The plea of the poor. Or A treatise of beneficence and alms-deeds teaching how…The plea of the poore. Or A treatise of benificence and almes-deeds teaching how…

Sect. 4. The state of the question.

But what if notwithstanding all this, her husband being a right Nabal, that is, both a churl and fool, will neither himself do any works of mercy, nor give consent that she shall do them? what if he neglect almsdeeds, either through covetousness and excessive love of his goods, or wicked maliciousness and hatred of good deeds? may not the virtuous wife in this ¹case do those good works which he neglecteth or abhorreth? some say no, but (saving their better judgements) I hold she may, so that she carefully observe these cautious. First that she give with wisdom and discretion, observing the things of which we have formerly spoken; but especially her care must be that her gifts exceed not their own ability, and so impair and impoverish their estate; the which if it be unknown unto her, she must give but sparingly, and things of small value; neither must she under show of giving alms undo her husband, seeing it is said of the virtuous woman, that she will do him good ²and not evil all the days of her life. Now where this wisdom and discretion is wanting, there the wife may not take upon her this duty, which is better not done, then done foolishly and without discretion.

But what if notwithstanding all this, her husband being a right Nabal, that is, both a churle and foole, will neither himselfe doe any workes of mercie, nor giue consent that shee shall doe them? what if hee neglect almesdeedes, either through couetousnesse and excessiue loue of his goods, or wicked maliciousnesse and hatred of good deedes? may not the vertuous wife in this ¹case doe those good workes which he neglecteth or abhorreth? some say no, but (sauing their better iudgements) I hold she may, so that she carefully obserue these cautious. First that shee giue with wisedome and discretion, obseruing the things of which we haue formerly spoken; but especially her care must be that her gifts exceede not their owne abilitie, and so impaire and impouerish their estate; the which if it be vnknowne vnto her, she must giue but sparinglie, and things of small value; neither must shee vnder shew of giuing almes vndoe her husband, seeing it is said of the vertuous woman, that she will doe him good ²and not euill all the daies of her life. Now where this wisdome and discretion is wanting, there the wife may not take vpon her this duetie, which is better not done, then done foolishly and without discretion.

1. 1Cautions to be observed in her giving alms. 1. That she observe the former rules and give discreetly.Cautions to be obserued in her giuing almes. 1. That she obserue the former rules and giue discreetely.
2. 2Pro. 31. 12.

Sect. 5. Secondly, she must give with meekness and reverence towards her husband.

Sect. 5. Secondly, she must giue with meekenesse and reuerence towards her husband.

Secondly, she must perform this duty with all meekness and humility of spirit, with all reverence and due respect unto her husbands authority, ⟨p. 106⟩with acknowledgement of her subjection in all things lawful, that hereby she may win him by her christian carriage and conversation to a liking and allowance of her good works, yea also (if it be possible) to the practise and imitation of them, according to that, 1. Pet. 3. 1. Ye ¹wives be in subjection to your own husbands, that if they obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives: to which purpose he further persuadeth them to adorn themselves with the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God, of great price.

Secondly, she must performe this duetie with all meekenesse and humilitie of spirit, with all reuerence and due respect vnto her husbands authoritie, ⟨p. 106⟩with acknowledgement of her subiection in all things lawfull, that hereby she may winne him by her christian cariage and conuersation to a liking and allowance of her good works, yea also (if it be possible) to the practise and imitation of them, according to that, 1. Pet. 3. 1. Yee ¹wiues be in subiection to your owne husbands, that if they obey not the word, they also may without the word be wonne by the conuersation of the wiues: to which purpose he further perswadeth them to adorne themselues with the ornament of a meeke and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God, of great price.

1. 11. Pet. 3. 1.

Sect. 6. Thirdly, she must not give her husband any cause of offence.

Sect. 6. Thirdly, she must not giue her husband any cause of offence.

