Ver. 1. Be in subjection to your husbands] Yet with a limitation: subject the wife must be to her husband’s lawful commands and restraints. It is too much that Plutarch lays as a law of wedlock on the wife, to acknowledge and worship the same gods, and none else but those whom her husband doth. Serena the empress suffered martyrdom under her cruel husband Diocletian; and Elizabeth, wife of Joachimus, the Prince Elector of Brandenburg, was forced to flee to the court of Saxony, A. D 1527, from the perpetual imprisonment provided for her by her Popish husband (for receiving the sacrament of the Lord’s supper in both kinds), and died in banishment. (Luther in Epistol.) Be won by the conversation] κερδηθησονται, i.e. Be prepared for conversion, as Austin’s father and himself were, by the piety of his mother Monica. The Greek word for won signifieth gained, εποπτευοντες; and seems to allude to those good servants, Matthew 25:20-23, who traded their talents, and doubled them with their good husbandry.
Ver. 2. Whiles they behold] Curiously pry into. Carnal men watch the carriages of prolessors, and spend many thoughts about them. Your chaste conversation] When Livia the empress was asked how had she got such a power over her husband that she could do anything with him? She answered, Multa modestia, By my much modesty. (Dio in Aug.) A prudent wife commands her husband by obeying. Coupled with fear] Not slavish fear of blows, but reverent fear: 1. Of offending God, by using unlawful means to get their husband’s love, as by plaiting of the hair, &e. 2. Of offending their husbands by immodesty or frowardness.
Ver. 3. Whose adorning] Mundus muliebris. A woman’s world. See Isaiah 3:18. Where the prophet as punctually inveighs against this noble vanity, as if he had viewed the ladies’ wardrobes in Jerusalem. Let it not be that outward] Vestium curiositas, deformitatis mentium et morum indicium est, saith Bernard. Excessive neatness is a sign of inward nastiness. It was a true saying of wise Cato, Cultus magna cura, magna est virtutis iniuria, They are never good that strive to be overly fine. Superfluous apparel, saith Cyprian, is worse than whoredom. Lysander would not suffer his daughters to wear gorgeous attire; saying it would not make them so comely as common.
Ver. 4. But let it be the hidden] Vestite vos serico pietatis, byssino sanctitatis, purpura pudicitiae. Taliter pigmentatae Deum habebitis amatorem. It is Tertullian’s counsel to young women, Clothe yourselves, saith he, with the silk of piety, with the satin of sanctity, with the purple of modesty; so shall you have God himself to be your suitor. (Lib. de Cult. Fem.) Plutarch speaks of a Spartan woman, that when her neighbours were showing their apparel and jewels, she brought out her children, virtuous and well taught, and said, These are my ornaments and jewels. (Titus 2:4) In that which is not corruptible] Or, In the incorruption of a meek and quiet spirit, &e., a garment that will never be the worse for wearing, but the better. Some wives may seem to have been molten out of that salt pillar into which Lot’s wife was transformed; these, as they please not God, so they are contrary to all men. Of great price] God makes great reckoning of a quiet mind, because it is like himself. He promiseth earth to the meek, and heaven to the incorrupt or sincere, and pure in heart.
Ver. 5. Who trusted in God] And therefore would not by unlawful means seek to get or keep their husband’s love and favour; but trusted God for that. So Hezekiah trusted in God, and pulled down the brazen serpent, 2 Kings 18:4,5, opposing his presence to all peril.
Ver. 6. Calling him lord] See here, how in a great heap of sin, God can find out his own, and accept of it. There was no good word in all the whole sentence, but this, that she called her husband lord. God is pleased to single out this, and set it as a precious diamond in a gold ring to Sarah’s eternal commendation. So, Hebrews 11:31, mention is made of Rahab’s entertaining the spies, and not of the lie she told: God lays the finger of mercy on the scars of our sins, as that limner in the story. And are not afraid, &c.] Fear they must, 1 Peter 3:2, and yet they must not. Fear God, but not their husband’s undeserved checks or threats for obeying God. One fear must expel another, as one fire drives out another. A painter, esp. a portrait painter. ŒD
Ver. 7. Likewise ye] Officium ascendit, amor descendit. According to knowledge] Where should wisdom be but in the head? This must be showed Uxoris vitium aut tollendo, aut tolerando, said Varro, either by curing or at least covering his wife’s weaknesses. As unto the weaker vessel] Glasses are to be tenderly handled; a small knock soon breaks them. So here. Vipera virus ob venerationem nuptiarum evomit, saith Basil, The viper, for the honour of coupling with his mate, casts up his poison; et tu duritiem animi, tu feritatem, tu crudelitatem ob unionis reverentiam non deponis? and wilt not thou for the honour of marriage cast away thy harshness, roughness, cruelty to a consort? As being heirs] Souls have no sexes, Galatians 3:28. That your prayers be not hindered] Isaac prayed in the presence of his wife. This course of praying together, apart from others, being taken up by married couples, will much increase and spiritualize their affection one to another. But jarring will make them leave praying, or praying leave jarring.