No. 125. 
 
 THIRTIETH HOMILY 
 
 OF THE 
 
 Unites Cfjuvcb of sEnglana ano litlanD : 
 
 AN 
 
 HOMILY 
 
 OF 
 
 THE STATE OF MATRIMOXY. 
 
 L HE word of Almighty God doth testify and declare 
 whence the original beginning of matrimony cometb, 
 and why it was ordained. 
 
 It is instituted of God, to the intent that man and 
 woman should live lawfully in a perpetual friendship, 
 to bring forth fruit, and to avoid fornication. By 
 which mean a good conscience might be preserved on 
 both parties, in bridling the corrupt inclinations of the 
 flesh within the limits of honesty : for God hath straitly 
 forbidden all whoredom and uncleanness, and hath from 
 time to time taken grievous punishment of this inordinate 
 lust, as all stories and ages have declared. 
 
 A 
 
Sermon of the 
 
 Furthermore, it was also ordained, that the church 
 of God and his kingdom might hy this kind of life be 
 conserved and enlarged ; not only in that God giveth 
 children by his blessing, but also in that they be 
 brought up by the parents godly, in the knowledge of 
 God's word ; that thus the knowledge of God and true 
 religion might be delivered by succession from one to 
 another, that finally many might enjoy that everlasting 
 inmcrtality. 
 
 Wherefore, forasmuch as matrimony serveth us, as 
 well to avoid sin and offence, as to increase the king- 
 dom of God ; you, as all other which enter that state, 
 must acknowledge this benefit of God, with pure and 
 thankful minds, for that he hath so ruled your hearts, 
 that ye follow not the example of the wicked world, 
 who set their delight in filthiness of sin, but both of 
 you stand in the fear of God, and abhor all filthiness. 
 For that is surely the singular gift of God, where the 
 common example of the world declareth how the devil 
 hath their hearts bound and entangled in divers snares, 
 so that they, in their wifeless state, run into open abo- 
 minations without any grudge of their conscience. 
 Which sort of men that live so desperately and filthily, 
 what damnation tarrieth for them ! St. Paul describeth 
 it to them, saying, u Neither whoremongers, neither 
 adulterers, shall inherit the kingdom of God." (1 Cor. 
 vi. 9.) This horrible judgment of God ye be escaped 
 through his mercy, if so be that ye live inseparately, 
 according to God's ordinance. 
 
 M But yet I would not have you careless without watch- 
 ing. For the devil will assay to attempt all things to 
 interrrupt and hinder your hearts and godly purpose, 
 if ye will give him any entry. For he will either 
 labour to break this godly knot once begun betwixt 
 you, or else at the least he will labour to incumber it 
 with divers griefs and displeasures. And this is his 
 principal craft, to work dissension of hearts of the 
 one from the other; that whereas now there are pleasant 
 and sweet love betwixt you, he will in the stead thereof 
 
State of Matrimony. £./£%$! 3 
 
 bring in most bitter and unpleasant discord. And 
 surely that same adversary of ours doth, as it were 
 from above, assault man's nature and condition. For 
 this folly is ever from our tender age grown up with 
 us, to have a desire to rule, to think highly of our- 
 selves, so that none thinketh it meet to give place to 
 another. That wicked vice of stubborn will and self- 
 love is more meet to break and to dissever the love of 
 heart, than to preserve concord. Wherefore, married 
 persons must apply their minds in most earnest wise 
 to concord, ar.d must crave continually of God the help 
 of his Holy Spirit, so to rule their hearts and to knit 
 their minds together, that they be not dissevered by any 
 division or discord. 
 
 This necessity of prayer must be oft in the practice 
 and using of married persons, that ofttimes the one 
 should pray for the other, lest hate and debate do 
 arise betwixt them. And because few do consider this 
 thing, but more few do perform it — I say, to pray dili- 
 gently — we see how wonderfully the devil deludeth. 
 and scorneth this state ; how few matrimonies there be 
 without chidings, brawlings, tauntings, repentings, bit- 
 ter cursings, and fightings. Which things whosoever 
 doth commit, they do not consider that it is the insti- 
 gation of the ghostly enemy, who taketh great delight 
 therein ; for else they would with all earnest endeavour 
 strive against these mischiefs, not only with prayer, 
 but also with all possible diligence. Yea, they would 
 not give place to the provocation of wrath ; which 
 stirreth them either to such rough and sharp words, or 
 stripes, which is surely compassed by the devil ; whose 
 temptation, if it be followed, must needs begin and 
 weave the web of all miseries and sorrows. For this 
 is most certainly true, that of such beginnings must 
 needs ensue the breach of true concord in heart; whereby 
 all love must needs shortly be banished. Then can 
 it not be but a miserable thing to behold, that yet 
 they are of necessity compelled to live together which 
 yet cannot be in quiet together. And this is most 
 
