Wisd. 8 2 c. Desire to heare all godlie talke and let not the graue sentences of knowledge escape thée Let thy mind be vpon the ordinances of the Lord and be continuallie occupied in his commandements so shall he stablish thine hart and giue thée wisedome at thine owne desire Eccles. 6 36,38 Loue the Lord all thy life and call vpon him for thy saluation Ecc. 13 verse 15. Feare the Lord with all thy soule and honour thine elders Eccl. 7 verse 29. Pride is hatefull before God and man and by both doth one commit iniquitie Why art thou proud O earth and ashes Why is earth and ashes proud séeing when a man or woman dieth she is the heire of serpents beasts and woormes The beginning of all pride is to fall awaie from God and to turne away thine hart from thy maker Pride was not created in men neither wrath in the generation of women Pride is the originall of sinne and she that hath it shall powre out abhominations so long till at last she be ouerthrowne For the Lord destroieth the memoriall of the proud and plucketh them vp by the roots but loueth the remembrance of the humble and planteth the lowlie with glorie among them Eccles. 10 7 c. Dishonour not a man or woman in their old age For they were as thou which art not old Eccles. 8 6. Despise not the exhortation of the elders that be wise but acquaint thy selfe with their wise sentences and graue maners so shalt thou bée able to serue euen great men without complaint Eccles. 8 8. Doo no euill so shall no harme come vnto thée depart from the thing that is wicked and sinne shall turne awaie from thée Sowe not vpon the â—urrowes of vnrighteousnesse least thou reape them seuen fold Eccles. 7 1,2 c. Make not manie words when thou art among thine elders neither vse to make anie maner of lie For the custome thereof is not good Eccles. 7 14,13 Stand thou in thy state and exercise thy selfe therein and remaine in thy worke vnto thine age Eccles. 11 20. Get thy selfe praise by modestie méekenesse and chastitie estéeme thy selfe least of all other Who will count hir iust that sinneth against hir selfe Or honour hir that dishonoreth hir owne soule Eccles. 10 verse 29. Followe not thy lusts but turne thée from thine owne appâ—tites For if thou giuest thy soule hir desires it shall make thine enimies that enuie thée to laugh thée to scorne Take not thy pleasure in great voluptuousnesse and intangle not thy selfe with such lewd riotous companie Eccles. 18 30 c. Shée that companieth adulterers and riotous companie shall béecome impudent rottennesse and woorms shall haue hir to heritage and she that is too bold and impudent shall be taken awaie and be made a publike example Eccles. 19 3. Who so reioiceth in wickednesse shall be punished but she that resisteth pleasures crowneth hir owne soule Eccles. 19 5. A maidens garment hir looks hir countenance hir excessiue laughter and going and pride declare what maner of person she is Ec. 19 â—erse 28. and 26,9 A maid that communeth with all men is a scourge of the tongue and a plague to hir soule Eccles. 26 7. There be thrée things hid from me saith Salomon yea foure that I knowe not The waie of an Egle in the aire the waie of a serpent vpon a stone the waie of a ship in the midst of the sea and the waie of a maid or yoong woman with a man Prou. 30 18. An vntamed horse will be stubborne and a wanton wench will be wilfull Eccles. 30 8. Thou maiden that art yoong speake if néede be and yet scarse when thou art twise asked and when thine elder speaketh babble not much but giue eare and be still and for thy good and modest behauiour thou shalt be loued and commended Before thunder goeth lightening and before a shamefast maiden goeth fauour and grace Eccles. 32 8. To auoid fornication let euerie woman haue hir owne husband 1. Cor. 7 2. For it is better to marie than to burne in lust I will saith S. Paule that the yoonger women marie and beare children and gouerne the house and giue no occasion to the aduersarie to speake euill as some doo that are turned back after Sathan 1. Tim. 5 verse 14. I will powre out my spirit saith God vpon all flesh your sonnes your daughters shall prophesie your old men shall dreame dreames and your yoong men shall sée visions and also vpon the seruants and vpon the maids in those daies will I powre my spirit Ioël 2,28,29 Then shall the virgin reioice in the dense and the yoong men and the old men togither For I will turne their mourning to ioie and will comfort them and giue them ioie for their sorowe Ierem. 31 13. Can a maid forget hir ornament Or a bride hir attire Yet my people haue forgotten me daies without number Ierem. 