The sermons of Master Henry Smith gathered into one volume. Printed according to his…The sermons of Maister Henrie Smith gathered into one volume. Printed according to his…

I have heard one say, that a modest man dwells at the sign of a modest countenance, and an honest woman dwelleth at the sign of an honest face, which is like the gate of the temple that was called Beautiful: showing, that if the entry be so beautiful,¹ within is great beauty.

I haue heard one say, that a modest man dwels at the signe of a modest countenaunce, and an honest woman dwelleth at the signe of an honest face, which is like the gate of the temple that was called Beautifull: shewing, that if the entrie be so beautifull,¹ within is great beautie.

1. 1Acts 3. 2.

To show how a modest countenance, and womanly shamefastness do commend a chaste wife, it is observed that the word Nuptiae, which signifieth the marriage of the woman, doth declare the manner of her marriage: for it importeth a covering, because the virgins which should be married, when they came to their husbands, for modesty and shamefastness did cover their faces: as we read of Rebekah,¹ which so soon as she saw Isaac, and knew that he should be her husband, she cast a veil before her face, showing that modesty should be learned before marriage, which is the dowry that God addeth to her portion.

To shew how a modest countenance, and womanly shamefastnes do commend a chast wife, it is obserued that the word Nuptiae, which signifieth the mariage of the woman, doth declare the manner of her mariage: for it importeth a couering, because the virgins which should be married, when they came to their husbands, for modestie and shamefastnesse did couer their faces: as we read of Rebeccah,