A17412:687
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.
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.
3 When he provides for her maintenance, both in his life time, and after his death as well as he may; allowing her such apparel and other things as may show manifestly how great account he makes of her, and doing all with cheerfulness, and not like churlish Nabal: and the rather, because for the most part they are not able to make shift, and provide for themselves.
3 When he provides for her maintenance, both in his life time, and after his death as well as he may; allowing her such apparell and other things as may shew manifestly how great account he makes of her, and doing all with cheerefulnesse, and not like churlish Nabal: and the rather, because for the most part they are not able to make shift, and provide for themselves.
4 By the special delight he takes in her above others, cherishing her as his own flesh, and making as much of her, as he can do of himself. Pro. 5.19. Eph. 5.28.
4 By the speciall delight hee takes in her above others, cherishing her as his owne flesh, and making as much of her, as he can doe of himselfe. Pro. 5.19. Eph. 5.28.
5 By suffering himself to be entreated, and in some cases advised and admonished by her. Gen. 21.12.
5 By suffering himselfe to be intreated, and in some cases advised and admonished by her. Gen. 21.12.
6 By giving her such employment as her gifts are fit for, leaving to her trust such things in the family and his estate, as she is fit to dispose of. It is dishonour to the wife, when the trust of businesses is committed to servants or others, when she is able and willing to undertake it. Pro. 31.11.
6 By giving her such imployment as her gifts are fit for, leaving to her trust such things in the family and his estate, as she is fit to dispose of. It is dishonour to the wife, when the trust of businesses is committed to servants or others, when she is able and willing to undertake it. Pro. 31.11.
7 By yielding a free and just testimony of her praises upon all fit occasions, both to her self and others. Prover. 31.28, 29.
7 By yeelding a free and just testimonie of her praises upon all fit occasions, both to her selfe and others. Prover. 31.28, 29.
8 By covering her infirmities, passing by mere frailties, and not speaking to her, to provoke her, when she is way ward, or else giving soft answers, and forbearing as much as may be, to speak to her disgrace before others.
8 By covering her infirmities, passing by meere frailties, and not speaking to her, to provoke her, when she is way ward, or else giving soft answeres, and forbearing as much as may be, to speake to her disgrace before others.
9 When he gives her leave to dispose of some things at her pleasure, not exacting account of her; allowing her, as a reward of her care or diligence, some such overplus as his estate will bear, that she may be free to give for pious or charitable ⟨p. 127⟩uses, what may be for her credit or encouragement.
9 When he gives her leave to dispose of some things at her pleasure, not exacting account of her; allowing her, as a reward of her care or diligence, some such overplus as his estate will beare, that she may be free to give for pious or charitable ⟨p. 127⟩uses, what may be for her credit or encouragement.
Object. But my wife was of mean birth, condition, or portion, when I married.
Object. But my wife was of meane birth, condition, or portion, when I married.
Sol. So and much worse was the Church before Christ married her, and yet Christ loves the Church.
Object. But since marriage she is idle, and froward, and wasteful, &c.
Object. But since marriage shee is idle, and froward, and wastefull, &c.
Sol. If she be so, thou hast cause to pray for and admonish her; but for all that, thou must love her, and yield her due honour. The Church sinneth after calling, and yet Christ honours the Church, both by praying for her in Heaven, and by labouring to cleanse her by his Spirit and Word in Earth, Ephes. 5.
Sol. If she be so, thou hast cause to pray for and admonish her; but for all that, thou must love her, and yeeld her due honour. The Church sinneth after calling, and yet Christ honours the Church, both by praying for her in Heaven, and by labouring to cleanse her by his Spirit and Word in Earth, Ephes. 5.
Object. But she is profane and carnal, a wicked woman, a scorner of religion, or perhaps of a contrary religion.
Object. But she is prophane and carnall, a wicked woman, a scorner of religion, or perhaps of a contrary religion.
Sol. Thou must love and honour her, not because she deserves it, but because God requires it.
Sol. Thou must love and honour her, not because shee deserves it, but because God requires it.
Thus of the Exposition. The reasons follow; and the first is, Because they are the weaker vessel.
Thus of the Exposition. The reasons follow; and the first is, Because they are the weaker vessell.
As the weaker vessel.] The word translated Vessel, is diversly accepted in Scripture; sometimes properly, sometime Metaphorically. As it is taken properly, it is sometime taken for goods or any household-stuff, Mat. 12.29. Luk. 17.31. Sometimes again it signifies any instrument, used in the house or without the house: so the instruments used in the Temple about any part of Gods service, were called Vessels of the Ministry, Heb. 9.21. So a Bushel is called a Vessel, Luke 8.16. So that which held the four-footed beasts and fowls, &c. in the vision, Acts 10.11, 16. is called a Vessel, yet like a sheet: so is a sail of a ship called by this term, Acts 27.17. Now in a Metaphorical sense, this term signifies, either the parts or members of the body of man or woman that serve for generation, 1. Thes. 4.4. or else it signifies any person, that God hath set apart for some special service or ministration. Thus Paul was a Vessel of election, or a chosen Vessel to bear Gods Name among the Gentiles, and Kings, and the people of Israel, Acts 9.15. Or else such persons, upon whom God will declare either his mercy or Justice. Thus Vessels of honour ⟨p. 128⟩and mercy, and Vessels of dishonour, Rom. 9.21, 23. and in general, any man or woman that God appoints to do any work, or his instruments either publicly or privately. Thus all men, in respect of the work God requires of them, are Vessels, 2. Tim. 2.20, 21. and so women are Vessels here, because they are instruments God makes use of for the help of man.
Now for the word Weaker: It signifies the frailties and defects in the Sex of women; in respect of which, they are inferior to men: not so much their sinful defects, as their natural defects; defects of negation rather than defects of privation.
Now for the word Weaker: It signifies the frailties and defects in the Sexe of women; in respect of which, they are inferiour to men: not so much their sinnefull defects, as their naturall defects; defects of negation rather than defects of privation.
As the weaker vessell.] The word translated Vessell, is diversly accepted in Scripture; sometimes properly, sometime Metaphorically. As it is taken properly, it is somtime taken for goods or any houshold-stuffe, Mat. 12.29. Luk. 17.31. Sometimes again it signifies any instrument, used in the house or without the house: so the instruments used in the Temple about any part of Gods service, were called Vessels of the Ministery, Heb. 9.21. So a Bushell is called a Vessell, Luke 8.16. So that which held the foure-footed beasts and foules, &c. in the vision, Acts 10.11, 16. is called a Vessell, yet like a sheet: so is a saile of a ship called by this terme, Acts 27.17. Now in a Metaphoricall sense, this terme signifies, either the parts or members of the body of man or woman that serve for generation, 1. Thes. 4.4. or else it signifies any person, that God hath set apart for some speciall service or ministration. Thus Paul was a Vessell of election, or a chosen Vessell to beare Gods Name among the Gentiles, and Kings, and the people of Israel, Acts 9.15. Or else such persons, upon whom God will declare either his mercy or Iustice. Thus Vessels of honour ⟨p. 128⟩and mercy, and Vessels of dishonour, Rom. 9.21, 23. and in generall, any man or woman that God appoints to doe any worke, or his instruments either publickly or privately. Thus all men, in respect of the worke God requires of them, are Vessels, 2. Tim. 2.20, 21. and so women are Vessels here, because they are instruments God makes use of for the helpe of man.
