A20547:404
A plain and familiar exposition of the eleventh and twelfth chapters of the Proverbs…A plaine and familiar exposition of the eleuenth and twelfth chapters of the Prouerbes…
A plain and familiar exposition of the eleventh and twelfth chapters of the Proverbs of SolomonA plaine and familiar exposition of the eleuenth and twelfth chapters of the Prouerbes of Salomon
London: printed by Felix Kyngston for Henry Sharpe, 1607London: printed by Felix Kyngston for Henrie Sharpe, 1607
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.
Reasons. 1 First, they are very scarce and hard to come by, and therefore it is said, Who shall find a virtuous woman? There are incomparably 1more wives than God will praise for good wives, and more ⟨p. 124⟩maids and widows than he will commend to good men to match with. As therefore those that are gracious are rare, so are they also the more remarkable, and so they more adorn their husbands. If crowns were as commonly worn as hats, men would esteem of hats as much as of crowns.
Reasons. 1 First, they are very scarce and hard to come by, and therefore it is said, Who shall finde a vertuous woman? There are incompatably 1more wiues than God will praise for good wiues, and more ⟨p. 124⟩maides and widowes than hee will commend to good men to match with. As therefore those that are gracious are rare, so are they also the more remarkable, and so they more adorne their husbands. If crownes were as commonly worne as hats, men would esteeme of hats as much as of crownes.
Secondly, good wives to godly men are all of the Lords providing, he made the match in mercy and favour, and therefore 1the more to be regarded. He more immediately declareth his love in this, than in bestowing lands and livings, or any other goods or substance. So saith this Scripture: House and riches are the inheritance of the fathers: but a prudent wife cometh of the Lord: