A03549:487
The second tome of homilies of such matters as were promised, and entitled in…The second tome of homilees of such matters as were promised, and intituled in…
The second tome of homilies of such matters as were promised, and entitled in the former part of homilies. Set out by the authority of the Queens Majesty: and to be read in every parish church agreeably.The second tome of homilees of such matters as were promised, and intituled in the former part of homilees. Set out by the aucthoritie of the Queenes Maiestie: and to be read in euery parishe church agreeably.
Imprinted at London : In Poules Churchyarde, by Richard Jugge, and John Cawood, printers to the Queens Majesty, 1571Imprinted at London : In Poules Churchyarde, by Richarde Iugge, and Iohn Cawood, printers to the Queenes Maiestie, 1571
No title page in the transcription: set from the catalogue record.
❧ An Homily of the state of Matrimony.❧ An Homilee of the state of Matrimonie.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
And Saint Peter 1saith in that place before rehearsed, that holy matrons did sometime deck themselves, not with gold and silver, but in putting their whole hope in God, and in obeying their husbands, as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord, whose daughters ye be (saith he) if ye follow her example. This sentence is very meet for woman to ⟨p. 484⟩print in their remembrance. Trueth it is, that they must specially feel the grief and pains of their matrimony, in that they relinquish the liberty of their own rule, in the pain of their travelling, in the bringing up of their children: In which offices they be in great perils and be grieved with great afflictions, which they might be without if they lived out of matrimony. But saint Peter saith, that this is the chief ornament of holy matrons, in that they set their hope and trust in God, that is to say, in that they refused not from marriage for the busyness thereof, for the griefs and perils thereof: but committed all such adventures to God, in most sure trust of help, after that they have called upon his aid. O woman, do thou the like, and so shalt thou be most excellently beautified before God and all his angels and saints, and thou needest not to seek further for doing any better works. For obey thy husband, take regard of his requests, and give heed unto him, to perceive what he requireth of thee, and so shalt thou honour God, and live peaceably in thy house. And beyond all this, God shall follow thee with his benediction, that all things shall well prosper, both to thee and to thy husband, as the Psalm saith: Blessed is the man which feareth God, and walketh in his ways, thou shalt have the fruit of thine own hands, happy shalt thou be, and well it shall go with thee. Thy wife shall be as a vine, plentifully spreading about thy house. Thy children shall be as the young springs of the Olives about thy table. •othus shall that man be blessed (saith ⟨p. 485⟩David) that feareth the Lord. This let the wife have ever in mind, the rather admonished thereto by the apparel of her head, whereby is signified, that she is under covert and obedience of her husband. And as that apparel is of nature so appointed to declare her subjection: So biddeth saint Paul that all other of her raiment should express both shame fastness and sobriety.