ye menne loue youre wyues be not bitter vnto them Coloss iij. Colo. iij Ephe. v And to the Ephesians in the .v. menne ought to loue their wyues as their own bodies Therfore whosoeuer taketh sure holde on such loue suffereth neyther noysome lustes wrath nor anye other thinge to tourne himselfe awaye from it doth a ryght good worke and acceptable vnto god for here is hys worde which commaundeth the thys thynge Thou shalt loue thy wyfe and not loue flightely mat xix But as christ repeteth the same agayne in the gospell for thys cause shall a man leaue father mother and cleane vnto his wyfe The matrimonyal loue is a goddes seruyce Vvhere are nowe the shamefull Papistes whiche abhorre wedlocke as a carnall estate as though God could not be serued in hys kynde of lyfe Notwithstandyng that the loue without the which wedlocke can not endure is a greater and hyer goddes seruice which god as we heare requyreth so earnestly of vs. The loue of the parentes towardes theyr children is also a Gods seruyce Moreouer the loue and faythfulnes whiche the Parentes bestowe vppon theyr children namely that they nourysshe clothe and bryng them vp in labour and in the feare of god kepe thē to learnynge take heede to them kepe them in theyr sickenes watching listing laieng couering washing thē whatsoeuer there is more of suche lyke is also a costely worke acceptable vnto god whiche the maryed must vse and do dayly and hourely almost euery moment Nowe should we remember a ryght and lerne such oure owne lyfe conuersation that these are before God mere good workes Then should we not onely be so moche the lustier to matrimony and to such workes although they are also paynefull But also pacienter confortabler and bolder although somtyme it prospered not all of the beste for yf the maryed remember and ponder theyr estate and theyr lyfe a right and ordre themselues godly therein then must nedes theyr hertes eyes handes fete sticke full of good and holye workes euery houre But there lyeth that mischief where of I haue spoken before that bycause these workes are so generall smal they are not regarded Agayne whatsoeuer apeareth glorious and braggeth furth boldely although in it selfe it be not worth a strawe yet is it taken for honourable and greate As we see by the Popes ceremonyes and hys goddes seruice notwithstandyng that the least worke in wedlocke is better in it selfe then all theyr goddes seruice for in wedlocke do men abyde in the worde and commaundement of God And god wyll that the one shall gladly serue the other euen from the herte This is done in wedlocke without ceassynge The seruice of the maried one to another are good workes yf a child be sicke then are the elders sick and sory for hym yf the man be sicke then is the wyfe encombred euen so sore as though it were her owne smarte or disease There is the diligence care faythfulfulnes and loue moost purest and from the botome of the herte and it is not tedyous vnto them for they delyte long styll after thys howe the one myght conseyll helpe amende the other and withstande the aduersitye Again wheras it succedeth prosperously in trauaylyng of childe or otherwyse in theyr owne danger or necessite of the children There is a harty pure and perfecte ioye It cā not go so wel with the one but the other reioyseth of it euen at the herte and wysseth vnto hym moche more Vvho wilsaye nowe that were as that hertes do agree so goodly together in ioye and in heuynes that there are not mere good workes of loue Contrarywyse in the Celibate lyfe doth God neyther delite in loue nor yet in woo Althoughe in it selfe it is a strawen loue whiche euery houre is broken and rent a sunder of one worde onely when the one doth but loke awrye vpon the other These good workes of wedlocke remayne at home in the housse The state of matrimony geueth discreteper sones to all estates among them that be maried and their childrē After them followe fyrst of al the ryght great good workes that oute of thys estate as out of a well sprynge come all maner of personnes by whome laude and people are gouerned and defended the churches prouyded of preachers and other ministers and all offyces in the worlde and in the kyngdome of oure Lorde Christe are executed Forseyng specially in wedlocke the childrē are nouryshed and brought vp to the feare honoure and glorye of god So must it nedes be graunted that wedlocke is occasiō and beginnynge of all suche benefites Notwithstandyng that many wilfull persons do growe vp amonge them The faulte thereof is not in wedlocke but in those wicked vngodly personnes that wyl not order themselues in wedlocke accordyng to their bounden duetye for whosoeuer doth begynne it in the name of god he shall also prospere in bryngyng vp of children and in other thynges In wedlocke is much labour ād trauayl But that men will saye In wedlocke are many maner of encombraunces sorrowes daūgers heuinesses from the which men shall be free out of wedlocke where as