THE HUSBAND'S AUTHORITY UNVAIL'D WHEREIN It is moderately discussed whether it be fit or lawfull for a good Man to beat his bad Wife Some Mysteries of Iniquity are likewise unmasked and a little unfolded A Subject to some perhaps as unwelcom as uncoth Art thou he that troubleth Israel 1 King 18.17 Art thou come to torment us c Matth. 8.29 Speak unto us smooth things c. Isa 30.10 From an inner Cloyster of the TEMPLE BY MOSES Ã VAVTS a faithfull Votary and free Denizen of the Common-wealth of Israel Thy Desire shall be to thy husband and he shall rule over thee Gen. 3.16 But if ye believe not his Writings how shall ye believe my Words Joh. 5.47 The secret of the Lord is with them that fear him c. Psal 25.14 Prov. 28.5 Dan. 12.10 Prov. 3.32 1 Joh. 2.27 Behold ye Despisers for I work a Work in your Dayes a Work which ye shall in no wise beleeve though a man declare it unto you Acts 13.41 Jam tua res agitur c. London Printed by T. N. for Robert Bostock at the sign of the Kings-head in Pauls Church-yard 1650. TO THE READER I Had long since learn'd to read or speak English and that of the revealed-written Word of God but could never yet attain with some an acceptable Idiom utterance or pronouncing of it how carefully or candidly soever I endeavour'd it It gained me so little Eare and Credence that by like it was not current so that I am at length constrain'd to put it upon the publick Touch and Triall and here thou hast an Essay or Tast of it There falls but little for an Epistle or Preface save a few Directions and Reasons to facilitate or further thy reading all other Occurrents being comprised in the first or last Chapter of the Book Of which All I can expect no fairer Construction from any then the Conceptions and Expressions appear gall-less ingenuous and guided by the Word and Reason Briefly for the Book it self It will be found rather a strait and compendious Paraphrase then a laxed Discourse For labouring that Conciseness with Fulnesse and Plainnesse which I do justly as I think affect in others I have thronged both the Text and Comment as thou seest which if it seem retardable to thy reading let not that discourage or divert thee For if thou proposest either Profit or pleasure to thy self therein thou shalt nor be utterly unsatisfied If thy Progresse be flower it will be so much the surer thou shalt fasten the Scripture-Phrases in thy Memory and find large and delightfull matter of Meditation For indeed the Marginall Quotations though least in shew are most in substance solidity and sweetnesse a fit Hieroglyphick of all spirituall-heavenly things the Margin presenting thee the Meat the Page but the Sauce which probably cannot please all Palats Besides for both our sakes I could not have thee Truant-like to take any thing on trust but like the a Acts 17.11 noble Bereans lay it to the rule search and try whether these things be so and censure not before thou see I hope this may invite or occasion some even out of curiosity to become better acquainted with the Bible and be caught in b Mat. 4.19 L. 5.10 Christs net before they be aware And the honestly ingenious will easily judge it my main end even throughout to drive or dâ—rect to the pure Fountain and not to detain thee longer then needs in the muddy Channels of these shallow lines Howbeit I can well approve that thou first read over the Tract by it self to acquaint thee with the Scope I am fain to lead thee the way in another respect and the second time and thereafter to take along with thee the Texts and Proofs which are neither so many as to sundry Points might have been produced nor yet so few as to leave any needfull Truth naked of mostly severall Testimony that so in the c Deu. 19.15 Mat. 18.16 Jo. 8.17 2 Co. 13.1 Mouths of at least two or three witnesses every Word may be established Where I had most plenty under my hand and saw them swell the Margin I expunged or dismissed a few and