§. 39. Of a wiues

ſubiection to her husband about children. to Obiect. Her fault was not in that as a wife ſhe came not to her husband, but in that as a ſubiect ſhe came not to her Soueraigne.

§. 39. Of a wiues

ſubiection to her husband about children.

A wife may not ſimply without, or directly againſt her huſbands conſent, order and diſpoſe of the children in giuing them names, apparelling their bodies, appointing their callings, places of bringing vp, mariages, or portions.

1. For giuing names to children, beſides that it is throughout the Scripture for the moſt part enioyned to the husband, as to Abraham, to Zacharias, and to others, and that accordingly husbands haue ordinarily done, as Adam,

Lamech,

Abraham, and others. It is to be noted that when there was a difference betwixt the man and his wife in giuing a childes name, he giuing one name, ſhe another, the name which he gaue, ſtood; though Rachel named her youngeſt ſonne Benoni, yet Beniamin (which name Iaakob gaue) was the childes name. So alſo when Elizabeth told her friends that her childes name muſt be Iohn, they would not reſt therein, till Zacharias had ratified that name. Yea though Ioſeph were but the ſuppoſed father of Ieſus, yet becauſe he was the huſband of Mary the mother of Ieſus, he had this honour giuen him, to giue the name vnto her childe.

Whereas in Scripture it is ſometimes ſaid that the mothers named their children, as Leah,

Rahel, and others, it is vpon the forenamed ground to be ſuppoſed that they had their husbands conſent.

2. For appointing place and mariage it is noted that Rebekah asked the conſent of her husband: though ſhe told her ſonne Iaakob that he ſhould goe to Haran to his vncle Laban to be there kept in ſafety from the fury of Eſau, yet ſhe would not ſend him till Iſaak had giuen his conſent for his abode there, and taking a wife from thence.

3. For deputing vnto a calling, it is noted of Annah, that though before her childe was borne ſhe had by ſolemne vow dedicated him to the Lord, yet when the childe was borne ſhe asked her husbands conſent about it.

4. That which is noted of Annahs carrying a little coat to

her ſonne yeare by yeare when ſhe went vp with her husband, ſheweth that ſhe did it not without her husbands conſent. Women are for the moſt part prone to pranke vp their children aboue their husbands place and calling, and therefore good reaſon that therein they ſhould be gouerned by their husbands.

Obiect.

What if husbands be more forward to haue their children attired vainly and vnſeemely, then wiues?

Anſw. A wife muſt doe what ſhe can to hinder it: if ſhe can no way preuaile with him, ſhe by reaſon of her ſubiection is much more excuſed, then he could be, if he would ſuffer his wife therein to haue her will.

5. The law that layeth the charge vpon husbands to giue ſuch and ſuch portions to his children, and the anſwerable practiſe of husbands from time to time, ſhew that the wife of her ſelfe hath not power to order them.

§. 40. Of a wiues

ſubiection to her husband about ordering ſeruants and beaſts.

If wiues muſt haue their husbands conſent in ordering and diſpoſing of their children which come out of her wombe, much more of their ſeruants.

They may not take in, or thruſt out ſeruants againſt their husbands minde. In this point, as in many other, Sarah manifeſted her wiue-like obedience; in that ſhe would not deale roughly with her maid though ſhe were prouoked: much leſſe put her out of doores till ſhe had made the matter knowne to her husband. Though ſhe failed in the manner, yet in the thing it ſelfe ſhe is a good example. It is further noted and approued in the Shunemite that ſhe asked her husbands conſent about ſending a ſeruant with her.

My meaning is not that ſuch wiues as haue ſeruants allowed them to attend vpon them ſhould aske their husbands conſent whenſoeuer they haue occaſion to vſe them; for their husbands by allowing them men for their attendance manifeſt their will and conſent that they may vſe them as they ſee occaſion: but that they ſhould not vſe and imploy their ſeruants in ſuch things as they know their husbands would diſlike, except they can gaine their husbands conſent.

