If her husband die, •he it at liberty to marry with whom she will, only in the Lord. If thou therefore after my departure (O wife, hast a mind to marry ⟨p. 204⟩again, marry in the name of the lord our God. For I know, as the wise man saith,1 that no man can live chaste, except God giveth the gift. Only have this care, that he, with whom thou doest determine to couple thy self in the blessed state of honourable wedlock, be such a man as feareth God▪ loveth his word, is well reported of his neighbours, dealeth righteously with all men, embraceth virtue, despiseth vice. &c. Follow not the manners of certain old doting widows, which for bodily lust in their old crooked age, couple them selves to younkers, which might right well have been their children, and unto whom they might also have given suck. But to what end such marriages come for the most part, daily experience teacheth. The one marrieth for bodily pleasure, the other for covetousness. ⟨p. 205⟩Such marriages are not blessed of God. Choose thee therefore such an husband as loveth thee, and not thy goods only, as is equal to the in condition, state, and age, as also will tender my children, and be a father unto them, and see them brought up in the fear of God, & in the knowledge of his blessed word. Pray unto God, and he shall give the good success in all thy travails, look diligently to the virtuous education and bringing up of my children. Graft in their parts so much fruit of Gods spirit, as is possible, and weed out of •heir minds all kinds of vice & wickedness, that their breasts may •e made the Temples of the holy •host. Look well unto thy servants. Give them their covenants, & •uffer them not to be idle. So govern thy household, that there may •e found in it no vice but virtue, ⟨p. 206⟩no wickedness but godliness, no sin but honesty and christen be haviour. And be thou thy self, an example of godly life to thy children & servants: so mayest thou be sure to have obedient children and faithful servants. Yea so shalt y• be well reported of thy neighbours, & be loved both of god & all good men.
2Now my children, come ye hither unto me, God bless you, and send you many, yea and those joyful and quiet days upon the earth. Ye see in what case I am, sore, sick, and very weak, abiding the good pleasure of God. The end of this my life is come, and I am glad of it, and most heartily thank the lord my God.
If her husband die, •he it at libertie to marie wyth whome she will, only in the Lord. If thou therfore after my depar•ure (O wife, hast a minde to marye ⟨p. 204⟩agayne, marry in the name of the lord our God. For I know, as the wyse man saith,1 that no man can liue chast, except God geueth the gift. Only haue this care, that he, with whome thou doest determine to couple thy self in the blessed state of honorable wedlock, be such a man as feareth God▪ loueth his worde, is well reported of his neighbours, dealeth ryghteoussly with all men, embraceth vertue, despiseth vice. &c. Follow not the manners of certaine olde dotinge wydowes, which for bodely luste in their old croked age, couple thē •selues to yonkers, whiche myght right wel haue bene their childrē, and vnto whome they might also haue geuē suck. But to what end such mariages come for the moste part, dayly experience teacheth. The one marieth for bodely pleasure, the other for couetousnesse. ⟨p. 205⟩Such mariages ar not blessed of God. Chuse thee therfore suche an husband as loueth thee, and not thy goods only, as is equall to the in condition, state, and age, as also will tender my children, and be a father vnto them, and see them brought vp in ye feare of God, & in ye knowledge of his blessed word. Pray vnto God, and he shal geue the good successe in all thy trauayles, loke diligently to the ver•uous education and brynging vp of my chyldren. Graffe in theyr partes so much fruit of Gods spi•it, as is possible, and wede out of •heir myndes all kyndes of vice & wickednes, that their brestes may •e made the Temples of the holy •host. Loke wel vnto thi seruāts. Geue them their couenauntes, & •uffer them not to be idle. So go•erne thy houshold, yt there may •e founde in it no vice but vertue, ⟨p. 206⟩no wickednes but godlines, no sinne but honestie and christen be hauour. And be thou thy selfe, an example of godly lyfe to thy chyldren & seruaunts: so maist thou be sure to haue obedient childrē and faithful seruants. Yea so shalt y be wel reported of thy neighbours, & be loued both of god & al good mē.
- 1Sa•. viii.
- 2The sickmans exhortation unto his childrenThe sickmās exhortatiō vnto his childrē
