A20764:253
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…
The plea of the poor. Or A treatise of beneficence and alms-deeds teaching how these Christian duties are rightly to be performed, and persuading to the frequent doing of them. Necessary for these times, wherein the works of mercy are so much neglected, or so undiscreetly practiced. Published by John Downame Bachelor in Divinity.The plea of the poore. Or A treatise of benificence and almes-deeds teaching how these Christian duties are rightly to be performed, and perswading to the frequent doing of them. Necessary for these times, wherein the workes of mercy are so much neglected, or so vndiscreetly practized. Published by Iohn Downame Bachelour in Diuinitie.
London: printed by Edward Griffin for Ralph Mabbe, 1616
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.
Sect. 12. How far the communion in goods extendeth.
Sect. 12. How farre the communion in goods extendeth.
Yea will some say but this communion extendeth unto use only. I answer it is true, for what can be more required then use, where there is no propriety, but that which is in them both? yea but (say they) the propriety is in the husband, and for the common use which the wife hath in her husbands goods, it only extendeth to her meat, drink, apparel, and such necessaries as are fit for the maintenance of her person. The former hath some colour, because the husband ⟨p. 112⟩hath right to alienate and sell house and land, yea 1to give all away if he please without the wives consent, unless it be her jointure or dower. I answer that they may do all this wisely and discreetly for their own good and of their wives and children, by that authority and superiority which they have over their wives and goods, though they have no propriety in them more then they, because the action best proceedeth from the predominant cause and chief agent; but if it be to the wives hurt and prejudice, they abuse their authority, and sin against their spouse by infringing the communion; and as he who with riot, wastefulness, excess and ill husbandry consumeth and misspendeth his estate, is a thief to himself, so also to his wife in that he robbeth her of her right which by virtue of the communion of marriage belongeth to her. And therefore we read that when Ananias (though he were but an hypocrite) sold his possession to relieve the necessity of the Church, yet he did not do it without his wives consent, but they joined both together in the sale, according to the custom of those times,