FOr asmuche as the deuyll is moste redye to make stryfe where there ought to be most loue: and hath with heddy wyl fulnes, concupiscence, and igno­raunce so blinded the hartes of those which lyue vnder the iocke of matrimonye, that as I maye iudge by their frutes there be very fewe that lede their lyues therin accordinge to the lawes of Christ. Therfore (my deare & welbeloued Christians whyche profes the Gospell) to the intent that you shulde lyue therin ac­cording to your professyon and knowledge, I haue here brefely and playnlye set forthe what it is, and howe you oughte to lede youre lyues therin accordynge to the rules of the holye scryp­tures, so that youre pure and [Page] godly life may be a good exam­ple and also make suche assha­med as wolde sclander the holy Gospell, and professars of the same, yee and that there wun­ted worde (whyche is marke these newe men by their liuing) maye sounde to Goddes glory, to the honoure of hys moste ho­lye worde and prayse of al them in Christe whych do profes the same.

You shall fyrste vnderstande What wedlok is. that wedlocke is an hye and blessed order ordeyned of God in Paradyse whyche hath euer bene had in greate honoure and reuerence wherin one man and one woman are coupled & knyt together in one fleshe and body in the feare and loue of GOD, by the free, louynge, hartye, and good consente of them bothe, to [Page] the intente that they two maye dwell together, as one flesshe and bodye of one wyll and mind in all Godlynes, moste louyng­ly to helpe and comfort one ano­ther, to brynge forthe chyldren, and to instructe them in the la­wes of GOD. Also to a voyde fornicacyon and all vnclennes, and so in all onestye vertue and Godlynes to spende theyr ly­ues in the equall partakynge of all suche thynges as God shall sende them wyth thankes ge­uynge.

And because that the wyfe is in subiectyon to hyr husbande. I wyll begynne wyth hyr and shortelye declare what dewtye and obedyens she oweth vnto hym by the commaundementes of the scriptures.

Saynt Paul sayeth, ye wy­ues [Page] submyt youre owne hus­bandes Ephe. 5. The duetye of y ^e wife to her huseband. as to the Lorde, for the husbande is the wyues heade as Christe is the heade of the congregacion, Therefore as the congregatyon is in subiectyon vnto Christe lykewyse let wy­ues be in subiectyon to theyre husbandes in all thinges so that the wyfe muste be obedyent vn­to hyr husbande as vnto Christ hymselfe, wheroute it foloweth that the sayde obedyens exten­deth not vnto anye wyckednes or euyll, but vnto that whyche is good, oneste, and comely. In asmuche as God delyteth onlye in goodnes and forbyddeth euil euerye where, it foloweth also that the disobediens that a wife showeth to hyr husbande dys­playseth God noles, then when he is dysobeyed hymselfe. For [Page] the wyfe ought to obey hyr hus­bande in all poyntes as the con­gregation to Christe whych lo­ueth Christe onelye, and aboue all thynges, she is glad and wil­lyng to suffer for Christes sake, she doth all for the loue of hym Christe onelye is hyr comforte ioye and all togethers, vpon Christe is hyr thought day and nyghte, she longeth onelye after Christe, for Christes sake (yf it maye serue to hys glorye) she is hartelye wel contented to dye yee she geueth ouer hyr selfe hole thereto for Christes loue, knowynge assuredlye that hyr soule, hyr honoure, bodye, lyfe, and all that she hath is Christes owne. Thus also muste euerye oneste wyfe submyt her selfe, to playse hyr husbande wyth all hyr power and geue hyr selfe fre [Page] lye and wyllynge to loue hym and obeye hym, and neuer too forsake hym tyll the houre of deathe.

And forther (sayeth sayeth 3 Peter) Let the wyues be in subiectyon to theyr husbandes that euen they whych beleue not the worde may wythout the word be wonne by the conuersacyon of the wyues, whyle they be­holde youre pure conuersacyon couplyd wyth feare, whose apa­rell shall not be outwarde wyth brodryd heare and hangynge on of golde ether in puttyng on of gorgius apparell, but let the hydman of the harte be vncor­rupte wyth a meke and quyet sprete, whyche sprete is before God much set by, for after thys maner in the olde tyme dyd the holye women whyche trusted in [Page] God tyre themselfes, and were obedyente to theyr husbandes, euen as Sara obeyed Abra­ham: and called him hyr Lorde, whose doughters ye are as lōg as ye do wel.

