2. If the husband, by being the head of the wife, bear Christ's image, then this image must not be defaced nor despised.
[1.] Not be defaced by the husband by impertinent commands. If they would have that submission and respect from inferiors, they must carry their government prudently and lovingly. Then it is most a similitude of Christ's authority over the church ; Christ doth not bur- den his church with needless laws.
[2.] Not despised by the woman. All superiors have a piece of the image of Christ put upon them, therefore they must not be contemned by their inferiors, lest thereby they despise and contemn the image of God. If Jacob could say, Gen. xxxiii. 10, ' I have seen thy face, as though I had seen the face of God, and thou wast pleased with me ; ' he saw God in his kindness and reconciliation ; so here.
Secondly, The wife's subjection, ' As the church is subject to Christ.* Where observe the manner — (1.) Negatively, not merely for their own ease, peace, and credit, but in conscience of and respect to that dignity God hath put on her husband. He hath placed him above her. (2 ) Positively.
1. It is a righteous subjection, not a slavish, but so as that her authority may be kept up over her children and servants.
2. It must be a willing subjection, not grudging ; either obeying the harder commands, or avoiding them with humility and reverence.
3. It is a dutiful subjection, for so is the church to Christ out of gratitude, and this in a sweet loving way.
Now, for motives to stir you up to this duty, consider — (1.) It is necessary; the same obligation which is upon the church to obey
468 SERMONS UPON EPHESIANS V. [SeR. XXX.
Christ lieth upon the woman to obey her husband. (2.) It is profit- able ; as for the church to be subject to Christ, so for wives to be subject to their husbands.
SERMON XXX.
Husbands, love your loives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it. — Eph. v. 25.
In all exhortations the balances must be kept equal, that we may not too much depress one party and extol and lift up the other. Tliere- fore in one scale the apostle puts the duty of the wife, in the other the duty of the husband. We are very inquisitive what others should be and do to us, but overlook what we ourselves should be and do to others. The apostle is more just and equal. The inferiority of the ■wife to the husband must not be so pressed and urged as if the man were under no relation to her, and owed her no duty and respect. No ; religion provideth a recompense, that there may be an equality, and establishes the duty of the husband to the wife, as well as the duty of the wife to the husband, as a compensation of her submission. There is on his part required love : ' Husbands, love j-our wives,' &c. In the words we have —
1. A precept, ' Husbands, love your wives.' As the woman is bound to obedience, so the man to love.
2. The reason, taken from Christ's example, 'Even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it.' Where take notice of two things —
1.] The inward affection, he ' loved the church.' 2.J The outward effect and demonstration of it, he ' gave himself for it.'
The text will give us occasion to speak of two things — (1.) The love of the husband to the wife.
(2.) The love of Christ to the church. For the first, let us fix this point —
Doct. That husbands must love their wives with a sincere and tender love.
1. Let us state this love which is due from the husband to the wife.
2. See by what reasons it may be enforced.
I. In stating and defining this love, I will take notice — (1.) Of the general nature of it ; (2.) The degree ; (3.) The effects.
First, The general nature of love is the delectation and complacency of the heart in the party loved, from whence followeth a desire of their good, and a seeking and promoting of it to the uttermost of our power. So the husband must love the wife, that his heart may cleave to her, and take delight in her ; as it is said, Gen. xxxiv. 19, ' The young man had a delight in Jacob's daughter.' Then when the heart
VeR. 25.] SERBIONS UrON EPHESIAKS Y. 469
is thus inclined, tbeir good is desired ; and not only so, but there is an endeavour to the uttermost to procure it and bring it about ; this is love, for love is seen by labour : Heb, vi. 10, ' God is not unrighteous to forget your labour of love.' This love must be operative, as Christ loved the church ; not in word, but in deed ; and therefore love must incline them to do all the good they can, both in soul and body. They must be as careful for their good, as Christ was of his church's benefit.
Secondly, The degree.
1. There is a common love which belongeth to believers of either sex, as brothers and sisters in Christ : John xiii. 34, * A new com- mandment give I unto you, that ye love one another ; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.' That love hath the same pattern, but differeth from this ; for this is a special conjugal love, such as no other may share in. One ingredient in this love is our communion in the same faith, as they are all one in Christ whether male or female, Gal. iii. 28. Though Christianity doth not abolish those distinctions which are between master and servant, and the distinction of the one sex above the other, yet they all have the same communion in the merits and grace of Christ. They make up one mystical spiritual body, whereof Christ is the head and husband, as being heirs of the same grace of life, 1 Peter iii. 7. Because of their equality in partak- ing in spiritual and eternal privileges, the wife is no less dear to God than themselves are. But this is another kind of love, because of their marriage covenant and bond, whereby they bind themselves to love one another with such a love that none else may share in it : Hosea iii. 3, ' Thou shalt not be for another man, so also will I be for thee.'