Thirdly, she must in the manner of doing these good works carefully avoid the giving unto her husband any just cause of offence; and not presume to use any pride or arrogance, stomach and sturdiness, insolent and contemptuous behaviour, whereby she shall more disgrace her good deeds, then they can grace her. For the Apostle will in no case permit the woman to usurp authority over the man, 1. Tim. 2. 10. unto which ¹fault they are most subject when they see their husbands defects, and know that truth and right is on their side; whereby oftentimes it cometh to pass, that they spoil a good cause by ill handling; and are more blame-worthy in their manner of doing good, then their husbands are for neglecting the good it self. But of this all christian women must take heed, seeing by such behaviour they do not only disgrace themselves and their profession, but also for want of due obedience ⟨p. 107⟩to their husbands, do cause the word of God (which they take into their mouths to defend their courses) to be blasphemed, as it is Tit. 2. 5. whereas on the other side, if they perform ²these christian duties with all due reverence towards him whom God hath set over them, it will appear that they do them with a good conscience and in obedience to God; and that the fear of their husbands would restrain them, if it were not over-mastered with a greater fear, even the sincere and true fear of almighty God.

Thirdly, she must in the manner of doing these good workes carefully auoide the giuing vnto her husband any iust cause of offence; and not presume to vse any pride or arrogancie, stomacke and sturdinesse, insolent and contemptuous behauiour, whereby shee shall more disgrace her good deedes, then they can grace her. For the Apostle will in no case permit the woman to vsurpe authoritie ouer the man, 1. Tim. 2. 10. vnto which ¹fault they are most subiect when they see their husbands defects, and know that truth and right is on their side; whereby oftentimes it commeth to passe, that they spoyle a good cause by ill handling; and are more blame-worthy in their manner of doing good, then their husbands are for neglecting the good it selfe. But of this all christian women must take heede, seeing by such behauiour they doe not onely disgrace themselues and their profession, but also for want of due obedience ⟨p. 107⟩to their husbands, doe cause the word of God (which they take into their mouthes to defend their courses) to bee blasphemed, as it is Tit. 2. 5. whereas on the other side, if they performe ²these christian duties with all due reuerence towards him whom God hath set ouer them, it will appeare that they doe them with a good conscience and in obedience to God; and that the feare of their husbands would restraine them, if it were not ouer-maistred with a greater feare, euen the sincere and true feare of almighty God.

1. 11. Tim. 2. 10.
2. 2Tit. 2. 5.

Sect. 7. Fourthly, she must not disgrace her husband by publishing his faults.

Lastly, she must take heed, that by reporting her own good deeds, and her husbands backwardness she do not disgrace him; but she must hide and cover his faults from all, saving those who may help to better him, and pray unto God for his amendment; for a good wife will not lay the foundation of her own credit in the ruins of her husbands honour, but knowing that it is no small disgrace to the most proper and beautiful body, to have a deformed and misshapen head, she will hide it under the veil of secrecy, or adorn and beautify it with the most favourable report that sincerity and truth can give unto it; knowing that a virtuous woman is a crown to her husband, but she that maketh him ashamed is rottenness in his ¹bones, as it is Pro. 12. 4. Wherein Abigail (though otherwise a virtuous woman) failed, excusing her husband by discovering his folly.

Lastly, she must take heede, that by reporting her owne good deedes, and her husbands backwardnesse she doe not disgrace him; but she must hide and couer his faults from al, sauing those who may helpe to better him, and pray vnto God for his amendment; for a good wife will not lay the foundation of her owne credit in the ruins of her husbands honour, but knowing that it is no small disgrace to the most proper and beautifull body, to haue a deformed and mishapen head, she will hide it vnder the vaile of secrecie, or adorne and beautifie it with the most fauourable report that sinceritie and truth can giue vnto it; knowing that a vertuous woman is a crowne to her husband, but she that maketh him ashamed is rottennesse in his ¹bones, as it is Pro. 12. 4. Wherein Abigail (though otherwise a vertuous woman) failed, excusing her husband by discouering his folly.

1. 1Pro 12. 4. 1. Jam. 25. 25.Pro 12. 4. 1. Iam. 25. 25.

Sect. 8. That it is lawful for the wife to give alms these cautions being observed. Maine grounds laid for the determining of the question.

Sect. 8. That it is lawful for the wife to giue almes these cautions being obseru'd. Maine grounds laid for the determining of the question.

