A12406:162
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…
The sermons of Master Henry Smith gathered into one volume. Printed according to his corrected copies in his life time.The sermons of Maister Henrie Smith gathered into one volume. Printed according to his corrected copies in his life time.
London: printed by Richard Field for Thomas Man, 1593
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
The man may spell his duty out of his name,1 for he is called the Head: to show, that as the eye, and the tongue, and the ear, are in the head, to direct the whole body: so the man should be stored with wisdom, and understanding, & knowledge, and discretion, to direct his whole family: for it is not right that the worse should rule the better, but the better ⟨p. 40⟩should rule the worse, as the best rules all. The husband saith, that his wife must obey him because he is her better, therefore if he let her be better than himself, he seems to free her from her obedience, and bind himself to obey her.
The man may spell his dutie out of his name,1 for he is called the Head: to shew, that as the eye, and the tongue, and the eare, are in the head, to direct the whole body: so the man should be stored with wisdome, and vnderstanding, & knowledge, and discretion, to direct his whole family: for it is not right that the worse should rule the better, but the better ⟨p. 40⟩should rule the worse, as the best rules all. The husband saith, that his wife must obey him because he is her better, therefore if hee let her bee better than himselfe, he seemes to free her from her obedience, and binde himselfe to obey her.
His first duty is called Harting, 1that is, hearty affection. As they are hand, fasted, so they must be heart-fasted, for the eye, and the tongue, and the hand, will be her enemies, if the heart be not her friend. As Christ draweth all the commandments to love, so I may draw all their duties to love, which is the hearts gift to the bride at her marriage. First, he must choose his love, & then he must love his choice: this is the oil which maketh all things easy. In Solomons song, which is nothing else but a description of Christ the Bridegroom, and the Church his spouse, one calleth the other Love, to show, that though both do not honour alike, yet both should love alike, which the man may do without subjection.