euery man hath no more to care for but hys owne boby only Nowe let it be so yet ought thys occasion to feare no Christen man from the state of matrimony For first although thou werest vnmaryed yet for all that shalt thou not escape all fre for thou must neuerthelesse auēture and suffer all maner of aduersityes Whan any hynderaunce happeneth vnto that somtyme in thy body and lyfe sōtyme in thyne honour and goodes And suche a crosse shal be so moche to heuyer for the yf thou be out of wedlocke and alone as the holy scripture sayth Wo be vnto the man which is alone for yf he fall there is no man to helpe hym vp agayne Secondarely All be it that in wedlocke there is more daunger sorrowe and vexation then elles where yet ought not to matrimony for thys cause to be despysed eschued For it is profitable good for vs that God cometh vpon vs with hys crosse and that we be proued al maner of waies for oute of tēptatiō and probacion do we stande in great daūger Vve waxe sturdy and contrary to the worde of God colde slouthfull to praier and other good workes for as muche nowe as wedlocke it doth ful now with the woman nowe with the children nowe with the familye wedlocke is the scoolehous of the christians nowe with the occupyenge and other al maner of necessities perilles wedlocke is vnto the Christians as a Scoole wherein they are godly instructed that in tribulatiō and aduersitie they faynt not nor be discouraged But open theyr hertes to god pray desyre help This is also a good worke wedlock causeth to praye and to trust in God whereunto wedlocke geueth occasyon very often for euen for thys cause that much trouble calamite
an amendement But to be at one with them and to speake louingely vnto those that put me to hinderaunce and help to begyle me I wil not I would rather se them at the deuill I will nor can not forget it vntil I be auenged on some of thē Iustina There do I perceyue that as yet thou arte no Christian for thou wilt not neyther canst thou speake kyndly vnto thy neyghbour nor be at one with hym Secondly thou doest asscribe thyne aduersitye and misfortune vnto men and not vnto God as though it were not the good and gratious pleasure of God that all thynges succede not alwayes after thyne owne braynes Thirdly thou wilt not forget nor forgeue thyne aduersary but desyrest to be reuenged vpon hym Serapia I praye the heare me I am at one with many folkes that do good vnto me I agayn vn to them but that myne aduersitye should come from god that can not I beleue in no wyse I shoulde be in rest longe ynough for oure lorde god yf wicked people woulde let me alone Also a wyse woman hath tolde me my fortune that many wicked people shall trouble me and that I shal haue no good fortune as long as me husband lyueth yet I must be at one with certeyne persons for my husbandes sake vntyll a tyme conuenient that I maye be euen with them for the shrewed tournes whiche they haue done me Iustina The good lorde saue me doest thou also beleue southsayers and olde miscreaunte witches i. Re. xxviij d Truely it is highly prohibited of God in the scripture In so moche that kynge Saull sped very euil for as moche as he forsoke god and asked counsayl of a witche whiche had a southsayenge spirite In lyke maner was also serued kynge Ahasia whiche soughte counseill at hys Idoll Beelzebub wherfore beware that thou geue no credēce to any sothsayers or sorcerers Nowe herken vnto me I can not forbeare but that I must answere to these thre poyntes Fyrst thou sayest that thou arte at one and at peace with them that do good vnto the that thou doest also good vnto them what maner of vnity is that where by a mā may perceyue that yf any of them with whome thou arte nowe at peace shoulde displease the thyne vnity cōcorde should loue be at an ende with thē mat viij Luc. vi And it is euē as Christe sayth yf ye loue them whiche loue you what rewarde shall ye haue for the Publicanes and very synners loue theyr louers And yf ye do for them which do for you what thanke are ye worthy of for the very sinners do euen the same But I saye vnto you sayth Christe loue your enemyes Do good to thē which hate you Blesse them that curse you Praye for them whiche wrongefully trouble you Blesse and curse not sayth Paull Nowe concludeth Christe saynge vnto him that smiteth the on the one cheke offer also the other And hym that taketh thy goune forbidde not to take thy coate also Geue to euery man that asketh of the. And of hym that taketh awaye thy goodes aske them not agayne He will not haue that we shall onely agree with thē which do good vnto vs but also with them that Imagine all mischief agaynst vs and hurte vs and that vnto them we shoulde do all good Secondarely thou beleuest not that thyne aduersitie and misfortune cometh from god whiche causeth al good thynges and euil thinges as the lorde god sayth hymselfe I am the lorde and none other whiche make the light and cause the darkenes which geue peace and cause the euyll