was minded to do more But finding all so precious and none as I conceiv'd impertinent I was at last loath to part with any of these and so let all passe the rather because some Proofs to one may seem lesse pregnant to another more here is therefore choice and of the choicest I hope the scripture yields As also that unto these as to a Common Place my self as well as others may have recourse on such occasions And let it not be nauseous to any Isa 28.10.13 if he meet with one Text in severall places which yet is not frequent since we know many such there be whereof the same may serve to sundry good Proofs and purposes Some Scripture-Phrases falling compactly are inter-woven with the discourse the rest of equall weight though differing in words are referred to the Margin It is to be noted That the names God or Christ are mutually and indifferently used throughout in relation to the Church The reasons whereof are plain to the pious by Psal 31.5 Isa 9.6 and 54.5 Joh. 10.30 Rom. 5.8 Col. 2.9,10 and many like I rather affect and use the word Scripture yea the Word it self singularly for eminence sake because it is now a a Rev. 22.18.19 compleat perfect individuall Body and was not exactly so when the Lord Jesus his Apostles and others in those Times plurally term'd it Scriptures If any thing chance to be touched in severall parts as Gods Eternity c. the Proofs are referred to the first and that expresly for ease of the weaker sort who will be loth to seek them too far I have desired to draw as many Proofs and Confessions as I could from Adversaries of God and Godliness as tending to greater b Deu. 32.31 1 K. 20.40.42 Mat. 12.27 L. 19.22 Jo. 5.45 Ro. 2.1 Jo. 8.54 Conviction and Confirmation therefore none needeth to stumble at them The stile is nothing lofty but low and professedly humble to all Men not ambitious of equipage with any yet assuming that familiar Decorum which I hope may beseem the Husband to the Wife at whose information this chiefly aimeth If any Term seem obscure to the common sort let it be excused thus 1. That for ease of all I laboured Brevity Much Matter may sometime be couched in a Word 2. That one Word is often suited to sundry Texts and must bear the sense of them all The best way for such therefore is to examine the Texts which will clearly interpret and explane it But I have need I confess to beg the candid and christian Forbearance or rather Furtherance of All in this Birth It is indeed my First-born Gen. 49.3 but I cannot say of it as Jacob of his son Reuben for it is a meer Embryon and Abort wanting many of its due Months Insomuch
and is content to leave me as ignorant as he found me although I have since also saluted and solicited him by Letter wherof I am informed he made more then a Pastoral use humbly offering either to satisfie or submit unto the Church And it may be added not altogether unfitly That I likewise submisly proposed somthing in this kinde to them of Power Wisedom and Experience whose Reply was short and suitable to their Place b Job 32.9 but nothing satisfactory to my Doubt or Quaere The Confluence I say of these and other like Motives caused me first c Ps 4.4 to examine mine own Heart and then stirr'd me up to study the Point for my fuller Information the Pursuance wherof hath forcibly produced these publique Expresses both of my Quality and Conceptions which with all humbleness I submit to judicious christian and charitable Censure And I come now within view of our expected Port of Knowledge But ere I arrive at it somewhat would be premised touching the Scripture the d Gen. 1.26,27 Jo. 5.39 1 T. 3.16 Isa 7.14 sacred History of God and Man CHAP. II. The Certainty Truth Authority Consent and other peculiar Excellencies of the sacred Scripture BEcause our Husbands Authority is grounded on the Word of God and that we are to deal especially with divine Texts and Truths It were first to be wished That all sorts of People were satisfied of the Truth and Authority of the Scripture for to some even the plain written Word of God is no prevailing Proof wherein 't is doubtfull consisteth a great part of the Weakness of some of the weaker Vessels Very needfull therefore it is that such were convinced of This That the e Deu. 8.3 Ps 119 89. Mat. 4.4 L. 4.4 Heb. 1.3 1 Jo. 5.7 Rev. 19.13 eternal Word the f Jo. 1.1,2,3 10.35,36 Heb. 1.3,5 11.3 2 P. 3.5 Rev. 2.18 1 Jo. 5.20 Son of God the g Jo. 1.1,2 1 Jo. 5.7 second Person in Trinity and h Jo. 1.4 6.63 1 Jo. 1.1,2 5. 