Now, let us suppose a husband to act on this prin- ciple : let us suppose him ready to exercise self- denial, to the utmost possible extent, for the good of his wife : let us suppose him so to pant after her happiness, as to be willing to do any thing, or suffer any thing, in order to promote it : let us suppose him never to propose any thing to her, but for her good ; and never, in any instance, to thwart her, but with a view to her truest happiness : methinks she would never complain of the extent of her duty to him ; it would be all easy, all delightful. Let it be remem- bered, then, that this is the husband's duty to his wife. But as, in the former case, I confined myself to the very words of Scripture, so will I do in this ; lest I appear to over-state the duty on the husband's part. " Husbands, love your wives ; even as Christ also loved the Church, and gave himself for it, that he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, that he might present it to himself a glorious Church, not having spot or wrinkle, or any such thing, but that it should be holy, and without blemish." Let there be such tender, affectionate, self-denying exertions on the husband's part, to pro- mote the welfare and happiness of his wife ; and what returns will not she readily make to him ? Verily, submission to his will, will be not so much her duty as her delight.
As for the other comparison contained in this pas- sage, namely, of the man loving his wife as his own flesh, I forbear to make any observations upon it, wishing to detain you as short a time as possible.
There is one thing only that I will add, which will be applicable to us all. Hitherto I have dwelt chiefly on those points which the occasion has suggested : but let us not forget, that the whole Church of Christ is his bride ; and that the duty of a wife towards her husband, as set forth in this passage, may serve to shew us, in some measure, our duty towards our heavenly Lord. Does a wife leave her father and mother, and cleave to her husband ? so must we forsake all that is dear to us in this world, to cleave