And Paul vnto Tytus speak [...] (sayth he) that the elder women be in suche apparell as becom­meth holynes, Not beynge false accusars, not geuen to muche wyne, but that they teache onest thinges to make the yōg wemē sober minded, to loue their hus­bandes, to loue their chyldrē, to be discrete, chaste, husewyfelye, good, obedyent vnto theyr hus­bādes that y ^e word of GOD be not euyll spoken of.

Here maye you learne that What a wife ought to be. a wyfe oughte to be dyscrete, chaste, huswyfelye, shamefaste, good, meke, pacyent and sober, [Page] not lyghte in countynans nor garyshe in apparall, wyth dyed or curlyd heare paynted nor pa­sted, but wyth a comelye grauy­tye and a sadde behauoure of a constante mynde, true tonged and of fewe wordes, wyth suche obedyens in all Godlynes too hyr husbande and heade, as it be semes a Christian to haue vnto Christe, and to the intente that the husbande in lyke cause maye learne hys dewtye let hym har­ken what Saynt Paul sayeth, & take hede that he turne not hys auctorite to tiranny.

Husbandes loue youre wy­ues Ephe. 5. The duety of the huse­bande to his wife (sayeth he) as Christe loued the congregacion and gaue him selfe for to sanctifye it, now must you vnderstande that the huse­bande is the wyues heade: as Christe is the heade of the con­gregacyon, [Page] and Christ showeth to the congregacyon the same thynge that the heade showeth to the bodye, for lyke as the heade seyth and hearyth for the whole bodye, stodyeth and deui seth for to preserue it in strength and lyfe, euen so dothe Christe defende, teache and preserue his congregatyon. For he is the eye hart, wysedome and gide there­of, so oughte husbandes (then) to loue theyr wyues & be theyr heades in lyke maner to showe them lyke kyndnes, and offer the same fassyon to gyde them and rule thē wyth dyscrecyon for there presaruatyon and not wyth fors or wylfulnes to in­trete them, and saynt Paul saith forther, so oughte men to loue theyr wyues as theyr owne bo­dyes, he that loueth hys wyfe loueth [Page] ueth hym selfe, for no man hath at anye tyme hated hys owne fleshe, but dothe noreshe and chereshe it euen as the Lorde doth the congregacyon. Therefore oughte euerye man moste far­uentlye to loue hys wyfe equal­lye wyth hym selfe in all poyn­tes, for thys is the measure of mutuall loue Matrymonyall, that eyther parte haue nothing so deare that they can not be contended to bystowe one vpon an­other, yee and yī nede shulde be, they shulde also not spare theyr owne lyues one for another, no more then Christe dyd for hys congregacyon.

And lyke as when we repent and beleue in y ^e promes of God in Christe (tho we were neuer so poore synners) are as ryche as Christe and all meretes oures, [Page] so is a woman (tho she were ne­uer so pore afore she was mary­ed) as ryche as hyr husbande, for all that he hath is hyrs, yee hys owne bodye and hath po­wer ouer it as sayeth Saynte Paul.

And yf it so chaunce that you Cor. vii fynde not youre wyfe so perfect in all poyntes as you wolde or as youre selfe, yet muste you not despyse hyr, nor be bytter nor cruell vnto hyr for hyr fautes, but gentelye and louynglye seke to amende and wynne hyr. For lyke as Christe thoughte no scorne of hys churche, despysed hyr not, neyther forsoke hyr for hyr vnclennes and synnes, so shulde no Christen man spurne at hys wyfe nor set lyghte by hyr because that sometyme she feleth, offendeth, or goyth not [Page] ryghte, but euen as Christe no­risheth and techeth hys churche so oughte euerye oneste huse­bande (also) louyngly and gent­lye to informe and instructe hys wyfe.