11 12,20 spirit and life it self hath expresly declared and i Ro. 1.16,17,18 Deut. 4.13 revealed himself in Writing to wit first k Ex. 24.12 31.18 32.16,32,33 Deu. 4.13 5.22 9.10 10.2,4 2 K. 17.37 I Ch. 28.19 Job 13.26 Ps 40.7 69.28 87.6 139.16 Isa 4.3 65.6 Ez. 2.9,10 Dan. 12.1 Mal. 3.16 Ph. 4.3 Col. 2.14 Heb. 12.23 Re. 2.17 3.5 5.1 13.8 17.8 20.12,15 21.12,27 by his own finger and then l 2 Ch. 36.22 Am. 3.8 2 T. 3.16 2 P. 1.21 by inspiring and sanctifying the Hearts Hands and Pens of his Servants the Sons of men and m Ex. 17.14 34.27 Deu. 6.9 17.18 27.8 31.19 Isa 8.1 30.8 Jer. 30.2 36.2 Ezek. 24.2 43.11 Hab. 2.2 Rev. 1.11 14.13 19.9 21.5 setting them on Work to write and copy out his Will which they having n Ex. 24.4 Eccl. 12.10 Jer. 36.4 L. 1.1,2,3 Jo 21.24 Acts 20.27 2 P. 3.15,16 Rev 21.5 Deu 31.9,22,24 1 S. 10.25 Jos 8.32 faithfully performed He accordingly o Jer 26.45 29.19 44.4 Ez 38.17 Hos 8.12 Zec 1.6 Rev 10.7 owneth and approveth These Writings from their first Penning and Promulgation were and shall be by his divine Power his mercifull and miraculous Providence p Isa 55.11 maugre the malice of Men or Devils q 2 K. 22.8 23.2 preserved and r Ex. 12.26 Deut. 4.9 6.7 29.29 31.12,13,21 32.46 1 K. 9.6 Ps 78.5,6.7 Jer. 32.39 Joel 1.3 Ro. 16 26. transmitted to Posterity to the Worlds end And here before we pass further it s not unfit to be noed that albeit there happen now and then a distinction or restraint in some s Gen. 45.12 Nū 12.8 Jer. 32.4 Acts 15.27 Rom. 10.9,10 Ja. 3.10 special Cases yet the Phrases of holy Scripture referring to former Times and Prophesies and running on this wise viz. As t L. 1.70 Acts 3.18 4.25 Heb. 4.4 he spake by the mouth of his holy Prophets as it u Mat. 2.23 3.3 21.4 M. 13.14 L. 24.25 Acts 13.40 2 P. 3.2 was spoken by the Prophets and the like are indifferently to be understood as well of the Word written as spoken This is easily apparent by comparing x 2 Co. 10.11 2 P. 1.20,21 2 Th. 2.15 the sacred Writ with it self which ascribeth speaking of Scripture sometime to y Acts 1.16 28.25 the holy Ghost sometime to z Gal. 1.9 Heb. 11.32.2 P. 3.16 and more at t u the Writer sometime to a Jo. 7.38 19. 37. Ro. 4.3 11. 2. Gal. 4.30 1 T. 5.18 Ia. 4.5 the Scripture it self Examples of this sort are so many and obvious that a few may serve here And our own common Practice if need were confirms it also these Words being usuall with us in Writing viz. As I said before or As aforesaid c. while we plainly hear no Word spoken but see it onely Written And we cannot otherwise conceive of the Scripture unless which were horrible to think the Words of our blessed Saviour who never b Mat. 7.29 M. 1. 22. Jo. 5.30 7.46 8.16 spake c Jo. 11.42 prayed nor d Mat. 12.18 M. 1.11 L. 3.22 Jo. 15.16 16.23,24 17.24 interposed in vain were inconsistent Where he saith e Mat. 28.19,20 Jo. 14.18 Go teach all nations c. and Lo I am with you alway even to the end of the World and again f Jo. 17.20 I Pray not for these alone but for them also which shall believe on me through their Word For He knew better then Any and g Mat. 24.9 23.34 L. 12.4 Jo. 21.19 2 P. 1.14 foretold to his Apostles that They h Gen. 18.27 25.8 35.29 49.33 50.26 Num. 20.28 Deu. 34.5 Jos 24 29. 