2 32. How streightlie virgins were kept in from men in the old time yea among the heathen that knew not God so that it was a verie hard thing for a man to come vnto them without leaue of their kéeper it doth appeare by the storie of Hester 2. of Thamar 2. Sam. 13 2. How perilous a thing it is for maidens and virgins to vse the common méetings at bridalls faires dansing schooles and plaies it may well be séene by the storie of Dinah Iudg. 21 19. and of the daughters of Silo who therby lost their virginitie chastitie and by Iobs daughters who dansing and banketing lost their liues by sudden death Iob. 1 13. It was counted a great shame in Israel in the olde time for a virgin to die vnmaried and without children and therfore the maids reioiced to be maried Yea the Prophet Dauid reckoneth it among the great plagues of God for a maiden to die in hir virginitie or vnmaried wher he saith The fire consumed their yoong men and their maidens were not giuen to mariage or had no mariage songs Psal. 78,63 Therefore if you will sée how the maidens customablie lamented bewailed the virginitie the space of a moneth together in the mountaines of hir that died a virgin you may read the storie of Iepthas daughter Iudg 11 37. Yoong men and maids old men and babes praise yée the name of the Lord. Psal. 148 12. I am gelous ouer you with godlie gelousie for I haue prepared you for one husband to present you as a pure virgin to Christ. Beware therfore least as the serpent beguiled Eue through his subtilty so your minds be not corrupted from the puritie holinesse perfection and simplicitie that is in Christ. 2. Corinth 2,3 O how faire is a chaste generation with vertue The memoriall therof is immortall For it is knowne with God and with men When it is present men take example at it and if it go awaie yet they desire it it is crowned and euer triumpheth when it hath wonne the reward of
the vndefiled battels Wisdom 4,1,2 These are they which were not defiled with women for they are virgins These are they which followe the lambe whithersoeuer he goeth these were redéemed from men being the first fruits vnto God and to the lambe Reuel 14,4 The dutie of husbands towards their wiues These are the ordinances which the Lord hath commanded betweene a man and his wife The first institution of matrimonie in paradise WHen the Lord GOD formed all the creatures of heauen and earth he brought them to man that bée might giue them names who accordinglie gaue names to euerie creature But for Adam found hée not an helpe or mate méete for him among all the creatures vnder heauen therefore the Lord said It is not good that the man should be himselfe alone I will make an helpe or companion méet for him So the Lord caused an heauie sléepe to fall vpon the man and whilest he slept he tooke one of his ribs and closed vp the flesh in stéed thereof and of that rib which the Lord God had taken from the man made he a woman and brought hir to the man to be his mate or wife Signifieng thereby that mankind was now perfect when the woman was created which before was like an vnperfect building And as this first institution of matrimonie in paradise was by God so all lawfull mariages are now also made by the same God and therefore to be highlie had in honour Then the man said This now is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh she shall be called woman bicause she was taken out of man Therefore shall man leaue his father and his mother and shall cleaue to his wife and they shall be one flesh Whereby we may sée that mariage requireth a greater dutie of men towards their wiues than otherwise they are bound to shew to their parents Gen. 2 18 c. And thus in the daie that God created Adam in his owne likenesse he created them male and female and blessed them and called their name Adam in the daie that they were created So that the husband and the wife are now as one man or one person flesh or bodie For by giuing them both one name he noteth the inseparable coniuction of man and wife Gen. 5 2. Of pluralitie of wiues BUT this lawfull institution of mariage by God which is that two should be one flesh was first corrupted and violated in the house of Cain by Lamech that cruell tyrant who tooke vnto him two wiues at once the one called Adah the other Zillah who greatlie feared his crueltie as appeareth in their stories Gen. 4 19. Afterward also Abraham Elkana Dauid and diuers other of the holie Patriarchs and fathers had two wiues at once but this priuiledge of hauing two wiues came in at the first with the promise of multiplication of séed to replenish the world as well with the heires of promise as of the flesh But this promise being now performed and ended in Christ the priuiledge ceaseth and Gods first lawe taketh place againe which ioineth two in one flesh and no more as before is said and will not haue vs breake wedlocke by pluralitie of wiues Reâ—d 1. Sam. 1 2. Againe King Salomon had seauen hundred wiues that were Queenes and thrée hundred Concubines for euerie daie thrée in the yéere We read also that Rehoboam Salomons sonne had eightéene wiues and thrée score Concubines 2. Chron. 11 21. And that Abiiah his sonne had fourtéene wiues 2. Chron. 