6. The Effects of an husbands Love to his wife are to be seen in his Behaviour towards her, that is in the mild use of his Authority. This God hath in his Wisdom invested him withal at his(g) Creation, and not devested him at his(h) Fall. The(i) Light of Nature gives it to him; and the Gospel hath no where repealed, but(k) confirmed the same; And none but proud and ignorant women will ever dispute it. But herein lies an Act of the husband's Love; 1. wisely to keep; 2. mildly to use this Authority. 1. He must keep it by a religious, grave, and manly carriage; this will be his chiefest Fort and Buttress to support it. It will be hard for her (though doubtless her duty) to reverence him, who himself hath forgotten to reverence his God. If his behaviour be light, she will be apt to set lightly by him. If he be weak and effeminate, it loses him. But he ought to answer his name; to be an Head for judgment and excellency of spirit, and to be truly religious. This will maintain his Authority. But then 2. Herein shines his Love, to use the same with all sweetness, remembering that though he be Superior to his Wife, yet that their Souls are equal; that she is to be treated as his Companion; that he is not to rule her as a(l) King doth his Subjects, but as the head doth the body; That though she was not taken out of Adams head, so neither out of his foot, but out of his side near his heart. And therefore his Countenance must be friendly, his ordinary(m language to her mild and sweet, his behaviour obliging, his commands sparing and respectful, and his reproofs gentle. He must neither be Abject nor Magisterial. If his Rule be too imperious, his love is destroyed; if his love be not discreetly expressed, his Sceptre's lost, and then he is disabled from doing God Service, or his Family good. He should never imagine that a rude insolency or perpetual bitterness is either the way to keep or use his Authority aright. Yea, the Spirit of God expressly saith, Col. 3.19. Husbands, love your Wives, and be not bitter against them. If meekness of Wisdom will not prevail with thy wife, thou art undone in this world, and she in the world to come.
6. The Effects of an husbands Love to his wife are to be seen in his Behaviour towards her, that is in the mild use of his Authority. This God hath in his Wisdom invested him withal at his(g) Creation, and not devested him at his(h) Fall. The(i) Light of Nature gives it to him; and the Gospel hath no where repealed, but(k) confirm'd the same; And none but proud and ignorant women will ever dispute it. But herein lies an Act of the husband's Love; 1. wisely to keep; 2. mildly to use this Authority. 1. He must keep it by a religious, grave, and manly carriage; this will be his chiefest Fort and Buttress to support it. It will be hard for her (though doubtless her duty) to reverence him, who himself hath forgotten to reverence his God. If his behaviour be light, she will be apt to set lightly by him. If he be weak and effeminate, it loses him. But he ought to answer his name; to be an Head for judgment and excellency of spirit, and to be truly religious. This will maintain his Authority. But then 2. Herein shines his Love, to use the same with all sweetness, remembring that though he be Superiour to his Wife, yet that their Souls are equal; that she is to be treated as his Companion; that he is not to rule her as a(l) King doth his Subjects, but as the head doth the body; That though she was not taken out of Adams head, so neither out of his foot, but out of his side near his heart. And therefore his Countenance must be friendly, his ordinary(m language to her mild and sweet, his behaviour obliging, his commands sparing and respectful, and his reproofs gentle. He must neither be Abject nor Magisterial. If his Rule be too imperious, his love is destroyed; if his love be not discreetly exprest, his Scepter's lost, and then he is disabled from doing God Service, or his Family good. He should never imagine that a rude insolency or perpetual bitterness is either the way to keep or use his Authority aright. Yea, the Spirit of God expresly saith, Col. 3.19. Husbands, love your Wives, and be not bitter against them. If meekness of Wisdom will not prevail with thy wife, thou art undone in this world, and she in the world to come.
- (g)Gen 2.23.
- (h)Gen. 3.16.
- (i)Esth. 1.22.
- (k)1 Cor. 11.3.
- (l)[Greek or Hebrew]. i. e. [Greek or Hebrew] Arist. de cura rei fam. l. 1. Imperare maritus mulieri debet, non ut Dominus rei quam possidet, sed ut animus corpori. Lud. Viv. de off. mar. Non es Dominus, sed maritus: non ancillam forti•us es, sed uxorem. Redde studio vicem, read amori gratiam. Ambros. tom. 4. p. 55.〈non-Latin alphabet〉. i. e. 〈non-Latin alphabet〉 Arist. de cura rei fam. l. 1. Imperare maritus mulieri debet, non ut Dominus rei quam possidet, sed ut animus corpori. Lud. Viv. de off. mar. Non es Dominus, sed maritus: non ancillam forti•us es, sed uxorem. Redde studio vicem, redde amori gratiam. Ambros. tom. 4. p. 55.
- (m[Greek or Hebrew]. Chrys. in Eph s hom. 20.〈non-Latin alphabet〉. Chrys. in Eph s hom. 20.
