A supplement to The Morning-exercise at Cripple-Gate, or, Several more cases of conscience practically…

6. His is an active and fruitful Love; for ver. 29. he nourisheth and cherisheth his Church. His poor Church is always wanting, he supplies her; she is in trouble, he protects her; she is ready to sink, but he awakes to save her. Such must be an Husbands Love. He must spare no cost, no pains to do his Wife good; she now leans only upon him, he must not fail her; she hath left all her friends for him, he must not leave her: She hath a^(r) succession of many infirmities; pains, and perils, he must nourish her; no Nurse like a good Husband; he must cherish her, no Cordial, or Comforter like a wise and loving Husband. Thus the Husband must love his Wife, as Christ loveth his Church. And again.

1. (r)Quae molestia per singulos menses, cùm velut sentina uteri purgatur? quae praegnantium fastidia? quam praesentia enitentium discrimina? quanta enixarum jam & puerperarum? quàm illinc discedunt fractae? quot casibus & periculis obnoxiae? ut mirandum sit, sanam ullam illarum unquam vivere. Universa autem vita quid aliud, quam serviunt nobis, sive virgines parentibu, sive nuptae mari•is, sive liberis matres? Lud. Viv. de off. mar.Quae molestia per singulos menses, cùm velut sentina uteri purgatur? quae praegnantium fastidia? quam praesentia enitentium discrimina? quanta enixarum jam & puerperarum? quàm illinc discedunt fractae? quot casibus & periculis obnoxiae? ut mirandum sit, sanam ullam illarum unquam vivere. Ʋniversa autem vita quid aliud, quam serviunt nobis, sive virgines parentibu, sive nuptae mari•is, sive liberis matres? Lud. Viv. de off. mar.

2. The husband ought to love his Wife as himself: So saith my Text. The Apostle had said ver. 28. so ought men to love their Wives as their own bodies: and lest that should not be sufficient, he goes on in my Text, and says, let every one of you in particular love his wife even as himself. And whereas it might be said; why, so we are to love all the world; thou shalt love thy Neighbour [as thy self:] now saith the Apostle, ver. 28. he that loveth his wife, he loveth [himself,] which is more than as himself. Now though this Love to a mans self is less, then that of Christ to his Church: yet it is more plain and sensible to us: for (as was said at first) he that doth not know with what manner of Love Christ doth love his Church, yet knows with what love he loves himself. And that is (besides what was last instanced in)