Direct I.
The husband must undertake the principal part of the government of
the whole family, even of the wife herself. And therefore, I. He must
labor to be fit and able for that government which he undertakes. This
ability consists, 1. In holiness and spiritual wisdom, that he may be
acquainted with the end to which he is to conduct them, and the rule by
which he is to guide them, and the principal works which they are to do.
An ungodly, irreligious man is both a stranger and an enemy to the
chief part of family government. 2. His ability consists in a due
acquaintance with the works of his calling, and the labors in which his
servants are to be employed. For he that is utterly unacquainted with
their business, will be very unfit to govern them in it: unless he
commit that part of their government to his wife, or a steward that is
acquainted with it. 3. And he must be acquainted both with the common
temper and infirmities of mankind, that he may know how much is to be
borne with, and also with the particular temper, and faults, and virtues
of those whom he is to govern. 4. And he must have prudence, to direct
himself in all his carriage to them; and justice, to deal with everyone
as they deserve; and love, to do them all the good he can, for soul and
body. II. And being thus able, he must make it his daily work, and
especially be sure to govern himself well, that his example may be part
of his government of others.
(Excerpted from Chapter VIII. of this English Puritan’s manual on
family life, “Christian Economics,” found in his book A Christian
Directory which was first printed in 1673 and reprinted by Soli Deo
Gloria in 1990.)
