A20524:142
Bathsheba's instructions to her son LemuelBathshebaes instructions to her sonne Lemuel
Bathsheba's instructions to her son Lemuel containing a fruitful and plain exposition of the last chapter of the Proverbs. Describing the duties of a great-man, and the virtues of a gracious woman. Penned by a godly and learned man, now with God. Perused, and published for the use of Gods church, by John Dod, and William Hind.Bathshebaes instructions to her sonne Lemuel containing a fruitfull and plaine exposition of the last chapter of the Prouerbs. Describing the duties of a great-man, and the vertures of a gracious woman. Penned by a godly and learned man, now with God. Perused, and published for the use of Gods church, by Iohn Dod, and William Hinde.
London: printed by John Beale for Roger Jackson, 1614London: printed by Iohn Beale for Roger Iackson, 1614
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.
For as the holiness of the wife commendeth the piety of her husband,1 because she is as it were the image of the man: so the ⟨p. 71⟩excellent piety and godliness of the man doth set forth a religious woman: which godliness, it is no doubt, but his virtuous wife hath in some measure wrought in him. Thus did Priscilla help Aquila in godliness, in which regard she is by the holy Ghost set before her husband, although a faithful man: as in the 14. of Judges, Samsons mother is set before her husband Manoath. After the commendation of the children, and of the husband, there followeth also the praise of the holy Ghost, speaking by the pen of Solomon: who doth by a comparison of the lesser amplify her praise. But she is compared not with a careless, and slothful woman, but with a woman of strength, and not with one alone, but with many to whom she is not equalled, but far preferred, and placed as it were in a higher estate; but if it be asked, what women of strength these are, to whom this woman is preferred. I answer, they are those, which being void of faith towards God, do notwithstanding embrace chastity, love their husbands dearly, provide plentifully for the diet and clothing of their family, seek wool and flax, set their hands to the wheel and spindle, rise before day, go to bed late, are careful for furniture for their house, of ⟨p. 72⟩all sorts, do deck both themselves and their husbands, do think of a field which they buy, and plant it with vines: but in the mean time being void of faith, are fearfully terrified with the evils to come: yea, even with shadows of evils, as before hath been declared out of the 25. 26 and 27. verses. And truly in this kind there are found not only Popish women, Jews, and Turks, but also some professors of the Gospel, but in show only: before all which (though in number infinite) one of these is far to be preferred, not only in these virtues, which are proper and peculiar to her; but in those also which do fall into both kinds of women. For although the same things be performed of them both, notwithstanding seeing the one doth them of conscience towards God, the other of a certain instinct of nature, or to get praise and commendation amongst men, it appeareth that there is as much difference between them, as is between heaven and earth.