1 S. 25.1 2 S. 23,1 1 K. 2.10 11.43 Zec. 1.5 Jos 23.14 1 K. 2.2 Ps S 9.48 Acts 2.29 as all the Patriarchs and Prophets before them being meer i Gen. 32.10 Job 7.20 Ps 38.4 41.4 51.5 1 Jo. 1.8 Ps 40.12 sinfull mortal Men which l L. 5.8 Acts 3.12 10.26 Peter and m Acts 14.15 2 Co. 5.1 Eph. 2.1.5 1 T. 1.15 Paul confess for all after they had n Acts 13.36 1 K. 2.10 served their Generation must fall asleep and could not possibly accomplish so vast a Peragration and Task as viva voce to teach all Nations Nor meant he therefore any longer to accompany them carnally or corrorally here on Earth for they were even then o Ph. 1.23 2 T. 4.6,7 2 P. 1.13,14 taking leave to depart for Heaven their p Eccl. 12.5 long home where they q 1 Th. 4.17 2 T. 4.8 Rev. 18.20 21.14 remain most happy with him but to continue his Spiritual Presence and Power with them in
difficile c. but all these complying can of the most rude or knotty Mass and Lump render a right square plain and polished Piece fit for the most excellent Vses under Heaven For an Essay in this Particular let us examine 1. What Knowledge is 2. What kinde of Knowledge is here meant 3. Whence derived 4. What are the Parts of it 1. By Knowledge we conceive the understanding and determinative Faculty of the Soul comprehending Wisedom Prudence discretion Reason Counsel and Judgement yet submitting herein to professed Philosophers 2. We understand to be meant here a Knowledge both u Jo. 4.24 1 Co. 2.12 14.37 Col. 1.9 Ja. 1.5 Eph. 4.24 spiritual and divine neither x Ja. 3.15 earthly sensual nor devilish For it will not surely be disputed that we are to act or think otherwise in the the Things of God then y Jo. 4.24 spiritually and divinely whence we are said to be z 1 P. 2.5 built up a spiritual House 3. It is 1. Primitively originally essentially and unspeakably in God 2. Derivatively and dimanantly in the Creature and particularly in Man In whom we are first to lay this divine masculine and majestick Knowledge as low as some good Women would have it and then by Gods Direction raise it unto its proper seat and state Which not this weak Paraphrase but the powerfull Word of God will perform 4. The Parts or rather the Offices of it are either 1. Contemplative and speculative viz. reflecting upon God his Word and Works the Fall and Restauration of Man Death Judgement Heaven Hell and Eternity But with this part we meddle not save that we have needfully dilated somewhat on the sacred written Word of God the Means and Rule of this Knowledge and haply may now and then give a glance at the rest for Illustration Ornament or good use these Points being amply and exactly handled and abundantly branched forth by many able and worthy Divines of this and other Nations 2 Practical whereof principally in this Tract with limitation to our proper subject The two first Heads are dispatched We proceed with the next It must then be first of all affirmed believed and granted That the a Gen. 17.1 35.11 Ex. 6.3 Ru. 1.21 Job 8.5 11.7 Isa 13.6 Ez. 1.24 10.5 Joel 1.15 2 Co. 6.18 Rev. 1.8 4.8 15.3 19.15 21.22 Almighty and b Deu. 33.27 Ps 41.13 90.2 103.17 Isa 43 10. 53.8 Jer. 31.3 Ro. 1.20 1 T. 1.17 Rev. 1.8 Dan. 4.34 Eternal God c See pa. 18. a. Jehovah the d Gen. 1.1 2.4 Ex. 20.11 2 Ch. 2.12 Neh. 9.6 Job 31.15 38.4,5 c. Ps 33.9 100.3 136.5,6 146.6 148.5 149.2 Isa 42.5 44.2 45.18 66.1,2 Jer. 10.12,16 Am. 4.13 Jon. 1.9 Mal. 2.10 Jo. 1.3 Acts 14.15 17.24,26 Ro. 1.25 Eph. 3.9 Col 1.16 Heb. 1.2 Rev. 4.11 10.6 Creatour e Gen. 45.5,7 Deu. 33.27 Neh. 9.6 Job 7.20 38.29,40,41 Ps 36.6 65.9 c. 78.19,20,21 104.10 c. 147.8,9 Eccl. 1.9 3.15 Isa 40.26 Jer. 49.11 Mat. 6.26 28. L. 12.24,27 Acts 14.17 Heb 1.3 2 P. 3.4 Mat 10.29 Conserver and f Gen. 18.25 Deu. 1.17 1 K. 22.19,20 c. 2 Ch. 19.6 20.6 Job 21.22 38.11 Ps 22.28 29.10 58.11 65.7 66.7 75.6,7 89.9 99.1 104. 