A bride-bush, or A wedding sermon compendiously describing the duties of married personsA bride-bush, or A vvedding sermon compendiously describing the duties of married persons

Such will soon displease themselves, though none go about to undermine them. But l•t every godly man abhor these base evils, and strive for holiness of conversation, that he may be indeed ⟨p. 21⟩a governor, and his superiority remain entire unto him.

Such will soone displease themselues, though none goe about to vndermyne them. But l•t euery godly man abhorre these base euils, and striue for holynesse of conuersation, that hee may bee indeede ⟨p. 21⟩a gouernour, and his superiority remaine entire vnto him.

16. Yet what avails to keep authority, if he use it not? or how can it but rust without using? Wherefore the husband must exercise his authority, and we must direct him for that purpose. Now, to the intent he may govern well, it behoves him to know both the end of his government, and the manner of it, The end of this, as all other government, in Nations, Kingdoms, Countries, Cities and Townes, is not the satisfying of his desires, or procuring of his ease, pleasure, credit, which hath the chiefdom: (for then all things run out of order, as when a bowl is not set with a right bias:) but the good and benefit of the party governed, to the glory of God the chief Lord and Governor of all. Thus one thing alone being well observed, would stop out a great stream of inconveniences, from breaking in upon the family: For therefore most men govern not well, because they do wholly serve themselves in governing, and not the wife; therefore they will do any thing to please their own humours, though it be never so dangerous to the wife (which is the greatest absurdity in government that can be committed,) because they conceive that the place was given them to fulfil their own desires, and not so much to procure their wives good; which conceit is altogether false. For as the Ministers must watch over the souls of their flock for their profit and salvation, not for their own private wealth and advantage: so must the husband deal with his wife: for this is the end why God hath ordained governors, private and public under him, that the inferiors might the better be drawn unto him by means of them, which always should be (as they be called) their betters.