 a 2 
 
4 Sermon of the 
 
 customably every where to be seen, But what is the 
 cause thereof? Forsooth, because they will not con- 
 sider the crafty trains of the devil, and therefore give 
 not themselves to pray to God, that he would vouch- 
 safe to repress his power. Moreover, they do not 
 consider how they promote the purpose of the devil, 
 in that they follow the wrath of their hearts, while 
 they threat one another, while they in their folly turn 
 all upside down, while they will never give over their 
 right, as they esteem it ; yea, while many times they 
 will not give over the wrong part indeed. Learn thou, 
 therefore, if thou desirest to be void of all these miseries, 
 if thou desirest to live peaceably and comfortably in 
 wedlock, how to make thy earnest prayer to God, that 
 he would govern both your hearts by his Holy Spirit, 
 to restrain the devil's power ; whereby your concord 
 may remain perpetually. 
 
 But to this prayer must be joined a singular dili- 
 gence 3 whereof St. Peter giveth this precept, saying, 
 " You husbands, deal with your wives according to 
 knowledge ; giving honour to the wife, as unto the 
 weaker vessel, and as unto them that are heirs also of 
 the grace of VA'a ; that your prayers be not hindered." 
 
 This precept doth particularly pertain to the hus- 
 band : for he ought to be the leader and author of love, 
 in cherishing and increasing concord ; which then shall 
 take place, if he will use moderation, and not tyranny, 
 and if he yield something to the woman. For the 
 woman is a weak creature, not endued with like strength 
 and constancy of mind ; therefore they be the sooner 
 disquieted, and they be the more prone to all weak 
 affections and dispositions of mind, more than men be ; 
 and lighter they be, and more vain in their fantasies 
 and opinions. These things must be considered of the 
 man, that he be not too stiff, so that he ought to wink at 
 some things, and must gently expound all things, and to 
 fjrbear. 
 
 Mowbeit, the common sort of men do judge that 
 such moderation should not become a man; for they 
 
State of Matrimony. 5 
 
 say, that it is a token of womanish cowardness ; and 
 therefore they think that it is a man's part to fume in 
 an^er, to fight with fist and staff. 
 
 Howheit, howsoever they imagine, undoubtedly St. 
 Peter doth better judge what should be seeming to a 
 man, and what he should most reasonably perform. 
 For he saith reasoning should be used, and not fight- 
 ing. Yea, he saith more, that the woman ought to 
 have a certain honour attributed to her ; that is to say, 
 she must be spared and borne with, the rather for that 
 she is the weaker vessel, of a frail heart, inconstant, 
 and with a word soon stirred to wrath. And there- 
 fore, considering ihese her frailties, she is to be the 
 rather spared. By this means thou shalt not oniy 
 nourish concord, but shalt have her heart in thy power 
 and will. For honest natures will sooner be retained 
 to do their duties, rather by gentle words than by 
 stripes. But he which will do all things with extre- 
 mity and severity, and doth use always rigour in words 
 and stripes, what will that avail in the conclusion? 
 Verily nothing, but that he thereby setteth forward 
 the devil's work; he banisheth away concord, charity, 
 and sweet amity, and bringeth in dissension., hatred, 
 and irksomeness ; the greatest griefs that can be in 
 the mutual love and fellowship of man's life. 
 
 Beyond all this, it bringeth another evil therewith : 
 for it is the destruction and interruption of prayer ; for 
 in the time that the mind is occupied with dissens'on 
 and discord, there can be no true prayer used. For 
 the Lord's Prayer hath not only a respect to particular 
 persons, but to the w r hoie universal ; in the which we 
 openly pronounce, that Ave will forgive them which 
 have offended against us, even as we ask forgiveness of 
 <our sins of God. Which thing how can it be done 
 rightly, when their hearts be at dissension ! How can 
 they pray each for other, when they be at hate betwixt 
 themselves ] Now, if the aid of prayer be taken away, 
 by what means can they sustain themselves in any com- 
 fort } For they cannot otherwise either resist the devil. 
 
C Sermo?i of the 
 
 or yet have their hearts staid in stable comfort in all 
 perils and necessities, but by prayer. 
 
 Thus all discommodities, as well worldly as ghostly, 
 follow this fro ward testiness, and cumbrous fierceness 
 in manners, which be more meet for brute beasts than 
 for reasonable creatures. St. Peter doth not allow 
 these things ; but the devil desireih them gladly. 
 Wherefore take the more heed. And yet a man may 
 fee a man, although he doth not use such extremity ; 
 yea, although he should dissemble some things in his 
 wife's manners, And this is the part of a Christian 
 man ; which both pleaseth God, and serveth also in 
 good use to the comfort of their marriage state. 
 
 Now as concerning the wife's dutv. What shall 
 become her ! shall she abuse the gentleness and hu- 
 manity of her husband, and at her pleasure turn all 
 things upside down ? No, surely ; for that is far re- 
 pugnant against God's commandment; for thus doth 
 St. Peter preach to them, "Ye wives, be ye in subjec- 
 tion to obey your own husbands." (1 Pet. iii. 1.) To 
 obey is another thing than to control or command, 
 which yet they may do to their children, and to their 
 family ; but as for their husbands, them must they 
 obey, and cease from commanding, and perform sub- 
 jection. For this surely doth nourish concord very 
 much, when the wife is ready at hand at her husband's 
 commandment, when she will apply herself to his will, 
 when she endeavoureth herself to seek his contentation, 
 and to do him pleasure, when she will eschew all things 
 that might offend him; for thus wilKmost truly be 
 verified the saying of the Poet, A good wife by obeying 
 her husband shall bear the rule ; so that he shall have 
 a delight and a gladness the sooner at ail times to re- 
 turn home to her. But, on the contrary part, when 
 the wives be stubborn, froward, and malapert, their 
 husbands are compelled thereby to abhor and flee from 
 their own houses, even as they should have battle with 
 their enemies. 
 
 Howbeit, it can scarcely be, but that soma offences 
 
State of Matrimony . 
 
 shall sometime chance betwixt them ; for no man doth 
 live without fault : specially, for that the woman is the 
 more frail party. 
 
 Therefore, let them beware that they stand not in 
 their faults and wilfulness; but rather let them ac- 
 knowledge their follies, and say, My husband, so it is, 
 that by ray anger I was compelled to do this or that : 
 forgive it me, and hereafter I will take better heed. 
 Thus ought the woman more readily to do, the more 
 they be ready to offend. And they shall not do this 
 only to avoid strife and debate ; but rather in the re- 
 spect of the commandment of God, as St. Paul ex- 
 presseth it in this form of words: " Let women be 
 subject to their husbands, as to the Lord : for the 
 husband is the head of the woman, as Christ is the 
 head of the Church." (Ephes. v. 22.) Here you under- 
 stand, that God hath commanded that ye should 
 acknowledge the authority of the husband, and refer 
 to him the honour of obedience. And St. Peter saith 
 in that place before rehearsed, that holy matrons did 
 in former times deck themselves, not with gold and 
 silver, but in putting their whole hope in God, and in 
 obeying their husbands ; as Sarah obeyed Abraham, 
 calling him lord; whose daughters ye be, saith he, if 
 ye follow her example. (IPet. iii. 1 — 6.) This sentence 
 is very meet for women to print in their remembrance. 
 
 Truth it is, that they must specially feel the grief and 
 pains of their matrimony; in that they relinquish the 
 liberty of their own rule, in the pain of their travailing, 
 in the bringing up of their children. In which offices 
 they be id great perils, and be grieved with great 
 afflictions, which they might be without, if they lived 
 out of matrimony. 
 
 But St. Peter saith, that this is the chief ornament 
 of holy matrons, in that they set their hope and trust 
 in God : that is to say, in that they refused not from 
 marriage for the business thereof, for the griefs and 
 perils thereof; but committed all such adventures to 
 God, in most sure trust of help, after that they have 
 
8 - Sermon of the 
 
 called upon his aid. woman, do thou the like, and 
 so shalt thou be most excellently beautified before 
 God and all his Angels and Saints ; and thou needest 
 not to seek further for doing any better works. For, 
 obey thy husband, take regard of his requests, and 
 give heed unto bim, to perceive what he requireth of 
 thee ; and so shall thou honour God, and live peace- 
 ably n thy house. And beyond all this, God shall 
 follow thee with his benediction; that all things shall 
 well prosper, both to thee and to thy husband ; as the 
 Psalmist saith, Blessed is the man which feareth God, 
 and walketh in his wavs : thou shalt have the fruit of 
 thine own hands ; happy shalt thou be, and well shall 
 it go with thee. Thy wife shall be as a vine, plenti- 
 fully spreading about thy house. Thy children shall 
 be as the young springs of the olives about thy table. 
 Lo, thus shall that man be blessed, saith David, that 
 feareth the Lord. This let the wife have ever in 
 mind ; the rather admonished thereto by the apparel 
 of her head, whereby is signified, that she is under 
 covert or obedience of her husband. And, as that 
 apparel is of nature so appointed, to declare her sub* 
 jection ; so biddeth St. Paul, that all other of her 
 raiment should express both shamefacedness and so- 
 briety. 
 
 For, if it be not lawful for the woman to have her 
 head bare, but to bear thereon the sign of her power, 
 wheresoever she goeth ; more is it required that she 
 declare the thing that is meant thereby. And, there- 
 fore, those ancient women of the old world called their 
 husbands lords, and showed them reverence in obeving: 
 them. 
 
 But peradvenlure she will say, that those men loved 
 their wives indeed. 
 
 I know that well enough, and bear it well in mind. 
 But when I do admonish you of your duties, then call 
 not to consideration what their duties be. For, when 
 we ourselves do teach our children to obey us as their 
 parents : or when we reform our servants, and tell 
 
State of Matrimony, 9 
 
 them that they should obey their masters, not only at 
 the eye, but as to the Lord : it* they should tell us 
 again our duties, we should not think it well done. 
 For, when we be admonished of our duties and faults, 
 we ought not then to seek what other men's duties be. 
 For, though a man had a companion in his fault, yet 
 should not he thereby be without his fault. But this 
 must be only looked on, by what means thou mayest 
 make thyself without blame. For Adam did lay the 
 blame upon the woman; and she turned it unto the 
 serpent: but yet neither of them was thus excused. 
 And therefore bring not such excuses to me at this 
 time, but apply all thy diligence to hear thine obedi- 
 ence to thine husband. For, when I take in hand to 
 admonish thy husband to love thee, and to cherish 
 thee ; yet will 1 not cease to set out the law that is 
 appointed for the woman, as well as I would require 
 of the man what is written for his law. 
 
 Go thou, therefore, about such things as becometh 
 thee only, and show thyself tractable to thy husband. 
 Or rather, if thou wilt obey thy husband for God's 
 precept, then allege such things as be in his duty to 
 do; but perform thou diligently those things which 
 the Law-maker hath charged thee to do : for thus it is 
 most reasonable to obey God, if thou wilt not suffer 
 thvself to transgress his law. He that loveth his 
 friend seemeth to do no great thing ; but he that 
 honoureth him that is hurtful and hateful to him, this 
 man is worthy most commendation : even so think 
 thou : if thou canst suffer an extreme husband, thou 
 shalt have a great reward therefore ; but, if thou 
 lovest him only because he is gentle and courteous, 
 what reward will God give thee therefore ? Yet I 
 speak not these things, that I would wish the husbands 
 to be sharp towards their wives : but 1 exhort the wo- 
 men, that they would patiently bear the sharpness of 
 their husbands. For when either parties do their best 
 to perform their duties the one to the other, then fol- 
 loweth thereon great profit to their neighbours for 
 
10 Sermon of the 
 
 their example's sake. For, when the woman is ready 
 to suffer a sharp husband, and the man will not 
 extremely entreat his stubborn and troublesome wife, 
 then be all things in quiet, as in a most sure haven. 
 
 Even thus was it done in old time, that every one 
 did their own duty and office, and was not busy to 
 require the duty of their neighbours. 
 
 Consider, I pray thee, that Abraham took to him 
 his brother's son : his wife did not blame him there- 
 fore. He commanded him to go with him a long 
 journey : she did not gainsay it, but obeyed his pre- 
 cept. Again, after all those great miseries, labours, 
 and pains, of that journey, when Abraham was made as 
 lord over all, yet did he give place to Lot of his supe- 
 riority : which matter Sarah took so little to grief, 
 that she never once suffered her tongue to speak such 
 words as the common mariner of women is wont to do 
 in these days, when they see their husbands in such 
 rooms, to be made underlings, and to be put under 
 their youngers; then they upbraid them with cum- 
 brous talk, and call them fools, dastards, and cowards 
 for so doing. But Sarah was so far from speaking 
 any such thing, that it came never into her mind and 
 thought so to say, but allowed the wisdom and will of 
 her husband. Yea, besides all this, after the said Lot 
 had thus his will, and left to his uncle the less portion of 
 land, he chanced to fail into extreme peril : which chance . 
 when it came to the knowledge of this said Patriarch, 
 he ineontinently*put all his men in harness, and prepared 
 himself with all his family and friends, against the host 
 of the Persians. In which case, Sarah did not counsel 
 him to the contrary, nor did say, as then might have 
 been said, My husband, whither goest thou so unadvisedly? 
 Whyrunnest thou thus on head! Why dost thou offer thy- 
 self to so great perils, and art thus ready to jeopard thine 
 own life, and to peril the lives of all thine, for such a man 
 as hath done thee such wrong ? At the least way, if thou 
 regardest not thyself, yet have compassion on me, which 
 * Immediately. 
 
State of Matrimony . 11 
 
 for thy love have forsaken my kindred and my country, 
 and have the want both of my friends and kinsfolk, and 
 am thus come into so far countries with thee ; have pity 
 on me, and make me not here a widow, to cast me into 
 such cares and troubles. Thus might she have said : 
 but Sarah neither said nor thought such words, but she 
 kept herself in silence in all things. Furthermore, all 
 that time when she was barren, and took no pains as 
 other women did, by bringing forth fruit in his house, 
 what did he ? He complained not to his wife, but to Al- 
 mighty God. And consider how either of them did their 
 duties as became them : for neither did he despise Sarah 
 because she was barren, nor never did cast it in her teeth. 
 Consider again how Abraham expelled the handmaid 
 out of the house, when she required it : so that by this 
 I may truly prove, that the one was pleased and con- 
 tented with the other in all things. But vet set not vour 
 eyes only on this matter ; but look further what was 
 done before this that Hagar used her mistress despite- 
 fuiiy, and that Abraham himself was somewhat pro- 
 voked against her: which must needs be an intolerable 
 and a painful matter, to a free-hearted woman and a chaste. 
 
 Let not, therefore, the woman be too busy to call for 
 the duty of her husband, where she should be ready to 
 perform her own ; for that is not worthy any great com- 
 mendation. And even so again, let not the man only 
 consider what belongeth to the woman, and to stand too 
 earnestly gazing thereon ; for that is not his part or duty. 
 But, as 1 have said, let either party be ready and willing 
 to perform that which belongeth especially to themselves. 
 For, if we be bound to hold out our left cheek to stran- 
 gers, which will smite us on the right cheek : how much 
 more ought we to suffer an extreme and unkind husband ! 
 
 But vet I mean not that a man should beat his wife ; 
 God forbid that; for that is the greatest shame that can 
 be, not so much to her that is beaten, as to him that 
 doth the' deed. But, if by such fortune thou chancest 
 upon such au husband, take it not too heavily ; but sup- 
 pose thou that thereby is laid up no small reward here- 
 
12 Sermon of the 
 
 after, and in this lifetime no small commendation to thee, 
 if thou canst be quiet. But yet to you that be men, thus 
 I speak ; let there be none so grievous fault to compel 
 you to beat your wives. But what say I ! your wives ! 
 No, it is not to be borne with, that an honest man should 
 lay hands on his maid-servant to beat her. Wherefore, if 
 it be a great shame for a man to beat his bond-servant, 
 much more rebuke it is to lay violent hands upon his 
 free woman. 
 
 And this thing may be well understood by the laws 
 which the Pavnims have made, which do discharge her 
 any longer to dwell with such a husband — as unworthy 
 to have any further company with her — that doth smite 
 her. For it is an extreme point, thus so vilely to entreat 
 her like a slave that 13 fellow to thee of thy life, and so 
 joined unto thee beforetime in the necessary matters of 
 thy living. And therefore a man may well liken such a 
 man — if he may be called a man, rather than a wild beast 
 — to a killer of his father or his mother. And whereas 
 we be commanded to forsake our father and mother for 
 our wives' sake, and yet thereby do work them none in- 
 jury, but do fulfil the law of God ; how can it not appear, 
 then, to be a point of extreme madness, to entreat her 
 despitefuily, for whose sake God hath commanded thee 
 to leave parents % Yea, who can suffer such despite ? 
 Who can worthily express the inconvenience that is, to 
 see what weepings and wailings be made in the open 
 streets, when neighbours run together to the house cf so 
 unruly a husband, as to a Bedlam-man, who goeth 
 about to overturn all that he hath at home] Who would 
 not think that it were better for such a man to wish 
 the ground to open and swallow him in, than once ever 
 after to be seen in the market \ 
 
 But peradventure thou wilt object, that the woman 
 provoketh thee to this point. 
 
 But consider thou again, that the woman is a frail 
 vessel ; and thou art therefore made the rule and head 
 over her, to bear the weakness of her in this her sub- 
 jection, And, therefore, study thou to declare the 
 
State of Matrimony. 13 
 
 honest commendation of thine authority ; which thou 
 canst no way better do, than to tbrbear to urge her in 
 her weakness and subjection. For, even as the King 
 appeareth so much the more noble the more excellent 
 and noble he maketh his Officers and Lieutenants; 
 whom it' he should dishonour, and despise the autho- 
 rity of their dignity, he should deprive himself of a 
 great part of his own honour : even so, if thou dost 
 d'espise her that is set in the next room beside thee, 
 thou dost much derogate and decay the excellency and 
 virtue of thine own authority. Recount all these things 
 in thy mind, and be gentle and quiet. Understand that 
 God hath given thee children with her, and art made a 
 father, and by such reason appease thyself. 
 
 Dost thou not see the husbandmen, what diligence 
 they use to till that ground which once they have taken 
 to farm, though it be never so full of faults } As for 
 an example, though it be dry, though it bringeth forth 
 weeds, though the soil cannot bear too much wet - } yet 
 he tilleth it, and so winneth fruit thereof ; even in like 
 manner, if thou wouklest use like diligence to instruct 
 and order the mind of thy spouse, if thou wouklest dili- 
 gently apply thyself to weed out by little and little the 
 noisome weeds of uncomely manners out of her mind 
 with wholesome precepts, it could not be, but in time 
 thou shouldest feel the pleasant fruit thereof to both 
 your comforts. 
 
 Therefore, that this thing chance not so, perform 
 this thing that I do here counsel thee : whensoever 
 any displeasant matter riseth at home, if thy wife hath 
 done aught amiss, comfort her, and increase not the 
 heaviness. For, though thou shouldest be grieved with 
 never so many things, yet shalt thou find nothing more 
 grievous than to want the benevolence of thy wife at 
 home. . What offence soever thou canst name, yet 
 shalt thou find none more intolerable than to be at 
 debate with thy wife, And for this cause, most of all, 
 oughtest thou to have this love in reverence. And if 
 reason moveth thee to bear any burden at any other 
 
14 Sermon of the 
 
 men's hands, much more at thy wife's. For, if she be 
 poor, upbraid her not ; if she be simple, taunt her not, 
 but be the more courteous : for she is thy body, and 
 made one flesh with thee. 
 
 But thou peradventure wilt say, that she is a wrathful 
 woman, a drunkard, and beastly, without wit and reason. 
 
 For this cause bewail her the more. Chafe not in 
 anger, but pray unto Almighty God. Let her be ad- 
 monished and helped with good counsel ; and do thou 
 thy best endeavour, that she may be delivered of all 
 these affections. But if thou shouldest beat her, thou 
 shalt increase her evil affections : for frowardness and 
 sharpness is not amended with frowardness, but with 
 softness and gentleness. Furthermore, consider what 
 reward thou shalt have at God's hand : for where thou 
 mighest beat her, and yet, for the respect of the fear of 
 God, thou wilt abstain and bear patiently her great 
 offences, the rather in respect of that law, which for- 
 biddeth that a man should cast out his wife, what fault 
 soever she be cumbered with, thou shalt have a very 
 great reward; and before the receipt of that ^reward, 
 thou shalt feel many commodities. For by this means 
 she shall be made the more obedient ; and thou for her 
 sake shalt be made more meek. 
 
 It is written in a story of a certain strange Philoso- 
 pher, which had a cursed wife, a froward, and a 
 drunkard ; when he was asked for what consideration 
 he did so bear her evil manners, he made answer : By 
 this means, said he, I have at home a schoolmaster, 
 and an example how I should behave myself abroad : 
 for J shall, saith he, be the more quiet with others, 
 being thus daily exercised and taught in the forbearing 
 of her. Surely it is a shame that Paynims should be 
 wiser than we ; we, I say, that be commanded to re- 
 semble Angels, or rather God himself, through meek- 
 ness. And for the love of virtue, this said Philosopher 
 Socrates would not expel his wife out of his house. 
 Yea, some say that he did therefore marry his wife, to 
 learn this virtue by that occasion. 
 
Sta te of Ma trimony . 15. 
 
 Wherefore, seeing many men be far behind the wis- 
 dom of this man, my counsel is, that, first and before 
 all things, a man do his best endeavour to get him a 
 good wife, endued with all honesty and "virtue : but, if 
 it so chance that he is deceived, that he hath chosen such 
 a wife as is neither good nor tolerable ; then let the 
 husband follow this Philosopher, and let him instruct 
 his wife in every condition, and never lay these matters 
 to sight. For the merchantman, except he first be at 
 composition with his factor to use his interfairs quietly, 
 he will neither stir his ship to sail, nor yet will lay hands 
 upon his merchandise : even so, let us do all things, 
 that we may have the fellowship of our wives, which is 
 the factor of all our doings at home, in great quiet and 
 rest. And by these means all things shall prosper quietly, 
 and so shall we pass through the dangers of the troublous 
 sea of this world. For this state of life will be more 
 honourable and comfortable than our houses, than ser- 
 vants, than money, than lands and possessions, than all 
 things that can be told. As all these, with sedition and 
 discord, can never work us any comfort ; so shall all 
 things turn to our commodity and pleasure, if we draw 
 this yoke in one concord of heart and mind, 
 
 Whereupon, do your best endeavour, that after this 
 sort ye use your matrimony ; and so shall }e be armed 
 on every side. Ye have escaped the snares of the devil, 
 and the unlawful lusts of the flesh ; ye have the quiet- 
 ness of conscience by this institution of matrimony or- 
 dained by God 3 therefore use oft prayer to him, that 
 he would be present by you, that he would continue 
 concord and charity betwixt you. Do the best ye can 
 of your parts, to custom yourself to softness and meek- 
 ness, and bear well in worth such oversights as chance : 
 and thus shall your conversation be most pleasant and 
 comfortable. And although — which can no otherwise 
 be — some adversities shall follow, and otherwhiles now 
 one discommodity, now another, shall appear ; yet in 
 this common trouble and adversity, lift up both your 
 hands unto heaven; call upon the help and assistance 
 
16 Sermon' of the State of Matrimony. 
 
 of God, the author of your marriage ; and surelv the 
 promise of relief is at hand. For Christ affirmeth in his 
 Gospel, Where two or three be gathered together in my 
 name, and be agreed, what matter soever they pray for, 
 it shall be granted them of my Heavenly Father. Why, 
 therefore, shouldestthou be afraid of the danger, where 
 thou hast so ready a promise, and so nigh an help 1 Fur- 
 thermore, you must understand how necessarj 7 it is for 
 Christian folk to bear Christ's cross : for else we shall 
 never feel how comfortable God's help is unto us. 
 Therefore give thanks to God for his great benefit, in 
 that ye have taken upon you this state of wedlock : and 
 pray you instantly that Almighty God may iuekily de- 
 fend and maintain you therein, that neither ye be over- 
 come with any temptations, v nor with any adversity. 
 But before all things, take good heed that ye give nr> 
 occasion to the devil to let and hinder your prayers by 
 discord and dissension ; for there is no stronger defence 
 and stay in all our life, than is prayer: in the which we 
 may call for the help of God, and obtain it ; whereby we 
 may win his blessing, his grace, his defence, and pro- 
 tection ; so to continue therein to a better life to come : 
 which grant us, He that died for us all ; to whom be 
 all the honour and" praise for ever and ever. Amen. 
 
 [Price tis. id. per 100. Considerable allowance will be made 
 to Tract Societies, Sunday-Schools, and Booksellers.] 
 
 LONDON: Printed by Mills, Jowett, and Mills, (late 
 Bensley,) Bolt-court, Fleet-street, for J, Kershaw, 14, 
 City-road, and 66, Paternoster-row. 
 
 
 II