438 SERMONS UPON EPHESIANS V. [SeB. XXVII.
XI. 3, ' I would have you know that the head of every man is Christ, and tlie head of the woman is the man, and the head of Christ is God ; ' that is to say, Christ in respect of his office of mediator, is under God, but above all men ; so the man being under Christ, is above all women. Well, then, as we should be obedient unto Christ willingly, heartily, and sincerely, so must the woman be obedient to her husband, who is an emblem of his superiority and power.
[2.] It may import the enforcement, the reason and motive of this iluty, because Christ hath commanded it ; and by virtue of the law of Christ all wives must be subject to their husbands ; which doth not disannul, but confirm God's institution, for his precepts are not priva- tive, but accumulative. It is good to see how this duty hath been enforced, first as natural, then as penal, lastly, as comfortable. First, as natural, by the law of nature : 1 Cor. xiv. 34, ' The women are to be in obedience, as also saitli the law.' Where, besides God's positive precept, the apostle urgeth the law of nature, ' they ought,' ' as also saith the law.' Secondly, it hath been urged as penal : Gen. iii. 16, when the woman had sinned, ' Thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee.' If there be anything grievous in it, it was introduced by sin. Therefore if this subjection be not so free as before the fall, but joined with sorrow and difficulty, they must remember what occasioned it. Then, lastl}^ it is urged as comfortable, as required by the law of Christ, and resembling the communion between Christ and the church ; for so it is spoken of everywhere in this chapter. Well, then, the woman is first to subject herself to Christ, and in love to him to subject herself to her husband.
[3] ' As unto the Lord ' implieth a limitation ; this subjection must be in all things which belong to the lawful authority and superiority of the husband ; for so it seemeth to be expressed, Col. iii. 18, ' Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord.' Alt fitting obedience must be yielded to him, so far as Christ hath given the husband power over the wife.
[4.] It importeth Christ's acceptance of this duty. He interpreteth this subjection and obedience as given to himself, and the contrary as rebellion against himself; for it is service done to Christ : which may give the woman comfort against all unkindnesses, and unthankful returns from her husband. She is obedient, but the husband frownrd ; but Christ will recompense this dutiful submission, though the husband do not.
Doct. That wives must reckon it their unquestionable duty to be subject to their husbands.
Let me show you — (1.) Wherein this subjection consisteth ; (2.) The reasons and grounds of it.
I, Wherein it consisteth. To speak briefly of it, this subjection lieth in two things — in reverence and obedience.
1. In reverence, which is both inward and outward.
[1.] The inward, in a due esteem of the husband, which is the ground of all love and submission. So it is said, Eph. v. 33, ' Let the woman reverence her husband.' If for nothing else, yet in a humble acknowledgment of his right by God's ordinance ; for esteem is not only due to personal qualifications, but to the eminent dignity wherein
Ver. 22.] ser:\ions upon ephesians v. 439
God hath placed any creature with whom we have commerco ; and if we cannot acknowledge them for any worth in them, yet we must ac- knowledge God in them, who hath put his image of superiority upon them, that we may the better discharge our duties to them.
[2.] Outward reverence is both in word and deed. First, in word, by a reverent speaking of them and to them ; for the Holy Ghost taketh notice of this : 1 Peter iii. 6, ' Even as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord.' Sarah testifieth her obedience and dutiful carriage to her husband by her respectful language to him and of him. The Lord taketh notice of the least act of sincere obedience to his commands, even when it is mixed with many sinful failings. The whole passage from whence this is taken savoured of unbelief: Gen. xviii. 12, 'After I am waxed old, shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also ? ' There is nothing commendable but that one word which expresseth her reverence of her husband, and yet she is commended as one of the holy women trusting in God ; and from thence the apostle inferreth how much women should give reverence to their wicked and infidel husbands, for that is the case in hand. Secondly, in deed ; their behaviour towards them should be far from all irreverence and con- tempt ; as it is taken notice of as a wicked practice in Michal, that her husband was despised in her eyes when he testified his religious joy by, dancing before the ark ; and therefore God smote her with barren- ness till the day of her death, 2 Sam. vi. 20, with 23. She upbraids him, and mocketh him : ' How glorious was the king of Israel to-day ! ' as if he had behaved himself not like a king, but one of the rascal multitude. Mark, it is said in the 16th verse that first 'she despised him in her heart,' and then taunts at him, and uttereth her contempt by scornful and proud upbraiding. When their love is stabbed at the heart, the outward carriage will not be dutiful, but contemptuous and scornful. But doth God pass by this breach of matrimonial duty ? No ; she procured from God a sore punishment ; she continued barren to the day of her death, and her crime is registered with the black coal of infamy to all posterity.