For in manye thynges (saith saynte Peter) God hath made the men stronger then the wo­men, not to rage vpon them & tobe tyrans vnto them, but to helpe them and bere theyr we­kenes. Be curtes therefore (sayth he) and wynne them to Christe, and ouercome thē with kyndnes that of loue they may obey the ordynans that GOD made betwene man and wyfe. Oh howe ashamed be those men to loke vpon thys texte whiche wyth vyolens in theyr fury will intrete theyr wyues, no beeste so beestelye, for in the moste cre­welst [Page] waye is not mete as when the wife is sadde and disquieted, then with spitful wordes & wanton fashions, so prouoking hir to anger. Where it is not the due­tye of the husebande, but rather ashamed to hys owne heade: ly­kewyse it is worshyppe for a mā to haue the feare of the Lorde before his eyes, that he prouoke not the plage of vengeaunce. Let vs therefore haue humy ly­tye in oure heartes: For as a wyse man loketh well to hys owne goinges, euen so pleasaūte are the wordes spoken in due season, whyche moueth the wo­mā in hir wrath vnto pacyence, wherof Salamō saith: feare wordes Pro. 16 c are an hony combe, a refres­shing of the minde and a healthe of y ^e bones, for it is syldome sene that any beast is found in y ^• cre­welst [Page] rage the male doth neuer hurte hys female, and howe vn­naturall a thynge it is for a man to hurte hys owne fleshe and bodye, who wyll vyolentelye reuenge hym selfe (yee) on hys fote yf it chaunce to stombele: but wyll not rather yf he haue an yll body cheresh it to make it better.

The stronge (sayeth saynte [...]o. 14. Paul) oughte to bere the frele­nes of the weke, let one suffer wyth another, bere ye one ano­thers burden and so shall ye ful­fyll the lawes of Christe and a­boue all thynge (sayeth Saynt 4. Peter) haue feruente loue a­mongeste you, for loue couereth the multytude of fautes, so that loue in all thynge and at all ty­mes ought to be the whole doar and only instrumente to worke [Page] and frame all thynges betwene man and wife.

