Domestic Duties Part 4 (For Husbands): Modern, Updated Translation

Domestic Duties (1622), Treatise #4 on the duties of husbands, represents a crucial section of William Gouge's masterful examination of Christian family life in Puritan England. In this focused treatise, Gouge provides an extensive exploration of a husband's sacred responsibilities, grounding his guidance in detailed Biblical exposition and practical wisdom. This portion of his larger work meticulously outlines how Christian husbands should lead, love, and serve their wives according to Scripture.

We have updated this timeless work into a modern, updated English translation so you can understand exactly what Gouge wrote hundreds of years ago!

At the heart of Part #4, Gouge establishes the foundational principle that a husband's authority must be exercised with wisdom and love, following Christ's example in His relationship with the Church. The treatise carefully balances the husband's position of headship with his duty to sacrificially love and nurture his wife. Gouge's treatment is remarkably thorough, addressing everything from the husband's spiritual leadership and provision for the family to his role in protecting and promoting his wife's spiritual and physical wellbeing. He provides detailed guidance on how husbands should make decisions, handle disagreements, and foster their wives' growth in faith.

What distinguishes this treatise is Gouge's nuanced understanding of marital leadership. While affirming the husband's God-given authority, he emphasizes that this authority must never be wielded harshly or selfishly. Instead, he presents a vision of husband leadership characterized by gentleness, wisdom, and self-sacrificial love. The work is filled with practical examples and specific counsel for common challenges husbands face, making it both theoretically sound and practically applicable. Throughout the text, Gouge grounds his instructions in extensive Scripture references, particularly drawing from Ephesians 5.

The influence of this treatise on husbands' duties extended far beyond its immediate context, helping to shape Protestant understanding of Christian marriage for generations. Its comprehensive treatment of husband leadership and its careful balance of authority with loving service made it a standard reference work for ministers counseling married couples and men seeking to fulfill their marital duties faithfully. Modern readers will find in this section of Gouge's work not only historical insights into Puritan marriage but also enduring principles for godly husband leadership.

William Gouge (1575-1653) was one of the most influential Puritan ministers of his generation. Educated at King's College, Cambridge, he served as minister of St. Ann Blackfriars, London, for forty-five years. A leading member of the Westminster Assembly, Gouge was renowned for his biblical scholarship and pastoral care. He authored numerous works of practical divinity, but Of Domestic Duties remains his most comprehensive and enduring contribution to Christian family life. His own household served as a model of the principles he taught, as he raised thirteen children with his wife Elizabeth. Beyond his pastoral duties, Gouge was actively involved in various charitable works and played a significant role in establishing the Morning Exercises, a series of lectures that became a staple of Puritan London. His commitment to both scholarly excellence and practical godliness made him a respected figure among both his contemporaries and subsequent generations of Protestant Christians.