An exposition on the whole fifth chapter of S. Johns Gospel also notes on…An exposition on the vvhole fifth chapter of S. Iohns Gospell also notes on…

Here there is a general direction for wives in this matter, that what a son, who is under the government of his parents, may do in this ca•e, in disposing of the goods of his father, the same may the wife do in the disposing of her husbands goods, and no more. Neither l•t the wife plead that she brought maintenance with her, and therefore she may do what she list; but she must consider the subjection that God hath laid upon her, and that now her goods are not her own, but her husbands: And though they be yoke-fellows, yet it is in familiarity, not in authority.

Heere there is a generall direction for wiues in this matter, that what a sonne, who is vnder the gouernment of his parents, may doe in this ca•e, in disposing of the goods of his father, the same may the wife doe in the disposing of her husbands goods, and no more. Neither l•t the wife plead that shee brought maintenance with her, and therefore shee may doe what shee list; but she must consider the subiection that God hath laid vpon her, and that now her goods are not her owne, but her husbands: And though they be yoke-fellowes, yet it is in familiarity, not in authority.

Now then, what unnatural wives are they that steal a•d purloin from their husbands, s•lling away their wares and such like, for to bestow their money in gossiping, in following the fashion, and fine fare, &c? Hereby they 1. break the Commandment: 2. They ill repay their husbands labour and pains, and so reward evil for good. 3. They impoverish their husbands estate, it decays they know not how: when the year ⟨p. 29⟩comes about, the•r gains are gone, and consumed as the dew before the Sun. 4. They show themselves to be arrant thieves, so much more worse than other, because greater trust is put in them than in other, & therefore the deceit is the greater: as,