Which cautions being observed I think it lawful for the wife to give alms, and perform ⟨p. 108⟩all other works of mercy, as well as the husband; the which because it is controverted, I will endeavour to prove. And for the better clearing of this point, two things are to be premitted and examined, which being throughly known will give sufficient light for the determining of this question; the first is the authority, superiority, and dominion of the husband over the wife, with all things else which they possess; the second is the communion between them both in respect of goods and persons, the which are not to be severed in the consideration of either of them; for the husband is so to exercise his authority, as that he do not neglect the communion which is between him and his wife, and the wife is so to enjoy her communion, as that she do not forget the authority of her husband.

Which cautions being obserued I thinke it lawfull for the wife to giue almes, and performe ⟨p. 108⟩all other workes of mercie, as well as the husband; the which because it is controuerted, I will indeauour to proue. And for the better clearing of this point, two things are to bee premitted and examined, which being throughly knowne will giue sufficient light for the determining of this question; the first is the authoritie, superioritie, and dominion of the husband ouer the wife, with all things else which they possesse; the second is the communion betweene them both in respect of goods and persons, the which are not to bee seuered in the consideration of either of them; for the husband is so to exercise his authoritie, as that hee doe not neglect the communion which is betweene him and his wife, and the wife is so to inioy her communion, as that she doe not forget the authority of her husband.

Sect. 9. Of the superiority and authority of the husband over the wife.

Sect. 9. Of the superiorite and authoritie of the husband ouer the wife.

Concerning the former, it is to be acknowledged that the husband hath superiority and authority over his wife to rule and govern her as her head, and that she as his inferior is to subject her self to his rule and government; and it cannot be denied but that also he hath chief dominion over all their goods, and power to rule and manage the main estate. So the Apostle saith, that as the head of every man is Christ, so the head of woman is the man. 1. Cor. 11. 3. In regard whereof she is in many places of Scripture enjoined to be subject ¹unto her husband in all things; and the reason hereof is given, because in the creation the man was not of the woman, but the woman of the man, neither was the man created for the woman, but the woman ⟨p. 109⟩for the man. 1. Cor. 11. 8. 9. and besides, the ²man was not first deceived, but the woman, and so was first in the transgression, as it is 1. Tim. 2. 14. and ³therefore it was a part of her punishment, that her will should be to be subject to her husband, and that he should rule over her. Gen. 3. 16. In regard of ⁴which superiority it is not lawful for the wife to take upon her the managing of her husbands main estate, or to dispose at her pleasure of great and weighty matters, because this is a royalty which belongeth to her superior and head, who is the chief ruler and king in the little commonwealth of the family: howsoever even in these things a wise and good husband will not neglect the advice of his discreet wife, as being his most faithful counsellor, and created of God purposely to this end that she might be his helper.

Concerning the former, it is to be acknowledged that the husband hath superioritie and authoritie ouer his wife to rule and gouerne her as her head, and that she as his inferiour is to subiect her selfe to his rule and gouernement; and it cannot be denyed but that also he hath chiefe dominion ouer all their goods, and power to rule and manage the maine estate. So the Apostle saith, that as the head of euery man is Christ, so the head of woman is the man. 1. Cor. 11. 3. In regard whereof she is in many places of Scripture inioyned to be subiect ¹vnto her husband in all things; and the reason hereof is giuen, because in the creation the man was not of the woman, but the woman of the man, neither was the man created for the woman, but the woman ⟨p. 109⟩for the man. 1. Cor. 11. 8. 9. and besides, the ²man was not first deceiued, but the woman, and so was first in the transgression, as it is 1. Tim. 2. 14. and ³therefore it was a part of her punishment, that her will should be to be subiect to her husband, and that he should rule ouer her. Gen. 3. 16. In regard of ⁴which superioritie it is not lawfull for the wife to take vpon her the managing of her husbands maine estate, or to dispose at her pleasure of great and weighty matters, because this is a royalty which belongeth to her superiour and head, who is the chiefe ruler and king in the little commonwealth of the familie: howsoeuer euen in these things a wise and good husband will not neglect the aduice of his discreete wife, as being his most faithfull counsailour, and created of God purposely to this end that shee might be his helper.

1. 11. Cor. 11. 3.
2. 21. Cor. 11. 8. 9.
3. 31. Tim. 2. 14.
4. 4Gen. 3. 1•.

Sect. 10. That the husbands government must be in the Lord.

Sect. 10. That the husbands gouernment must be in the Lord.