posed to be love that peculiar conjugal love which makes them one, will infuse such sweetness into the authority of the husband and the obedience of the wife, as will make their lives harmonious, like the sound of a well-tuned instrument; whereas without that, having such a universal conjuncture of interest in all their affairs, they cannot escape frequent contests and discords, which is a sound more unpleasant than the jarring of untuned strings to an exact ear. And this should be considered in the choice, that it be not contracted only as a bargain of outward advantages, but as a union of hearts. And where this is not and there is something wanting in this point of affection, there, if the parties or either of them have any saving knowledge of God and access to him in prayer, they will be earnest suitors for his help in this, that his hand may set right what no other can; that he who is love itself may infuse that mutual love into their hearts now, which they should have sought sooner. And certainly they who want this and yet seek it not of him, what wonder is it if they find much bitterness and discontent? Yea, where they agree, if it be only in natural affection, their observance of the duties required is not by far either so comfortable and pleasing or so sure and lasting, as when it ariseth from a religious and Christian love in both, which will cover many failings and take things by the best side.

Love is the prime duty in both, the basis of all; but because the particular character of it as proper to the wife, is conjugal obedience and subjection, therefore that is usually specified, as here; and Eph. v, 12; Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. Now if it be such obedience as ought to arise from a special kind of love, then the wife should remember this, that it must not be constrained uncheerful obedience; and the husband should remember, that he ought not to require base and servile obedience; for both these are contrary to that love, whereof this obedience must carry the true tincture and relish, as flowing from it. There all will hold right, where love commands and love obeys.

This subjection, as all other, is qualified thus, that it

be in the Lord. His authority is primitive and binds first, and all others have their patents and privileges from him; therefore he is supremely and absolutely to be observed in all. If the husband would draw the wife to an irreligious course of life, he is not to be followed in this, but in all things indifferent this obedience must hold; which yet forbids not a modest advice and representation to the husband of that which is more convenient, but that done, a submissive yielding to the husband's will is the suiting of this rule. Yea, possibly the husband may not only imprudently, but unlawfully will that which, if not in its own nature a thing unlawful, the wife by reason of his will may obey lawfully, yea, could not lawfully disobey.

Now though this subjection was a fundamental law of pure nature, and came from that hand which made all things in perfect order, yet sin, which hath imbittered all human things with a curse, hath disrelished this subjection, and made it taste somewhat of a punishment, Gen. iii, 16, and that as a suitable punishment of the woman's abuse of the power she had with the man, to the drawing of him to disobedience against God.

The bitterness in this subjection arises from the corruption of nature in both: in the wife a perverse desire rather to command, or at least a repining discontent at the obligation to obey; and this is increased by the disorder, and imprudence, and harshness of husbands, in the use of their authority.

But in a Christian, the conscience of divine appointment will weigh down all difficulties; for the wife considers her station, that it is the rank the Lord's hand hath placed her in, and therefore she will not break it. From respect and love to him, she can digest much frowardness in a husband, and make that her patient subjection a sacrifice to God. Lord, I offer this to thee, and for thy sake I humbly bear it.

That if any obey not the word. This supposes a particular case and applies the rule to it, taking it for granted that a believing wife will cheerfully observe and respect a believing husband, but if he is an unbeliever, yet that unties not this engagement; yea, there is something

in this case which presses it and binds it the more, a singular good which probably may follow upon obeying such. By that good conversation, they may be gained, who believe not the word: not that they could be fully converted without the word, but having a prejudice against the word, that may be removed by the carriage of a believing wife, and they may be somewhat mollified, and prepared, and induced to hearken to religion, and take it into consideration.