By all thys maye ye gether What the hus­bande ought to be. and learne that the man is the heed, gouernar, rular, and in­structar (both with gentill wor­des and good example) the pro­uydar, defendar, and whole comforte of the woman, and o­weth vnto hyr mooste faruente loue and affectyon all gentyll behauoure all faythfulnes and helpe, all comforte and kyndnes as to hym selfe hys owne fleshe and bodye, so that vnder God there is no loue no affectyon no frendshyp, no nerenes of kynne, to be compared vnto thys, nor any one thyng vnder the sunne that pleaseth God more then man and wyfe that agre well togethers, whyche lyue in the feare of GOD, and how can [Page] that be more lyuelye expressed, then in that, that Jesus Christe the sonne of God, and the holye Christen churche and the holye Ecc. 25 body of them both, are set forth for an example or myror of the state of wedlocke or coniugall loue, a more holye, a more godly and purer example coulde not be showed. Undoutydlye thys dothe playnely showe that loue matrymonyall is mooste hye­lye accepted afore GOD, and the contrarye muste nedes fo­lowe, that vnquyetnes hatred, stryfe, brawlynge, chydynge, and frowardenes in maryage doth excedingly displease God, and is clerelye forbydden by saynte Paul, where he sayeth, Ephe. 4 let all bytternes, fyersnes, and wrethe, rourynge, and cursed speakynge be put awaye from [Page] you, be ye curtes and louynge one to another and marcyfull forgeuynge one another euen as God for Christes sake for­gaue you. Surelye it is an hye and pure loue perfecte and con­stante that God requyreth to be betwene maryed couples, and therefore oughte they by all wayes, menes, and laboure to get, maynteyne, and increse thys excedynge loue, and to ex­chewe, forbere and cut of all thynges that myghte occasy­on anye parte of the contrarye. And vndoutedlye there is no­thynge that longer mayntay­neth concorde and quyetnes nor more increseth perfecte loue in maryage, then swete & fayre wordes, gentyll and frendelye dedes, and wyth a louyng pa­tyens to take all thynges to the [Page] beste. Frelye to breke their min­des What mainteineth loue & quietnes in mariage Ephe. 5 Gene. 2 togethers and all thynges to be kepte secrete, doth glad and wyllynge to amende that is amys, and aboue all thynge not ones one to here yll of another, for saynte Paul warneth you, that ye geue no place to the backbyters, but take them as yll wyllars to you both tho that [...]e neuer so nere frendes or kinne, and GOD sayeth a man shall for sake father and mother and cleue vnto hys wyfe and they two shalbe one flesh, which in lyke case is meante to the woman. Therefore oughte no cre­ature alyue to be in suche exty­maty on, credyte, fauer and loue as eche of you wyth others. Al­so to be of a sober and tempe­rate dyet dothe muche forther a good agremente, and where [Page] the contrarye is, there is muche vnquyetnes. For Salamon as­kynge where is woo, where is stryfe, where is braulynge, euen amongest those (sayeth he) that be euer at the wyne, therefore it is moste comelye for Christy­ans to be temporate in dyet, temporate in wordes, tempo­rate in dedes and temporate in all thynges, so that at all ty­mes ye exchewe all exses and surfet rage and furye whyche makes no dyfferens betwyxte man and beeste, and all other thynges whyche maye brede a­nye Eccl. 25 parte of vnquyetnes. For Salamon sayeth, better is a drye morsell wyth quyetnes, then a full house and manye sat cattell wyth stryfe. Therefore oughte ye to extreme and im­brase thys concorde and quyet­nes [Page] as the mentenat and onely vpholder of the whole felyssy­tye in maryage, whyche is in gendred of faruente loue, faythfulnes and kyndnes, and mayntayned by the same wherin ye ought contynuallye to walke in all chastenes and purenes of ly­uynge whyche (assuredlye) shy­neth as a most precyous thynge in the syghte of God, and in the cōmendacyon of the same sayeth Salamon in the boke of wyse­dome. The cō ­menda­cion of chastite. O fayre is a chaste gene­ratyon wyth vertu, for it is wyth good men, where it is presente men take example there at, and yf it goo awaye yet they desyre it, it is alwayes crowned and holden in honoure, and winneth the rewarde of the vnde­fyled battell, but the multytude of vngodlye chyldren are vn­profytable, [Page] and the thynge that are planted in whoredome shall take no depe rote, nor laye anye faste foundacyon, thoughe they be grene in the braunches for a tyme, yet shall they be shaken wyth the wynde for they stonde not faste, and thoroughe the ve­hemencye of the wynde they shalbe rooted oute, for the vn­profytable braunches shalbe broken, theyr frute shalbe vnprofy­table & sower to eate, yee meate for nothynge, and why, all the chyldren of the wycked muste bere recorde of the wickednes of theyr fathers and mothers, when they be asked, but to the ryghteous be ouer taken wyth deathe yet shall he be in reste. Here maye you se howe vyle fil­thye and abominable aduoutry, fornycacyon and basterdye is, [Page] and howe hye in extymatyon a chaste lyfe is amongeste al good and godlye folke and in specy­allye in the syghte of GOD to whome no secrete synne is hyde.

And as a chaste louynge lyfe That maried folke ought to haue chastmaners & cōmunicatiō. in maryage is moste commen­dyd, so oughte ye to be of chastemaners, to haue chaste talke▪ and to exchewe all wanton fas­syons, vnclenlye communycaty­on, fylthye handelynge, and all vnsemelynes, and to be the speakars and very dores of all ver­tue and godlynes, for Saynte Paul sayeth, be ye folowers of GOD as deare chyldren and walke in loue euen as Christ lo­ued you and gaue hym selfe for vs an offerynge and a sacryfyce of [...]ete sauoure to God, so that fornycacyon and all vnclenes or [Page] couetousnes be not ones named amongeste you as becommeth sayntes, neyther fylthye nor fo­lyshe tawlke, neyther gestynge, whyche are not comelye, but ra­ther geuyng of thankes for this ye knowe that whoremongers eyther vnclene parsons or co­uytous parsons whyche is the woreshypper of Images shall haue anye enterans in thee Kyngedome of GOD and of Christ.

Also there ought to be a tem­porance Oftēporaūce in mariage betwene man and wife for God hath ordeyned mary­age for a remedye or medycyne to asswage the hete of the bur­nynge fleshe and for procreaty­on, and not beestelye for to fulfil the whole lustes of the deue­lyshe mynde and wycked fleshe for tho ye haue a promes that [Page] the acte in maryage is no synne yf the man receyue hys wyfe as a gyfte geuen to hym of God, and the wyfe hyr husbande in lyke case, as ye haue a promes that ye synne not when ye eate and dryncke measurablye wyth thankes geuynge, yet yf ye take excesse or vse it beestelye, vyle­lye or inordynatelye, youre mi­stēperans make that yll which is good (beynge ryghtelye vsed and that whyche is clene ye de­fyle thoroughe youre abusynge of it, God hath not called you to vnclenes but vnto holynes say­eth saynte Paul) and forther Thes. 4. (sayeth he) it is the wyll of God euen that you shulde be holye, and that euery one of you shuld knowe howe to kepe hys vessell in holynes and honour and not in the lustes of concupyscens as [Page] do the hethen whyth know not God.

Also saynte Paul wylleth you that ye wythdrawe not youre Cor. 7. selfes nor departe not one from another, except it be wyth the good consente of bothe for a tyme to faste and to praye which fastynge and prayer I wolde to God were more vsed then it is, not as Ipocrytes were wonte, but as Christyans oughte and are commaunded (all moste) in euerye parte of the scryptures, for they that in eatyng and drinkynge fulfyll the whole lustes of the fleshe can not worke after the sprete, and as we daylye and hourelye contynuallye synne, so oughte we contynually to pray and call for grace. And in all the whole Byble you shall not finde a more godlye example of mari­age [Page] (whyche I wolde to God all maryed folkes wolde rede) then that of Tobyach and Sa­ra the doughter of Raguell, whyche were knytte together in fastynge and prayer, and ofte vsed the same lyuyng a godlye, pure and clene life, for the which they obtayned the blessynge of God and sawe theyr chylders chyldren to the fyfte generaty­on. Whyche chyldren (vndou­tydlye) is the hyeste gyfte and greateste tresure of thys world and mayntynans of the same. For chyldren is the verye sure y ^• cōmeudaciō of children bande and last knot of loue Matrymony all, by the whyche the parentes can neuer be clerelye separatyd a sunder, In asmuch as that whyche is of them both can not be deuyded, seyng both haue parte in euerye one. And [Page] chyldren are theyre parentes chefe ioye comforte and felycite nexte vnto GOD, theyr staye and staffe & vpholders of their age, and in theyr chyldren do the parentes leue (in a maner) after theyr death. For they dye not all togethers that leaue col­lopes Cor. vii of theyr owne fleshe alyue behynde them, and by theyr chyldren (yf they be vertuously and Godlye broughte vp) then is God honoured and the com­men welthe auanced, so that the parentes and all men fare the better by them. Youre children (moste assuredlye) is the verye blessynge of God for the whiche ye oughte to geue hym mooste hartye thankes, & be contented and wyth suche as he doth sende you, be they manye or fewe son­nes or doughters. For yf they [Page] be manye he wyll prouyde for them yf they be faythfull. Yf they be fewe he maye sende you more, and geue you more ioye of one doughter then of x. son­nes, therefore be contente wyth hys wyll for he dothe all thyn­ges for the beste and knoweth what is beste▪ for you, geue him moste hartye thankes for suche as you haue and be dylygent to see them vertuouslye and god­lye broughte vp, and in any case suffer them not to be ydell.

For they that will not worke 7 Howe children ought to be brou­ghte vp. (sayeth saynte Paul) let them not eate, therefore put them to learne some honeste scyens or crafte, wherunto of nature they be moste apte. For in that shall they moste proffet, by the which they maye get theyr owne ly­uynge and serue the commen [Page] welthe. And aboue al thyng let them fyrst learne to knowe God and hys most holy word whiche is the ryght pathe and hye way to all vertue and Godlines, the sure shylde and stronge bukelar to defende vs from the deuyll and all hys cruell and crafty as­sawtes geue them daylye god­lye and louyng exhortasyons, suffer no vyce to take rote in them, but rebuke them for their yll and commende them in their well doinge.

