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…

Yet the chiefest point is behind,¹ that is, our duties. The duties of marriage may be reduced to the duties of man and wife one toward another, and their duties toward their children, and their duty toward their servants. For themselves, saith one, they must think themselves like two birds,² the one is the cock,³ and the other is the dam: the cock flieth abroad to bring in, and the dam sitteth upon the nest to keep all at home. So God hath made the man to travel abroad, and the woman to keep home: and so their nature, and their wit, and their strength, are fitted accordingly; for the mans pleasure is most abroad, and the woman's within.

Yet the chiefest point is behinde,¹ that is, our duties. The dueties of marriage may be reduced to the dueties of man and wife one towarde another, and their dueties towarde their children, and their duetie toward their seruants. For themselues, saith one, they must thinke themselues like two birdes,² the one is the cocke,³ and the other is the dam: the cocke flieth abroad to bring in, and the dam sitteth vpon the nest to keepe all at home. So God hath made the man to trauell abroad, and the woman to keepe home: and so their nature, and their witte, and their strength, are fitted accordingly; for the mans pleasure is most abroad, and the womans within.

1. 1The duties of marriageThe duties of mariage
2. 2Pro. 31. 26.
3. 3