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Of Domestic Duties
William Gouge (1575-1653) was an English preacher at St Ann Blackfriars as well as a member of the Westminster Assembly. He published this work in 1622 focusing on relationships between husband, wife, parents, children, masters, and servants.
Along with the several Tables of Contents, the changes made to the work only go so far as editing the Middle English words and replacing them with Modern American English. For example,
“groweth” becomes “grows”
“Saviour” becomes “Savior”
“thou” becomes “you”
Along with the several Tables of Contents, the changes made to the work only go so far as editing the Middle English words and replacing them with Modern American English. For example,
“groweth” becomes “grows”
“Saviour” becomes “Savior”
“thou” becomes “you”
747 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1622
43 people are currently reading
192 people want to read
About the author
William Gouge
75 books5 followersWilliam Gouge (1575-1653) was born in Stratford-Bow Middlesex County, England. Educated in Paul's School, London, Felstad in Essex, and at Eton School. He graduated from King's College, Cambridge, followed by a brilliant teaching career there. Following his ordination at 32 years of age, he ministered at Blackfriars Church, London for 45 years. In addition to his great success as a pastor, his mid-week expository lectures at Blackfriars drew increasingly larger crowds. Spirituality and scholarship made his career at Cambridge, his pastoral work and his writings unique. He was renowned as "the father of the London Divines and the oracle of his time." In 1643 he was made a member of the Westminster Assembly of Divines by vote of Parliament. His primary works include his Commentary on Hebrews, The Whole Armour of God, and Of Domestical Duties.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
December 18, 2024
The best book on the biblical family. Period.
This may be my third or fourth time through it. It is truly excellent.
This may be my third or fourth time through it. It is truly excellent.
November 24, 2013
This has become my favorite book I've ever read!
It must take a lot for that to happen, but if anyone could do it it would be a Puritan, and Gouge is one of the best!
Domestical Duties is an early 17th century manual for marriage. Its detailed, scrupulous and deep insight on the topic is unmatched!
Also, Gouge puts modern day writers to shame. Even the good ones. Nothing against modern writers but he was on anther level.
I've profited a lot from this work and would say it is mandatory to read for any Christian before entering a marriage and even before considering a spouse.
Gouge has the best exposition of Ephesians 5-6 and is very balanced and Scriptural.
Here are some of the things he talks about.
on pg. 258 after discussing the role of the husband and his figure as an authority over the wife he writes, "Did God at first take woman out of man's side, that man should tread her under his feet?" In essence saying just because man is (as his function or role) above the woman does not mean he can abuse it. He continues to say that husbands ought to yield to their wife's humble suits or requests. (pg. 262)
He then goes on to explain the role of the woman in the home, that she must
1. order the house (decorations, gardening, etc.)
2. dispose of provisions (shopping, groceries, etc.)
3. govern servants (something that is foreign to our culture but prevalent to his)
4. raise the children (schooling, nurture, etc.)
On page 284 he deals with how husbands ought to reprove their wives and in what things they can reprove their wives in. We are not to make mountains out of molehills and get angry at trivial things. Also we must never get angry at "natural imperfections" (pg. 286). Instead the only things we can reprove our wives in are those breaches of the commandments of God.
This might seem common-sensical but I've heard of many marriages that husbands or wives blow-up on the trivial matters.
Gouge is also doctrinally sound: Here is his take on polygamous marriages.
"Can polygamy [the having of many wives] or bigamy have any good warrant against such an express Law? Are not both of them against the first institution of marriage, so as we may say, from the beginning it was not so (Matt 19:8)? Yea also and against other particular laws (Deut. 17: 17, Lev. 18:18)? Lamech one of Cain’s cursed stock was the first that we read of to have presumed against the ancient law (Gen. 4:19).
Objection: Afterwards many Patriarchs, and other Saints took that liberty unto themselves.
Answer: It was their sin, and great blemish in them. The common error of the time and their unsatiable desire of increase made them fall into it. Many inconveniences followed thereupon: neither can it be thought but that much mischief must needs follow upon having more wives than one: for whereas God at first made a wife to be as an help unto man (Gen. 2:18), two, or more wives cannot but be a great grief and vexation unto him by reason of that emulation that is betwixt them (Gen. 16:5). Through Hagar’s means was Sarah stirred against Abraham, and Abraham grieved at Sarah’s words (Gen. 21:11). Though Leah and Rachel were sisters, yet great were their emulations: the like whereof is noted of Peninnah and many others.
Considering the heinousness of this sin, our laws have justly made it felony for a man to have more wives than one, or woman more husbands.” –Gouge, Domestical Duties, pg. 84
Again, I cannot recommend this book enough!
It must take a lot for that to happen, but if anyone could do it it would be a Puritan, and Gouge is one of the best!
Domestical Duties is an early 17th century manual for marriage. Its detailed, scrupulous and deep insight on the topic is unmatched!
Also, Gouge puts modern day writers to shame. Even the good ones. Nothing against modern writers but he was on anther level.
I've profited a lot from this work and would say it is mandatory to read for any Christian before entering a marriage and even before considering a spouse.
Gouge has the best exposition of Ephesians 5-6 and is very balanced and Scriptural.
Here are some of the things he talks about.
on pg. 258 after discussing the role of the husband and his figure as an authority over the wife he writes, "Did God at first take woman out of man's side, that man should tread her under his feet?" In essence saying just because man is (as his function or role) above the woman does not mean he can abuse it. He continues to say that husbands ought to yield to their wife's humble suits or requests. (pg. 262)
He then goes on to explain the role of the woman in the home, that she must
1. order the house (decorations, gardening, etc.)
2. dispose of provisions (shopping, groceries, etc.)
3. govern servants (something that is foreign to our culture but prevalent to his)
4. raise the children (schooling, nurture, etc.)
