3. The Real effects of the Wife's Reverence to her Husband is seen in her Behaviour towards him, which ought always to be cheerful and respectful. She must not allow or nourish that crossness of humour to be sullen or dumpish, when he is pleasant; or on the contrary contemptuously frolic, when he is sad: but must(u) compose her carriage, her garments, her converse to give him content, and to increase his delight in her. For if his heart be once estranged from her, unless the fear of God with-hold him, he may quickly render her condition unspeakably miserable. She ought therefore always to express Contentedness in her estate, and that will help and move him to be content in his. She must entertain him into his House with a(x) cheerful countenance, that he may delight to be at home: and study the arts how to pacify him, if ought have provoked him: or how to convince and reform him, if ought have insnared him. She must observe when and how his meals, his clothes, his lodging do please him, and show the greatness of her respect in these lesser things. For even about such things arise the most frequent and sharp contests; which a discreet and godly woman will labour to prevent, not only because disquiets do(y) alienate the heart, but because she cannot live under his frown, nor eat nor sleep contentedly while he is angry. And notwithstanding the freedom and familiarity of their converse together, yet she must still behave her self with all respect towards him, and that familiarity must not beget contempt. His love must not make her to forget her (z)duty, nor his fondness her respect. The more he condescends to her, the more she must descend into her place, and thus oblige him by her demeanour. She must consider, that it's better to(a) obey a wise man, than to rule a fool, as it is better to follow a skilful guide, than to lead one that's blind. Few Husbands so bad, but the discretion and respect of a Wife would reform them; and few Wives so ill-tempered, but the wisdom and affection of a ⟨p. 385⟩Husband would make them better. And so much for their particular Duties to each other.
3. The Real effects of the Wife's Reverence to her Husband is seen in her Bebaviour towards him, which ought always to be chearful and respectful. She must not allow or nourish that crossness of humour to be sullen or dumpish, when he is pleasant; or on the contrary contemptuously frolick, when he is sad: but must(u) compose her carriage, her garments, her converse to give him content, and to increase his delight in her. For if his heart be once estranged from her, unless the fear of God with-hold him, he may quickly render her condition unspeakably miserable. She ought therefore always to express Contentedness in her estate, and that will help and move him to be content in his. She must entertain him into his House with a(x) chearful countenance, that he may delight to be at home: and study the arts how to pacifie him, if ought have provok'd him: or how to convince and reform him, if ought have insnar'd him. She must observe when and how his meals, his clothes, his lodging do please him, and shew the greatness of her respect in these lesser things. For even about such things arise the most frequent and sharp contests; which a discreet and godly woman will labour to prevent, not only because disquiets do(y) alienate the heart, but because she cannot live under his frown, nor eat nor sleep contentedly while he is angry. And notwithstanding the freedom and familiarity of their converse together, yet she must still behave her self with all respect towards him, and that familiarity must not beget contempt. His love must not make her to forget her (z)duty, nor his fondness her respect. The more he condescends to her, the more she must descend into her place, and thus oblige him by her demeanour. She must consider, that it's better to(a) obey a wise man, than to rule a fool, as it is better to follow a skilful guide, than to lead one that's blind. Few Husbands so bad, but the discretion and respect of a Wife would reform them; and few Wives so ill-temper'd, but the wisdom and affection of a ⟨p. 385⟩Husband would make them better. And so much for their particular Duties to each other.
- (u)Omnes illius vultus sumet, ridenti arrid•bit• moesto see praebebit m•stam; servata semper authoritate matronalis integritatis & virtutis: ut magis illa ex amico proveniant animo quam adulterino. L. Vives ubi supra.Omnes illius vultus sumet, ridenti arrid•bit• moesto se praebebit m•stam; servata semper authoritate matronalis integritatis & virtutis: ut magis illa ex amico proveniant animo quam adulterino. L. Vives ubi supra.
- (x)Magna amaritudo est in domo uxor tristis. Ambr. to. 5. p. 265.
- (y)Nec aliquid est, quod ita alienet virum ab uxore. ut crebra rixa & uxoris lingua omarule•a Compar'd to a continual dropping, which drives a man out of his house. Prov. 27.15. Lu. Vives ubi supra.
- (z)[Greek or Hebrew]. Chrysost. in Col. hom. 10.〈non-Latin alphabet〉. Chrysost. in Col. hom. 10.
- (a)Quae malunt fatuis imperare viris quam obtemperare prudentibus, eorum sunt similes, qui in via coecos ducere malunt, quam videntes & itineris peritos sequi. Plutarch. praec. conj.
