Marriage duties briefly couched together out of Colossians, 3. 18, 19. By Thomas Gataker…Marriage duties briefely couched togither out of Colossians, 3. 18, 19. By Thomas Gataker…

The like is to be said of the practise of such as are a means themselves to bring their husbands into decay and distress, and so procure trouble to them, by their inordinate courses and excessive expenses; whereby they cast them behind hand, and that to their utter overthrow and undoing oft times: and so in stead of helping to bear his burden with him, are a means to bring such a burden upon him, as neither of them both is well able to bear.

The like is to be said of the practise of such as are a meanes themselues to bring their husbands into decay and distresse, and so procure trouble to them, by their inordinate courses and excessiue expences; whereby they cast them behind hand, and that to their vtter ouerthrow and vndoing oft times: and so in stead of helping to beare his burden with him, are a meanes to bring such a burden vpon him, as neither of them both is well able to beare.

Secondly, by being a cheerer and a comforter; a means of comfort and cheerfulness to him: as ⁱJacobs children were to Jacob; and so ^kRebekah to Isaac. And surely if it be the duty of children to comfort their parents in their heaviness: much ⟨p. 25⟩more the wives to comfort her husband in like cases. If ^la wise child is a joy to his father: much more will a good and a wise wife strive to be so to her husband: to be to him as ^mDavids harp was to Saul: as a physician to tend him in his sickness, as a a musician to cheer him up in his heaviness.

Secondly, by being a cheerer and a comforter; a meanes of comfort and cheerefulnesse to him: as