135.6 Pro. 8.16 Isa 6.1 33.22 40.22 45.12 51.5 Ez. 34.17,20 44.24 Dan. 5.21 7.9,14 4.32,37 Zep. 3.5 Mat. 23.22 Jo. 8.50 1 Co. 5.13 Re. 5.13 Pro. 16.33 Governour of the World and all therein is the g Pi. 94.10 Pro. 2.6 Isa 30.1 40.28 Jer. 2.13 Dan. 2.20,21 Joel 3.18 Zec. 14.8 Jo. 4.10 Ro. 11.34 2 Co. 4.6 Rev. 7.17 21.6 ever-living Fountain the h Job 11.6 26.14 37.19,20,23,24 38. tot and 42.2 Ps 36.6 and 77 19. Isa 28.29 40.28 Ro. 11.23 and 16 27. Job 36.4 1 Ps 1.3 119.160 Isa 33.6 55.2 Mat. 24.35 2 Co. 4.7 Heb 10.34 1 P. 1.25 2 Mat. 6.20 L. 16.26 3 Job 20.13,15,18 Pro. 3.14,15 8.11,18,19 bottomless boundless Ocean the 1 immarcescible 2 inviolable 3 inestimable inexhaustible Treasury of Wisedom and Knowledge yea i Job 12.12,13,16 Pro. 8.12,14 L. 11.49 1 Co. 1.24,30 Wisedom it self whose k Ps 33.11 and 90.4 and 102.24,26,27 Isa 40.28 and 57,16 and 59.1 Jer. 15.18,19,20,21 Zep. 3.5 Heb 13.8 everflowing never failing nor ebbing Fulness l Job 32.8 Ps 65.9,10,12 Pro. 1.23 and 2.6 and 8.21 and 18.4 Eccl 9.1 Isa 11.9 Jer 23.24 and 31.25 hab 2.14 L. 3.5 Jo 1.16 and 7.38 Eph 1.23 and 4.10 Ia 1.5 diffuseth infuseth and sweetly distilleth it self m Mat 6.8 L 12.30 Ph 4.19 Ja 1.5 in fittest Measure and Proportion into and throughout all Parts Lineaments and Intestines of his Creation And that all the vast derived Wisdom and Knowledge in how great or high degree soever imaginable in the Creatures n 2 S. 14.17,20 1 K. 4.29,31 Men or Angels yea the confluence of it all compared with that unsearchâ—ble unconceivable Immensity Profundity Sublimity and Perfection thereof which is in God though competent for themselves is yet unspeakably o Job 5.12,13 and 9.10 and 11.7 and 8.9 and 37.19 and 38.2 c. and 42.3 Ps 69.5 Pro 21.30 Eccl 3.11 Isa 9.17 and 41.28 and 44.25 Jer 10.14 Mic 4.12 1 Co 1.25 and 3.20 short and shallow yea so small and feeble a spark is it and hath so p Job 28.12,13,20,21 dim Appearance or Being in us that in this respect and comparison God cals or accounts not onely the wisest of Men but his most excellent Angels q Job 12.17,24 and 4.18 Pro 21.30 Isa 19.11,13 and 44.25 Jer 4.22 and 5.4,21 and 51.17 Ez 13.3 L 24.25 Ro 3.11 Deu 32.6 Fools Now there are few but know Who is Davids or Solomons Fool whom we may term Fool by Statute yet lest any pretend ignorance herein they may turn and see that even r Ps 5.4,5 and 14.1 and 73.3 and 74.18 and 107.17 Pro 9.13 and 10.23 and 14.9 and 19.1 Eccl 5.4 and 7.25 Dan 12.10 the Wicked are they if we may trust either the princely Prophet or Preacher who do thus explain them Wisdom is s Pro 14.6 hid from scorners and t Job 28.28 Pro 15.33 is found with them onely that fear the Lord. And because the word Wicked hath so wide a Construction as none will own or apply it Remember it is the proper and peculiar Badge of those who u Ps 1.1 Pro 6.13 and 10.23 Isa 5.18 Jer 8.6 and 13 23. Hos 10.13 Mic 2.1 customarily and x 1 K 21.20 2 K. 17.17 Job 20.11,12.13 Ps 5.9 and 36.4 and 58.2 and 59.5 Pro 4.16,17 and 6.14 and 26.25 Eccl 8.11 Isa 59.4 Mal 1.42 L 11.39 Eph 4.19 habitually walk contrary to or beside the sacred Word and
3.12 20.25 feeble Faith If Scripture then and Reason so concurr as in the present case they seem to do what letteth from beleeving that the Christian Husband being Head of his Wife as Christ is of his Church and so compleatly qualified as before may for urgent Cause as well and warrantably chasten as cherish his Wise Now Christ we have heard hath sundry wayes to correct his Church his Wife but we are here to take Correction for Blows or actual Beating of the Body A servant or other offending Inferior saith Solomon will b Pr. 29.19 not be corrected by words In our Progress we are to note that the practicall knowledge of our humane Husband is expressed of the holy spirit by the Word c 1 P. 3.7 Dwelling Which as it is exercised in the contemplative doctrinall or directive way we are here to wave or omit for Reasons d Page 20. before shewed and apply us onely to the disciplinary Part. To our readier Access and proceeding it will conduce much to know That by my Dwelling and converse in the World among Men and Women I have discern'd and discover'd some odd and uncoth Tenets and Principles the ordinary ones doe follow too of certain-uncertain Wives by vertue whereof when they please they can as they talk of Hocus wipe off even all Affinity with their Husbands or at least will live and e LADY is too low a style for them Lord it by them They were hatched I suppose in Ignatius his Conclave for they chirp on this fashion 1. That their Husband hath nothing to do with them viz. as to reprove or admonish them For 2. Their Soul their Tongue and All 's their own they may speake what they please in their own not their Husbands House without Controll or Question yea may lawfully sweare while wronged or provoked 3 That the disposing of unfort unate Marriages so they call them are not by appointment or Providence of God but brought about by the Devill and his Agents 4. That if a Woman have had one or more former Husbands he that she now hath is not her Husband longer then he pleaseth her what is he then I pray and what shee And they cite f Jo. 4.18 Isa 4.1 Scripture for it if any therefore were ignotum Ignatio it is likely This. 5. If they have an Husband that is conscious of his Place and Duty they presently apply this Plaister which was hardly fitted to their wounded spirit g Job 3.25 The thing I greatly feared is come upon Me to wit the Plague of subjection to my Husband as with a h Jer. 31.18 Bullock unaccustomed to the Yoke 6. Though they may yeild themselves a little a-kin to their Husband and perchance somewhat kind for carnall ends yet the i See p. 48. a c. noble or gentle Blood bubbling and boiling in their veines or the pregnant Mother-wit capering in their Brain or the l Dan. 4.30 inestimable-matchless Means they brought still rolling in their mind and mouth as indeed the most m Eccl. 10.19 obvious and sensible Incentive All or any of these say they is evidence enough for Priority Predominance or in English Mastery over the simple-honest Man the Husband Who if he can but keep himself from abusing his Laydy-Lord's Allowance to surfet or further Blemishing her Honour hath as much Command and Charge as he is capable of or as many an unworthy Man cares for And there are some good Women under the honoured degree of Ladies-indeed whom we know loth to bear or be known by their Husbands Name whether out of Modesty or Majesty judge yee The Custome of this your Nation condemning them and the n Isa 4.1 Scripture also seeming to comfirm it But we leave this schismaticall Sect to enjoy themselves and their Husband or what they call him at their pleasure What shall we say to these Women or how may they be treated withall to their own content or satisfaction It would be too tedious and almost impossible to fit them all with Answers suitable to their Fancy or Size These their Tenets are all no doubt the spurious Issue or Products of adulterous Parents o Ps 73.6 Pr. 6.16,17 21.4 30.13 Ro. 1.30 Pride and p Job 21.14 Ps 10.4 14.1 73.11 Eph. 2.12 Tit. 1.16 Atheism the Posterity or Fry of that infamous q L. 10.18 Jude 6 2 P. 2.4 Progenitor that infernall Leviathan who is r Job 41.34 King and Father of them and will not cease to spawn and spread till God shall quite cut him off and s Rev. 20.10 cast him into the Lake of Fire and Brimstone and thenceforth eternally secure and cleare the t Rev. 20.9 beloved City from his cunning Circumventions and contagious Infusions But the five first being more monstrous then the last we shall at once rid them out of our way by referring those Phoenix's if the simile will reach and hold the Professors thereof to a few u Gen. 2.24 20.16 Num. 5.27,31 30.6 to th' end 36. all Pr. 31.11 Isa 45.7 Am. 3.6 Mal. 2.14,15 Mat. 19.5 M. 10.8 1 Co. 6.16 7.4,16 14.35 Eph. 5.23 Ro. 7.2 They may sort these Texts themselves and apply them Texts of holy Scripture which if it will not fit our Turn as well as their's we shall subscribe to their Principles The 6 Tenet being