The plea of the poore. Or A treatise of benificence and almes-deeds teaching how these Christian duties are rightly to be performed, and perswading to the frequent doing of them. Necessary for these times, wherein the workes of mercy are so much neglected, or so vndiscreetly practized. Published by Iohn Downame Bachelour in Diuinitie.

Sect. 15. The conclusiō of the former point.

Let this then be the conclusion of this point, that the chiefe authoritie ouer the person of the wife and their common estate is in the husband, and that the wife hath also communion with him in all he hath both in respect of proprietie and vse taking it in the largest signification for all im∣ployments which may bring good either to her soule or body; the which both of them are bound to further in one another by all good meanes, it being the most excellent and common dutie of marriage to aduance their mutuall good. And therefore the good woman of whom wee reade. 2. King. 4. 10. ioyneth both these together, * 1.1 and maketh suite vnto her husband in behalfe of the Prophet, to acknowledge his superior autho∣ritie; but yet attributeth a part of the action to be done vnto her selfe, seeing it was to bee perfor∣med by those goods, in which she had commu∣nion with him; and this is the cause why shee saith not, I will make him a chamber, to infringe her husbands authoritie, nor doe you make him a cham∣ber, to impaire her owne right, but, let vs I pray thee make him a chamber. Neither let any man here

say, that this maketh against mee, because shee would not doe it of her selfe without her hus∣bands consent; seeing no man euer dreamed that the wife should take vpon her so to doe, if shee can possibly by any good meanes obtaine her husbands allowance.

Notes

• * 1.1

  2. King. 4. 10.