A17412:682
Sermons upon the ten first verses of the third chapter of the first Epistle…
Sermons upon the ten first verses of the third chapter of the first Epistle of S. Peter Being the last that were preached by the late faithful and painful minister of Gods word, Nicolas Byfield. Wherein method, sense, doctrine, and use, is, with great variety of matter, profitably handled; and sundry heads of divinity largely discussed. Published since the authors death by William Gouge.Sermons upon the ten first verses of the third chapter of the first Epistle of S. Peter Being the last that were preached by the late faithfull and painfull minister of Gods word, Nicolas Byfield. Wherein method, sense, doctrine, and vse, is, with great varietie of matter, profitably handled; and sundry heads of divinitie largely discussed. Published since the authors death by William Gouge.
London: printed by H. Lownes for George Latham, 1626
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.
2 Matter of toleration; and that in respect of the infirmities of his wife: if her infirmities be bodily, it must be the praise of his knowledge, not to loath her for that, because God layeth them on her, and she cannot help them. And for her faults, they are either mere frailties arising from ignorance, or insufficiency she cannot help; and those he must pass by altogether, when he discerneth that she is not willing to offend in them, Prov. 19 10. Or else, they are faults she committeth of knowledge; and so, they are either curable or incurable. Curable, are such faults of negligence or waywardness, that prove grievous to him or others: for these his rule is, he must not be bitter to her, Col. 3.19. but show himself to be gentle and easy to be entreated, James 3.17. He must use all good means of counsel, and forewarning of her, and entreating, and such reproofs as may be seasonable, and secret as much as may be. He must avoid raging & furious passion, ⟨p. 125⟩and reproaches. If her faults be incurable, that is, such as he cannot mend by such courses, then I suppose he may fly to the general remedy of all Christians in the case of trespasses; and that is, to take one or two with him and admonish her, & then, if she mend not, he may fly to his Pastor, and such as have charge of souls with him, and get them to admonish her. But if none of these courses will serve, I think the Pastor, or others employed in the business, may give notice, as they have occasion, to other Christians of her incurableness, and they may thereupon forsake her company, and reject her as a Pagan or a Publican: but for the husband, he must cohabit still, and with patience bear the cross God hath laid upon him, waiting, if at any time God will give her repentance, or otherwise restrain her wickedness.
2 Matter of toleration; and that in respect of the infirmities of his wife: if her infirmities be bodily, it must be the praise of his knowledge, not to loath her for that, because God laieth them on her, and she cannot helpe them. And for her faults, they are either meer frailties arising from ignorance, or insufficiency shee cannot helpe; and those hee must passe by altogether, when he discerneth that shee is not willing to offend in them,