A17171:223
The gold[n] book of christen matrimony most necessary [and] profitable for all the[m], that…The golde[n] boke of christen matrimonye moost necessary [and] profitable for all the[m], that…
The gold[n] book of christen matrimony most necessary [and] profitable for all the[m], that intend to live quietly and godly in the Christen state of holy wedlock newly set forth in English by Theodore Basil.The golde[n] boke of christen matrimonye moost necessary [and] profitable for all the[m], that entend to liue quietly and godlye in the Christen state of holy wedlock newly set forthe in English by Theodore Basille.
London: printed for Joha, 1543London: printed for Ioha, 1543
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.
Now followeth it in Paul likewise, what 1the husbands owe to their wives, & how they ought to love them. Ye husbands, saith he, love your wives, as Christ loved the congregation, and gave himself for it, to sanctify i•, and hath cleansed it. &c. The husbands duty is to love his wife. Now is love gentle and friendly, she is not disdainful, she seeketh not her own profit she is not proud, she is not puffed up, she is not hastily provoked unto wrath, she taketh not a thing soon to the worst, she is not loathsome & tedious, but fervent & serviceable, and therefore (as we said afore) the husband is the wives head, that is, her defender, teacher and comfort. Yet needeth it no farther declaration, for as much as Saint Paul himself showeth the manner & fashion of the love, that is, how they ought to love their wives, and saith: Ye men love your 2wives, as Christ loveth the congregation. Howe did Christ love the congregation. It is written: No man hath greater love, than he y• jeopardeth his life for his friend. Such love hath christ showed to his congregation. For it followeth in Paul: Christ gave himself for it. For what in tent: Even to sanctify it and to cleanse it.
Nowe followeth it in Paule lykewyse, what 1the husbandes owe to theyr wyues, & how they ought to loue them. Ye husbandes, sayth he, loue your wyues, as Christ loued the congregacion, and gaue hymselfe for it, to sanctify i•, and hath clensed it. &c. The husbandes dewetye is to loue hys wyfe. Nowe is loue gētle and frendly, she is not disdaynefull, she seketh not her owne profyt she is not proude, she is not pufte vp, she is not hastely prouoked vnto wrathe, she takethe not a thyng soone to the worste, she is not lothsome & tedious, but feruente & seruiseable, and therfore (as we sayde afore) the husbande is the wyues head, that is, her defender, teacher and conforte. Yet nedeth it no farther declaraciō, for as muche as Saynt Paule hymselfe sheweth the maner & fashyon of the loue, that is, howe they oughte to loue theyr wyues, and sayth: Ye men loue youre 2