance that she cannot nourse her childe God will of his goodnes spare her therein The mothers dutie is to be as carefull to bring vp childreÌ„ vn to God in his nourture and feare as willing to bring them forth into the world The proofe of it Q. But what if the woman through defect or any other great and weightie cause cannot performe this dutie A. Then is she dispensed withal for why necessitie hath no law But this doeth not discharge them that are able to doe their dutie Q. Is there no further thing required of the woman in this respect A. Yes she must bring vp her children in the knowledge of God and good manners Q. Why that is a dutie belonging to the Husband A. Yea and to the wife also and especially to her so long as the children remaine vnder her hand power and disposition which was well knowne to the Mother of Salomon and to the Mother and grandmother of Salomon and to the mother and grandmother of Timothie as appeareth by their practise set downe Pro. 4.31 1. Tim. chapter 1. 3. Q. Haue you nothing else for confirmation A. Yes Kings are vsually set downe in the holy hystorie with their mothers to the praise of the
things which concerne the preseruation of the Church of God in Egipt whereof he was ignorant before Gen. 37. ch 45. Our Sauiour Christ Our Sauiour Iesus Christ although he were subiect in all things to Ioseph and Marie as to his parents as appeareth Luk. 2.51 yet did hee reforme them both in things wherein they erred v. 49. Q. What are children furthermore to yeeld 3. Fruite of childrens thankfulnes to their parents A. They are to visite their Parents in their sickenesse and procure all good meanes for their health and recouerie Q. What say you lastly in this respect A. Children are to succour relieue 4. Fruit. and helpe their Parents in their pouertie want and necessitie Q. You say well for this is a duety which both nature and equitie do require A. Yea and therefore the seruants of the Lord haue beene most readie to performe this dutie as for example ExaÌ„ples of it howe tenderlie and carefullie did Ioseph nourish and prouide for his Father Ioseph and all his Familie in the time of dearth and scarcitie Dauid was more carefull to procure the maintenance and safetie of his Parents then of himselfe although hee were then in great distresse as wee may reade 1. Sam. 22.1.3.4 Our Sauiour Christ But how full of heauenly pietie was our Sauiour Christ towarde his mother who hanging vppon the Crosse had euen in the middest of the torments and sorowes of death a care of the good estate of his mother Mary after his death Ioh. 19. Q. What generall reasons should moue children to yeeld all these duties to their Parents There are 4. Reasons to moue children to be thankfull to their parents whereof you haue spoken A. First for that PareÌ„ts haue yeelded them all or the most part therof before to their children and therefore children are to requite the like to their Parents 1. Reason Againe the verie Heathen by the light of nature 2. Reason performed the most of them What shall wee say 3. Reason that euen diuerse bruit and vnreasonable creatures The duties mutually pertaining to husbands their wiues haue answered in their kind the benefites which they haue receiued of such as ingendred them as it is recorded of the Storke such like But the greatest reason of all is the gratious blessing of God 4. Reason the chiefe of all the rest promised to all dutifull children and contrariwise his curse and vengeance thundred out against the contrarie WE ARE NOW TO speake of the duties of Husbands toward their Wiues and of Wiues toward their Husbands Q. WHat heard you the last time thereof A. That the duties are either generall and common The duties of husbands wiues are of 2. sorts 1. General of the which there are 7. 2 Particular or particular and proper Q. What call you generall duties A. Those which both parties are indifferently to performe both one to another and in diuers respects Q What is the first dutie A. Loue. 1. General dutie which the husband oweth to the wife and the wife againe to the husbaÌ„d it is loue Q. Is this a common dutie betweene man and wife A. Yea for as the husband is to loue his wife so is the wife to loue her husband Q. Where is the first commanded A. Ephe. 5.25 Q. Where the Second A. Titus 2.4 Q. Is loue necessarie betweene man and wife It is a dutie necessarie to be mutuallie performed A. Yea for it is not onely the fountaine and cause but also the director and life of all duties For where it is wanting either no duties wil be performed or vntowardly and from the teeth outward or not continually There are 4. Reasons to moue husband wife to this mutual loue 1 Reason Q. What reasons be there to moue Husband and Wife to loue one another A. First of all their