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

31. And as the heart principally, so next the outward behaviour must be regarded in three special things. First, in speeches and gestures unto him. These must carry the stamp of fear upon them, and not be cutted, sharp, sullen, passionate, techy, but meek, quiet, submissive, which may show that she considers who herself is, and to whom she speaks. The wives tongue towards her husband must be neither keen, nor loose, her countenance neither swelling nor deriding: her behaviour not flinging, not puffing, not discontented; but savouring of all lowliness and quietness of affection. Look what kind of words or behaviour thou wouldst dislike from thy servant or child, those must thou not give to thine husband: for thou art equally commanded to be subject. Herein Sarah once faulted, she was aloft in the boughs; God be Judge between me and thee. Herein ⟨p. 39⟩also Rachel offended, that in a pelting chase came summing, and chod with her husband; Give me children, or I die. Jacob could not brook this without anger, though he loved her tenderly. Herein Micol also was out of the way, when she came scoffing and flouting to her husband David: ¹How glorious was the King of Israel to day, &c. when her husband in her conceit (though not indeed) carried himself somewhat unfit for a Kings place; she cannot admonish him in good sort, but with bitter taunting breaks a jest upon him. These examples show how subject women are to disreverent behaviour; and withal how loathsome, how unwomanly they be. Yet for all these warnings we have some women that can chase and scold with their husbands, and rail upon them, and revile them, and shake them together with such terms and carriage, as were unsufferable towards a servant. Stains of woman-kind, blemishes of their sex, monsters in natures, botches of humane society, rude, graceless, impudent, next to harlots, if not the same with them. Let such words leave a blister behind them, and let the canker eat out these tongues. But besides these so notorious ones, even women otherwise virtuous, must see their faults in this behalf. They can take up their husbands with quick speeches sharply set on. They can set them down short, with a cutted answer, with a frowning countenance, with a disdainful look, and the side turned towards them in displeasure.

31. And as the heart principally, so next the outward behauiour must be regarded in three speciall things. First, in speeches and gestures vnto him. These must carry the stamp of feare vpon them, and not be cutted, sharpe, sullen, passionate, teechie, but meeke, quiet, submissiue, which may shew that she considers who herselfe is, and to whom she speakes. The wiues tongue towards her husband must bee neither keene, nor loose, her countenance neither swelling nor deriding: her behaurour not flinging, not puffing, not discontented; but sauouring of all lowlinesse and quietnesse of affection. Looke what kinde of words or behauiour thou wouldst dislike from thy seruant or childe, those must thou not giue to thine husband: for thou art equally commanded to be subiect. Herein Sarah once faulted, she was aloft in the boughes; God be Iudge betweene me and thee. Heerein