A commentary upon the whole book of Judges Preached first and delivered in sundry…A commentary vpon the vvhole booke of Iudges Preached first and deliuered in sundrie…

But (to return) as the woman is to be commended for telling her husband; so the more she deserveth it, seeing that the party that appeared to her, was taken of her to be a man, and his message to her, being barren, was, that she should bear a child. This might have raised strange thoughts in her, as doubting & wondering how this should be; and some woman would have concealed such a matter, lest her husband should have had her in jealousy and suspicion about it: and again, seeing that if he should have heard of such a matter by some other and not by her, it might have been hardlier taken of him against her. Between these contrary motions and conceits, some woman (I say) would have been held in suspense, or would have chosen silence as the safest: but she dealt simply, and did the best in opening it to him. And this teacheth that in faithfulness about the marriage bed, there should be such holy loyalty and agreement betwixt couples, that there may not be the least doubting one of another's faithfulness, neither any occasion offered of the contrary, neither any suspicion about it. Which by their religious and oft confirming one another, in their faithful keeping of covenant, and concerning all things else betwixt them, and the free opening of their minds each to other, and their agreeing together in holy duties and exercises of religion, might easily be. But where are these to be found almost among the better sort? but to be sure they be rejected of the common sort, and thereby it may easily be judged what manner of life they lead. Of this I say the less, because all will grant, that if this amity ought to be betwixt them in all actions mutually concerning each other, then especially in that office which is most essential and natural to marriage. And the Greek word, which Paul useth in the former text, I mean benevolence, although it do admit a composition of two words, which signify to be well minded, yet more properly it is derived from the word that signifieth a bed, as noting that this containeth the other smaller benevolences under it.

But (to returne) as the woman is to bee commended for telling her husband; so the more she deserueth it, seeing that the partie that appeared to her, was taken of her to be a man, and his message to her, being barren, was, that she should beare a childe. This might haue raised strange thoughts in her, as doubting & wondring how this should be; and some woman would haue concealed such a matter, lest her husband should haue had her in iealousie and suspition about it: and againe, seeing that if he should haue heard of such a matter by some other and not by her, it might haue been hardlier taken of him against her. Betweene these contrary motions and conceits, some woman (I say) would haue been held in suspense, or would haue chosen silence as the safest: but she dealt simply, and did the best in opening it to him. And this teacheth that in faithfulnes about the mariage bed, there should be such holy loialtie and agreement betwixt couples, that there may not be the least doubting one of anothers faithfulnes, neither any occasion offered of the contrary, neither any suspition about it. Which by their religious and oft confirming one another, in their faithfull keeping of couenant, and concerning all things else betwixt them, and the free opening of their mindes each to other, and their agreeing together in holy duties and exercises of religion, might easily be. But where are these to bee found almost among the better sort? but to be sure they be reiected of the common sort, and thereby it may easily be iudged what manner of life they leade. Of this I say the lesse, because all will graunt, that if this amitie ought to be betwixt them in all actions mutually concerning each other, then especially in that office which is most essentiall and naturall to mariage. And the Greeke word, which Paul vseth in the former text, I meane beneuolence, although it doe admit a composition of two words, which signifie to be well minded, yet more properly it is deriued from the word that signifieth a bed, as noting that this containeth the other smaller beneuolences vnder it.