The Christian-man's calling: or, A treatise of making religion ones business. Wherein the nature…

But I am persuading thee to circumspection in this particular, not upon a Politic, but a Conscientious principle, as thou wouldst exalt Religion ⟨p. 527⟩in thy habitation. Next to thy self, thy Wife will be the best friend, or worst foe, that Godliness can have in thy Family. Nay, possibly, and probably too, if thy Wife should be wicked, though thou art at present like a sound Apple, thou mayst quickly be specked, by lying near one that is all over rotten: The nearer the relation, the easier and speedier is the infection. He that could overcome a Lyon to his glory, was himself overcome by a woman to his sin and shame. The most perfect man, Adam; the strongest man, Sampson; the wisest man, Solomon; were all betrayed by their Wives into the hands of their spiritual Enemies; the meekest man, Moses, hearkened so much to his Wife, that it was like to have cost him his life. Some Expositors give this reason why Satan spared Jobs Wife, when he slew his children, not to comfort him (surely the Devil did not love Job so well) but to cross him, by provoking him to curse God: The Devil knew that none was so fit to present that poisonous potion with success to Job, as his Wife; that if he ever took it, her fair hands must give it, and her sugared words sweeten it. Solomon saith, Woe be to him that is alone; surely it is also true, Woe be to him who is not alone, but hath a wicked wife like a snake in his bosom.

But I am perswading thee to circumspection in this particular, not upon a Politick, but a Consciencious principle, as thou wouldst exalt Religion ⟨p. 527⟩in thy habitation. Next to thy self, thy Wife will be the best friend, or worst foe, that Godliness can have in thy Family. Nay, possibly, and probably too, if thy Wife should be wicked, though thou art at present like a sound Apple, thou mayst quickly be speckt, by lying neer one that is all over rotten: The nearer the relation, the easier and speedier is the infection. He that could overcome a Lyon to his glory, was himself overcome by a woman to his sin and shame. The most perfect man, Adam; the strongest man, Sampson; the wisest man, Solomon; were all betrayed by their Wives into the hands of their spiritual Enemies; the meekest man, Moses, hearkened so much to his Wife, that it was like to have cost him his life. Some Expositors give this reason why Satan spared Jobs Wife, when he slew his children, not to comfort him (surely the Devil did not love Job so well) but to cross him, by provoking him to curse God: The Devil knew that none was so fit to present that poysonous potion with success to Job, as his Wife; that if he ever took it, her fair hands must give it, and her sugred words sweeten it. Solomon saith, Wo be to him that is alone; surely it is also true, Wo be to him who is not alone, but hath a wicked wife like a snake in his bosom.