Prouyde honestly afore hand for al necessary thinges both for them and all youre housholde. For sayeth saynte Paul to Ty­mothee, [...] Yf there be anye that prouideth not for his owne and namelye for them of hys house­hold, the same denieth the faith and is worse then an infydell.

[Page]Of the sparowes maye ye The or­der of y ^• house. karne the order of youre house­holde, for as the cocke flyeth to and fro to brynge all thynge to the neste, and as the damme ke­peth the nest hatcheth and bringeth forth hyr yonge, so all pro­uysyon and whatsoeuer is to be done wythoute the house belongeth to thee man and the wo­man to take charge wythin, to see all thynges conuenyentelye saued or spente as it oughte, to bryng for the & noryshe hyr chil­dren, and to haue all the whole doynge of hyr doughters and women.

Also beiouynge vnto youre chyldren and be not fyerse nor cruell vnto them. For Saynte Col.▪ 3 Paul sayeth, fathers rate not youre chyldren, leste they be of [Page] a desperate mynde, but wy [...] dyscrete admonysyons, and wyth youre pure and good ex­ample of lyuynge (whyche is the chefeste persuasyon) lede them to all vertue and God­lynes.

Yf all parentes wolde ver­tuouslye brynge by theyr chyl­dren in the knowledge and fere of GOD, in the practyse and exarcyse of some honeste scyens or crafte. Then shulde we not see so manye ydell as be, so ma­nye vacabundes, theues, and murderers, so manye vycious persons of all degres, nor suche vngodlynes taygne. But then shulde we se euery man honest­lye get hys lyuynge prefarring hys neyghbours proffyt as his owne, then shuld we see all men [Page] ryghtelye do theyr dewtyes▪ then shulde loue and charyte spryng, and all godlynes raig­ne, then shulde the lawes and magystrates be wyllyngelye obeyed, the commen welthe flo­reshe, and God ryghtelye ho­noured, for in thys poynte one­lye throughe the grace of God consystes the amendemente of all the whole worlde.

Therefore (my deare and welbeloued Chrystyans) seing that in thys blessed state of ma­trymonye and Godlye house­holde of husbande, wyfe, and chyldren consystes (next vnder GOD) the chefyste and hyest felysytye of thys worlde, and mayntynans of the same, wher in the commen welthe is wholy aduansed, and GOD mooste [Page] hyghelye honoured. I exhorte you in the name of▪ Jesus Chri­ste, the sonne of the lyuyn [...] God, that you walke worth [...] therin accordynge to the wyll of Christe whyche you professe wythoute faynynge, and that you exchewe all workes and dedes of the fleshe, whyche be these sayeth saynte Paul, ad­uoutrye, Gala. 5. fornycation, vnclenes, wantonnes, ydolatre, whyche crafte hatred, varyans, wrath, stryfe sedicyon, sectes enuying, murther, drunkenes, gluttony, and suche lyke, of the whyche I tell you before as I haue tol­de you in tymes past▪ that they whyche commyt suche thyn­ges shall not inheret the kyng­dom of God. Therefore folowe ye the sprete and workes of the [Page] same whyche be (sayeth saynte Paul) loue, ioye, peace, longe suffrynge, gentylnes, goodnes, faythfulnes, weakenes, tempo­rans, and suche lyke, and yet ones agayne. I exhorte you wyth the exhortacyon of saynt Paul. Yf there be amongeste Ephe. 2. you anye consolatyon in Christ, Yf there be anye comfortable loue, Yf there be anye felowe­shyppe of the sprette, Yf there be anye compassyon of mercye fulfyll you my ioy, that ye draw, one waye hauynge one loue, beynge of one accorde and of one mynde, that nothynge be done through stryfe or vayne glorye, but that in meakenes of mynde euerye one exteme other better then them selfe, and so shall you lede a ioyfull [Page] quyet and godlye lyfe in thys worlde and after, throughe Jesus Christe come to the lyfe e­uerlastynge wyth GOD the Father to whome be all honoure and glorye. Amen.

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