Fifth Commandment. 1 53 her conftant and daily lmployment) if fhe e2nnot bring in, and get any thing to increafe the Stock, yet fuc ought prudently and frugally to manage what her Husband intrufts her withal, and not to Wafte it vainly and profufely; for let her know that what!Oever is fo fpent or waffed is but ftoUen; and if file Ihall alienate any thing from her Husb1nd contrary to his confent, either exprefiy declared, or elfe up~ on good grounds fuppofed to be tacitely granted and allowed, it is no better than Theft. And therefore when we Read that Abigail, without the confent of her Husband, took a confiderable Prefent to beftow upon David to divert his ircfulln~ tentions; it may very well be fuppofed that if Nabal had known as well as lhe, the·Danger wh~rein he ftood, be would have been as forward to encourage her to do it, as fue was ready and willing. And therefore here were good grounds to' fuppofe a tacite and implicitc Confent unto ths; Action. The Husband is the true and only Proprietor of all: And though the Wife hath a Right to all, yet it is on11 a Right of Ufe, and not of Dominion; Jhe ought not to difpofe of his E.ftate, or· any part of it, contrary to his Mind. and Confent ;_ her proper Offi:e is providently and faithfully .to manage the Affairs of the Fanllly that arc committed to her Over· fight and Care: And therefore in the Defcription of a good Wife given us at large, Pro"V. 31. from verfe 10, to the end, we find the whole of it taken up in fhewi ng her lndufhy and Care in ordering the Affairs of the Family. Fourth!)', Auother Duty of the Wife is Modefty, aud that both in Apparel and 4· Behaviour. r/f. In Apparel; that it be according to her Place and Rank. not Affecting GJ.udi nefs or ftrange Fafhions, nor yet affeding on the contrary a Singularity of ObfoJetenefs and outworn Antiquity ; for Pride may be equally fhewn either way: The beft Temper is for them not to wear Garments to be taken notice of. The Apoftlc gives them this Rule; 1 Per. 3. 3, 4· Let not the Wom4n's Adorning be the outward adorning of Plaiting the H 11. ir, and of wea1ing of Gold, or of putting on of .Apparel: But let it be the hidden Man of the Heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the Ornament of a mtek and quiet Spi1it, which in the [ght of God is of great Prh·c. And fa St. Paul, I Tim. 2. 9, 1 o. I will that Women adorn themfelves with modeft .Apparel, 1vith Shamefacednefs and Sobriety; not with broidered Hair, or Gold, or Pearls, or cojlly Array; but (which becomes Women profeffing Godlinefl) with good Works. · This indeed is the beft Ornament, that which makes them lovely in the Sight of God, and that too which makes them efteemed by all foher and ferious Perfons. Indeed I do not think that coftly Array is in either of thefc places ablolutely forbidden: Doubtlcfs, Gold and Jewels may lawfully be worn) if we keep our felves within our Rank and Qpality, and faihion our felves to thofe who are moft fober in that rank, rather than to thofe who are moft light and vain : But the Prohibition is to be interpreted either by the De... gree, ;. e. be not exceffive nor vain in your Apparel, which happens when the Habit ex~eeds either the Quality or the Ability of thofe that wear it; or elfe it is to be incerpreted by a Comparifon, let not the adorning be the outward adorning of wearing of Gold, or putting on of Apparel ; that is, Itudy not fa much how to fetoff your felves in your Garments, as how to adorn your [elves with a meek and quiet Spirit, with Sobriety, Modelly, and good Works, which is the Rkheft and moft Beautiful Robe you can wear. 2dly. As lhemuft be modeft in her Apparel, fo in her Behaviour and Deportment; her Countenance} Gefture, and Speeches, muft be all fitted to Ihew the inward Calmnefsand Serenity of her Mind; and therefore imperious, clamorous, and turbulent '#omen, who at every Wordfpit Paffion and Poifon, ·are a Torment and Vexation to thcmfelves, and more to their Husbands: 7he Contentions of a Wife, faith the wife Man, are a continual droppjng, Prov. 19} 13. And it is fuch a dropping, as will ·at laft eat and fret through his very Heart, though it were made of Stone. Thefe therefore arc the Duties of the Wife. There arc likcwife common Duties to be performed by both mutually : I fl1all only name them to you. Such are fervent Prayers to God both feverally and together, that h~ would be I;>leafed to pour down his Bleffings, and his Graces upon then:', and gtve them W1fdom to demean themfelves, towards each other adght: ConJugal Love, Communion of themfelves, of their Eftates, of their Habitations a mutual bearinE one ~mothers Weaknefs, with prudent and pious lndeavours t~ heal a~d remove them; the Nurture and Education of Children, the Government of thelr Fa(llily committed to their charge, for whom they are to provide not on.- Sf ~
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