coniunction in marriage Q. But there be many coniunctions in the world amongst men A. True but yet none so excellent for why the Lord God did not onely knit and ioyne man and woman together in paradise but with so nigh and streight a bond that of two they are made one flesh Mat. 19.5 wherevpon the man and the woman are called by one selfe same name to wit Adam to note the nigh and streight coniunction betweene them Hereupon the Holy Ghost doeth conclude two things First that although the child be neerly knit by flesh and nature vnto his Parents yet must he forsake them both and cleaue vnto his wife Secondly vnlesse he will hate his owne flesh he must loue his wife Q. What is your second reason A. The wife and the husband are yoke fellowes in one estate 2. Reason whether it be aduersitie or prosperitie whereby the griefe and tediousnes of the one is allaied and the ioy and comfort of the other is increased Q. What say you thirdly A. They are ioynt companions in many workes and duties which serue to the glorie of God and to the benefite of the Church in diuers respects 3. Reason as in the exercises of religion bringing vp of children and in dâ—ing good to others that haue of need reliefe and compassion This heauenly companion-ship cannot but moue them to loue one another Q. What say you in the last place A. The vertues which one doe see to be in another 4. Reason being well and duly considered will cause the husband to loue the wife and the wife the husband for vertue and the graces of God haue in them a certaine nature and vertue of alluring and drawing to themselues Q. Doe these reasons onely serue to perswade maried folkes to begin to loue one another Loue ought 〈◊〉 be constaÌ„t A. No for they are also being vnchangable and constant a sure and vnshaken foundation of loue whereas if it be built vpon Beautie Riches Wealth and such like vanishing and changeable things it cannot indure but faileth when the foundation is taken away Q. What is the second generall dutie 2. Generall and mutuall dutie is the ioynt care eache of others saluation A. Man and wife must haue a mutuall care and regard to the saluation one of another Q. How is that proued A. It is certaine that God did not ioyne man and woman together in marriage to please the eye The proofe of it or serue the lust one of another or to procure the worldly commoditie and welfare one of another for this end were partly brutish and partly heathenish but the speciall end that the Lord respected in this estate was that one might further another in the true knowledge feare of God that so they might ioyntly attaine vnto eternall happines For it were a miserable and wofull case that of two lying in one bed the one should be chosen and the other refused the one should inherite the kingdome of God the other should lie in the eternall torment of hell fire To auoide which
him more sharpenesse and quickenesse of witte with greater insight forecast then the woman so is he to vse it to gouerne and to order her in all things Q. What if so be the husband doth enioy worldly wealth and riches A. Hee is to impart 4. Riches and make them common to the vse of his wife The proofe of it by 3. Reasons Q. How is that proued A. First marriage maketh all things common betweene the man and the wife 1. Reason Againe 2. Reason the wife must as well exercise and confirme her faith in shewing mercie and doing good workes that so she may heare that sweete voyce of Christ at the day of iudgement Come yee blessed of my Father When I was an hungred yee gaue mee meate c. euen as well as the husband But this cannot bee if outward meanes bee denied and withdrawne Lastly 3. Reason examples in the holie Scripture are cleare in this poynt Pro. 31.20 Luk. 8.3 Q. What if so be that the husband will not performe these things that you haue spoken of The husbandes neglect of the imploying of the former gifts to the benefit of his wife is dishonorable and displeasing in the sight of God A. Hee doeth not onely despise and make light of the example of our Sauiour Christ who hath bestowed his wisedome strength riches and euen his heart blood vppon his Church but also sheweth that hee is no true and natururall heade but rather an Image yea a blocke void of life and sense Q. What is the second speciall dutie of husbands toward their wiues A. They must dwell with them as the holie Ghost commaundeth 1. Pet. 3.7 As men of knowledge giuing honour to the woman 2. Special dutie of the husband toward the wife is that he dwell with her as a maÌ„ of knowledge c. To the ende a man may liue with his wife as a maÌ„ of knowledge two things are to be practised 1. That he is to auoyd all occasions offences And of these there are 6. rehearsed as they follow 1. Occasion as the weaker