The bright star which leadeth wise men to our Lord Jesus Christ, or, A…

First for cohabitation. The first duty of the husband is to dwell with his wife, that seeth there is a near and dear society betwixt them, and of all the nearest; for she is to him as the Church unto Christ, flesh of his flesh and bone of his bone; therefore he must be willing to have his abode to walk with her, and talk with her and let her have all comfortable familiarity with him: that she may see, he delighteth in her company and may well know, that of all others she is his most welcome companion. And so in the law it was commanded that the first year any one was married, he might dwell at home & rejoice with his wife for that whole year, what ever affairs of the common wealth or jars were abroad, yet he was by Gods laws freed, so that neither King nor captain might command his service from home, but he must dwell with his wife that she might have experience of his love, and have comfort by him, that by long continuance and society, their hearts might be so nearly glued as nothing might rend them a sunder. This confutes those foolish men indeed not worthy to carry the names of husbands, that can take more delight in any foolish riotous and unthrifty company, & have more pleasure in any foolish vain and lewd exercises, then in the society of the loving and kind wife; that are never so merry as when the wife is absent, and never dumpish and churlish but with her. So if that it may well be seen, that her company is a burden and her presence a clog unto them, such as dwell with hawks and hounds and drunkards and gamesters not with their wives. These shall carry the brand and name of fools so long as they have no more care to prevent so much ill, and do so much good as if they had any godly wisdom or love to their wives they might. For what do they but flying themselves into danger & lay their wives naked to Satan's tentation? yea & give just occasion to them to think that they love the not. ô but we must have our delights & follow our sports: & pray you why?

First for cohabitation. The first dutie of the husband is to dwell with his wife, that seeth there is a neere and deare societie betwixt them, and of all the nearest; for she is to him as the Church vnto Christ, flesh of his flesh and bone of his bone; therefore he must be willing to haue his aboad to walke with her, and talke with her and let her haue all comfortable familiaritie with him: that shee may see, he delighteth in her companie and may well know, that of all others shee is his most welcome companion. And so in the law it was commanded that the first yeare anie one was married, he might dwell at home & reioyce with his wife for that whole yeare, what euer affaires of the common wealth or iarres were abroade, yet he was by Gods lawes freed, so that neither King nor captaine might comand his seruice from home, but he must dwell with his wife that shee might haue experience of his loue, and haue comfort by him, that by long continuance and societie, their hearts might be so neerely glewed as nothing might rend them a sunder. This confutes those foolish men indeede not worthie to carrie the names of husbands, that can take more delight in anie foolish riotous and vnthriftie companie, & haue more pleasure in any foolish vaine and lewd exercises, then in the society of the louing and kind wife; that are neuer so merrie as when the wife is absent, and neuer dumpish and churlish but with her. So if that it may well be seene, that her company is a burden and her presence a clogge vnto them, such as dwell with hawkes and hownds and drunkards and gamsters not with their wiues. These shall carrie the brande and name of fooles so long as they haue no more care to preuent so much ill, and doe so much good as if they had any godly wisdōe or loue to their wiues they might. For what doe they but flying thēselues into dāger & lay their wiues naked to Satās tētation? yea & giue iust occasiō to thē to think that they loue the not. ô but we must haue our delights & follow our sports: & pray you why?