Againſt thoſe particulars of children and ſeruants it may be obiected, that wiues are parents of their children as well as husbands, and miſtreſſes of ſeruants as well as they maſters, and therefore haue altogether as great power ouer them as their husbands.

Anſw. Indeed if the authority of the husband come not betweene, that may be granted in relation betwixt her and them: but her power being ſubordinate to her husbands in relation to him ſhe hath not ſo great a power: the power of a wife that now we ſpeake of is directly in relation to her husband.

The like may be ſaid of their beaſts and cattell, a particular point noted alſo in the example of the Shunemite, who hauing occaſion to vſe a beaſt went to her husband, and ſaid, ſend I pray thee with me one of the aſſes.

§. 41. Of a wiues

ſubiection in entertaining ſtrangers iournying abroad, and making vowes.

If wiues may not at their pleaſure vſe the things appertaining to the houſe, much leſſe may they bring ſtrangers into the houſe and entertaine them without or againſt their huſbands conſent. The good Shunemite ſo often named as a preſident for good wiues, firſt asked her husbands conſent, before ſhe lodged a Prophet of the Lord.

The ſame patterne is alſo commended vnto wiues to moue them not to iourney abroad without their husbands conſent. For though that good wife had a very weighty and iuſt occaſion to goe vnto the Prophet, yet ſhe would not before ſhe knew her husbands minde.

As for a wiues power to make vowes, in that the law giueth an husband power to diſanull her vow when he knoweth it, it implieth that ſhe ought to haue his conſent in making it, if at leaſt ſhe deſire to haue it eſtabliſhed, which ſhe ought to deſire, or elſe ſhe mocketh God.

I haue thought good to mention theſe particular points for illuſtration of a wiues ſubiection, becauſe they are all of them grounded on Gods word: many other might be added to them, but theſe are ſufficient.

§. 42. Of aberrations contrary to a wiues ſubiection in doing things without or againſt their husbands conſent.

Now conſider we the vſuall vices and aberrations contrary to thoſe duties: the generall ſumme of all is, for a wife to take on her to doe what ſhe liſt, whether her husband will or no, either not willing that he ſhould know what ſhe doth, or not caring though it be againſt his minde and will. Of this ſort are

1. Such as priuily take money out of their husbands cloſets, counters, or other like places where he laieth it, neuer telling him of it, nor willing that he ſhould know it: likewiſe ſuch as after the like manner take ware out of the ſhop, corne out of the garner, ſheepe out of the flocke, or any other goods to ſell and make money of: or to giue away, or otherwiſe to vſe ſo as their husbands ſhall neuer know, if they can hinder it. Such wiues herein ſinne hainouſly, and that in many reſpects.

Firſt they diſobey the ordinance of God in a maine branch of their particular calling, which is ſubiection.

2. They ill repay the care and paines which their husbands take for their good. Many ſuch wiues recompence euill for good, which is a deuilliſh qualitie.

3. They are oft a meanes to impaire and impoueriſh their husbands eſtate.

4. They ſhew themſelues no better then pilfring theeues thereby. All that can be iuſtly and truly ſaid for their right in the common goods, cannot defend them from the guilt of theft: they are the more dangerous by how much the more they are truſted, and leſſe ſuſpected: and their fact is ſo much the more hainous by how much the more deere their husbands ought to be vnto them.

5. They are a verie ill example to other inferiours in the houſe, for ſeldome hath a man a deceitfull wife, but ſome of the children or ſeruants, are made acceſſarie thereunto, being made her inſtruments to take the goods, and beſtow them as ſhe ordereth, and ſo are made vnfaithfull.

6. They make themſelues ſlaues to their owne children and

ſeruants, whom they dare not diſpleaſe, leſt they ſhould tell what was done.

