CHAP. III.

Ver. 1. Likewise ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands: that if any one obey not the word, they also, without the word, may be won by the conversation of the wives.

THE tabernacle of the sun, is set high in the Heavens, but it is, that it may have influence below upon the earth: and the word of God, that is spoke of there immediately after, as being many ways like it, holds resemblance in this particular; it is a sublime heavenly light, and yet descends, in its use, to the lives of men, in the variety of their stations; to warm and to enlighten, to regulate their affections and actions in whatsoever course of life they are called to. By a perfect revolution or circuit, (as there it is said of the sun) it visits all ranks and estates, Its going forth is from the end of Heaven, and his circuit unto the ends of it, and there is nothing hid from the heat of it. This word disdains not to teach the very servants, in their low condition and employments, how to behave themselves, and sets before them no meaner example than that of Jesus Christ, which is the highest of all examples; and here the Apostle proceeds to give rules adapted to that relation, which is the main one in families, husbands and wives: for the order it is indifferent, yet, possibly, he begins here at the wives, because his former rules were given to inferiors, to subjects and servants; and the duty he commends particularly here to them, is subjection; likewise ye wives be in subjection, &c.

After men have said all they can, and much it may be to little purpose, in running the parallel between these two states of life, marriage and celibacy, the result will be found, I conceive, all things being truly estimated, very little odds, even in na

a Psal. xix. 6.

tural respects, in the things themselves, saving only as the particular condition of persons, and the hand of divine providence turns the balance the one way or other: and the writing of satires against either, or panegyrics on the one in prejudice of the other, is but a caprice of mens mind, according to their own humour: but in respect of religion, the Apostle having scanned the subject to the full, leaves it indifferent, only requiring in those that are so engaged, hearts as disengaged as may be, that they that marry be as if they married not, &c. Within a while it will be all one, as he adds that grave reason, for the fashion [x] of this world passeth, it is but a pageant, a show of an hour long [wapdyes] goes by, and is no more seen; thus the great pomps and solemnities of marriages of kings and princes in former times, where are they? Oh! how unseemly is it to have an immortal soul drowned in the esteem and affection of any thing that perishes, and to be cold and indifferent in seeking after a good that will last as long as itself. Aspire to that good which is the only match for the soul, that close union with God which cannot be dissolved; which he calls an everlasting marriage, that will make you happy, either with the other, or without it. All the happiness of the most excellent persons, and the very top of all affection and prosperity meeting in hu man marriages, are but a dark and weak represen tation of the solid joy that is in that mysterious divine union of the spirit of man with the Father of Spirits, from whom it issues. But this by the

way.

The common spring of all mutual duties, on both sides, is to be supposed love: that peculiar conjugal love, that makes them one, will infuse such sweetness into the authority of the husband, and obedience of the wife, as will make their lives harmonious; like the sound of a well tuned instrument: whereas without that, having such an universal conjuncture of interest in all their affairs, they cannot

b 1 Cor. vii. 29. 31.

c

Hos. ii. 19.

escape frequent contests and discords; which is a sound more unpleasant than the jarring of untuned strings to an exact ear. And this should be considered in the choice, that it be not, as it is too often (which causeth so many domestic ills) contracted only as a bargain of outward advantages, but as an union of hearts: and where this is not, and there is something wanting in this point of affection, there, if the parties, or either of them, have any saving knowledge of God, and access to him in prayer, they will be earnest suitors for his help in this, that his hand may set right what no other can; that he who is love itself may infuse that mutual love into their hearts now, which they should have sought sooner. And they that sensibly want this, and yet seek it not of him, what wonder is it, though they find much bitterness and discontent; yea where they agree, if it be only in natural affection, their observance of the duties required is not by far either so comfortable and pleasing, or so sure and lasting, as when it ariseth from a religious and christian love in both that will cover many failings, and take things by the best side.

Love is the prime duty in both, the basis of all: but because the particular character of it, as proper to the wife, is conjugal obedience and subjection, therefore that is usually specified, Wives submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord: so here. Now, if it be such obedience as ought to arise from a special kind of love, then the wife would remember this, that it must not be constrained unchearful obedience: and the husband would remember, that he ought not to require base and servile obedience; for both these are contrary to that love, whereof this obedience must carry the true tincture and relish, as flowing from it; there it will hold right, where love commands and love obeys.

This subjection as all other, is qualified thus, that it be in the Lord. His authority is primitive, and a Eph. v. 12.

binds first, and all others have their patents and privileges from him; therefore he is supremely, and absolutely to be observed in all. If the husband would draw the wife to an irreligious course of life and looseness, he is not to be followed in this, but in all things indifferent this obedience must hold; which forbids not neither a modest advice and representation to the husband of that which is more convenient: but that done, a submissive yielding to the husband's will is the suiting of this rule. Yea possibly the husband may not only imprudently, but unlawfully will that, which, if not in its own nature a thing unlawful, the wife by reason of his will may obey lawfully, yea could not lawfully disobey.

Now, though this subjection was a fundamental law of pure nature, and came from that hand that made all things in perfect order, yet sin, which hath imbittered all human things with a curse, hath disrelished this' subjection, and made it taste somewhat of a punishment, and that as a suitable punishment of the woman's abuse of that power she had with the man, to the drawing of him to disobedience against God.

The bitterness in this subjection arises from the corruption of nature in both; in the wife a perverse desire rather to command, or at least a repining discontent at the obligation to obey; and this is increased by the disorder, and imprudence, and harshness of husbands, in the use of their authority.

But in a christian, the conscience of divine appointment will carry it, and weigh down all difficulties; for the wife considers her station, that she is set in it, worawoμévn it is the rank the Lord's hand hath placed her in, and therefore she will not break it; out of respect and love to him, she can digest much frowardness of a husband, and make that her patient subjection a sacrifice to God. "Lord "I offer this to thee, and for thy sake I humbly "bear it,"

• Gen. iii. 16.

The worth and love of a husband may cause that respect, where this rule moves not: but the christian wife that hath love to God, though her husband be not so comely, nor so wise, nor any way so amiable, as many others; yet because he is her own husband, and because of the Lord's command in the general, and his providence in the particular disposal of his own, therefore she loves and obeys.

That if any obey not the word.] This supposes a particular case, and applies the rule to it; takes it for granted that a believing wife will chearfully observe and respect a believing husband; but if he is an unbeliever, yet that unties not this engagement; yea there is something in this case which presses it and binds it the more, a singular good which probably may follow upon obeying such; by that good conversation, they may be gained who believe not the word, not that they could be fully converted without the word, but having a prejudice against the word, that may be removed by the carriage of a believing wife, and they may be somewhat mollified and prepared, and induced to hearken to religion, and take it into consideration.

This gives not christians warrant to draw on this task, and make themselves this work, by chusing to be joined to an unbeliever, either a profane or mere natural husband or wife; but teacheth them being so matched, what should be their great desire, and their suitable carriage in order to the attainment of it. And in the primitive christian times, this fell out often, that by the gospel preached, the husband might be converted from gross infidelity, Judaism, or paganism, and not the wife; or the wife, which is the supposition here, and not the husband; and there came in the use of this consideration.

And in this is the freedom of divine grace, to pick and chuse where he will, one of a family, or two of a tribe, as the prophet hath it, and according to our Saviour's word, two in one bed, the one taken and the other left". Some selected f Jer. iii. 14.

Luke xvii. 34.