I am the lorde whiche doth all these thinges Seinge god doth al these thynges howe darest thou then put the faulte vnto the wicked people which notwithstandinge withoute the will of God are able to do nothinge god doth also conforte vs whereas he saith I am your conforter who arte thou thē that arte afrayed of men which notwithstondyng are mortall and of the children of men whiche are deliuered vp as heye forgettest the lorde whiche created the whiche spred oute the heauen and grounded the earth Euen as also no man was able to hurte or endamage the good Iob vntyl god gaue power vnto Satan to proue hym Christe sayth also Mat. x. that we shoulde not feare them whiche hurte or kyll the body for al the heares of our heades are nombred and none of them falleth on the grounde without the wyll of the heauenly father He careth for vs and loueth vs so moche that he saith He that toucheth vs toucheth the appel of hys eyes for whatsoeuer happeneth vnto vs be it good or bad cometh al by thy good gracious will of God But who cā sayth Paule resiste his will Therfore hath Christ taught vs to praye vnto the heauenly father Mat. vi Thy wyll be done in earth as it is in heauen Therfore nedest thou not to asscribe vnto any man the good or euill whiche happeneth vnto vs but onely vnto God whiche because of oure synnes sendeth vs aduersitye Thyrdely thou cāst that she was throwen down frō a wyndowe eaten of dogs Me thinketh also that thou arte to fearce desyrous of vengeaunce against euery mā specially agaynst thyne own children for when any of thē doth any thynge which pleaseth the not thē doest thou auenge by and by beatest thē to sore out of due tyme wherof the children become dulwitted fearful Serapia I haue suche frowarde childrē I beleue that there are no worse in al this land yea I thinke verely that they are euen yonge Deuyls for none of them wyll take any nourture nor correction at my hāde neyther doth any of thē regarde me I can not tell howe to do with them yf it were not for my husbande whome they dreade sore For yf I shoulde brynge them vp alone truely I woulde beate them all awaye from me Iustina That thyne myne and other mennes children are wilfull and stubborne is not to be meruayled at For it is geuen vnto all men euen by nature from Adam that all the myndes thoughtes and Imaginations of theyr hartes are euyll and more inclined and prone to that which is euyll then to that which is good Therfor hath God ordeyned and geuen to the children parentes fathers and mothers and also to all men Superiors for to breake our wilfulnes and oure owne myndes and to drawe vs to the feare honour of God and to all vertue and that we shoulde lyue vnder theyr obedience Therfor deare syster instructe fyrst thy children truely in the commandementes of God accordynge as thou arte bounde vnto them and be gentyl to them for whā they are kept so harde streighte and are brought vp in suche great feare thē become they fearfull wilde and stubborne people when they growe to age whiche neyther care for father nor yet for mother and yf they growe vp so thei are also disobedient to all hyer powers Paule teacheth also
be done vpō me Truely where suche thoughtes are there can it not go amysse Serapia Vvherfore to the loue Iustina He must knowe that the Estate of matrimony is an estate of loue and peace so that therein the one must serue helpe and counseyl the other and that there be nothynge but seruyce helpe and cōforte betwene them selues and after that towardes theyr children familye all men Serapia Howe betwene them selues Iustina Maryed folkes must be peaceable frendly agreyng one with another not despisinge one another but be true one to another faithfully serue and succour one to another in prosperite and in aduersitye in sickenes and in health euen as God doth send it for God made not the woman of the mannes heade because she should not be mayster nor yet of the fete that she shoulde not altogether lye vnder fote Gen. ij But of hys syde that she shoulde be the mans helper Serapia Howe towardes the childrē and familie Iustina When god sendeth them children or familye that thei bryng vp the same to the laude honour prayse of god to the helpe commoditie conforte of theyr neyghbour yea for the welthe of the hole communalte And there shal they fynde bothe hādes full of good workes yea all the workes of loue whiche God hath commaūded may they shewe vpon theyr children and familye God maketh of that hous good maryed folkes a holy hospitall an electe monastery yea a kyngdome of Ioye Paradise and heauen he geueth his blessynge and all goodnes health and saluacion Serapia Howe towardes the crosse Iustina Maryed folkes must knowe that God hath layde a heuy crosse vpon the state of matrimony bothe mā womē Serapia Vvhiche is the crosse of the man Iustina God sayd vnto Adam Gen. iij Because thou haste herkened vnto the voyce of thy wyfe hast eaten of the tree concerning the whiche I commaund d the saieng thou shalt not eate of it cursed be the grounde for thy sake in sorrowe shalt thou eate of it all the dayes of thy lyfe Thorne also and thystle shal it cause to growe vnto the. In the swete of thy face shalt thou eate thy breade Serapia Whiche is the crosse of the woman Iustina God sayde vnto Eua Gen. iij because thou hast herkened vnto the serpente and haste eaten of the fruytes concerninge the whiche I commaūded the that thou shouldest not eate of it I wyll multiplye thy sorowe and thy conceyuyng In sorrowe shalt thou brynge forth thy children thou shalt stoupe before thy husbande and he shal haue the rule of the. Serapia Is there any conforte in thys Crosse Iustina yes By the crosse of the man is this conforte contayned In the sweate of thy face shalt thou eate thy breade tyll thou be tourned agayn into the grounde out of the whiche thou wast taken As though he woulde saye The crosse shall be temporal and shal laste no longer then whylest thou lyuest Also it is but layed vpon the body and not vpon the soule Gen. iij By the crosse of the woman standeth thys consolacyō Thou shalt bryng forth children albeit with sorrowe saynt saynt Paule sayth i. Tim. ij i. Tim. ij The woman was deceaued and brought the transgression into the worlde notwithstondyng thorough bearing of children she shal be saued yf she continue in faythe loue and holynes with discretion Serapia Is the worde of god also in the lyfe of matrimony Iustina Not onely the worde of god but also the commandemēt ordinaunce and blessyng of god an honest lyfe a good lyfe a good conscience and hope of eternall lyfe In the lyfe of the wicked is nothynge elles then the work commaundement and ordinaunce of the Deuyll theyr owne wyll destourbyng of the godly commaundementes an vngracious shameful lyfe an euil conscience and expectacion of eternal damnation The maried can sheppe forth bodely before god and reioyce of theyr estate with a good conscience I defie the inuēted states of the spiritualte that they dare be so bolde as ones to open their mouthes before god but they must be confounded and become dōbe before god for they cā not alledge one lettere out of the holy scripture whereby thei myght confirme or defende their estate yf the popes tryple crowne the Cardinalles broade hatte the Bisshoppes infula the freares hode the priestes shauen crowne and the Nonnes clare had such a reioysinge and grounde in the scripture as the womēs keuerchief and the begging bagge of the spiritualte as the spade or pickare of Adā good lorde howe would they boaste crye and reioyce but Christ hath preuented theyr boasting standeth there saith Mat. xv In vayn they worship me teaching doctrines whiche are nothyng but mēnes preceptes Serapia Where by is the fayth perceyued in Marye Iustina Ioha iij Vvhen the wyne fayled the mother of Iesue sayde vnto hym They haue no wyne The good mother careth for the gestes and woulde fayne that al thynges were well and done honestly and yet doth she not praye with expressed wordes for she thought it nedeth not to praye He is so good of hymselfe that he wyll helpe whan he heareth that there is lacke And this is also the nature of faythe to aduenture al thinges vpō the mercifulnes of god Serapia But what answerdyd Christe geue her Iustina He sent her away vnkindly and sayde vnto her Ioha iii woman what haue I to do with the myne houre is not yet come Serapia Vvhat doth Mary then doth she leaue it thus Iustina No she sayth nowe first of al to the ministers whatsoeuer he sayth vnto you do it So certayne and sure is she that she beleueth that her welbeloued sonne Christe wyll not suffer her to lacke and euen as she beleueth so cometh it to passe Serapia Vvhat shall we learne hereof Iustina Vvhen it semeth vnto vs in our prayer that god wyl not heare vs then may we not yet despayre or ceasse but we must styll go forwarde persyste for vnder such a taciturnite is a sure conforte hyddē vnder suche naye lyeth a sure yea for so doth god worke he helpeth no rather then when a man thinketh that all confort and succour is gone Therfore is he called The ryght helper in necessities which helpeth in due season Serapia Vvhere by is the loue perceyued in Christe Iustina That he prouydeth here suche good wyne at thys feast he hath sufficiently declared by this example that he wyl not put those in any necessite whiche geue them selues at his commaundement into the state of matrimony beleue and truste in hym and followe theyr vocacyon nor yet leaue them confortles For beholde whē the wyne fayled he made of water good wyne Euen so yf men dotruely and earnestly call vpon hym matrimony he wyll also take awaye all maner of penuryes he knoweth well ynough that in matrimony fayleth many thynges nowe meate drynke nowe rayment and shoes Therfore yf the maried do that thing which pleaseth