7. They teach their children and ſeruants to be theeues: for beſides that ſuch as are vſed by their miſtreſſes to purloine for them, are thereby made acceſſarie to their ſinne, they will alſo purloine for themſelues, when their miſtreſſes ſhall not know. So as what with the wiues purloining one way, and the childrens or ſeruants another way, a mans eſtate may be waſted as dew before the Sunne, and he not know which way.

2. Such as will haue what allowance they thinke beſt for themſelues and family, and ſcornfully ſay, They will not be at their husbands finding: they know beſt what allowance is fitteſt for the family, and that it ſhall haue. Many will make their huſbands eare tingle againe, yea and make the whole houſe (if not the ſtreet alſo) ring of it, if they thinke their allowance be not anſwerable to the vttermoſt extent of their husbands eſtate. This impatiencie and inſolencie, as it croſſeth Gods ordinance, ſo it maketh both their liues vncomfortable.

3. Such as cocker, attire, or any way bring vp their children otherwiſe then their husbands would, euen to the griefe and diſhonour of their husbands: keeping them at home when their husbands, for their better education, would haue them abroad: as theſe ſinne in hindring the good of their children, ſo alſo in not yeelding to their husbands.

4. Such as will haue their owne will about ſeruants, taking in, and putting out whom they pleaſe, and when they pleaſe: vſing ſome ſeruants whom they finde for their turne to the preiudice of their husbands: and carying themſelues ſo ſharply and ſhrewiſhly to others that are for their husbands turne, as a good, truſtie, faithfull ſeruant cannot long ſtay in the houſe.

5. Such as ſecretly lend out their husbands horſes, or other like cattell, more reſpecting to pleaſure a vaine friend, then to pleaſe a good husband. This fault is ſo much the greater, when it is done to the dammage and preiudice of the husband.

6. Such as are then moſt frolicke and iolly, when their huſbands are furtheſt off and cannot know it. Salomon ſets it downe as a note of a ſtrumpet, then to tricke vp her houſe and to ſeeke for gueſts, when her husband is gone a iourney farre

off. Then ought ſhe to be moſt ſolitarie, and by abſtaining from merrie meetings, to ſhew that there can be no greater dampe to her mirth, then the abſence of her husband.

7. Such as thinke their houſes a priſon vnto them, that cannot long tarrie at home: they thinke they haue power to goe when and whither they will, and to tarrie out as long as they liſt, thinke their husbands of it what they will. The Apoſtle layeth downe this as a marke of a wanton wife, and an idle houſe-wife, being idle (ſaith he) they goe about from houſe to houſe: therefore in another place he exhorteth them to be keepers at home. The Wiſe-man goeth further, and maketh this to be another note of a ſtrumpet, that her feet cannot abide in the houſe: which we may ſee verified in the Leuites adulterous wife, whoſe fearefull end was a ſtampe of Gods iudgement on ſuch looſe lewdneſſe.

8. Such as care not how or what they binde themſelues vnto without their husbands conſent, or knowledge: Herein eſpecially offend ſuch as being ſeduced by Ieſuites, Prieſts, or Friers, take the Sacrament, and thereupon by ſolemne vow and oath binde themſelues neuer to read an Engliſh Bible, nor any Proteſtants bookes, no nor to goe to any of their Churches, or to heare any of their Sermons: and ſuch moſt of all as enter into ſome Popiſh Nunnery, and vow neuer to returne to their husbands againe.

Obiect.

Annah vowed her childe to God without her huſbands conſent, why may not they much more vow themſelues to God?

Anſw. Aſſuredly ſhe was perſwaded that her husband would not be againſt it, and ſo had an implicit conſent: which may well be gathered, becauſe afterwards ſhe made it knowne to him, as both the name giuen to the childe, and that ſpeech of Annah, I will bring him that he may appeare before the Lord, and there abide for euer, and the anſwer of her husband, The Lord eſtabliſh his word, and his going vp with her when he was dedicated to the Lord, doe all ſhew.

Thus farre of the firſt branch of a wiues ſubmiſſion in abſtaining from doing things without her husbands conſent. The ſecond followeth, in doing the things which herequireth.

§. 43. Of a wiues actiue Obedience.

It is a good proofe and triall of a wiues obedience, to abſtaine from doing ſuch things as otherwiſe ſhe would doe, if her huſbands contrarie will did not reſtraine her: but yet that is not ſufficient, there muſt be an actiue, as well as a paſſiue obedience yeelded. That old Law before mentioned (thy deſire ſhall be ſubiect to thine husband, and he ſhall rule ouer thee) implieth ſo much alſo. If ſhe refuſe to doe what he would haue her to doe, her deſire is not ſubiect to him, but to her ſelfe, neither doth he rule ouer her.

This actiue part of her obedience hath reſpect

1. To his commandements, readily to doe what he lawfully commands.

2. To his reproofes, carefully to redreſſe what he iuſtly blameth.

For the firſt, ſo farre ought a wife to be from thinking ſcorne to be commanded by her husband, that the very knowledge which by any meanes ſhe hath of her husbands minde and will, [gap]ought to haue the force of a ſtraight commandement with her. This readineſſe to obey is commended in the wiues of Iaakob, to whom when Iaakob had declared what motiues he had to depart from their fathers houſe, intimating thereby that he meant to depart, and would haue them to goe with him, yet before he particularly expreſſed his will, they readily anſwered, Whatſoeuer God

hath ſaid vnto thee, doe: whereby they gaue him to vnderſtand that they were ready to yeeld vnto whatſoeuer he would haue done.

§. 44. Of a wiues willingneſſe to

dwell where her husband will.

To make this part of a wiues obedience ſomewhat more cleare, I will exemplifie it by two or three particular inſtances, recorded and approued in Gods word.

The firſt is, that a wife ought to be willing to dwell where her husband will haue her dwell.

The wiues of Abraham, Iſaak, and Iaakob, herein manifeſted their wiue-like obedience: though their husbands brought them from their owne countrey, and from their fathers houſe, yet they refuſed not to goe with them, but dwelt in a ſtrange countrey, and that in tents.

Note in particular what Iaakobs wiues ſay to their husband in this caſe, Is there any portion or inheritance for vs in our fathers

houſe? implying thereby, that ſeeing it was their husbands pleaſure to be gone, they would not any longer tarry in their fathers houſe, to looke for any more portion or inheritance there.

Theſe examples doe further ſhew that if an husband haue iuſt occaſion to remoue from one country to another, and in thoſe countries from place to place, his wife ought to yeeld to goe with him, if he require it at her hands. Note what the Apoſtle ſaith, haue we not power to lead about a wife? That interrogation implieth a ſtrong aſſeueration. The husband then hauing power to lead about a wife from place to place, ſhe ought to ſubmit her ſelfe to that power. This clauſe (as well as other Apoſtles, and as the brethren of the Lord and Cephas) ſheweth, that this was not only a power which might be vſed, but which was vſed by huſbands, and yeelded vnto by wiues.

Obiect. The forenamed examples are extraordinary, and that vpon extraordinary occaſions.

Anſw. Yet they may be patternes for ordinary occaſions which are lawfull and warrantable. Was it not an extraordinary fact of Eliah to pray firſt that there might be no raine, and then againe that there might be raine? yet is this propounded as a generall patterne to moue vs to pray for things lawfull.

Now in laying downe this dutie I added the clauſe and caueat of iuſt occaſion, to meet both with ſuch as vpon diſcontent, or ſuperſtition, leaue the land where the true Goſpell is maintained, and preached, and goe into idolatrous places: and alſo with ſuch wandring giddy heads as only to ſatisfie their owne humour, and to ſee faſhions, as we ſpeake, can neuer reſt in a place, but are continually remouing from countrey to countrey, and from place to place: I thinke (to vſe the words of the Apoſtle) a wife is not vnder bondage in ſuch caſeſ.