vessell Q. What is the Husband to doe that he may rightly practise this commaundement A. Two things For first he is to auoyde all occasions and offences which may stirre vp prouoke the woman to passe her bounds commit some sinne Q. What are those occasions you speake of A. First when the Husband doeth spend his time in idlenesse and vnthriftily doeth waste and consume his substaunce This will greatly pierce and wound the heart of the wife Secondly when hee keepeth or haunteth ill suspitious coÌ„panie for she may gather thereby that hee is no better then the persons are in whom he doth delight Thirdly an angry vnpleasant and fierce couÌ„tenance cast vpoÌ„ the wife will greatly terrifie and prouoke her Q. But will not reuiling bitter and reproachfull words doe the like A. Yes and therefore the husband is forbidden to vse them Colos 3.19 in these wordes Husbandes loue your wiues and bee not bitter vnto them Q. Proceede A. Besides all this vniust and excessiue iealousie is to bee auoyded for why It causeth the woman not onlie to contemne her husband as no true Christian but to rise vp vndutifully to the maintenance of her good name 6 Occasion of offence 2. Thing that the husband is to do that he may liue with his wife as a man of knowledge is that he doe beare with manifold infirmities which he findeth to be in her Lastly when the husband medleth with the duties that are peculiar vnto the wife hee seemeth to doubt either of her wisedome or of her faithfulnesse which cannot bee but a great disquieting to a Christian woman Q. What is the second generall thing that the husband is to doe that he may dwel with his wife as a man of knowledge A. When the wife doth behaue her selfe vndutifully the husband is not to wracke and reuenge himselfe vppon her by intemperate speeches or violent actions but hee is patiently to beare and put vp at her handes many iniuries and abuses as also labour by all good meanes to maintaine peace and to reape that comforte and benefite by her wherevnto shee was giuen him of God Q. What reasons should moue the husband to behaue himselfe in this manner to his wife The Reasons why he ought to doe so are 4. A. Diuerse And first of all God hath not ioyned the man and the wife together to the ende that the man should oppresse and tyrannize ouer the woman 1. Reason whereby she may be made worse but rather by wise and milde wayes to make her better and so fitte her for his comfort Againe 2. albeeit she bee a weake and fraile vessell yet is shee an excellent gift of God seruing for many excellent ends and purposes therfore men are to deale with them in a tender and charie manner as men deale with glasses and with tender vessels that are brittle Furthermore 3 the wife is a fellow heire as saith the Apostle with him of the kingdome of God and therefore the husband is not to abuse her who is equall in dignitie and glorie with him Lastly 4. where the husband and wife are diuided and at dissention there prayer and religion is greatly hindered therefore the husband is to beare many things yea to denie himselfe to giue way and free passage to so pretious a thing 3. Speciall dutie of the husband toward the wife is to to rule and gouerne her 6. Thiâ—gs are required that the husband may rule his wife as he ought Q. But to come to the third dutie seeing that the Husband is the â—iâ—es head may he not gouerne and order her A. Yes he may and ought and besides that admonish and rebuke her for her faultes Q. But may he do that simply and without respect A. No but diuers things are to be obserued in the performance of that dutie And first of all hee must bee more forward and earnest in reprouing faultes committed directly against God then such as are committed against himselfe or any other according to the example of Iacob Gen. 32. Iob. chap. 2.10 Whereby is condemned the contrarie practise of a great number Secondly 2. the husband is not to admonish and rebuke his wife in bitternes and reuenge but with a signification of loue and good will for otherwise he doth vtterly loose all his labour Thirdly 3. he is herewithall to remoue the stumbling blocke or cause whereat the wife is either grieued or falleth into any sinne this did Abraham Gen. 21.12.13.14 Fourthly 4. he is not to rebuke his wife of the same sinne whereof he himselfe is guiltie but rather practise the contrarie vertue that so he may winne and drawe her from sinne otherwise it wil be said Physition heale thy selfe and his admonition will be ridiculous Furthermore in reproofe 5. the husband is to haue a tender regard to
mother if the child were vertuous to the reproofe of her carelesnesse and negligence if he were vitious naughtie Q. You speake of a troublesome and painfull dutie A. True but if the woman will indeuour to performe it she shall not onely haue the peace of a good conscience but also the hād of the Lord readie to assist and further her Q. What is the third dutie of the married woman The third dutie of the wite to her husband is Subiection A. Subiection The woman must be subiect vnto her husband as vnto her head Q. Where is this warranted and commaunded The proofe of it A. Gen. 3.16 Ephe. 5.22 24. 1. Pet. 3.1 Q. What meane you by subiection A. When the woman dependeth vpon yeeldeth her selfe vnto the will What is meant by the subiection of the wife direction and discretion of her husband and therefore doeth presume neither to ouermaister him neither to control and make vile account of his speeches and actions neither appoint and command him what he should doe or leaue vndone neither yet render checke for check The holy women of antient time are paterns of such subiection to their husbands rebuke for rebuke reproach for reproach from which and the like the holy women of God haue euer been farre of as may appeare 1. Pet. 3.6 Q. What reason had they to do so A. They knew very well that it is as monstrous and vnnatural a thing for the woman to vsurpe ouer the man No wisedome or any other excellent gift in the wife ought to imbolden her to shake off subiection and so to breake the ordinance of God as the feete to direct the eye or the loines to rise vp and set themselues in place of the head Q. But sometimes the wife is wiser more discreete and prouident then the Husband A. It is true but yet this doeth not ouerthrowe the superioritie of the man and therefore if occasion be offered to admonish and aduise her husband she is to performe this dutie with humilitie and reuerence shewing her selfe more willing to heare then to speake to be ruled thē to rule and gouerne her husband 4 Dutie of the wife to the husband is obedience Q. What is the fourth dutie of the wife toward the Husband A. Obedience Q. Is the wife to obey her Husband A. Yea no doubt it is a vertue commended by the Holy Ghost in Sarah Abrahams wife 1. Pet. 3.6 What is meant by obedience Q. What meane you by obeying A. It is to do and practise the commaundements of the husband Q. Must she performe all his commandemēts without exception limitation The wiues obedience to her husband is limited by the word of God A. Not so but so farre forth as they are consonant agreeable with the word of God therfore if he doeth commaund any thing contrarie vnto the will of God she is not to obey him Q. Why Sarah did twise dissemble at the request of her Husband A. It is true but that was her great fault which was rebuked and condemned euen by an heathen man Gen. 25. Q What say you for a fift dutie The 5. dutie of the wife to her husband is to frame her selfe to be like affected with him A. She is to frame and dispose her selfe to the affection desire disposition of her husband Q. How is that A. She is to practise that excellent precept of the holy Ghost Rom. 12.15 whervnto al Christians are boūd as namely Reioyce with her hasbād when he reioyceth and weepe with him when he weepeth therefore she is not frowardly to crosse him in any lawful and indifferēt thing or action as the manner of some is who loue to lowre when their husband is cheerefull and to be merry when he is heauy and to draw back when he is forward to any good thing which behauior as it proceedeth frō a cankred nature so it agreeth not with the holy consent of marriage and is the cause of many mischiefes Q. What is the sixt dutie of the wife A. She must keepe at home or in her house Q. Where is this warranted The 6. dutie of the wife toward her husband is to keepe at home to ouersee his familie The proofe of it There are three causes which moue vnto it A. First of all by the light of nature experience hereof we haue among the heathen Secondly more effectually by the word of God Tit. 2. chap. 5. ver Q. To what end is this required A. For sundrie causes first of all not onely for the preseruation of goods and substance but also for keeping the houshold in good order in the absence of her husband Againe by that meanes to take occasion to doe good for the glorie of God the benefit of the Church which thing appeareth in Iael the wife of Hebr. Iudg. 5 24.25 Lastly to auoid suspition of euill all occasiō that might drawe allure her to commit any vnlawfull act The wife is not to be in her house as in a prison without all libertie of going abroad Q. But is the wife so bound to her house as she is to liue therein as in a perpetuall prison A. That is not the mind of the Holy Ghost but rather an abuse of an holy precept for why there be diuers reasons or causes why the wife should depart out of her house go abroad The wife is to haue her libertie to goe abroad to three endes and purposes 1. End