comb, fweet to the Soul, and Health to the Bones. Ecclef. xli. 12, 13. Have Regard to thy Name, for that fhall continue with thee above a thousand great Treafures of Gold. A good Life hath but a few Days; but a good Name endureth for ever. In all thy Works, ftrive to be free from Blame, Texts which express the Satisfaction and Happiness of him who enjoys a good Wife. Ecclefiafticus xxvi. 1, 2, 3. Blessed is the Man that hath a virtuous Wife; for the Number of his Days fhall be double. A virtuous Woman rejoiceth her Hufband, and he fhall fulfil the Years of his Life in Peace. A good Wife is a good Portion, which fhall be given in the Portion of them that fear the Lord. A filent, and loving Woman is a Gift of the Lord; and there is nothing fo much worth as a Mind well inftructed. A fhamefac'd and faithful Woman is a double Grace, and her continent Mind cannot be valued. Prov. xii. 4. A virtuous Woman is a Crown to her Hufband; but fhe that maketh ashamed is as Rottennefs in his Bones. Ecclef. xl. 19. Children and the building of a City continue a Man's Name, but a blameless Wife is above them both. Prov. xviii. 22. Whofo findeth a Wife, findeth a good Thing, and obtaineth Favour of the Lord. Pro. xix. 14. House and Riches are the Inheritance of the Fathers: and a prudent Wife is from the Lord. Pfal. cxxviii. 3. Thy Wife fhall be as the fruitful Vine by the Sides of thine House, thy Children like Olive Plants, round about thy Table. Prov. xxxi. to. Who can find a virtuous Woman, for her Price is far above Rubies? The Heart of her Husband doth fafely truft in her, fo that he shall have no Need of Spoil. She will do him Good and not Evil all the Days of her Life. She feeketh Wool, and Flax, and worketh willingly with her Hands. She is like the Merchant Ship, the bringeth her Food from afar, fhe rifeth alfo while it is yet Night, and giveth Meat to her Houfhold, and a Portion to her Maidens. She confidereth a Field, and buyeth it, with the Fruit of her Hands fhe planteth a Vineyard. She girdeth her Loins with Strength, and ftrengtheneth her Arms. She perceiveth that her Merchandize is good, her Candle goeth not out by Night. She layeth her Hands to the Spindle, and her Hands hold the Distaff. She flretcheth out her Hand to the Poor: Yea, the reacheth forth her Hands to the Needy. She is not afraid of the Snow for her Houfhold, for all her Houfhold are cloathed with Scarlet. She maketh herself coverings of Tapestry, her cloathing is Silk and Purple. Her Husband is known in the Gates, when he fitteth among the Elders of the Land. She maketh fine Linen, and felleth it, and delivereth Girdles unto the Merchant. Strength and Honour are her cloathing, and the fhall rejoice in Time to come. She openeth her Mouth with Wifdom, and in her Tongue is the Law of Kindnefs. She looketh well to the Ways of her Houfhold, and eateth not the Bread of Idleness. Her Children arife up, and call her -Bleffed; her Husband also, and he praiseth her. Many Daughters have done virtuously, but thou excelleft excelleft them all. Favour is deceitful, and Beauty is vain; but a Woman that feareth the Lord, the fhall be praifed. Give her of the Fruit of her Hands, and let her own Works praise her in the Gates. Jey, Pleasure, and Content, doth every Hour, Encompass him, who in his pleafant Bower, Remains undisturb'd, and always free from Strife, By having a loving, kind, and virtuous Wife. A Hufband to his Wife. Pleafe kind Companion to augment our Bliss, Be thou to me a prudent loving Wife, A Wife to her Husband. Always may Peace and Pleasure fill your Mind, Beauty is fading, Virtue doth proclaim, } Texts Texts which shew the Disadvantages, and Inconveniencies of being concerned with a bad Wife. Roverbs xxi. 9, 19. It is better to dwell in a Corner of the Houfe-top, than with a brawling Woman in a wide Houfe. It is better to dwell in the Wilderness, than with a contentious, and an angry Woman. Prov. xxvii. 15. A continual dropping in a very rainy Day, and a contentious Woman are alike.. Ecclef. xxv. 16 to 26. I had rather dwell with a Lion, and a Dragon, than to keep Houfe with a wicked Woman; the Wickedness of a Woman changeth her Face, and darkeneth her Countenance like Sack-cloth. Her Hufband fhall fit among his Neighbours, and when he heareth it, fhall figh bitterly. All Wickedness is but little to the Wickedness of a Woman, let the Portion of a Sinner fall upon her. As the climbing of a fandy Way is to the Feet of the Aged, fo is a Wife full of Words to a quiet Man; ftumble not at the Beauty of a Woman, and defire her not for Pleasure: A Woman, if fhe maintain her Hufband, is full of Anger, Impudence, and much Reproach. A Wicked Woman abateth the Courage, maketh an heavy Countenance, and a wounded Heart. A Woman that will not Comfort her Husband in Distress, maketh weak Hands and feeble Knees. Of the Woman came the Beginning of Sin, and through her we all die. Ecclef. xxvii. 7, 8, 9. An evil Wife is a Yoke fhaken to and fro: He that hath hold of her, is as tho' he held a Scorpion. A Drunken Woman and a Gadder abroad, caufeth great Anger, and fhe will not cover her own Shame. A difhoneft Woman contemneth Shame, but an honest Woman will reverence reverence her Hufband. Ecclef. xlii. 12, 13. Behold not every Body's Beauty, and fit not in the midst of Women: For from Garments cometh a Moth, and from Women Wickedness. The Man who unto a bad Wife is join'd A Virtuous Wife is good: a bad one, nothing They are a Bleffing, or the greatest Curse. Texts which shew that Afflictions are sent to us for our good: And that we should' patiently fubmit to the Will of Almighty God. P SALM xciv. 12, 13. Bleffed is the Man whom thou chafteneft, O Lord, and teachest him in thy Law, that thou mayeft give him patience in the Time of Adverfity. Job v. 17, 18. Behold, happy is the Man whom God correcteth: Therefore defpife not thou the chaftening of the Almighty, for he maketh fore, and bindeth up; he woundeth, and his Hands make whole. Pfalm cxix. 67, 71. Before I was afflicted I went aftray, but now have I kept tby Word. It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy Statutes. I know, O Lord, that thy Judgments are juft: And that in Faithfulness, thou hath caufed me to be afflicted. Proverbs xxiv. 10. If thou faint in the Day of Adverfity, thy Strength is fmall. Job v. 6, 7. Altho' Affliction fpringeth not forth of the Duft, neither doth trouble spring out K of |