more frequent and familiar and so more infectious we shall more intensly pursue by answering and absolving it as God enableth For under this not excluding the rest are couched all the Cases wherein or Quaere's whether the Christian Husband dwelling or walking in a consciencious Knowledge with his Wife is to exercise any coactive or corrective Power over her or how he shall fadg with such harsh and hatefull Interferings as partly are and are to be decipher'd and are possibly and too apparently to be found in some Wives These will distinctly appeare in their Order and season and we conceive come more clearly off in way of Objection and Answer then otherwise CHAP. VI. Whether a good Man must or may correct or beat his bad Wife Objections answered WE are here to encounter an Army of Objections which on every Wing come like Swarms buzzing about our eares Those of most Weight and Worth are admitted and respectively answer'd the rest dismissed till other Oportunity For even the best and soundest here presented will haply be found to relish of and flow as much from Affection which indeed is commendable if not meerly naturall as from Judgement in the Objectors though otherwise it may be most judicious Who need not be minded what n 1 K. 11.3 Neh. 13.26 Weaknesses the wisest Men on earth have incurr'd or contracted by too much Indulgence in this kinde There needs no great curiosity in their Order but take them as they come to hand Some have either fully or in part their Answer already to which wee 'l
was in Christ Jesus To whom David complain'd d Ps 130.3 If thou Lord shouldest mark Iniquities O Lord Who shall stand Even the e Isa 57.16 spirit should fail before thee and the souls which thou hast made And we must not conceive of Christ as one that expects so regular and exact a Cariage in any of us Male or Female as to render us harmless and blameless much less One that lyes at Catch or advantage to take us tripping as if we had a strength of our own distinct from his whereby to stand against or without him For why then needed he be f Heb. 5.1,2 ordain'd an high Priest to have Compassion on the ignorant and them that are out of g Jer. 6.16 Ps 119.14 the way For while we stay or start aside to play with this or that Toy and Trifle he tarries on us and will not away without us hee 'l not leave nor lose one but the h Jo. 17.12 Son of Perdition c. though we are inconstant he i Mal. 3.6 changeth not yea though we l 2 T. 2.13 believe not he abideth Faithfull he cannot deny himself Or what needed he be m Heb. 4.15 tempted in all points as we are but that he might be touched with the feeling of our Infirmities and be able n Heb. 2.18 to succour the tempted to o 2 Co. 12.9 Ps 55 22. Isa 41.10 support us in all our weaknesses or rather p Isa 53.4 Mat. 8.17 sustain them for us For although never any Temptation q Heb. 4.15 could fasten on him or r Jo. 14.30 find place with him yet was he more forcibly and no doubt as frequently assaulted as we Causes in particular This Correction then if allowable at all must be for no less then high heady habituall sins and Affronts And these 1. Against God striking at his soveraignty by denying or disputing his Power and Providence by blaspheming his Name and Word with horrid Oaths and Execrations by reproaching his Religion Truth and People with Taunts Invectives and the like 2. Against her Husband Either 1. In his superiority as he is Gods deputy and vice-gerent over her For whom doth shee reproach and blaspheme Not Hezekiah not her Husband but s Isa 37.23 1 Th. 4.8 the holy one of Israel and t Tit. 2.5 his holy Word by lifting up her hand against him in the lowest or least Degree by not onely neglecting but contemning and rejecting his pious just or reasonable Commands and pleading against his Prerogative and Power It may be wished this Infirmity were less predominant in many of the weaker Vessels Where subjection is yeilded