Examples of such holy libertie Q. What are those reasons or ends A. The first is to prouide for her soule eternal good by the publicke Ministerie of the word by christian conuersation amongst the faithfull Q. What examples haue you hereof A. In the noble woman wherof mention is made 1. Kings 4.22 as also in diuers holy and noble women Luke 8. and diuers other places Q. What is your second reason 2. End A. Secondly that the wife may performe the duties of loue and mercy and compassion which are inioyned by the Lord to euerie Christian Q. What lastly 3. End A. She may and ought to goe abroad sometime for the health of her bodie solace of her mind that so she may be the better able to performe all other duties so that place Titus 25. rightly vnderstood maketh nothing for the imperiours husband or the slothful sluggish wife The duties of the Maisters toward their Seruants Q. What is she to consider in the last place A. The wife must be contented to be attired and maintained according to the proportion of her husbands abilitie and estate The 7. dutie of the husband toward the wife Q. What if she labour to exceed it A. She doth not only giue cause to her husband to suspect that she laboureth to please the eye of another rather then his owne but also indeed wasteth and consumeth his goods to his great impouerishment
conscience wherof the Centurian as appeareth Mat. 8. resorteth to our Sauiour Christ to obtaine recouerie and health for his seruant who thē lay in extremitie of sicknes And a certaine Philistim is noted of crueltie 1. Sam. 30.11.12.13 for that he forsooke his seruant and left him destitute of al necessaries being now sick and vnable to attend vpon him 9. Dutie of equall dealing with the seruant Q. What say you in the last place A. When the seruant dieth the maister is to see him committed to the earth by honest and comely buriall This is a dutie which one Christian oweth to another and therefore is a Christian master to perform it much more to his seruant which hath finished his life in his seruice of this was Isaac mindful as appeareth in the buriall of Deborah his wiues nurse and seruant OF THE DVTIES of seruants towards their Maisters 1. Dutie of Seruants to their Masters is loue Q. VVE heard before of the duties of masters toward their seruants let vs now come to the duties of seruāts toward their masters What is the first dutie A. Loue. Theseruant must loue his maister Q. You say well for without this the seruant can do no dutie in the right manner or acceptable to God But can the seruant easily performe this dutie It is a hard thing for Seruants to loue their Maisters A. No It is an hard matter in this corruption of mans Nature to performe it to any man but especially for seruants toward their maisters Q. How commeth that to passe The reason of the difficultie A. By reason of the inward pride whereby euery man hath a desire to be aduance laboue others as also for that by the light of nature we all loue libertie and hate bondage and seruitude as a punishment for sinne Q. By what reasons may seruants be induced to loue their maisters By 3. reasons seruants may induce their heartes to loue their Masiers 1. Reason A. First of all if they wil be accounted true Christians the seruants of God they are to loue all men in generall yea euen their very enemies therefore much more their maisters to whom they are neerely bound Againe 2. maisters doe beare and represent the person of Iesus Christ the great maister and Lord of the whole world and therefore if they loue Iesus Christ they must needes loue their earthly maisters Lastly 3. maisters are instruments and meanes wherby the Lord cōueyeth many graces and benefites vnto seruants Q. What are those Seruants receiue diuers sortes of benefites from their Masters A. An house an habitation together with a lawful calling to attend vpon which is not euery mans case Secondly masters do free their seruants and defend them from many disgraces 1. Sort. 2. Sorte iniuries oppressions which otherwise they should suffer at the hands of them who are mightier then themselues Furthermore maisters direct their seruants in a course seruing to their comfort and benefit 3. Sort. who of themselues would runne hedlong into a number of miseries destructions Lastly if they be Christian masters 4. Sort. they haue not only a care for the outward estate of their seruants in ministring to them such things as are necessarie but principally they haue care of the eternal saluatiō of their souls Q. Your reasons are essectual to perswade and haue preuailed with such who were indued with any grace of Gods spirit which thing they haue declared not onely by a tender care of the good estate of their Masters but also by amiable countenances and sweet behauiour as appeareth by diuers in the holy scripture But now what is the second dutie of seruants to their Maisters 2. Dutie of Seruants to their Masters is reuerence subiection The preofe of it A. Reuerence and Subiection Q. Where is that warrāted required A. Ephes 6.5 1. Pet. 2.18 1. Tim. 6. 