13 21. Wherby note that God tollerated in his people the Israelites in those daies pluralitie of wiues as well for the increase of his people as also for a mysterier that he would include and hide therein For Hagar and Sara Abrahams two wiues as also Leah and Rahel Iacobs two wiues were figures of the synagogue and of the true Church of the children of reprobation and the children of election But Christ hath now in the time of the Gospell called vs to the first institution as it was made of God in paradise saieng They shall be two of one flesh 1. King 11 3. Matt. 16. Iudges 2. And did not he make one that is did not God make man and woman as one flesh and not maine â— Yet had he abundance of spirit and by his power and vertue he could haue made manie women for one man And wherfore one flesh Surelie bicause he sought a godlie séede euen such as should be borne in lawfull and moderate mariage wherin is no excesse of lusts Therefore kéepe your selues in your spirit that is conteine your selues within your bounds and be sober in mind and bridle your affections let none trespasse against the wife of his youth saith the Lord by his Prophet Malac. 2 15. A man ought to be the husband but of one wife For to haue more than one at once is a signe of incontinencie especiallie in a bishop or minister as appeareth by S. Paule 1. Tim. 3 2. The commendation of wedded life and godlie mariages THE Apostle S. Paule bicause mariage through mans corruption and not by Gods institution bringeth cares and troubles to the flesh and not so much to bind mens consciences to single life as to answere certaine questions of the Iewes saith It were good for a man not to touch a woman neuerthelesse to auoid fornication let euerie man in generall haue his owne wife and euerie woman hir owne husband Art thou bound vnto a wife Séeke not to be loosed Art thou loosed from a wife Séeke not a wife but if thou takest a wife thou sinnest not The vnmaried careth for the things of the Lord how he may please the Lord but he that is maried careth for the things of the world how he may please his wife And hereafter they that haue wiues shall be as though they had none For the fashion of this world goeth awaie c. Read more in virginitie 1. Cor. 7 2 c. Where no hedge is there the possession is spoiled and he that hath no wife wandereth to and fro mourning Eccles. 36 25. Two are better than one alone For if they fall the one will lift vp the other but wo vnto him that is alone For he falleth and there is not a companion to lift him vp Also if two sléepe togither then shall they haue heate but to one how should there be heate And a thréefold or twofold cord is not easilie broken Where note by this prouerbe how necessarie it is for a man to liue in matrimonie and mutuall societie to the intent they may be profitable one to another and that their things may increase and contrariwise how pernicious and hurtfull a thing it is be solitarie and alone without an helper and fellowe conforter Eccles. 4,9,10 The blessings of God vpon godlie mariages and his curses vpon the vngodlie espousals BLessed are they that feare the Lord and walke in his waies For thou shalt eate the labours of thine hands O well is thée and
before she was betrothed and therefore partlie bicause he would not reteine hir which by the lawe if it had béene true should haue béene maried to another and partlie for that by accusing hir he was loth to put hir to open shame for hir fact or to make hir a publike example to the world therefore he was minded to haue put the blessed virgin awaie secretlie vntill it pleased God to reueale the truth vnto him and to command him to take hir home vnto himselfe who did so and was verie louing tender and carefull ouer hir continuallie both for hir preseruation and hir blessed babes to the glorie of God and both his and our euerlasting ioie as you may read at large in the storie of the virgin Marie Matth. 1 c. Art thou bound to a wife Séeke not to be loosed 1. Cor. 7. Yea God to the end we should doo our best to conuert our wiues and cleaue inseparablie vnto them though they fall into follie and vncleannesse vpon hope of amendment sheweth by his prophet Hosea that he loueth his Church though it erre or fall into idolatrie which is spirituall whooredome and doth not withdrawe his loue from vs for all our sinnes if we abuse not his lenitie and patience too much but repent in time and beléeue his Gospell Hos. 3,1 Ezech. 