A75287:1310
Media: the middle things, in reference to the first and last things: or, The…
Media: the middle things, in reference to the first and last things: or, The means, duties, ordinances, both secret, private and public, for continuance and increase of a godly life, once begun, till we come to Heaven. Wherein are discovered many blessed medium's or duties, in their right method, manner and proceedings; that so a Christian (the spirit of Christ assisting) may walk on in the holy path, which leads from his new birth to everlasting life. / Drawn, for the most part, out of the most eminently pious, and learned writings of our native practical divines: with additionals of his own, by Isaac Ambrose, minister of the Gospel at Preston in Amoundernes.Media: the middle things, in reference to the first and last things: or, The means, duties, ordinances, both secret, private and publike, for continuance and increase of a godly life, once begun, till we come to Heaven. Wherein are discovered many blessed medium's or duties, in their right method, manner and proceedings; that so a Christian (the spirit of Christ assisting) may walk on in the holy path, which leads from his new birth to everlasting life. / Drawn, for the most part, out of the most eminently pious, and learned writings of our native practical divines: with additionals of his own, by Isaac Ambrose, minister of the Gospel at Preston in Amoundernes.
London: printed by John Field for Nathanael Webb and William Grantham, 1649London: printed by John Field for Nathanaell Webb and William Grantham, 1649
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
2. The proper and peculiar duties to each severally, are—
1. Of the husband, whose Duty it is 1. That he dearly love his Wife. 2. That he wisely maintain and manage his authority over her.
For the former, consider, 1. The matter. 2. The manner of his love.
For the former, consider, 1. The matter. 2. The maner of his love.
1. The matter of it is a dear love, a special love, and a more special then that common mutual love to one another: No question the Wife is to love her Husband, and a Brother to love his ⟨p. 211⟩Brother, and a Friend is to love his Friend, but more especially, or with a more special love, is the Husband to love his Wife. To this purpose she is called, The wife of his bosom, to show that she ought to be as his heart in his bosom. He must love her at all times, he must love her in all things: love must season and sweeten his speech, carriage, actions towards her: love must show it self in his commands, reproofs, admonitions, instructions, authority, familiarity with her; the rise of which love must not be from her beauty, nobility, or because she contents & pleaseth her husband; but especially because she is his sister in the profession of Christian Religion, and an inheriter with him of the Kingdom of heaven; because of her graces, and virtues, as modesty, chastity, diligence, patience, temperance, faithfulness, secrecy, obedience, &c. because she bears and brings him forth children, the heirs of his Name and Substance, and the upholder of his family; and because of the union and conjunction of marriage. Love growing of beauty, riches, lust, or any other slight grounds, is but a blaze, and soon vanisheth, but if grounded on the considerations, and especially on this union of marriage, it is lasting and true: The want hereof is the fountain of strife, quarrelling, debate, which converts the paradise of marriage into an hell.