profitable then comfortable For she being the l 1 Pet. 3.7 weaker vessel and consequently easier to be deceived in judgement and perverted in affection as m 2 Tim. 3.6 silly women led with divers lusts are soon led captives therefore hath God set her Husband over her as her n Prov. 2.17 guide and o Eph. 5.23 head not only by p 1 Cor. 14.35 teaching and informing her judgement but by q Gen. 3.16 ruling to master her affections that he may thus be the instrumental saviour of his wife as r Eph. 5.23 Christ is the efficient Saviour of his Church Now when God doth thus in ſ Hab. 3.2 wrath remember mercy and t Jam. 4.15 offereth such grace to the humble Wife that in u Mat. 11.29 taking his yoke upon her she shall finde rest to her soul and that in her subjection shall be her preservation will ye * Deut. 32.6 so reward the Lord O ye foolish women and unwise as with that frowardgeneration to x Isa 30.16 say no we y Isa 28.12 will not hear it and z Ier. 5.5 altogether break the yoke and burst the bonds Hearken O ye Wives and hear my speech I pray you Is not this a miserable a Ier. 5.4 foolishnesse yea a b Ier. 18.12 desperate stubbornesse not to know the way of the Lord and the judgement of your God but to sling off the plaister whereby God would c Ier. 3.22 heal your backsliding For what saith the Scripture d 1 Tim. 2.14 Adam was not deceived but the woman being deceived was in the transgression What was not Adam deceived at all yea as appeareth first in that both their eyes are e Gen. 3 7. said to be opened after they had eaten and secondly in Gods ironicall upbraiding him saying f Gen. 3.22 The man is become as one of us to know good and evil both which sayings have relation to the devils sophisticall promise g ver 4.5 set down before wherein he insinuated as if he had been a fecret friend of theirs and wished them more good then God himself So that Adam was not primarily deceived but the woman being first deceived became the devils Proctor h ver 6. and prevailed with Adam to be in the same transgression with her For the devil as a cunning Pyrate intending to i 1 Tim. 6. drown them both in perdition for which cause Christ saith k Iohn 8. he was a lyer and a murderer from the beginning began first to board the weaker vessel and drawing her to a parley and she presuming without her Husband to hold tattle with the subtill Serpent was soon seduced and she l Gen 3.1 2 3. earing m ver 6. gave also to her husband presuming to school him and to prescribe what he was to do and so he did eat by hearkning to the voice of his wife as God n ver 17. charged him in his arraignment O that Women were o Deut. 32 29. wise that they understood this that God who p 2 Cor. 9.6 commanded the light to shine out of darknesse and q Isa 53. healeth us by his Sons stripes and by delivering him to r Rom. 8. death and ſ Heb. 12. shame t 2 Cor. 9.15 brings us to life and u Heb. 2. glory hath been pleased to cure the * 2 Tim. 5.13 pratling infirmity of women by x 1 Cor. 14 34. commanding that whole sex to perpetuall silence in the Churches her presumption in taking on her to teach y 1 Tim. 2 11 12. and usurp authority over the man by requiting the woman to learn in silence with all subjection And because Eve being a wife aggravated that her presumption against her own husband who z Gen 2.17 hearkned to her voice and she a ver 6. gave him and he did eat therefore for the cure of her and every elect wife◠subject to the like corruption God chargeth them that they not only c 1 Cor. 14 34. ask their own husbands at home that they learn of them being men of d 1 Pet. knowledge above all others in private but that their e Gen. 3 16. desires shall be to their husbands and they shalt rule over them so that they must f Eph. 5.22 submit themselves to their own husbands as to the Lord and be g ver 24. subject to them in every thing as the Church is unto Christ And therefore the Apostle after he had largely discoursed of both their duties summarily concludes all in this saying h ver 35. Let every husband love his wife as himself and for the wife i 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 fear her husband * 1 Pet. 3.2 fear I say to displease him in any thing wherein God is not displeased though it never so much crosse her desires how else can she be subject in every thing as God requireth Thus Sarah k 1 Pet. 3.6 Gen. 18.12 obeyed Abraham and called him Lord acknowledging in word and deed her husband to be her governour and therein is commended as the l 1 Pet. 3.8 mother of all beleeving wives And whatsoever wife is m Joh. 1.13 born of God to be a daughter of Sarah and to walk uprightly she will finde and feel these words and commandements of the Lord to be n Micah 6.7 good and not o 1 John 5.3 4 grievous and with sul mission and obedience she will take them upon her as a p Matth. 