God and seke fyrste the kyngdome of god he wyl neuer forsake them Serapia Geue examples of the scripture Iustina Who fedde the Patriarche Iacob when he went ouer Iordan with hys staffe and came agayne with moche people children cattell goodes Genes xxxij Gene. xxxij Vho fed Ioseph whan he was solde of hys brethren became he not by the grace of God a lorde ouer al Egypte Vvho fed the children of Israel in the wildernes forthy yeres Vvho prouyded here good wyne yea who fedeth the hole worlde with all creatures Doth not God it Truely noman nedeth to refuse matrimonye or to abstayne from it for hunger or penuries sake But let him take the matter in hande righteously in the feare of God and do accordyng as hys office or occupation requyreth let hym worke hys occupation in the name of the Lorde put hys trust in God walke ryghteously in the syghte of hys neyghboure thē shall he fynde of a trueth that god wyl holde on hys syde so moche as he did with Iacob Ioseph and with the Bryde and Brydegrome Serapia But what sayest thou of eatynge drynkynge deckinge and trimmynge pypyng playenge and daunsyng is it the worde of god in the churche The elders toke it for a great earnest matter namely that they fetched there the blessyng of God and the supplication of the Christen congregatiō which in dede is very necessary and requisite in this estate And whosoeuer taketh vpon hym the state of matrimony nedeth well the blessynge of god the common prayers of the congregation Seyng the deuyll neuer resteth here but attempteth all maner of wayes for to stirre vp moche mischief and calamitie with infidelyte aduoutrye vnclenlynes and all maner of wickednes All whiche thinges God the father oure lorde Iesus Christe cā and wyll hynder and let vnto whome be lande prayse for euer and euer Amen ¶ A fruteful Predication or Sermon of D. Mart. Luth. concernynge matrimony vpon this Texte in the Epistle to the Hebrewes in the xiij Chapiter ⧠Wedlocke is to be had in honour amonge all men and the bedde vndefyled As for hoorekepers and aduouterers God shall iudge them Matrimony hath alwayes ben estemed honourable also amonge the heathen THe estate of matrimony hath alwayes ben taken among discrete vertuous mē yea also amonge the heathen for an honourable and laudable lyfe for reasonable vertuous people haue euen of very nature a delyte in it when they see that two personnes which are coupled in mariage lyue together vertuously and in vnite brynge vp theyr children in the feare of God kepe them to vertuous nurtour honesty And that the one succoureth the other in necessities and aydeth hym with worde and dede and wherwith so euer he can Contrarywyse whā men lyue withoute the estate of matrimony in vnclenlynes synne and shame Remēber not theyr childrē nor brynge them vp in good nourtour that the one rūneth this waye and the other that waye lyke noughtye packes hauing no true loue nor faythfulnes together Suche a dissolute lyfe is reputed of all reasonable and honest men euen of nature wicked and very pernicious The yōge and rawe people despyse matrimony Notwithstondyng mense right well howe the yonger sorte and the commō people falleth awaye and abhorreth the state of matrimony as an heauy intollerable burthen And suche wilde careles persons wyll alwayes more loue the dissolute and fre lyfe then suche a paynefull vertuous and laudable lyfe in wedlocke Howe be it plages and punyshmentes ouertake them nowe a dayes very sore for besides that that such persones without wedlocke pollute themselues with synnes wilfully cause God to be enemy vnto themselues they are also punysshed with bodely plages that not onely money and goodes doth waste away by suche people but also they must paye for it in their skinnes For in suche filthy lyuinge reigne many maner of diseases and plages sometyme open shame and reuilynge somtyme also murther other calamityes Of suche examples is the worlde full whereby god sheweth a special earnest that he wyll haue wedlock kepte pure and vndespised But whereas some tyme suche tēporal correctiōs followe not And god permitteth the wicked persons to go after their owne wyll and to abyde in reputacion and healthfull body great goodes Euen there is surely a worse tourne to be attended namely the wrath and indignation of God in the worlde to come and the euerlastynge damnation Some despyse matrimony because of great holynes Lyke as nowe the madde yonge worlde abhorreth matrimony for suche free wyllfull lyues sake Euen so is it manifeste of the other parte that the Deuyll hath blyndedsome in suche wyse that they of mere holynes lyke as the other of mere wilfulnes haue despised matrimony and chosen a dissolute lyfe without wedlocke Accordyng as Saynt Paule hath prophecyed i. Ti. iiij i. Timo. iiij That it shall come so farre that certeyne spirites of errour vnder the pretense of great holynes shall forbidde matrimony As we se by the Pope and all hys Byshoppes Priestes freares Nonnes whiche forswere matrimony and wyll be called spirituall people because they lyue without wedlocke and lyue not in a carnal state as they iudge matrimony