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 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,