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…

Fourthly, the benefits which a virtuous wife doth bring to a worthy husband, are manifold, and worthy to be regarded. She will labour to refresh his heart with comfort, and to preserve his body in health: she will be a helper for his family, and provident for his state: she will be tender of his credit, and cheerful to his friends: she will every way apply her self to show her love, and procure his best prosperity. These we shall handle particularly in the one and thirty chapter, if God permit us to proceed so far. Contrary to the ways of this good woman is the behaviour of a bad wife, who worketh both shame and grief to her husband. All her sinfulness maketh him ashamed, unless he be shameless, which is his greater shame. A wicked son is a blot to his father, and a disordered servant is no credit to his master, and therefore much more doth an ungodly wife disgrace and blemish her yoke-fellow. And as she putteth matter of talk into other mens mouths, so she layeth burdens upon his back, and poureth sorrows into his heart by contempt, and wrongs, and ⟨p. 125⟩indignities. Oh the calamity of them that are put to harbour their enemies harlots in their own beds, and bosoms! And what a misery is it for a man to commit the greatest part of his substance to her that is a privy thief, whereby she hath all before her, to choose what she will to rob him of! And hard is their case whose wives are mere spies to know, and discover, and publish abroad their secrets, and faults, and infirmities to their great reproach. And what shall we speak of such as are swinish with drunkenness? and of gadders, and busy bodies abroad? which in all contentions are always parties, and wheresoever they come, they raise contentions? What comfort do these women minister to their husbands that love peace, and sobriety? As for such as are turbulent in their own houses, and froward, and rebellious against their head, the spirit of God telleth us, what profitable, pleasant, and amiable companions they be. In the nineteenth chapter of this book it is said, that the contentions of a wife ¹are like a continual dropping. Consider what vexation it is for a man to have rain falling fast upon his head, and body, especially if there be no intermission that he may dry himself again:

Fourthly, the benefits which a vertuous wife doth bring to a worthy husband, are manifold, and worthie to be regarded. She will labour to refresh his heart with comfort, and to preserue his bodie in health: she will be a helper for his familie, and prouident for his state: she will be tender of his credite, and cheerefull to his friends: she will euery way applie her selfe to shew her loue, and procure his best prosperitie. These we shall handle particularlie in the one and thirtie chapter, if God permit vs to proceede so farre. Contrarie to the waies of this good woman is the behauiour of a bad wife, who worketh both shame and griefe to her husband. All her sinfulnesse maketh him ashamed, vnlesse hee bee shamelesse, which is his greater shame. A wicked sonne is a blot to his father, and a disordered seruant is no credit to his maister, and therefore much more doth an vngodly wife disgrace and blemish her yoke-fellow. And as she putteth matter of talk into other mens mouthes, so she laieth burdens vpon his backe, and powreth sorrowes into his heart by contempt, and wrongs, and