1. Tit. 2.9 In all which places reuerence and submission is required at the hands of seruants toward their Maisters Q. But what should moue them to performe this dutie There are 3. Reasons mouing to this dutie 1. Reason A. Diuerse reasons And first the Maister is aduaunced and lifted vp into an higher degree of prehemiuence then the seruant and therfore it is his dutie to stoope down to him as his superiour Againe 2. Reason the state and condition of the maister is better then that of the seruant in the outward respect therefore he must honor him as his better Lastly the master taketh his authoritie ouer the seruant 3 Reason from no creature in heauen or earth but onely from God himselfe Rom. 13. Pro. 8. therefore the seruant cannot resist his Maister The Seruant is to reuerence his Master 1. In heart inwardly 2 outwardly And that also diuers waves or cōtemne him but he must needes resist God and despise his maiestie Q. Is the seruant onely to reuerence the maister inwardly in his heart A. No he is to expresse it outwardly and that diuers wayes First of all in his countenance for why he is not to looke vpon his Maister with a light stubborne 1. In countenance proud and disdainfull countenance 2. In Speech and wordes And that 5. wayes Q. Is he not to shew reuerence and subiection in his verie speech and words A. Yes and that diuers waies And first he is to yeeld to his Maister titles of reuerence 1. Way and honour according to his place and estate 2. King 2. and. 5. Secondly 2. he is not to gaine-say and contend with his Maister except it be in a matter of great importance and necessitie and yet the same with reuerence and submission Thirdly 3. he must not answere againe when he is admonished or rebuked Tit. 2.9 this is a signe of a rebellious heart and an occasion of much euill Prou. 15.1 Furthermore 4. he is not to speake vnreuerently or scoffingly of his gouernours behinde their backe as is the manner of some wicked seruants Q. What say you lastly A. The seruant is not to murmure grudge or repine at his estate namely that he is a seruant and in subiection 5. Way of shewing reuerence but willingly submit himselfe to his estate 2. Cor. 7.20 Ephes 6.7 And there is great reason therof for if the Lord who can as easily make a Maister as a seruant did not see it good for his owne glorie and the benefit of the seruant he would neuer haue called him thereunto Q. But is it not a great temptation for a seruant to yeeld all this that hath bin spoken of to a crooked churlish and a wicked Maister A. It is so but yet a seruant is to comfort and arme himselfe out of the word of God by these considerations There are 4. Reasons of great force to moue Seruāts to loue reuerence obey euen wicked and churlish masters 1. Reason First that albeit the Maister doeth abuse
and decay whereof will arise many troubles and mischiefes WE HAVE HItherto spoken of diuers Persons contained in the fist Commandement and now let vs speake of the duties of Maisters and seruants Three reasons doe shew that Maisters of families owe dutie toward their Seruants Q. DO Masters owe duties to their seruants how may that be proued A. By the order that God hath appointed betweene Maisters and seruants for why The Maister is set in a Superior degree ouer the seruant 1. reason and therefore as in a naturall bodie the principall members haue a speciall care ouer the base and inferiour so ought the maister ouer the seruant Besides The 2. reason seruants are helpfull and beneficiall vnto their Maisters for why they serue not onely for their comfort and defence but also for their honor game and commoditie and therefore in all equitie they are bound in some sort to requite their seruants The 3. reason Lastly the duties of Maisters are as clearely and fully described and set downe in the word of God as appeareth in the old new Testamēt and namely Prou. Exod. 21. Deut. 15. Ephes 6. Col. 4. as the duties of seruants all which were to no purpose if Christian housholders ought nothing vnto their seruants Q. what are the duties that they do owe A. Diuers And First of al housholders are to care and bring vp their seruants in the true knowledge of God and his sincere religion that so they may not only worship the Lord aright The 1. dutie of the Maister is to bring vp his seruants in the true knowledge and religion of God There are 4. reasons mouing hereunto but also attaine vnto eternall happines in heauen which is the chiefe end of the life of man