11.3 easie yoke and a light burden because she thus q 1 Tim. 2.15 continuing in faith and charity and holinesse with sobriety shall be saved and r Phil. 21.12 make an end of her own salvation with fear and trembling Contrariwise if any wives ſ 1 Pet. 2.8 stumble at the word being disobedient and t Isa 2.20 refuse and rebell whatsoever u 2 Tim. 3.3 shew they make of godlinesse denying the power thereof God will refuse to acknowledge them as * 1 Tim. 2.15 daughters of Sarah and will prove to their wo that no promise of salvation belongs to them if they refuse to obey as Sarah did And therefore God in his promise of * 1 Tim. 2.15 saving wives coupleth faith and charity and holinesse with sobriety which sobriety implyeth both their x verse 11. learning in silence with all subjection and their not y verse 12. usurping authority over the man Object 1. But may not a Wife speak to inform her Husband wherein he erreth and whet him on in good duties wherein he is dull and negligent Yea if her Husband be such a Nabal that by his folly he is drawing a mischief on himself and his houshold and is such a son of Belial that he may not be spoken unto may not a wife in such a ease without his direction or consent take and
A QUESTION Deeply concerning Married Persons and such as intend to MARRY Propounded and Resolved according to the SCRIPTURES JER 20.9 Then I said I will not make mention of him nor speak any more in his Name but his Word was as a burning fire shut up in my bones and I was weary of forbearing and could not stay ANC-HORA-SPEI London Printed for Tho. Vnderhill at the Anchor and Bible Pauls Church-yard 1653. The Author to the Christian Reader IF the Question proposed be resolved Negatively by the Scriptures and practised contrarily by many Professors doth not the Lord seek for a man to make up the hedge for preserving the distinct bounds of his honourable Ordinance The candle of this Negative resolution was long since lighted to give light to some of Gods houshold that had removed the bounds but put under a bushel in expectation of some greater Lamp that might give light to all in the house of God for a more full illumination But not finding that to appear as he hoped in all the Orthodox Treatises concerning Marriage he stayed so long upon Moses his pretences Who am I and I am not eloquent c. and Send I pray thee by the hand of him whom thou wilt send till the anger of the Lord made this poor candle like fire shut up in his bones and now constraineth him to set it on a candlestick lest if he tarry longer mischief come upon some of Gods Family and on himself too for not giving warning And therefore I most humbly beseech all the houshold of God whom it may concern especially those that seem to be Pillars in his House that as they reade they will so consider and try that if instead of gold silver precious stones there be built any wood hay stubble on the Foundation of the Prophets and Apostles by me alleadged that by the spirit of judgement and of burning they will afford their helping hand to burn it so that whatsoever losse I may suffer may turn to the gain of Gods people But if the work abide trial that then they will vouchsafe to give unto me the right hand of fellowship that none of Gods House be edified to perdition as the Apostle speaks in another case by the different Judgement or Practice of any in reputation for Knowledge or conscience 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1 Cor. 8.10 So prayeth the least of Gods Servants in the Work of the Ministry A. L. A QUESTION deeply concerning Married persons and such as intend to Marry propounded and resolved according to the Scriptures Whether any Woman Widow or Maid intending to Marry may before her Marriage reserve any of her Goods in her own power to be disposed by her after she shall be Married without her Husbands direction or consent The resolution is Negative for the Reasons following 1. THis removeth the meerstones of Gods Ordinance who hath a Eph. 5.23 24. set the Husband to be the head of the Wife as Christ is the head of the Church and the Wives to be subject in every thing to their own Husbands as the Church is unto Christ And if it be a cursed act to remove b Deut. 27.17 our neighbours Landmark how much more c Mal. 1.8 14. cursed by desert is that deceiver who will offer this to the Lord of Hosts the d Gen. 14.22 most high God the possessor of Heaven and earth whose Name is dreadfull among the