Again, as touching the wives, because they be loth too bear the yoke that God hath laid upon their shoulders: therefore in the other text Saint Paul did put them in mind, that God is the author of wedlock, and that it is he which hath set down this condition, that the wife should be subject too her husband, and suffer herself too be ruled by him as by her head, and bear him reverence. For a woman will always find matter enough in her husband too despise him. If he have any goodness, she will go about too deface it, that she may have occasion too say, why should this man have preeminence over me? For he is no more able too rule than I. And we know what overweening there is in men and women. For every one thinks himself more able than his fellow. The wives therefore would feign govern and have the mastery. For that cause doth Saint Paul tell them, that they must abide in the state that God hath put them in, (that is too wit, in subjection,) and that they must not stand scanning what is in their husbands, too examine whether they be worthy too have authority and superiority or no: but that they must consider what God hath ordained, and obey the same without gainsaying or replying. They must not inquire, why is this, and why is that? too the intent too find some excuse too exempt themselves from the obeying of God and of his commandments. Therefore we must give ear to him, and every of us must without gainsaying receive the things that he commandeth us. Thus ye see how the things are too be understood, which are spoken here concerning the fear & subjection that wives owe too their husbands. This doctrine is clear and familiar enough of it self: but yet for all that, how is it practiced in the world? Folk would fain allege excuse of ignorance, too shift off the performance of their duty, by saying, this is to high & to hard to be understood, when as it is said, that men ought to love their wives▪ needeth ⟨p. 302⟩there any gloze too expound what the holy Ghost meant? No: the thing is evident enough of it self, and every man knows in himself that he understands it well enough. But if ye look upon the love that men bear too their wives, scarcely shall ye find one among a hundred, which could not find in his hart too give it over, and which hath not some wandering fancies in his head.
Agein, as touching the wyues, bycause they bee loth too beare the yoke that God hath layed vppon theyr shoulders: therefore in the other text Saint Paule did put them in mynd, that God is the author of wedlocke, and that it is he which hath set downe this condition, that the wyfe should bee subiect too hir husband, and suffer hirselfe too bee ruled by him as by hir head, and beare him reuerence. For a woman will alwayes find matter ynough in hir husband too despyze him. If he haue any goodnesse, shee will go about too deface it, that shee may haue occasion too say, why should this man haue preheminence ouer mee? For he is no more able too rule than I. And wee knowe what ouerweening there is in men and women. For euery one thinkes himselfe more able than his fellowe. The wyues therfore would feyne gouerne and haue the maystrie. For that cause dooth Saint Paule tell them, that they must abyde in the state that God hath put them in, (that is too wit, in subiection,) and that they must not stand scannyng what is in their husbandes, too examin whether they bee woorthy too haue authoritie and superioritie or no: but that they must consider what God hath ordeyned, and obey the same without geynsaying or replying. They must not inquyre, why is this, and why is that? too the intent too fynd some excuce too exempt themselues from the obeying of God and of his commaundementes. Therfore wee must giue eare to him, and euery of vs must without geynsaying receyue the things that he commaundeth vs. Thus yee see how the things are too bee vnderstoode, which are spoken here concerning the feare & subiection that wyues owe too their husbands. This doctrine is cleere and familiar ynough of it self: but yit for all that, how is it practyzed in the worlde? Folke would fayne alledge excuce of ignorance, too shift off the performance of their dewtie, by saying, this is to hygh & to hard to be vnderstoode, when as it is sayd, that men ought to loue their wyues▪ needeth ⟨p. 302⟩there any gloze too expound what the holy Ghost ment? No: the thing is euident ynough of it selfe, and euery man knowes in himself that he vnderstandes it well ynough. But if yee looke vppon the loue that men beare too their wyues, scarsely shall yee fynd one among a hundred, which could not fynd in his hart too giue it ouer, and which hath not some wandering fancies in his head.