24,16 See more in diuorcement Of Gods heauie iudgements against wedlocke breakers THou shalt not commit adulterie thou shalt not couet thy neighbours wife but be pure in hart word and déed Exo. 20 14 17. Thou husband drinke the water of thine owne well and the riuers that run of thine owne spring that is content thy selfe with thine owne wife so shall thy fountaine that is thy children which shall come of thée in great abundance be blessed For God blesseth mariage and curseth whooredome Reioice I saie and be glad with the wife of thy youth which thou didst marie of a virgin or when you were yoong let hir be as the louing Hind and pleasant Roe let hir brests alwaie satisfie thée and hold thée euer content with hir and delight thou in hir continuallie For why shouldest thou delight my sonne in a strange woman or imbrace the bosome of an harlot And knowe this that euerie mans waies are open in the sight of the Lord and he pondereth all their paths yea the wicked shall be taken in their owne iniquitie to their vtter confusion Thus we sée that except a man ioine to his wife both in hart and in outward conuersation that he shal not escape the iudgments of God Prou. 5 15. He that breaketh wedlocke and committeth adulterie shall find a wound and dishonour and his reproch shall neuer be put awaie For gelousie is the rage of a man therefore he will not spare in the daie of vengeance He can not beare the sight of anie ransome neither will he consent though thou augment the gift Whereby the holie Ghost sheweth that man by nature séeketh his owne death that hath abused his wife and God will vndoubtedlie punish him therefore Pro. 6,32 Take héed O thou husband that the Lord be not witnesse betwéene thée and the wife of thy youth against whom thou hast transgressed For she is thy companion or as the one halfe of thy selfe and the wife of thy couenant which was ioined to thée by a solemne promise and by the inuocation of Gods name before the congregation Therfore kéepe your selues in your spirit conteine your selues within your bounds and be sober in mind and bridle your affections and let none trespasse against the wife of his youth And if for hir faults thou hate hir yet hée that is godlie couereth the iniurie vnder his garment and thinketh it expedient for his owne honestie to kéepe his wife still and so as it were couereth hir fault saith the Lord by his Prophet Malac. 2 14 c. There is two sorts of men that abound in sinne and the third bringeth wrath and destruction A mind hot as fire that can not be quenched till it be consumed an adulterous man that giueth his bodie no rest till he haue haue kindeled a fire to lust and a man that breaketh wedlocke and thinketh thus in his hart Tush who séeth me I am compassed about with darknesse the wals couer me no bodie séeth me whom néed I to feare The most high will not remember my sinnes Such a man onelie feareth the eies of men and knoweth not that the eies of the Lord are ten thousand times brighter than the Sunne beholding all the waies of men and the ground of the déepe and looking euen to mens harts in the most secret places The same man shall be openlie punished in the stréets of the citie and shall be chased abroad like a yoong horse fole and when he thinketh least of it he shall be taken and openlie punished Thus shall the adulterous man that breaketh wedlocke be put to shame of euerie man bicause he would not vnderstand the feare of the Lord. And thus shall it go also with euerie wife that leaueth hir husband and getteth inheritance by a strange mariage Eccles. 23. Flie fornication and adulterie For doo ye not knowe that he which coupleth himselfe with an harlot is one bodie For two shall be one flesh 1. Cor. 6,16 Mariage is honourable among all men and the bed vndefiled but whooremoongers and adulterers God will iudge Heb. 13 4. If mine hart said holie Iob hath béene deceiued by a woman or if I haue laid wait at the doore of my neighbour then let my wife grind vnto another man and be made a slaue and let other men bow downe vpon hir For this is wickednesse and iniquitie to be condemned yea this is a fire that shall deuoure to destruction and which shall roote out all mine increase Iob. 31 9. Finallie we haue manie notable examples how greatlie the breach of mariage displeaseth God and how in all ages men were persuaded that Gods vengeance should light vpon wedlock-breakers as it may appeare euen in the heathen kings Herod and Abimelech who tooke Sara and Rebecca the wiues of Abraham Isaac to be their wiues and had almost lien with them for which GOD plagued them with great plagues as appeareth Gen. 12 20,26 c. The dutie of wiues towards their husbands THe woman was created of man to the end she should be an helpe and comfort méet for him but bicause she first transgressed Gods commandement and intised hir husband to doo the same therefore vnto hir God inioined this punishment of sorowe and subiection saieng vnto Eue and in hir to all wiues I will greatlie increase thy sorowes and thy conceptions In sorowe shalt thou bring foorth children and thy desire shall be subiect to thy husband and he shall rule ouer thée Gen. 2,20,3,6,16 This difference was betwixt the wife and the concubine in the old time The wife was taken with certaine solemnities of mariage and hir children did inherit as lawfullie begotten but the concubine