heathen Therefore in detestation of all such presumptions every vertuous woman should say with e Gen. 49.6 Jacob My soul enter not into such secrets for they are cursed 2. As the Wife even in the state of innocency owed subjection to her Husband because f Rom. 2.13 Adam was first formed then Eve and g 1 Cor. 11.8 the man is not of the woman but the woman of the man neither was the h ver 9. man created for the woman but the woman for the man so after the fall this subjection which before sin entred was i Rom. 7.22 delightfull and k 1 Joh. 5.3 not grievous was then imposed as a l 1 Tim. 2.11 c. penalty of her transgression m Gen. 3.16 curbing and keeping under her desires Now if it were a matter of n Jer. 27.8 death not to submit the neck to Nebuchadnezzars yoke when the Lord imposed it and he that would rebell-like break that yoke should o Jer. 28.13 make to himself yokes of iron instead of yokes of wood shall any woman p Isa 9.9 in the pride and stoutnesse of her heart slip her neck out of Gods yoke q Jer. 5.3 and refuse to receive correction thinking to reverse the Lords decree like those rebels of old who r Isa 9.10 said The bricks are fallen down but we will build with hewen stones What though ſ Jer. 28.15 16 Hananiah and other Prophets taught rebellion against the Lord and the t Jer. 5.31 people loved to have it so was not the Lords soul u ver 23 29. avenged on such rebels and the * Eze. 14.10 punishment of the Prophet even as the punishment of those that sought unto him And doth not the Lord call in the * Jer. 5.22 waves of the sea to testifie against all such sottish rebellion Wherefore seeing the Lord is x Job 37.23 so excellent in power and judgement that none y Job 9.4 hath been fierce against him and hath prospered and seeing he is so z Exod 20. jealous of the glory of his holinesse and justice that he hath not a 2 Sam. 12.9 10 11 12 13 14. Num. 20.12 Deut. 3.23 c. 1 Sam. 3.11 12 13. pardoned the faults of his own faithfull servants without heavy judgements as fines set on their heads to the b Jer. 55.28 29 1 Pet. 4.17 terror of the ungodly should not all Wives beware that c Job 36.21 they choose not iniquity rather then affliction and d Hos 5.10 remove the bound like the Princes of Judah least God pour out his wrath like water and make to them yokes of iron instead of yokes of wood The religious Wife therefore for her own safety as well as for Gods Honour must e Eph. 5.22 24. submit her self to her own Husband and be subject to him in every thing bearing this yoke of the Lord not only patiently without grudging because it is f Mich. 7.9 Lam. 3.39 her own punishment that is of her own g Ier. 2.17 procuring but willingly without shrinking from it because it is the h Isa 26.9 Lords judgement and a cognizance of his holinesse and justice and the inhabitants of the world shall learn righteousnesse by it 3. As God i Rom. 8.28 makes all things work together for good to those that love him so this yoke of subjection is by Christ made k Mat. 11 30. an easie yoke to the beleeving Wife and no lesse
improve his goods and servants for preventing the mischef Sol. As at first God made Eve a Gen. 2.18 a meet help for Adam so a man may possibly b Prov. 31.10 finde though rarely as Solomon intimateth a vertuous woman with graces more precious then pearls And as no small c 1 Pet. 3.7 honour is to be given of husbands to weaker vessels so richly fraughted so husbands that have such d Prov. 17.16 prices put into their hands to get or improve wisdome are branded for fools e Eccl. 4.9 if they have no hearts to use them For as f Prov. 31.12 two are better then one so sometimes the weaker vessel may hold staunch when the stronger may fail And when we read that the vertuous woman will do her husband good and not evil all the days of her life and that one of her vertues wherein she excelleth others is the g Prov. 31.26 Law of kindnesse in her tongue whereby she openeth her mouth with wisdome and that rebuke and conversion of a sinner from the errour of his way are h Lev. 19.17 〈◊〉 5.20 â—stâ—… 〈◊〉 love and as i Rom. 13.8 due debt to be rendred to every one much more to a husband from his wife what a k 1 Sam. 25. son of Bclial were he that would not be spoken unto by such a veâ—â—uous wife and especially like l 1 Pet. 3 6. Sarah who obeyed Abraham and called him Lord reverence from a m vâ—… 4. meek and quiet spirit shall attend the Law of kindnesse in hot tongue not daring contemptuously to crew over her husband like proud n 1 Pâ—… 21.7 Jezabel or contume liously to lash him with the o Iob 5.21 scourge of the tongue like scornfull p 2 Sam. 6.20 Michal which God q 1 Tim 5 