On page 284 he deals with how husbands ought to reprove their wives and in what things they can reprove their wives in. We are not to make mountains out of molehills and get angry at trivial things. Also we must never get angry at "natural imperfections" (pg. 286). Instead the only things we can reprove our wives in are those breaches of the commandments of God.
This might seem common-sensical but I've heard of many marriages that husbands or wives blow-up on the trivial matters.
Gouge is also doctrinally sound: Here is his take on polygamous marriages.
"Can polygamy [the having of many wives] or bigamy have any good warrant against such an express Law? Are not both of them against the first institution of marriage, so as we may say, from the beginning it was not so (Matt 19:8)? Yea also and against other particular laws (Deut. 17: 17, Lev. 18:18)? Lamech one of Cain’s cursed stock was the first that we read of to have presumed against the ancient law (Gen. 4:19).
Objection: Afterwards many Patriarchs, and other Saints took that liberty unto themselves.
Answer: It was their sin, and great blemish in them. The common error of the time and their unsatiable desire of increase made them fall into it. Many inconveniences followed thereupon: neither can it be thought but that much mischief must needs follow upon having more wives than one: for whereas God at first made a wife to be as an help unto man (Gen. 2:18), two, or more wives cannot but be a great grief and vexation unto him by reason of that emulation that is betwixt them (Gen. 16:5). Through Hagar’s means was Sarah stirred against Abraham, and Abraham grieved at Sarah’s words (Gen. 21:11). Though Leah and Rachel were sisters, yet great were their emulations: the like whereof is noted of Peninnah and many others.
Considering the heinousness of this sin, our laws have justly made it felony for a man to have more wives than one, or woman more husbands.” –Gouge, Domestical Duties, pg. 84
Again, I cannot recommend this book enough!
July 2, 2025
A very good book on marriage (the main part of the book), but I disagreed with some points, such as about infant baptism and covenant children. Also, the part about the disciplining of servants was much too strong. The style of the book is detailed and takes more thought to understand than modern books, yet overall is quite clear. It is strong on the differences between men's and women's roles but is also not overbearing toward women.
December 17, 2023
Quite honestly, I sped-read this book digging for any information about the Early Modern husband-wife relationship.
From my reading, I can say that it seems well-written for a conduct book of the time. It isn’t completely bogged down with unexplained bible verses, which is my rationale for that claim. It seems written for the common man as well. The language is rather vernacular, so it has that in its favor as well.
It was interesting reading as well because I can definitely see how it inspired future writers. I got John Donne and Alexander Pope vibes throughout.
4 stars for being a good example of its genre. I have to take 1 star off just because it is awfully dry reading.
From my reading, I can say that it seems well-written for a conduct book of the time. It isn’t completely bogged down with unexplained bible verses, which is my rationale for that claim. It seems written for the common man as well. The language is rather vernacular, so it has that in its favor as well.
It was interesting reading as well because I can definitely see how it inspired future writers. I got John Donne and Alexander Pope vibes throughout.
4 stars for being a good example of its genre. I have to take 1 star off just because it is awfully dry reading.
November 5, 2024
You want an exhaustive examination of biblical prescriptions for marriage and family?
Look no further, it's right here.
Cannot imagine a resource can more thoroughly apply the Word of God to relationships better than Mr. Gouge does in this tome.
Look no further, it's right here.
Cannot imagine a resource can more thoroughly apply the Word of God to relationships better than Mr. Gouge does in this tome.
July 14, 2025
An enormously dense commentary on Ephesians 5:22-6:9. Gouge draws many, and oh so very many, points of application for each verse as with a fine-tooth comb. It begins with a full-throated 2-part treatise on Christ's love for His church as the foundation for everything that follows. I came away from it with a much deeper appreciation for the sort of "hierarchy" that Paul paints for the home, and arguably for a Christian society. There are points that do not go over well, primarily the predictably unfair caricaturing of non-paedobaptists (as anarchistic Anabaptists) coupled with a weak defense of the practice. Unfortunately, the last two treatises on Duties of Masters and Duties of Servants also are not as applicable, given the Puritan context of having housemaids was a lot more common. The book is also notably sparse on advice for believing children of unbelieving parents. This, again, is attributable to a context that was broadly paedobaptist.
Nonetheless, most of the book is a resounding call for conducting oneself biblically in not just the home, but the family (such as treating well your extended relatives outside your immediate family). I suppose a more accessible helping of this is Dr. Beeke's Building a Godly Home trilogy. Admittedly I read this one primarily because the trilogy was often Out of Stock.
Nonetheless, most of the book is a resounding call for conducting oneself biblically in not just the home, but the family (such as treating well your extended relatives outside your immediate family). I suppose a more accessible helping of this is Dr. Beeke's Building a Godly Home trilogy. Admittedly I read this one primarily because the trilogy was often Out of Stock.
March 24, 2017
Classic puritan work. Convicting and challenging even for the most conservative/reformed believer. Even more so than Scudder or others. Wonderful. Prepare to hear consistent jabs at Rome in the most unsuspecting places.
November 25, 2020
Great book!!!
January 5, 2016
I read this book for a second time as part of my courtship with Andrea. I learned many more things from another reading. It stands well the test of time, and he had many great points. There are sometimes where he is speaking to a cultural context which no longer makes sense. For example - he had ten pages on wet nursing, but only one sentence on abortion. At times his handling of scripture is shaky - for example he says that in weddings you should have riddles because that is what Samson did at his. But overall it is a very helpful book.
December 29, 2015
William Gouge provides a sound biblical commentary on Eph. 5:21 - 6:9. As a Baptist, I do not agree with his Presbyterian view of infant baptism and covenant children.
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May 5, 2019Read Second Treatise, Part II.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews