Fifty Godly and Learned Sermons (The Decades)

We owe by the force of this commandment, all love, reverence, help, ¹comfort, and humanity, to our kinsfolks and alliance. In this commandment are they condemned, that show them selves to be, [Greek or Hebrew], that is to say, men without all natural affection and friendly love to their own blood and kinsfolks. There is a certain natural affection, goodwill, love and pitiful mercy (which the Scripture calleth the bowels of mercy) in the father and mother toward their children, in brother toward brother, and in cousins toward their kinsfolks and friends of their alliance. We have notable examples hereof set down in the Scriptures, of Abraham's love toward his son Isaac, and of Josephs affection toward his father Jacob, and his brethren, but èspecially toward Benjamin his brother by one mother. Mothers and daughters in law have a notable example to follow in Noemi and Ruth. Mothers and daughters in law (for the most part) do bear a deadly hate the one to the other, which is the cause of much mischief in the houses where they be. Let them learn therefore by this pretty example, how to behave them selves on both parts. Let the mother in law think the daughter in law to be her own daughter: and let the daughter in law honour and reverence her mother in law, even as if she were her own mother. Many things must be winked at on both sides, many things must be taken in good part, and many things put up with a quiet mind. Many things must be forgiven, and they must both have their ears stopped against tattling talebearers, and wrongful suspicions. Concorde in every house is the greatest treasure that may be, and discord at home, is the most perilous and endless mischief that can be invented. Paul his words touching good turns, and honour to be given to our kinsfolks, are very well known, and extant to be seen in the fifth Chapter of his first Epistle to Limothie.

We owe by the force of this commandement, all loue, reuerence, help, ¹comfort, and humanitie, to our kinsfolkes and alliance. In this commandemēt are they condemned, that shew them selues to be, 〈non-Latin alphabet〉, that is to say, men without all naturall affection and friendly loue to their owne bloud and kinsfolkes. There is a certaine naturall affection, goodwill, loue and pitifull mercy (which the Scripture calleth the bowels of mercy) in the father and mother towarde their children, in brother towarde brother, and in cousins toward their kinssolkes and friends of their aliance. We haue notable examples hereof set downe in the Scriptures, of Abrahams loue toward his sonne Isaac, and of Iosephes affection toward his father Iacob, and his brethren, but èspecially towarde Beniamin his brother by one mother. Mothers and daughters in lawe haue a notable example to followe in Noemi and Ruth. Mothers and daughters in lawe (for the most part) do beare a deadly hate the one to the other, which is the cause of muche mischiefe in the houses where they be. Let them learn therfore by this preatie example, how to behaue them selues on both parts. Let the mother in lawe thinke the daughter in law to be her own daughter: and let the daughter in lawe honour and reuerēce her mother in law, euen as if she were her owne mother. Many thinges must be winked at on both sides, many things must be taken in good part, and many thinges put vp with a quiet mynde. Many thinges must be forgiuen, and they must both haue their eares stopped against tatling talebearers, and wrongfull suspicions. Concorde in euery house is the greatest treasure that may be, and discord at home, is the most perillous and endlesse mischiefe that can be inuented. Paule his wordes touching good turnes, and honour to be giuen to our kinsefolkes, are very wel knowne, and extant to be séene in the fift Chapter of his first Epistle to Limothie.