But in an angelicall or spirituall state and haue called them selues alone spiritual for this cause as though thei which lyue in the state of matrimony myght not be spiritual also as well as they This is the occasion because that matrimony is so common and hath no speciall regard before the world Therfore haue the popes blessed or they of the spiritualtie refused suche slyghte common lyfe and haue taken some speciall thynge before them whiche myght be more regarded then that a Citesen sitteth at home with hys wyfe fyndeth hys children and familie with soure labour and doth suche lyke thynges accordynge to hys vocation For thys is the nature of the worlde whatsoeuer is common the same doth she not regarde Agayn whatsoeuer is straunge and not common the same doth euery man couet to haue No man doth counte this for a special thinge that the sunne shyneth euery daye Exod. x But whan the thicke darkenes continued so longe in Egypte then did they learne vndoubtedly fynde fulwel that the sunne and the brightnes thereof is a glorious thynge and a fayre great benefite Also we counte it for no special grace when it rayneth i. Reg. xvij But when there came no rayne in the kyngdome of Israell in the tyme of Elias for the space of thre yeres and a halfe then dyd they learne that it was a great benefite Euen so happeneth it vnto the holy state of matrimony amonge the Papistes also because it is suche a common state that euery plowe man may come to it Therfore haue the popes Spiritualtye despised suche a commō lyfe and haue inuented and taken vpon them a speciall and sundry lyfe that myght seme to be of greater estimation before the people As
euen Salomon in all hys royaltye was not arayed lyke vnto one of these Therfore take no thought sayenge what shall we eate or what shal we drinke or where with shall we be cloteth After all these thinges seke the gentyles Therfore be not lyke vnto the heathen frettinge and vexinge thy selfe with suche vnprofitable cares and thoughtes for the wyse Salomon sayeth Carefull trauayll hurteth but blessed is he that trusteth in the Lorde Mat. vi Christe sayth further in the Chapiter aboue mentioned Seke ye firste the kyngdome of heauen the righteousnes thereof al these thinges shal be ministred vnto you for your heauēly father knoweth that ye haue nede of meat drynke cloth all these thinges Thys conforte shouldest thou truely take to thy hart deare syster and trust there to I haue suche a strōg confidence in my God in these confortable wordes of Christe that althoughe I wyth my poore fatherles children had nothinge at al or as lyttell as thou howe be it thou hast ynough and nedest not to cōplayne yet do I knowe surely that he wyll not forsake me but nourysshe me my chyldren as the byrdes of the ayer cloth me as the floures lilyes of the felde That thou saiest thy husbande goeth and executeth hys offyce is 〈◊〉 vnreasonable Pius my deare husbande whome God pardon dyd so likewise I thought yf he had not alwayes ben at home nothynge had gone froward But nowe I knowe that he dyd more wyth one worde than I can do in a hole daye nowe begynne I fyrst to mysse hym Serapia No I can not tell what good he doth he is nowe so stubborne and waywarde towardes mee the children that I knowe not howe it cometh to passe or what he ayleth he fretteth and vexeth hymselfe in vayne and for nought I thynke he wyl be starke madde or oute of hys wittes Iustina O good syster I beleue that thou arte the greatest occasiō of his fretting and disquietynge thou arte to frowarde and obstinate agaynst hym as I heare thou dost not suffer hym a worde brawlest alwaies with hym and orderest hym very euyll notwitstandynge he is an honest simple man which is loth to fyghte and brawle with the as other frowarde men do And also I beleue and am sure that he is no dronkarde hoo remonger nor player Serapia Howe a dronkarde hooremonger or player yf he were suche one Oh then woulde I haue a stomake with hym I would plucke my selfe with hym as the one deuyll with the other Iustina Lo nowe I perceyue what is in the and that thou arte so stoute and waywarde agaynst the good mā He hath also desyred me to rebuke the gentely for it Oh sayd he thou sufferest no mā to reproue the also thou wilt not heare hym speake he neuer so kyndely vnto the neyther arte thou willinge to go to the worde of God or preachynge and also thou louest not to heare hym reade at home whiche is a signe of an vngodly conuersation chydest with hym euermore before men bringest not vp thy children in the feare and correction of God angrest thy selfe vnreasonably by and withoute a cause disagreest with thy neyghboures Shoulde not thys greue thy good husbande I beleue or a trueth that thou doest greue hym sore with it Serapia Vvhat care I for that Although I am frowarde seynge many spiteful tonges do reporte it by me so that I am no hoore as some be Also I knowe very well that my husbande euery where maketh hys reportes of me what