[46] Tertul. de Habit. Mulieb. & de Cultu Fœm. tom. 2. S. Cyprian de Diſcipl. & Hab. Virg. to. 2. Greg. Naz. aduerſ. mulier: Ambitiosè ſe ornantes. to. 2. S. Ephræm aduerſ. improbas mulieres tom. 1. if his workes. Riuet. l. 3. c. 21.
[47] 2 King. 9. 20, 30, 34. Eſ. 3. 16, &c. & 32. 9, 10, 11. 1 Pet. 3. 3, 4. Matth. 5. 36. & 6. 27. Eccleſ. 25. 13, 19.
A womā fearing the Lord.
But on the other ſide what perſonall ſufficiency, what ſingular duty is there requiſite in a Woman, either in reſpect of God, or of her huſband, children, kindred, ſeruants, place, and of Gods people, which the life of Grace, the Grace of the Feare of the Lord doth not animate, aduance, and accompliſh? This godly Feare ennobleth Nobilitie, beautifieth Beautie, enricheth wealth, teacheth wit, wiſdome. She that hath this Feare, dare not for her heart, but be loath to offend her huſband, and deny her inferiority[55], but be an example of godlineſſe to her children[56], prouide things neceſſary for her ſeruants[57] both in health and in ſickneſſe; loue her naturall and legall[58] kindred, eſteeme her equals aboue her ſelfe[59], countenance and relieue her inferiours[60], maintaine the dignitie of her place by all ſuch vertues as may diſcharge the[61] ſame; winne the affections of Gods people, to her more and more, by the offices[62] of courteſies, ſalutations, gifts, viſitations, inuitations and of helpfulneſſe; yea ſhe that feares God, dare not for her heart but Honour them that feare God, Pſal. 15. 4. but keepe her ſet taskes[63] of hearing, reading, faſting, praying, meditating, moderating paſſionate diſtempers, and of all other gracious exerciſes, of Selfe-deniall[64]; ſo that there is not any knowne[65] ſinne which ſhe nouriſheth, alloweth, or goeth on in, but quaketh and trembleth at the very firſt thoughts, yea motions and inclinations thereunto, as being in the ſight[66] of an inuiſible God, vnder the perpetuall preſence of his All-ſeeing glorious pure eye, which ſhee will not prouoke to anger by any ſinne, for all the gold that euer the Sunne made, or ſhall make while it ſtands in Heauen[67].
FOOTNOTES:
[48] Eccleſ. 23. 26. Prou. 10. 7.
[49] Eccleſ. 26. 25.
[50] Eccleſ. 7. 26
[51] Prou. 12. 4.
[52] Eccleſ. 26. 21.