Of domesticall duties eight treatises. I. An exposition of that part of Scripture out…

1. It is more acceptable before God, and more commendable ¹before men to do duty, then to exact duty. As in matters of free charity, so also of bounden duty, It is more blessed to ²give, then to receive. In particular it is better for an husband to be a good husband, then to have a good wife: so for a wife. To have others fail in duty to us may be an heavy cross, for us to fail in our duty to others is a fearful curse.

1. It is more acceptable before God, and more commendable ¹before men to doe duty, then to exact duty. As in matters of free charity, so also of bounden duty, It is more blessed to ²giue, then to receiue. In particular it is better for an husband to be a good husband, then to haue a good wife: so for a wife. To haue others faile in duty to vs may be an heauy crosse, for vs to faile in our dutie to others is a fearefull curse.

1. 1Reasons.
2. 2Act. 20. 35.

2. Every one is to give an account of his own particular ¹duty. That which the Prophet speaketh of father and son, may be applied to husband and wife, and to all other sorts of people, If a father do that which is lawful and right, he is just, he ²