shulde I do to hym shoulde I call hym gracious Lorde I woulde rather se hym hanged Wel wel I wil one daye begynne a matter with hym that he shall not thinke Iustina God forbidde let not suche euill thoughtes entre into thy herte but I perceyue that as Christe saith of the aboundaunce of the herte the mouth speaketh Mat xij nowe do thy frutes breake forth nowe arte thou lyke vnto vnblusshed lymestone whiche whan colde water is poured vpō it bloweth breaketh smoketh and burneth vnnaturally euen so doest thou also I haue somwhat gentily admonysshed and frendly reproued the howe be it I thought thou wouldest haue taken it for none euill of me but thou vsest vngracious wordes cursest thy good husbande whome by reason thou oughtest to kepe in honour be obedient vnto him as vnto the lorde and also be not thy husbandes maister as Paule teacheth but be styll shoulde not suche vngracious yea I will saye also vngodly wordes greue thy good man and prouoke hym to anger Oh be ashamed I heare no mā that speaketh euill by thy husbande but that he is good and honeste gentyll courteous lyueth charitably with al mē without any contention or debate glad to heare and to reade the worde of God and to further the same and that the people are very fauourable and louinge towardes hym Serapia I knowe that well ynough that the folles loue hym and specially some wyues loue hym very wel thou nedest not to tel me thereof but yf I may come ones to the ryght grounde of the matter thou shalt se what I wyl do also I passe not for his goynge to churche hearynge of sermons or readynge the more he goeth to Churche or readeth the lesse I haue sence Luther the newe preachinge the hereticall bokes and readyng came vp haue I almost loste all that I had and I thinke I shall neuer haue lucke with hym as longe as he lyueth woulde god that the deuill woulde shortely ridde hym out of the waye Iustina By thy frutes it is knowen what maner of tree thou arte o doest thou not truste thy husbande standest in feare of him for other good women god saue me I take pitye vpon the that thou arte such a wilde and stubborne woman what wilt thou shewe thy selfe of a trueth I woulde not haue beleued it if any man had tolde it me but thou comest forth thy selfe with suche vnmanerly communication before me whereof by reason thou shouldest refrayne thy selfe what doest thou then before other folkes Oh nay deare syster do not so knowest thou not that euery mā is hys wyues heade Ephe. v i. Co. xi i. Pet. iij and we wyues ought to be obedient and subiect vnto our husbandes in all thynges euen as also God hath geuen vnto the man in Paradise the rule ouer the woman whereas he saieth Gen. iij Thou shalt bowe before thy husbande and he shall haue the rule of the. This is the cause also as Paule sayth that we go attyred and haue a power vpō our heades i. Cor. ij whereby we shoulde remembre that we must lyue vnder the power and subiection of the man And therfore must I nowe for as much as my louynge husband of blessed memory is dead lette hange my power or vayle downewardes from my heade whereby is signifyed that I am a wydowe hauynge no power or husbande that nowe hath rule of me Thou sayest also that thou doest
had made and beholde it was exceding good Amonge these shapen thynges which were all excedynge good is also wedlocke The celebate lyfe is not amonge them but the Deuyll hath inuented it yf mē wyl holde it for a goddes seruyce and compel the people thereto as the Pope doth The other cause is that god hath not onely instituted matrimonye God hath specially blessed matrimony But also he hath geuen his blessyng therevnto The same blessing standeth not onely barely in that that god geueth childrē for there be also children borne oute of wedlocke But the god hath a delyte and pleasure in the ryght children in the hole confederation geueth grace that they be well brought vp well nourysshed and preserued Therfore setteth the Cxxviij Psalm Cxxviij psal me also this among the blesssynges of the godfearynge people which lyue in wedlocke That they eate of the labours of their handes and shall se theyr childers children That is godfearynge people lyuinge in wedlocke shal haue this blessynge to theyr sustentation and children that they shal remayne and prospere Contrary to the whiche in the Celibate lyfe money and goodes vanyshe and waste awaye and all maner of calamitie foloweth Thys shoulde also by reason moue vs that we myght gette lust and loue towardes thys state Vvherfore there is many tymes in wedloc littel prosperite and helth seynge we fynde therein not onely the wyl of god but also al maner of blessynges And there must nedes be smal felicitie health loked for amonge those that despyse suche conforte and promyse of God and preferre theyr fre and wylful lyfe It is also to be feared leste the wrath of God myght be so kyndled agaynste those that do long continue in suche despisynge that although thei should at the last geue them selues