Wives and Husbands
(Song of Solomon 1:1–17; Ephesians 5:22–33)

1Likewise let the wiues bee subiect to their husbandes, that euen they which obey not the worde, may without the worde be wonne by the conuersation of the wiues, 2While they beholde your pure conuersation, which is with feare. 3Whose apparelling, let it not be that outwarde, with broyded heare, and golde put about, or in putting on of apparell: 4But let it bee the hidde man of the heart, which consisteth in the incorruption of a meeke and quiet spirite, which is before God a thing much set by. 5For euen after this maner in time past did the holy women, which trusted in God, tire them selues, and were subiect to their husbands. 6As Sara obeyed Abraham, and called him Sir: whose daughters ye are, whiles yee doe well, not being afraide of any terrour.

7Likewise ye husbands, dwel with them as men of knowledge, giuing honour vnto the woman, as vnto the weaker vessell, euen as they which are heires together of the grace of life, that your prayers be not interrupted.

Turning from Evil

8Finally, be ye all of one minde: one suffer with another: loue as brethren: bee pitifull: bee courteous, 9Not rendring euil for euill, neither rebuke for rebuke: but contrarywise blesse, knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should be heires of blessing.

10For if any man long after life, and to see good dayes, let him refraine his tongue from euill, and his lippes that they speake no guile.

11Let him eschew euil, and do good: let him seeke peace, and folow after it.

12For the eyes of the Lord are ouer the righteous, & his eares are open vnto their prayers: and the face of the Lord is against them that do euil.

13And who is it that will harme you, if ye folow that which is good?

Suffering for Righteousness

14Notwithstanding blessed are ye, if ye suffer for righteousnes sake. Yea, feare not their feare, neither be troubled. 15But sanctifie the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready alwayes to giue an answere to euery man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you, with meekenesse and reuerence, 16Hauing a good coscience, that whe they speake euill of you as of euill doers, they may be ashamed, which slander your good conuersation in Christ. 17For it is better (if the will of God be so) that ye suffer for well doing, then for euil doing. 18For Christ also hath once suffered for sinnes, the iust for the vniust, that he might bring vs to God, and was put to death concerning the flesh, but was quickened by the spirit. 19By the which hee also went, and preached vnto the spirits that are in prison. 20Which were in time passed disobedient, when once the long suffering of God abode in the dayes of Noe, while the Arke was preparing, wherein fewe, that is, eight soules were saued in the water. 21Whereof the baptisme that nowe is, answering that figure, (which is not a putting away of the filth of the flesh, but a confident demaunding which a good conscience maketh to God) saueth vs also by the resurrection of Iesus Christ, 22Which is at the right hande of God, gone into heauen, to whome the Angels, and Powers, and might are subiect.