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

The last common and joint duty wherein husband and wife ought to be helpful each to other, respecteth those that are without the house, namely the poor, and such as stand in need of their help, who are to be relieved and succoured. Because man and wife usually meal together, and are joint partakers of Gods good creatures, they must put one another in mind of that precept of charity which was given to the Jews when they were at their meals, ^asend part unto them for whom none is provided. The good wife which is set forth by the holy Ghost for a pattern and example unto others to follow, together with her husband, are noted to be helpful one to another in this duty: for she is said ^bto stretch out her hand to the poor, and to the needy: and he is said ^cto praise her, thereby encouraging her to hold on in doing those good things which she did. What liberty the wife hath, or how far forth she may be restrained in case her husband utterly refuse to give consent, we shall ^*hereafter declare in the particular duties of wives: the point here noted is, that both the husband himself must according to his ability be bountiful to the poor, and suffer his wife, yea provoke her so to be, and withal allow her wherewithal to be bountiful: and that the wife also must stir up her husband to liberality in this respect, and her self open her hand to the poor in the things which lawfully she may give.