to the state of matrimony they shoulde neyther haue prosperite nor helth Euen as it cometh to passe oftentymes that men through vngratiousnes and other vnhappynes in youth without wedlocke deserue cause that they haue but fewe good daies in wedlocke and that bothe the woman and the children fare amisse for as it is mentioned before God wil execute suche iudgement vpon the state of Matrimony that all they shall be punysshed that lyue in vnclenlynes and geue occasion of offence Therfore shal the yong people prepare thē selues by tymes towardes it and kepe themselues in the feare of God and in clenlynes To thintent that thei themselues do not hynder kepe backe the blessyng which God hath ioygned with matrimony The greatest sainetes that euer lyued fewe excepte were waryed The thyrde cause that wedlocke is to be had in honour is this that in thys state for the moost parte the greatest sainctes haue ended theyr lyues as the hole old and newe testament withnesseth But yf thou wilt knowe why they haue all lyued in wedlocke I can shewe thy no better nor surer reason thā that all Godly men haue alwayes ordered and kepte themselues after the wyll and worde of god And for as moche as god hymselfe hath instituted and commaunded Matrimony So haue they as obedyent Persons which had nede of suche ordinaunce of god geuen thēselues willingly and gladly into the state of matrimony for gods and their nedes sake Not regardyng that the worlde and the common people loued more the fre and wilfull lyfe Nowe this is not a smal reioysynge that whosoeuer is coupled in wedlocke may say with a fre and bolde conscience that he is euē in the same state wherin the Patriarkes Prophetes the holy Apostles and other sainctes most commonly haue lyued whereas contrarywyse the celibate lyfe was fyrst begonne of certayne heretykes because they would make them selues thereby a sundry pretense and colour of holynes The pope a father of al hipocrisye And was afterwarde confirmed of the Pope as of the Archefather of all hypocrisye and boasted for an holy lyfe He that wil be a Christian and can not lyue chaste oughte to marye For as concernyng Iohn the Baptiste and other suche lyke which for the kyngdome of heauens sake as Christe doth call it dyd abstracte thēselues from wedlocke it hath a sundry meanyng We speake here in generall of all them that wyll be Christians and can not lyue chaste out of wedlocke Vnto those it is very confortable that they se before thē examples of so many greate saynctes which haue all lyued in wedlocke and haue gone before vs in this holy ordre Truely this is a great prayse to wedlocke for who woulde not rather be found among suche a companye of holy men in lyke lyfe estate and conuersatiō with them then by the Pope and hys hole flocke whiche in thys in other affayres lyue so manifestly agaynst Goddes cōmaundement and the examples of hys saynctes The fourth occasyon wherfore wedlocke is to be had in honour and reuerence and not in contempte is this That without wedlocke To lyue withoute wedlocke escapeth not without synne we can not well lyue withoute synne and in a good Conscience for thus sayth Christe wheras he speaketh of them that lyue withoute wedlocke mat xix i. cor vij Al men can not cōprehende thys sayenge And saint Paule commaundeth To auoyde fornication let euery man haue hys wyfe For through the original synne is the nature of man weakened and destroyed in such wyse that very fewe mē out of wedlocke cā lyue in a good conscience Seing then that matrimony is a remedy whiche god himself thereto hath shapen and ordeyned according as his worde declareth that we stande in a good conscience and maye lyue chast Vvho wil be so rude vndiscrete that he wil repute this estate vnholy as the Pope doth But as it is aboue specifyed he hath receyued hys rewarde And to thintent that euery man should esteme the papistes for holy menne thei haue forsworne Matrimony and fal thereby into the greatest synne and shame in so moche that of their abhominable lyuynge the hole worlde doth syng and saye Thei are well serued why do they so frowardly despise the creation and ordinaūce of god And we must also for this cause haue wedlocke in honour and in hygh reputacyō and thanke god highly for thys meane whiche serueth vs for thys ende that we pollute not ourselues through horedome and suche other vnclenlynes and so fal into the fearfull Iudgement of God whereof we shal entreate more hereafter Vvedlocke is ful of good workes The fyrste and laste cause is thys That wedlocke also therfore is to be had in honour because it is suche a lyfe which yf it be kept accordingly is thoroughout full of good workes for euen the loue which is betwene man and wyfe is one of the speciall good workes whiche God hath commaunded and left remaynynge in nature and helpeth with hys holy Goost that we do perfourme them a ryght fainte not in thē Therfore exhorteth also the holy Saynt Paule to suche loue whereas he sayth