Then & Now · 13 of 19

12. Of the Wife

CHAP. 12.

Of the Wife.

12. Of the Wife

THe wife is the other married person, who being subiect to her husband, yeeldeth obedience vnto him.

The wife is the other married person, who being subject to her husband, yieldeth obedience unto him.

Touching the subiection of the wife, the word of God mētioneth it in sundrie places. Rom. 7. 2. p. 130 The woman which is in subiection to the man, is bound by the law to the man, while he liueth. Ephes. 5. 24. As the Church is in subiection to Christ, euen so let the wiues bee to their husbands in euery thing. Colos. 3. 18. Wiues submit your selues vnto your husbands, as it is comely in the Lord. 1. Tim. 2. 12. I permit not a woman—to vsurpe authoritie ouer the man. And it was a law established by God immediately after the fal, Gen. 3. 16. Vnto the woman he said, I wil greatly increase, &c. and thy desire shal be subiect to thine husband, and he shall rule ouer thee. Indeed the daughter, according to the Ciuill law, euen when shee is married is⁶⁶ in the power of her father, and not of her husband. But this is directly against the law of Moses, and crosseth the law of Nature, Leuit. 22. 12. 13. Numb. 30. 13.

66. In potestate patris.

Touching the subjection of the wife, the word of God mentioneth it in sundry places. Rom‸ 7:‸2. The woman which is in subjection to the man, is bound by the law to the man, while he liveth. Eph 5:‸24. As the Church is in subjection to Christ, even so let the wives be to their husbands in every thing. Col 3:‸18. Wives submit your selves unto your husbands, as it is comely in the Lord. 1‸ Tim‸ 2:‸12. I permit not a woman—to usurp authority over the man. And it was a law established by God immediately after the fall, Gen‸ 3:‸16. Unto the woman he said, I will greatly increase, etc‸. and thy desire shall be subject to thine husband, and he shall rule over thee. Indeed the daughter, according to the Civil law, even when she is married is⁶⁵ in the power of her father, and not of her husband. But this is directly against the law of Moses, and crosseth the law of nature, Lev 22:‸12, 13. Num 30:‸13.

65. In potestate patris.

Now the duties of the wife, are principally two.

The first is, to submit her selfe to her husband; and to acknowledge and reuerence him as her head in all things. Gen. 20. 16. Likewise Abimelech said vnto Sarah; Behold thy brother, that is, thy p. 131 husband, whom thou callest thy brother, is the vaile of thine eyes to all that are with thee. As if he should say, Thy husband is thy head, and hath power ouer thee, and thou oughtest to reuerence him. For of ancient times, the wife was couered with a vaile in the presence of her husband, in token of subiection to him. Thus Rebekah at the sight of Isaak tooke a vaile, and couered her head therewith, Gen. 24. 65. 1. Cor. 11. 3. The man is the womans head. Ephes. 5. 22. Wiues submit your selues vnto your husbands, as vnto the Lord; for the husband is the wiues head, euen as Christ is the head of his Church. The reason hereof is good. For the wife enioyeth the priuiledges of her husband, and is graced by his honor and estimation amongst men. His Nobilitie maketh her noble, though otherwise shee is base and meane; as contrariwise, his basenesse and low degree, causeth her, though shee bee by birth noble and honorable, to bee by estate base and meane.

The first is, to submit her self to her husband; and to acknowledge and reverence him as her head in all things. Gen‸ 20:‸16. Likewise Abimelech said unto Sarah; Behold thy brother, that is, thy husband, whom thou callest thy brother, is the veil of thine eyes to all that are with thee. As if he should say, Thy husband is thy head, and hath power over thee, and thou oughtest to reverence him. For of ancient times, the wife was covered with a veil in the presence of her husband, in token of subjection to him. Thus Rebekah at the sight of Isaac took a veil, and covered her head therewith, Gen‸ 24:‸65. 1‸ Cor‸ 11:‸3. The man is the woman’s head. Eph 5:‸22. Wives submit your selves unto your husbands, as unto the Lord; for the husband is the wife’s head, even as Christ is the head of his Church. The reason hereof is good. For the wife enjoyeth the privileges of her husband, and is graced by his honor and estimation amongst men. His Nobility maketh her noble, though otherwise she is base and mean; as contrariwise, his baseness and low degree, causeth her, though she be by birth noble and honorable, to be by estate base and mean.