and of all the graces of God bestowed vpon him Q. What reasons haue you to proue that this ought to be performed by Housholders to their seruants A. First if euerie Christian ought to haue a care of the saluation one of another 1. and to that end to imploy all good meanes that they can both by themselues and by others then are Maisters more to doe the same to their seruants because ther is a more straight bond betweene the Maister and the seruant then betweene Christians one toward another for why in the Fift Comandement as Housholders are contained vnder the name of Parents so vnder the title of children are seruants comprehended Againe there is no doubt 2. but that when the Lord commanded his people that they should whet his word and law continually vpon their children as appeareh 2 Deut. 6. 11. vnder the name of children he also containeth seruants Furthermore 3 Abraham was not ignorant of his dutie in this respect for why the Holy Ghost doth commend him Gen. 18. for that he both did and would teach and instruct his houshold in the knowledge and obedience of the will of God Lastly 4. Reason al that faithful seruants of God continually followed his example as may appeare that many in the Scripture are not only cōmended for that they themselues did knowe serue and feare the Lord but for that their houshold by their meanes did the same were in the like happie estate Examples of Maisters carefull to traine vp their seruants in the true feare and religion of God Q. Where doeth this appeare A. Acts. 10. in Cornelius Rom. 16. in the houshold of Aquila Priscilla the like we read of the Iaylor his family Act 16. of diuers others amongst which Ioshua saith confidently I and mine houshold will serue the Lord. Q. You haue said very well but what if all these reasons will not preuaile with Maisters and Housholders A. Then let their owne gaine and commoditie moue them This may be a 5. reason to the former purpose The religious seruant is the most profitable seruant It is proued to be so by 3. reasons Q. What meane you by this A. Doubtlesse they can neuer haue good faithfull seruants seruing for their commoditie without religion and the true feare of God Q. How can you make that manifest A. First a religious seruant that feareth God doth tremble is afraid to do any thing that may hurt or indamage his Maister 1. yea to do so much as offend him Againe 2. he wil be as diligēt to procure the comfort cōmoditie of his Maister as his owne therefore is as faithfull in the absēce of his Maister as whē he is presēt example whereof we haue in the seruāt of Abrahā Gen. 24 Lastly 3. Reason the Lord wil blesse the house where such a seruant is and will prosper and giue successe to all that he taketh in hand Q. You speake the truth for this appeareth in Ioseph Iacob Dauid and such like But what is the Maister to doe to bring his seruant to that passe and estate you speake of It is the dutie of Masters toward their seruants to vse all means that they may to bring them to the true knowledge and feare of God 1. meanes A. Although he is not to vsurpe and take vpon him the functions and duties proper to the publicke Minister of the word of God for that were to bring woe and confusion vpon himselfe yet may he lawfully and with the blessing of God performe diuers duties and yet keepe within his owne limits and compasse Q. What are they A. He is to exhort and inforce his seruants to resorte to the publicke Ministerie of the word Secondly 2 he is to read himselfe or cause to be read in his house continually the holy Scriptures Thirdly 3 he may impart to his seruants the things which he hath learned either by reading or hearing Fourthly 4 he must examine and make triall how they profit by the publicke exercises of religion Furthermore 5 he is daily to pray with and for his seruants that God may giue them knowledge and faith in his holy word Lastly by his holy and Christian example and conuersation he is to bring them to a loue and delight in the knowledge and practise of true religion Q. But what if seruants will not profit but cōtemne the word of God all good admonitions continuing stil vnfaithfull to their Maisters and rebellious against God 2. dutie of Maisters toward their Seruants is correction if they deserue it what is the Maister then to do as a further dutie A. He is to vse correction and discipline Q. But may a Maister correct his seruant A. Yea no doubt for it is a thing warranted both by the word of God and light of nature as also by the consent of all nations To the vsing of the correction of seruants arigh◠foure rules are to be obserued 1. Rule Q That he may performe that dutie in the right manner what rules are to be obserued therein A. He is to put a differēce amongst his seruants in regard of