A guide to godliness or a Treatise of a Christian life showing the dutiesA guide to godlynesse or a Treatise of a Christian life shewing the duties

And these are the mutual duties of man and wife between themselves. Besides which, there are divers duties by them to be performed, ¹as they are governors over the family; and those are either common to all the household, or else special, as they are parents over their children, or masters and mistresses over their servants. The common duties are, First, to rule them in the Lord, keeping them in godly obedience: and Secondly, to provide for them. They are to be ruled both by instruction and discipline. By instruction, as by doctrine and example. By doctrine, respecting ²private catechizing, reading of the Scriptures, and religious writings, and the public ministry, by causing them not only to frequent it, but also by teaching them to use it aright, both by preparation before they go to hear, and examination afterwards. So likewise they must be no less careful to teach them by example, both in their holy profession of Religion, and conscionable practice of all Christian duties; knowing that ³examples especially of governors, are no less powerful then precepts, either to draw them to good, and withdraw them from evil, or contrariwise: unto which instruction, discipline must be adjoined, both by rewarding those that deserve well, and correcting them that offend, either in words only, as by reproofs and threatenings; or in deeds also, by blows and stripes, to be inflicted in wisdom, love and moderation. Finally, as it is their duty to rule them; so also to provide