But if a man be ſent of an ambaſſage by his Prince, or countrey: or if a Preacher or Profeſſor be called into another countrey, as Bucer and Peter Martyr were into England in King Edwards daies (which to this day is vſuall in other countries) or if a man be adiudged vnto long impriſonment, and

vpon theſe and other like occaſions ſhall require his wife to be with him, ſhe ought in dutie to yeeld vnto his demand.

Contrary is the minde and practiſe of many wiues, who being affected and addicted to one place more then another, as to the place where they were bred and brought vp, where their greateſt, beſt, and moſt friends dwell, and where they haue good acquaintance, refuſe to goe and dwell where their husbands calling lieth, though he require, and deſire them neuer ſo much. Thus many husbands are forced to their great dammage for peace ſake to yeeld vnto their wiues, and ſo either to relinquiſh their calling, or to haue two houſes; whence it followeth, that ſometimes they muſt neglect their ſeruants and calling, and ſometimes be abſent from their wiues, if not from their children alſo. Some wiues pretend that they cannot endure the ſmoake of the citie, other that they cannot endure the aire of the countrie: whereas indeed their owne humour and conceit ſtuffes them more then either citie ſmoake or countrie aire. I cannot call ſuch the daughters of Sarah herein: they are not like thoſe forenamed holy women that truſted in God, and were ſubiect to their husbands, but rather like to that light houſewife of the Leuite, who would not dwell in her huſbands houſe at mount Ephraim, but at her fathers houſe in Beth-lehem Iudah. Such wiues as I ſpeake of, in matrimoniall chaſtitie may be more honeſt, but in wiuelike ſubiection are little more dutifull. Let this be taken for a fault, and it will be the ſooner amended.

§. 45. Of a wiues

readineſſe to come to her husband when he requires it.

Another particular inſtance of a wiues readineſſe to yeeld vnto her husbands commandement is, to come to her husband when her husband requireth it, either by calling her, or ſending for her. The forenamed wiues of Iaakob being ſent for to their husband in the field where he was, made no excuſe, but came preſently. So farre ought wiues herein to ſubiect their wills to their husbands, that though it may ſeeme to them ſome diſparagement to come, yet if their husbands will haue it ſo they muſt yeeld, otherwiſe they ſeeme euen to deſpiſe their husbands.

Contrary is Vaſhtie-like ſtoutneſſe, when wiues thinke and ſay, it is a ſeruants part to come when they are called or ſent for, and they will neuer yeeld to be their husbands ſeruants, to come at his command. By the ſame reaſon may all duties of ſubiection be reiected. But for this particular, let ſuch ſtout dames note the iſſue of Vaſhties ſtubbornneſſe. As many excuſes might be alleaged for her as I thinke for any: for Firſt, ſhe was royally deſcended, being the daughter of a King. Secondly, ſhe was then among the honourable women of the kingdome. Thirdly, the King was in drinke when he ſent for her. Fourthly, he ſent for her to ſhew her beautie before multitudes of men, which was not ſeemely. But all theſe were not ſufficient to excuſe her fault, and free her from blame. Firſt, though ſhe were of royall parentage, yet ſhe was a wife, and her husband ſent for her. Secondly, being among the noble women of the kingdome, ſhe ſhould the rather haue ſhewed her ſelfe a patterne of ſubiection in this kinde. Thirdly, though he were in drinke, yet remained he an husband: and the thing which he commanded was not ſuch but that ſhe might haue done it without ſinne. Fourthly, if ſhe thought the thing vnſeemely, ſhe ſhould firſt haue vſed all the faire meanes ſhe could to haue beene ſpared; but if by all ſhe could not haue preuailed, then (the thing being not ſimplie vnlawfull and a ſinne) ſhe ſhould haue yeelded.

Obiect. Her fault was not in that as a wife ſhe came not to her husband, but in that as a ſubiect ſhe came not to her Soueraigne.

Anſw. Her fault was in both: and in the iudgement paſſed againſt her, that former was moſt vrged, namely that by her example all women might learne to deſpiſe their husbands.