Meekness in a wives manner of framing her speech to her husband, doth also commend her reverend respect of him. This is an especial effect of that meek and quiet spirit which S. Peter requireth of wives; which duty he doth strongly enforce by this weighty argument, awhich is before God a thing much set by. Is a wives meekness much set by before God, and shall not wives hold it both a bounden duty, and comely ornament, and grace unto them? As the form of words which a wife useth in asking or answering questions, or any other kind of discourse which she holdeth with her husband, so her moderation in persisting, arguing and pressing matters, yea and the mild composition of her countenance in speaking, declare her meekness. If she be desirous to obtain any thing of him, fairly she must entreat it, as the bShunemite: If she would move him to perform a bounden duty, mildly she must persuade him. If she would restrain and keep him from doing that which is evil, even that also she must do with some meekness, as cPilats wife: If she have occasion to tell him of a fault, therein she ought to manifest humility and reverence, by observing a fit season, and doing it after a gentle manner as dAbigail: who as she wisely behaved her self in this respect with her husband in observing a fit season, so also with David by intimating his fault unto him, rather then plainly reproving him, when she said, It shall be no grief nor offence unto my Lord, that he hath not shed blood causeless. This ⟨p. 285⟩meekness requireth also silence and patience, even when she is reproved.
Meeknesse in a wiues manner of framing her speech to her husband, doth also commend her reuerend respect of him. This is an especiall effect of that meeke and quiet spirit which S. Peter requireth of wiues; which dutie he doth strongly inforce by this weighty argument, awhich is before God a thing much set by. Is a wiues meeknesse much set by before God, and shall not wiues hold it both a bounden dutie, and comely ornament, and grace vnto them? As the forme of words which a wife vseth in asking or answering questions, or any other kinde of discourse which shee holdeth with her husband, so her moderation in persisting, arguing and pressing matters, yea and the milde composition of her countenance in speaking, declare her meeknesse. If she be desirous to obtaine any thing of him, fairely she must intreat it, as the bShunemite: If she would moue him to performe a bounden dutie, mildly she must perswade him. If she would restraine and keepe him from doing that which is euill, euen that also she must doe with some meeknesse, as cPilats wife: If she haue occasion to tell him of a fault, therein she ought to manifest humilitie and reuerence, by obseruing a fit season, and doing it after a gentle manner as dAbigail: who as she wisely behaued her selfe in this respect with her husband in obseruing a fit season, so also with Dauid by intimating his fault vnto him, rather then plainly reprouing him, when she said, It shall be no griefe nor offence vnto my Lord, that he hath not shed bloud causelesse. This ⟨p. 285⟩meeknesse requireth also silence and patience, euen when she is reproued.
- a1 Pet. 3. 4.
- b2 King. 4. 10. 22.
- cMatt. 27. 19.
- d2 Sam. 25. 31, 37.