Chapter 3

The duty of wives and husbands to each other. ℣.9 None to do or speak evil by their persecutors, ℣.15 but to answer them always with modesty, and specially with innocency, after the example of Christ most innocent: whose body though they killed, yet his soul lived and preached afterward to the souls in Hell (namely to those in the time of Noe's flood being a figure of our Baptism) rose again, and ascended.

1. 1

   In like manner also let the women be subject to their husbands: that if any believe not the word, by the conversation of the women without the word they may be won,

2. 2

   considering your chaste conversation in fear.

3. 3

   Whose trimming let it not be outwardly the plaiting of hair, or laying on gold round about, or of putting on vestures:

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   but the man of the heart that is hidden, in the incorruptibility of a quiet and a modest spirit, which is rich in the sight of God.

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   For so sometime the holy women also that trusted in God, adorned themselves, subject to their own husbands.

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   As Sara obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: whose daughters you are, doing well, and not fearing any perturbation.

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   Husbands likewise, dwelling with them according to knowledge, as unto the weaker feminine vessel imparting honour, as it were to the coheirs also of the grace of life: that your prayers be not hindered.

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   And in fine all of one mind, having compassion, lovers of the fraternity, merciful, modest, humble.

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   not rendering evil for evil, nor curse for curse: but contrarywise, blessing: for unto this are you called, that you may by inheritance possess a benediction.

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    For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, & his lips that they speak not guile.

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    Let him decline from evil, and do good: let him enquire peace, & follow it:

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    because the eyes of our Lord are upon the just, and his ears unto their prayers: but the countenance of our Lord upon them that do evil things.

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    And who is he that can hurt you, if you be emulators of good?

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    But & if you suffer ought for justice, blessed are ye. And the fear of them fear ye not, & be not troubled.

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    But sanctify our Lord Christ in your hearts, ready always to satisfy every one that asketh you a reason of that hope which is in you:

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    but with modesty and fear, having a good conscience: that in that which they speak ill of you, they may be confounded which calumniate your good conversation in Christ.

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    For it is better to suffer as doing well (if the will of God will have it so) than doing ill.

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    Because Christ also died once for our sins, the just for the unjust: that he might offer us to God, mortified certes in flesh, but quickened in spirit.

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    In the which spirit coming he preached to them also that were in prison:

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    which had been incredulous sometime, when they expected the patience of God in the days of Noe, when the ark was a building: in the which, few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.

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    Whereunto Baptism being of the like form now saveth you also: not the laying away of the filth of the flesh, but the examination of a good conscience toward God by the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

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    Who is on the right hand of God, swallowing death, that we might be made heirs of life everlasting: being gone into Heaven, Angels and Potentates and Powers subjected to him.