Answ. And a law too, for trial of her obedience, which if it be not observed, her nature will be more depraved, and her fault more increased. Besides, we cannot but think that the woman was made before the fall, that the man might rule over her. Upon this ground the Prophets and Apostles have oft urged the same. Sarah is commended for this, that she was subject to her husband (1. Pet. 3. 6.) Hereby the holy Ghost would teach wives, that Subjection ought to be as salt to season ⟨p. 269⟩every duty which they perform to their husband. Their very opinion, affection, speech, action, and all that concerneth the husband, must savour of subjection. Contrary is the disposition of many wives, whom ambition hath tainted and corrupted within and without: they cannot endure to hear of subjection: they imagine that they are made slaves thereby. But I hope partly by that which hath been before delivered concerning those common duties which man and wife do mutually owe each to other, and partly by the particulars which under this general are comprised, but most especially 1by the duties which the husband in particular oweth to his wife, it will evidently appear, that this subjection is no servitude. But were it more then it is, seeing God requireth subjection of a wife to her husband, the wife is bound to yield it. And good reason it is that she who first drew man into sin, should be now subject to him, lest by the like womanish weakness she fall again.
Answ. And a law too, for triall of her obedience, which if it be not obserued, her nature will be more depraued, and her fault more increased. Besides, we cannot but thinke that the woman was made before the fall, that the man might rule ouer her. Vpon this ground the Prophets and Apostles haue oft vrged the same. Sarah is commended for this, that she was subiect to her husband (1. Pet. 3. 6.) Hereby the holy Ghost would teach wiues, that Subiection ought to be as salt to season ⟨p. 269⟩euery dutie which they performe to their husband. Their very opinion, affection, speech, action, and all that concerneth the husband, must sauour of subiection. Contrary is the disposition of many wiues, whom ambition hath tainted and corrupted within and without: they cannot endure to heare of subiection: they imagine that they are made slaues thereby. But I hope partly by that which hath beene before deliuered concerning those common duties which man and wife doe mutually owe each to other, and partly by the particulars which vnder this generall are comprised, but most especially 1by the duties which the husband in particular oweth to his wife, it will euidently appeare, that this subiection is no seruitude. But were it more then it is, seeing God requireth subiection of a wife to her husband, the wife is bound to yeeld it. And good reason it is that she who first drew man into sin, should be now subiect to him, lest by the like womanish weaknesse she fall againe.
- 1Quem vocavit ad culpam mulier, justum est ut eum gubernatorem assuma•, ne iterum foeminea facilitate labatur. Ambr. Hexaem. l. 5. c. 7.Quem vocavit ad culpam mulier, iustum est vt eum gubernatorem assuma•, ne iterum foeminea facilitate labatur. Ambr. Hexaem. l. 5. c. 7.
