Christian directions, showing how to walk with God all the day long drawn up…Christian directions, shewing how to walk with God all the day long drawn up…

3 By treating her mildly. The Husband must show himself mild and gentle in all things towards his Wife. This mildness is urged by the Apostle under the contrary Vice, Bitterness; for saith he,¹ Husbands love your Wives, and be not bitter against them. Where bitterness is opposed to mildness, gentleness, familiarity, and the like. So that both the speech and carriage of the Husband towards his Wife, must be with much mildness and gentleness; If he instruct her, it must be with all meekness and mildness; If he command any thing to be done, it should be by way of entreating; he should not be too peremptory in commanding; If he reprove her,² it must be with all mildness and meekness that may be. If a Brother is to be restored with a spirit of meekness, as the Apostle speaketh, how much more a Wife? For this end a Husband must observe both his own present temper, and his Wives, and forbear to reprove when himself or his Wife is in passion; for while himself is in passion, he is unfit to reprove, because passion is apt to blind reason, so as it knoweth not how to keep any mean or measure. And if she be in passion, she is unfit to be reproved, because passion so fills the heart, that it's not capable of any good advice. And as an Husband in reproving ⟨p. 138⟩his Wife should observe a fit time, so likewise a fit place, forbearing to do it openly, before Children or Servants, but privately between her and himself; for her honour and credit is to be maintained before Children and Servants, as much as may be, because she is a Joint-governor with him over them; now for her to be checked and controlled before them, will make them despise her. Herein therefore great wisdom is to be observed.

3 By treating her mildly. The Husband must shew himself milde and gentle in all things towards his Wife. This mildness is urged by the Apostle under the contrary Vice, Bitterness; for saith hee,¹ Husbands love your Wives, and bee not bitter against them. Where bitterness is opposed to mildness, gentleness, familiarity, and the like. So that both the speech and carriage of the Husband towards his Wife, must bee with much mildness and gentleness; If hee instruct her, it must be with all meekness and mildness; If hee command any thing to be done, it should be by way of entreating; hee should not bee too peremptory in commanding; If hee reprove her,