〈◊〉 forbids in all inferiours towards their superiours And for the honour and comfort of vertuous wives we finde it written how Sarah informed her husband what was to be done with r Gen. 21.9 10 the bâ—â—dwoman and her sonne and how therein God commanded Abraham to Å¿ verse 11 12. hearken to the voice of his wife in all that she had said though the thing were very grievous in Abrahams sight because of his sonne Likewise Rebekah espying her husbands errour was a meet help to him t Gen. 27.5 whereby he conferred the blessing on Jacob according to u Gen. 25.23 Gods prediction though she â—aned in many circumstances And so the gracious Shanamite is registred not only for constraining the Prophet to eat bread as he passed by but also for x 1 Reg. 4.8 c. stirring up her husband to make speciall provision for the Prophets accommodation whereby she obtained the blessing of a sonne being before childlesse And Abigail a woman of great understanding how is she set forth and set up as a Crown to her foolish husband in y 1 Sam. 25 â— 14. c. taking and improving his goods and servants without his direction or consent whereby she saved him and his family from a mischief whereof he was insensible And how came the z ver 32 33. 〈◊〉 31.10 and 12.4 blessing of David upon her and her advice which kept him that day from shedding bloud And Nabals may be their names and folly is with them that give not due honour to such vertuous wives whose price is far above rubies and who are Crowns to their husbands Object 2. But may not a Maid a Widow especially before Marriage in discretion reserve something to be in her power and disposition after she shall be a Wife and that for good to her Husband to help him at a need or to help her former Children or other Saints of God Sol. Concerning her former Children or other Saints she was to z Tim. 5.8 provide for them while things were in a Acts 5.5 her own power but if being wife she withhold her obedience to God and subjection to her husband under such pretences she must know that b 1 Sam. 15.22 obedience is better then sacrifice and that c ver 23. rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft and if she wilfully persist to reject the word of the Lord God will reject her from being a daughter of Sarah For what is this but to kick at Gods Ordinance as d 1 Sam. 2.29 Ely and his sons kicked at Gods sacrifices and to e Mat. 10.37 honour and love her Children and Saints above God as Ely did his sons f Eze. 14.4 And what is that but to set up her Children and Saints as Idols in her heart and her stubbornnesse in this kinde will be no lesse then g 1 Sam. 15.23 as iniquity and idolatry Secondly Concerning her pretended discretion and goodnesse towards her husband she must learn that God hath coupled the h Tit. 2.5 discretion and goodnesse of a wife unto subjection to her husband And therefore so long as she refuseth subjection she can never approve her self unto God to be a discreet or good wife Nay whiles under colour of discretion and goodnesse she withdrawes her subjection and makes a divorce betwixt those duties which God hath coupled together she i Psal 73.27 goeth a whoring from God in withdrawing her heart from him and not k Prov. 3.5 6. trusting in him with all her heart nor acknowledging him in all her wayes but leaning to her own understanding And thus missing Gods l ver 6. direction she goeth the high way to m Psal 73.27 destruction This discretion therefore is not n Iac. 3.15 the wisdome from above but is earthly sensuall and devilish witnesse the o ver 14 16. bitter envying and strife that appeareth in such wives when they are therein gainsaid instead of that p 1 Pet. 3.4 meek and quiet spirit which should be in them and which is in the sight of God of great price Object 3. But what if after she become a Wife she without her husbands knowledge or consent put over such things as she before reserved in her own power to some other godly men in trust to be kept and disposed by them as they shall see good Sol. This is to q Isa 59.5 hatch Cockatrice eggs and to weave the Spiders web and r 29.15 woe to them that seek deep to hide their counsell from the Lord and their works are in the dark And is not this to Å¿ Isa 5.18 draw iniquity with cords of vanity and sinne as with cart-ropes For though these and such like Conveyances may be strong as cartropes to hold such as use them t 2 Tim. 2.26 captives in the devils snare yet they will prove but cords of vanity yea weaker then vanity it self to draw away the u Isa 5.21 woes and * Jer. 17.5 curses that hang over the heads of such who are prudent in their own sight and whose hearts depart