due although but lame and imperfect in the Performance it mollifieth much and hideth a multitude of Infirmities u 1 T. 2.12 But when Gods Ordinances are struck or levell'd at so near the root the Fence had need be the firmer the Repulses more impetuous or forcible He that magnifies the rib so much If he shall find it not content according to its naturall Inclination to ly crooked by his side but a-cross at his Head will he think it seemly or sufferable I suspect not Or 2. In his Personall-domestick Quiet by customary scolding railing and Clamors against him especially or others in his Presence with uncoth and odious Names or bitter and biting Terms Or 3. In his Credit and Reputation by either Raising seconding or seeming to countenance or allow any scandall or Reproach upon him abhorring as some do to hear of the least Good or good Parts in him as if a part of her Reproach and Infamy Or 4. In his Estate by wilfull excessive and sinfull Wast unto Riot and Luxury 3. Against their Neighbours by sowing discord among them or betwixt any and her Husband by frequent scolding Reviling Tale-bearing and the like And all or any of this after and in contempt of the fair and frequent Expostulation of her Husband and when neither Perswasion or Reproof can penetrate If these I say or any of these be wilfully persisted in by the Wife after Reproof where now lyeth a Mans Relief for himself or hope of her Reformation It will not be much unseasonable here to insert how that when I asked an esteemed able Minister of the Gospell what course was to be taken for Coertion or Reducement of an unreasonable-unruly Woman He replyed adding that it was also the Resolution of other Judicious Divines in this very Case That even in point of Scandall where the Wife is notoriously in Fault yet the harmless Husband is to be convened and questioned by the Church It should seem then I said That you account of the Husband as Judge Justice and Bishop to the Wife He replyed yes The Ecclesiasticall Power then it seems will not interpose 'twixt Man and Wife herein at all What the Civil or secular Power can do I perfectly know not but I suppose it will not meddle except in case of extreme Cruelty and mortall danger It seems the Wife is Exlex out of all Jurisdiction So that the Husband by like hath no Refuge or Remedy left him in any lower Respect but his own Power and Prudence Nor these neither if he be strictly restraind as in the Objection to Prayer Patience and Humiliation But I hear it Objected again Object Why Those Virago's are but rare that will offer any such violence or vile Indignities to God or their Husband as are laid down If any do the Man must demean and defend himself as well as he may And for the Trespass of the Tongue 't is not worth heeding or talking of Words are but Wind a Woman hath none other Weapon shee is the weaker Vessell and must be born with and the like Answ 1. Yea many such Man-keen Amazons no doubt there are in the World that mantle it both against God and their Husbands These God will surely deal withall if Man cannot 2. David and other holy Men of God where they treat of the x Pr. 21.23 31.10,26 Profit and Praise the y Ps 52.2,4 73 2. 120.2 Pr. 4.24 18.21 21.9,19 27.15 Jer. 18.18 Poison and Pernitiousness the z Ps 12.3 52.5 59.12,13 64.8 120.3,4 140.9,10,11 Plague and Punishment of the Tongue do make no distinction of sex And Women must shew us better Warrant for their Exemption and Liberty then their bare Word for that 's not so easily admissible a 1 Co. 14.35 1 T. 2.11,12 in the Church as in Market or other Meetings But let us once more salute them in their own Logick Words they say are but wind It s true But if Satan b It s a common not so true yet practis'd Proverb That must needs go which the D drives blow the Bellows it often proves so venemous and violent as to blast or bear down all before it Words are their onely VVeapons Be it so and while