Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1868-11-07
The Notions Of "woman's Rights" two
Hundred Years Since.

Thus might trust my Heavenly Father.
He Who hears my feeblest cry. aims
Tho Notions Of "woman's Rights" tw
Hundred Years Since.
From tho Free Christian Commonwealth
A friend showed us, few days since
an aniiquated quarto Of seven hundre
pages, containing Eight Treatises Q
Domestical Duties BY William Gouge
London. Printed by George Miller
1884"
The "eight treatises" are an elaborate
exposition Of Eph. v, 2l-vi, 9. William
Gouge, the author, was no less notable
person than the celebrated Dr. William
Gouge, who subsequently figured so con
spicuously as one of the abest men il
the Westminster Assembly.
We are forcibly reminded, in lookinI
through this antiquated volume, of tb,
past progress of the Woman's Rights
notion, during the past two hundred
years, among English speaking people
To say nothing now of the recent enun'
citation of "Woman's Rights conven.
tions, it is well known that even among
the most conservative Christian people
the full assertion of the Scripture doc
trine of the wife's subsection to her bus-
band is not tolerated. And even many
of cur ministers seem afraid to use the
term "obey :" in taking the vows of the
bride in the marriage ceremony.
But in DR.. William Gouge's day far
different views prevailed, as will be seen
BY the following extract from the sum-
mary annexed to the "Epistle to the
Reader" of the argument in the treatise
81, wherein, saith the learned author:
have paralleled and laid even, one
against another, in one view, the hus-
bands and wife's duties as they answer
each other, and likewise the contrary ali
berations.
Particular duties of Wives SuBJEo-
TON is the general head of all cises
duties.
/. Acknowledgment Of husbands
superiority.
2. A due esteem of her own husband
to be the best for her, and worthy of
honor on her part.
8. An inward, wife-like fear
a. An outward, reverent carriage to-
ward her husband which consisteth in
wife-like sobriety, mildness, courtesy and
modesty in apparel.
5. Reyerent speech to and Of her hus-
band.
6. Obedience.
7. ForbearaDce to do without or against
her husbands consent such things as he
hath power to order; as to dispose and
order the common goods Of the family
and the allowance for it, or children, ser
wants, cattle, etc.
8. A ready yielding to what her bus-
band would have done.
g. A patient hearing of any reproof
10. Contentment with her husbands
estate.
H. Such subsection as may stand in
a subsection to Christ.
IL. Such subsection as the Church
yieldeth to Christ, which is sincere, pure,
cheerful, constant, for conscience sake.
In contrast with this view of the duties,
the learned Doctors exposition sets forth
as follows:
THE ALTERATIONS OF WIVES FROM THEIR
PARTICULAR DUTIES.
ambition is the General Ground of the
liberation of Wires.
/. A conceit that wives are their hus-
bands equals.
2. A conceit that she could better sub
ject herself to any other than to her own
husband.
8 An inward despising Of her bus.
band.
4. Unreverent behavior toward her
husband, by lightuess, sullenness, scorn-
fulness and vanity in her attire.
s. Unreverent speech to and Of her
husband.
6. A stout standing on her own will.
I. A peremptory undertaking to do
things IS she list, etc.
s. Obstinate standing upon her own
will, making her husband dwell where
she will; and refusing to go when he
calls, or do anything upon his command.
3 Disdsining reproof; giving word for
word; and waxing worse for being re-
proved.
10. Discomfort ather husband estate.
IL. Such pleasing Of her husband as
offendeth Christ.
IL. Such q subsection as is more unlike
the church, viz; Feigned, forced, tickle.
Such are the duties and alterations of
wives as set forth deliberately in treatise
third.
At the end of the volume are appended
patterns of prayers for the several mem
beers Of family" And in the prayer
for wife TO use "-eucased in richly
studded marginal references to the Sec
tious of The Treatise as authorities
for the several petitions-we 6nd the fol-
lowing among many similar petitions:
To this end so work upon my desire, as
it may be subject to mine husband. In
form me, therefore, of the equity Of that
order which Thou hast set betwixt man
and wife, that /. knowing an husband TO
be bis wife's head, may so account my
husband to be unto me, whatever he were
before marriage; and auswerably bear an
inward awful respect toward him, not
suffering any occasion to make me des-
pise him; but outwardly also reverence
him; manifesting this my reverence,
both by my behavior in all wifelike So
briefly without wantohness, mildness
without shrewisbness, courtesy without
scorn. aud modesty without pride; and,
also, by my reverent speech 10 him be-
fore his face and fhim behind his back.
Such was the view which the great
Biblical interpreters took Of the passage
in Ephesians. two hundred years since.
But If our lady readers will not be too
angry with DR.. Gouge ever to read
another word from bis pen. We will fnd
space in another issue for an extract or
two from the exposition Of Husbands.
love your wives even IS Christ loved the
Church" We trust they will suspend
sentence Of judgment upon DR.. Gouge at
least till then.
Eariy RisinR.
Il is an old theme, but IL cannot be too
often reiterated, that there is no tine
snent ec e-uHidlv a. that which inconeid.