The very name of a wife is like the Angel which stayed Abraham's hand,1 when the stroke ⟨p. 45⟩was coming. If David, because he could not express the good and comfort of unity, was fain to say,2 Oh how good and joyful a thing it is, for brethren to dwell together in unity! Then weigh and judge how harsh and bitter a thing it is, for man and wife to dwell together in enmity. For the first year after marriage,3 God would not have the husband go to war with his enemies but no year would he have him war with his wife, and therefore God gave him that year to stay at home and settle his love, that he might not war, nor jar after: for the God of peace dwelleth not in the house of war.4 As a kingdom cannot stand if it be divided, so a house cannot stand if it be divided: for strife is like fire which leaves nothing but dust, and smoke, and ashes behind it. We read in the Scriptures, of masters that stroke their servants, but never of any that stroke his wife, but rebuked her.5 Lot was drunk when he lay with his daughter in stead of his wife, and so is he which striketh his wife in stead of his servant. The law showeth how a bond man should be corrected, but the wife is like a judge, which is joined in commission with her husband to correct other.6 Wilt thou strike one in his own house? no more shouldest thou strike thy wife in her house. She is come to thee as to a ⟨p. 46⟩sanctuary to defend her from hurt, and canst thou hurt her thy self? Therefore Abraham was called Saras veil, 7because he should shield her; for a veil is made to save. Abraham said to Lot,8 Are we not brethren? that is, may brethren jar? But they may say, Are we not one? can one chide with another? can one fight with another? He is a bad host, that welcomes his guest with stripes. Doth a King trample his Crown?9 Solomon calleth the wife, The crown of her husband: therefore he which woundeth her, woundeth his own honour. She is a free Citizen in thine own house, and hath taken the peace of thee the first day of her marriage to hold thy hands, till she release thee again.10 Adam saith of his spouse, This is flesh of my flesh, 11But no man (saith Paul) ever hated his own flesh. So then, if a man ask whether he may strike his wife, GOD saith nay; thou mayest not hate thy wife, for no man hateth his own flesh:
The verie name of a wife is like the Angel which staied Abrahams hand,1 whē the stroke ⟨p. 45⟩was comming. If Dauid, because he could not expresse the good and comfort of vnitie, was faine to say,2 Oh how good and ioyfull a thing it is, for brethren to dwell together in vnitie! Then weigh and iudge how harsh and bitter a thing it is, for man and wife to dwell together in enmitie. For the first yeare after mariage,3 God would not haue the husband goe to warre with his enemies but no yeare would he haue him warre with his wife, and therefore God gaue him that yeare to stay at home and settle his loue, that he might not warre, nor iarre after: for the God of peace dwelleth not in the house of warre.4 As a kingdom cannot stand if it be deuided, so a house cannot stand if it be deuided: for strife is like fire which leaues nothing but dust, and smoake, and ashes behinde it. We reade in the Scriptures, of masters that stroke their seruants, but neuer of any that stroke his wife, but rebuked her.5 Lot was drunke when hee laie with his daughter in stead of his wife, and so is he which striketh his wife in stead of his seruāt. The law sheweth how a bond man should be corrected, but the wife is like a iudge, which is ioyned in commission with her husband to correct other.6 Wilt thou strike one in his own house? no more shouldest thou strike thy wife in her house. She is come to thee as to a ⟨p. 46⟩sanctuary to defend her from hurt, and canst thou hurt her thy selfe? Therefore Abraham was called Saras vayle, 7because hee should shield her; for a vayle is made to saue. Abraham sayd to Lot,8 Are we not brethren? that is, may brethren iarre? But they may say, Are we not one? can one chide with another? can one fight with another? Hee is a badde hoast, that welcomes his guest with stripes. Dooth a King trample his Crowne?
- 1Gen. 21. 11.
- 2Psal. 133. 1
- 3Deut. 24 9.
- 4Mat. 12. 29
- 5Gen. 19. 33.
- 6Deut. 23. 2.
- 7Gen. 20. 16.
- 8Gen. 13. 8.
- 9Pro. 12. 4.
- 10Gen. 2. 23.
- 11Ephe. 5. 19.
