neth her arms 7. | h She uſeth great Diligence and Expedition in her Employment ; for which ead, Men in thoſe times ui'd to gird up their long and looſe Garments about theirLoins.i Putteth forth her utmoit ſtrentgh in her buſineſs, : | "eb. ſhe 18 She perceiveth that her merchandiſe 3s good & : uh. her candle goeth not out by night /.
Wo XXX PROY ERSS © Chap. XXX1-F
| her ſelf,or the nature of the thing require ſharpand ſevereExpreſii- ; ONS.
k She finds great Comfort and good Succeſs in her Labours. 1 |
Which is not to be taken ſtri&ly, but only ſignfies her unwearied Care & Induſtry,,which is oft expreſſed by labouring day and night, or continuallye .
19 She layeth her hands to the ſpindle , and her hands hold the diſtaff, |
-m By herown Example ſe provoketh her Servants to Labour. And although in theſe later and more delicate and luxurious rimes, ſoch mean Employments are grown out of faſhion among great Perſons, yer tey were not ſo in former Ages, ne:ther in other Countiies.nor -n this Land ; whence all Women unmarried are to this day cailed in the Language of our Law, Spinſters.
Feb. ſhe 20 + She fſtretcheth out her hand to the poor » ; yea,
fuith. ſhe reacheth forth her hands to the needy. | ; » To relieve their Necſſities. Her Deſigns are generous and no- ble 3 far the labours not only to-ſupply her own and her Houfſhold Necefliti-s, or ſupport her own ſtate. much leſs to feed her Pride and Luxury, but that ſhe may have wherewith to ſupply the wants of others who crave or need her Aſſiſtance. - Which alſo procures Gods blefſſiag upon her Husband,and Children, and whole Family, to whom, by this means, ſhe brings both Honour and Advantage | 21 She is not afraid ofthe ſnow o for her houſhold : [0r, do; for all her houſhold are cloathed with || ſcarlet p, _ « Or of any Injuries of the weather. p She hath provided enough, WW, notonly for their neceſliry and defence againſt Cold and other in- conven:ences, which is-here ſuppoſ:d, but alſo for their Delight and Ornament 3 ſo that not only her ſelf. and Husband, and Children, but ſome of the better rank of her Servants, wear Scarlet ; which was more cheap and familiar in thoſe Times and Countries than now it is wich us. Or, as it is rendred in our Margent, and
by divers oth2rs, are cloathed with double Garments, which is neceſſary |
and cuſtomary in cold Seaſons. ; 22 She maketh her ſelf coverings of tapeſtry q, her cloathing is filk and purple r.
q For the Furniture of her houſe. e Which was very agreeable to:
her high Qualiry 3 though it doth nor juſtifie the Luxury in Attire which 1s now uſual among perſons of far Idwer ranks both forWealth and Dignity» : ; 0M
22 Her husband is known s in the gates, when he ſitteth among the elders of the land 2.
s Obſerved and reſpeted, not only for his own worth,but for his wif's ſake ; notonly for thoſe rich Ornaments which by her care and diligence ſhe provides for him, which others of his Brethren, by reaſon of their wives Sloth or Luxury, are not able to procure, but alſo for his wiſdom in chuſing, and bis Happineſs in enjoying' ſo excellent a wife, by whoſe prudent care, in the management of his domeſtick concerns, he hath perfe& freedome wholly to attend upon publick affairs. # In Counſel or Judgment. | ' 24 She maketh ſine linnen, and felleth i#, and de- livereth girdles « unto the merchants.
u Curiouſly wrought of Linnen and Gold,or other precious Ma- terials, Fer 30; 1: Dan; 10: 5: which in thoſe parts were uſed both by men, > Sam: 20: 8: and by women, 1/a. 3: 244 Cant: 7; 1:
25 Strength x and honour y @re her cloathing z,
Cafion offereth it ſelf. c Her ſpeeches are not froward and provoking,
where. For Sitting being commonly the poſture of idleneſs, ten
(
i
and ſhe ſhal rejoyce Þ in time to come 7. f Heb. is x Not ſtrength of Boy, which is no ornament of that Sex, ſave the 2a00e8 only as ſhe preſerves her Health and Strength by Sobriety and Exer- 2): .. n ciſe, which other women waſte by Intemperance and ſdleneſs ; but Gr. 55 250 firength of Mind, Magnanimity, Courage, Reſolution, Aivity. 197.79* s Either 11 Her prudent, and pious. and amiable behaviour, in 2Tim: 3: which true Honour principally conſiſts. Or 2. That good Name
and honourable Eſteem which ſhe hath gained amongſt all that know
her by her virtuous Diſpoſirion and Carriage, z Theſe,and not her
rich Garments mentioned before,are her great Ornament and Glory.
a The ſenſe is, either 1. In her old Age ſhe reaps the Comfort and
Benefit of her youthfull Labours.Or rather 2 She lives in conſtant tranquility of mind and a confident and chearful expeQation of all
future events,how calamitous ſoever; partly becauſe ſhe had laid in, proviſions for a rainy daygand chiefly,becauſe ſhe haththe comfort«
able remembrance of a wellſpent Life,and which follows thereupon,
a juſt confidence in Gods gracious Providence and promiſes madeto ſuch perſons.
26 She openeth her mouth with wiſdom b, and in her tongue ss the law of kindneſs c. |
b She is neither ſullenly filenr, nor full of vain and impertinent talk, as many Women are, bur ſpeaks diſcreetly and picuſly as oc*
as thoſe of foo'ith Women frequently are, but moſt oblidging and
ordinate Lutts and Paſſions. And this praftiſe is called # law in her tongue, becauſe it is conſtant and cuſtomary, and proceeds from an inward and powerful Principal of true Wiſdom, which in a manner neceſixates and conſtrains her to diſcourſe like her ſelf,ſo that in a moral ſenſe ſhe cannot ſpeak otherwiſe, unleſs ſhe offer violence to
27 She looketh well to the ways of her houſhold d, and eateth not the bread of idleneſs e.
4 She OO obſerveth rhe management and progreſs of her domeſtick buſineſs, and the whole Carriages and Converſations o her Children and Servants. Whereby alſo he intimates thar ſke ſpends not her time in gadding abroad to other Houſes and idle Diſcourſes about the Concerns of other Perſons, as the manner of many women 1s, but is wholly intent upon her own houſe and proper buſineſss e That which is got by Idleneſs, or withont Labour. 7
28 Her children fariſe up g, and call her bleſſed bz
her husband alſo, and he praiſeth her. | *