Qeflions,andCafes ofConffence Chap. z6 dilgraceth her, when he turnes her out ofthis office : which be ought not to do, unleffe the bath forfeitedher priviledge, by her unjnft and indiscreet abufing of ir. Thirdly, God the I nftituter of marriage, gave the wife to the husband, not to behis fervant, but his helper in all good things, Gen. 2. 18. therefore ifhe ne- rleet religious andcharitable duties, themuff not only perfwadc him to them, but if he Rill ne ledl, muff do them her felf for him, left the fin and punifhment lie not onlyupon him, but upon her, and the whole family. Zipporal., by perform- ing a duty which belonged nor to but to her husband, diverted Gods judge- ment from him, Exod. 4. 25. and Abigail Paved her husband and family by the like. Fourthly, if a wife may not do it without fpecial commitlion from her hus- band, thenwere the in no better a condition then the meaneft fervant : yea, her fervitude wouldbe far worfe, if the be reitrained from expreffiny, her cha- ritable aft cions herby : for the pooreft fervant may out of his wat.es give fomething : and the poor widow may cart in her mire, whereas the wife though the bath never fo much under her hand, may givenothing, or if the do, the {hall be accounted a thief, and robber of her husband. Fifthly, the Iati fentence cf everlafting happineffe, !hall be pronounced to the wife, as well as to the husband, for their alike doing of thefe worksof mer- cy, ciVlarth. 25. 34. therefore file, as well as he mutt feed Chrifi in his members, &c. Sixthly, we have the examples of holy women in Scripture, who are com- menced for it, as of Ab,gail, I Sain. 25. t8. of thofe i,odly women that mintfired to Chriff, Luke 8.3. and of that good woman, Pro. 31.20. Sevenrhly, the laff reafon may be taken from the cuflome ofour countrey, which ordinarily authorizeth them to do thefe works of mercy, . if their pow- er henot jelly refirained by their husbands for their abufing of ir. Ob. Ter this Doc`frine is ciangcrous,becaufe indifcreet women will abufe it, it may be to the undoing of theirivabands, and ruinof theiref/ates? Anfw. Itsbut acarnal reafen to think that evil will comeby the difcovery of a religious truth, or though they fhould, lec truth be maintained though the in- conveniences be never fo great. Tbough one abufe a fword, yet all mull not be difar med for that. Though the Got-pc! be to fome a favour ofdeath,yet mutt not Miniffers therefore forbear topreach it. Becaufe force women will abufe this Doelrine, yet they which are difcreet and vertuous, muff not therefore be kept . in ignorance of their duty, and have their confciences enfnared, and burdened with that which is not finful, yea, with that which is honeff and com- mendable. Many wives undo their husbands with their daintinefe in fare, curi- ofity in furnifhmg their bodes, and cofilineffe in theirapparel, but few in doing works of charity. (Left. TOwhom are almes to begiven ? Anf'e. Almes-deeds are tobe extendedonly to thepoor and needy, Dear. 15. I. I John 3. 17. Eph.4.28. 2Cor. 8.14. Luke 3. rr. Now thefe poor are of divers kindes, Chrift reckons up fix, Mat. 25.35. Hungry, thì.rfly,har- bourletTe, naked, lick, and poor prifoners. To which adde , the oppreffed and exiled, I(a. 58. 6,7. efpeciallie if they fuller for the confiant confetliion of the truth. Adde alto fuch as are indebted above their meanes, the lame, blind,apoed, decrepid, the poor Widowand difireffedOrphans, &c. ¡fa. 5S. 6i7. Nehem, 5. II. Lnl a 14.12. Jam./.27. Quell. What order are we to obferve ingiving aimes ? Anuo. Fill, they which are inexrream neceffity, and near perifhing, are fill to be relieved, be they acquaintanceor firangers : friends or foes, Mat. 5.42. Rom. 12, 23. Luke 6.30. yetif wecannot relieve all fuch, we arc CO prefer our kindred
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