The second dutie is, to be obedient vnto her husband in all things; that is, p. 132 wholly to depend vpon him, both in iudgement and will. For looke as the Church yeelds obedience to Christ her head, and yeelds her selfe to be commanded, gouerned, and directed by him, so ought the woman to the man. So Sarah is said to obey Abraham, and to giue him the termes of obedience, Shee called him Lord, or Sir, 1. Pet. 3. 6. Hence it followeth, that the woman is not to take libertie of wandring, and straying abroad from her owne house, without the mans knowledge & cōsent. 2. King. 4. 22. Then she called to her husband and said, Send with me, I pray thee, one of the yong men, and one of the asses; for I will haste to the man of God, and come againe. Againe, that shee is to follow her husband, when hee flitteth or departeth from place to place, vnlesse hee forsake either her or Christ. To this purpose Paul saith hee had power to lead about a wife, being a sister, as well as the rest of the Apostles, 1. Cor. 9. 5. Thus Sarah went with Abraham into Egypt, Gen. 12. 11. and out of Egypt, Gen. 13. 1. and to Gerar to soiourne there, Gen. 20. 1. 2. 3. Thus p. 133 the wiues of Iacob departed with him, from their father Laban, Gen. 31. 17.

The second duty is, to be obedient unto her husband in all things; that is, wholly to depend upon him, both in judgement and will. For look as the Church yields obedience to Christ her head, and yields her self to be commanded, governed, and directed by him, so ought the woman to the man. So Sarah is said to obey Abraham, and to give him the terms of obedience, She called him Lord, or Sir, 1‸ Pet‸ 3:‸6. Hence it followeth, that the woman is not to take liberty of wandering, and straying abroad from her own house, without the man’s knowledge & consent. 2 Kgs 4:‸22. Then she called to her husband and said, Send with me, I pray thee, one of the young men, and one of the asses; for I will haste to the man of God, and come again. Again, that she is to follow her husband, when he flitteth or departeth from place to place, unless he forsake either her or Christ. To this purpose Paul saith he had power to lead about a wife, being a sister, as well as the rest of the Apostles, 1‸ Cor‸ 9:‸5. Thus Sarah went with Abraham into Egypt, Gen‸ 12:‸11. And out of Egypt, Gen‸ 13:‸1. And to Gerar to sojourn there, Gen‸ 20:‸1, 2, 3. Thus the wives of Jacob departed with him, from their father Laban, Gen‸ 31:‸17.

Contrary to these duties, are the sins of wiues; To be proud, to be vnwilling to beare the authority of their husbāds; to chide and braule with bitternes; to forsake their houses, &c. Prou. 27. 15. A continuall dropping in the day of raine, and a contentious woman are alike. vers. 16. He that hideth her, hideth the winde, & she is as the oyle in his right hand, that vttereth it selfe. Exod. 4. 26. Then Zipporah said, O bloodie husband; because of the Circumcision. It was the fault of the Leuites Concubine, Iudg. 19. 2. Who played the whore, and went away from him vnto her fathers house to Bethlem Iudah, and there continued the space of foure moneths. It was the sinne of Queene Vashi, who refused to come at the Kings word, which he had giuen in charge to the Eunuches: therefore the King was verie angrie, and his warth kindled in him, Ester 1. 12. Lastly, to be a cause of griefe to their kindred. Thus the proud wiues of Esau, the daughters of the Hittites, were a griefe of mind to Isaak and Rebekah, Gen. 26. 35. & 27. 46.

Contrary to these duties, are the sins of wives; To be proud, to be unwilling to bear the authority of their husbands; to chide and brawl with bitterness; to forsake their houses, etc‸. Prov‸ 27:‸15. A continual dropping in the day of rain, and a contentious woman are alike. vers. 16. He that hideth her, hideth the wind, & she is as the oil in his right hand, that uttereth it self. Exod‸ 4:‸26. Then Zipporah said, O bloody husband; because of the Circumcision. It was the fault of the Levites concubine, Judg‸ 19:‸2. Who played the whore, and went away from him unto her father’s house to Bethlehem Judah, and there continued the space of four months. It was the sin of Queen Vashti, who refused to come at the King’s word, which he had given in charge to the Eunuchs: therefore the King was very angry, and his wrath kindled in him, Esth 1:‸12. Lastly, to be a cause of grief to their kindred. Thus the proud wives of Esau, the daughters of the Hittites, were a grief of mind to Isaac and Rebekah, Gen‸ 26:‸35; 27:‸46.