This gives not Christians a warrant to draw on themselves this task and make themselves this work, by choosing to be joined to an unbeliever, either a profane or merely an unconverted husband or wife; but teacheth them, being so matched, what should be their great desire, and their suitable carriage in order to the attainment of it. And in the primitive Christian times, this fell out often. By the gospel preached, the husband might be converted from gross infidelity, Judaism, or Paganism, and not the wife; or the wife, and not the husband; and then came in the use of this consideration. The apostle seems to imply particularly, that there were many instances of this, wives being converts and their husbands unbelieving. We can determine nothing as to their conjecture, who think that there will be more of that sex, here called the weaker vessels, than of the other, who shall be vessels of honor, which God seasons with grace here and hereafter will fill with glory; but this is clear, that many of them are converted, while many men, and divers of them very wise and learned men, having the same or far greater means and opportunities, do perish in unbelief. This evidences the liberty and the power of the Spirit of God, that wind that bloweth where it listeth. Nor doth the pliableness and tenderness of their affections, (though grace, once wrought, may make good use of that) make their conversion easier, but the harder rather, for through nature's corruption, they would by that be led to yield more to evil than to good; but the efficacy of grace appears much in establishing their hearts in the love of God, and in making them, when once possessed with that, to be invincible by the temptations of the world and the strength and sleights of Satan.

That which is here said of their conversation holds of the husband in the like case, and of friends and kindred, and of all Christians, in reference to those with whom they converse; that their spotless holy carriage as Christians, and, in their particular stations, as Christian husbands, or wives, or friends, is a very likely and hopeful means of converting others who believe not. Men who are prejudiced observe actions a great deal more than words. In those first times especially, the blameless carriage of Christians did much to the increasing of their number.

Strive, ye wives and others, to adorn and commend the religion you profess to others, especially to those nearest you. Give no just cause of scandal and prejudice against religion. Beware not only of gross failings and ways of sin, but of such imprudencies as may expose you and your profession. Study both a holy and a wise carriage, and pray much for it. If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God that giveth to all men liberally and upbraideth not, and it shall be given him.

But if wives and other private Christians be thus obliged, how much more the ministers of the word! O that we could remember our deep obligations to holiness of life! It has been rightly said, "Either teach none, or let your life teach too." The Sunday's sermon lasts but an hour or two, but holiness of life is a continued sermon all the week long.

The conver

They also may without the word be won. sion of a soul is an inestimable gain; it is a high trading and design to go about it. O how precious is the soul! but how undervalued by most! Will we believe him who knew well the price of it, for he paid it, that the whole visible world is not worth one soul, the gaining of it all cannot countervail that loss? This, wives, and husbands, and parents, and friends, if themselves converted, should consider seriously, and pray much that their unconverted relations, in nature dead, may be enlivened, and that they may receive them from death; and they should esteem nothing, rest in no natural content or gain without that, at least, without using incessant diligence in seeking it and their utmost skill and pains. But above

all, this is the peculiar task of ministers. All gains on earth are base in comparison with this. A soul converted is gained to itself, gained to the pastor, or friend, or wife, or husband, who sought it, and gained to Jesus Christ; added to his treasury, who thought not his own precious blood too dear to lay out for this gain.

Ver. 2. While they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear.

As all graces are connected in their own nature, so it is altogether necessary that they be found in connexion for the end here propounded, the conversion of those who are strangers to religion, and possessed with false notions of it and prejudices against it. It is not the regularity of some particular actions, nor the observance of some duties, that will serve; but it is an even uniform frame of life that the apostle here teaches Christian wives, particularly in reference to this end, the gaining or conversion of unbelieving husbands. And this we have both in that word, their conversation, which signifies the whole course and tract of their lives, and in the particular specifying of the several duties proper to that relation and state of life-subjection, chastity, fear, modesty in outward ornaments, the inward ornaments of meekness and quietness of spirit.

The combination of these things makes up such a wife, and the exercise of them throughout her life makes up such a conversation, as adorns and commends the religion she professes, and is a fit and may be a successful means of converting the husband who as yet professes it not.

Chaste conversation. It is the proper character of a Christian, to study purity in all things; but the particular pureness here intended is, as it is rendered, that of chastity, as the word is often taken; it being a grace that peculiarly deserves that name, as the sins contrary to it are usually and deservedly called uncleanness. It is the pure whiteness of the soul, to be chaste, to abhor and disdain lust, than which there is nothing that doth more debase the excellent soul; nothing that more evidently draws it down below itself, and makes it truly brutish.