A20764:261
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. 16. The first reason. That all good works are enjoined unto the wife as well as unto the husband.
Sect. 16. The first reason. That all good workes are inioyned vnto the wife as well as vnto the husband.
And thus having untied the hardest knots in this controversy, and removed the main blocks which did lie in the way; the reasons which may further be produced for the clearing of this point will find a fair and easy entrance. And first, all good actions and works of mercy are charged as well upon the wife as the husband, and where any commandment requiring them is propounded, it extendeth as well to the woman as the man: as namely relieving the poor, feeding the hungry, visiting the sick, clothing the naked, & such like, and therefore the wife is no less bound to do them than the husband, and liable to the same punishment if she do neglect them. yea not only these good works are generally commanded to all mankind but especially to this sex, as appeareth. 1. Tim. 2. 10. where the Apostle 1forbiddeth women braided hair, gold, pearl and costly array, and requireth that instead of them they should (as becometh women professing godliness) adorn themselves with good works. Now if any say that they must do works of mercy out of that which is their own, and not out of their husbands goods, to this I have answered, that by the virtue of the communion of marriage, they have to all good purposes the lawful use of ⟨p. 116⟩that which is in their possession. And if they affirm that she is inferior to her husband and therefore must not do any of these works without his consent: I answer, that as she is inferior to her husband, so both he and she to the supreme sovereign, and therefore though she is to show subjection and yield obedience to her husband in all things lawful and indifferent, yet not where God commandeth the contrary, seeing here the Apostles rule taketh place, that it is better to obey God then man. For he is the chief