About the Duties of Husband and Wives free essay sample

By Benjamin Wadsworth, A Well Ordered Family About the Duties of Husbands and Wives Concerning the duties of this relation we may assert a few things. It is their duty to dwell together with one another. Surely they should dwell together; if one house cannot hold them, surely they are not affected to each other as they should be. They should have a very great and tender love and affection to one another. This is plainly commanded by god. This duty of love is mutual; it should be performed b y each other, to each other. When, therefore, they quarrel or disagree, then they do the Devil’s work; he is please at it, glad of it. But such contention provokes God; it dishonors Him; it is a vile example before inferiors in the family; it tends to prevent family prayer. As to outward things. If the one is sick, troubled or distressed, the other should manifest care, tenderness, pity, and compassion, and afford all possible relief and succor. We will write a custom essay sample on About the Duties of Husband and Wives or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page They should likewise unite and their prudent counsels and endeavor comfortably to maintain themselves and the family under their joint care. Husband and wife should be patient toward another. If both are truly pious, yet neither of them is perfectly holy, in such cases a patient, forgiving, forbearing spirit is very needful. You, therefore, that are husbands and wives, do not aggravate every error or mistake, every wrong or hasty word, every wry step as though it were a willfully designed intolerable crime; for this would soon break all to pieces: but rather put the best construction on things, and bear with and forgive one another’s failings. The husband’s government ought to be gentle and easy, and the wife’s obedience ready and cheerful. The husband is called the head of the woman. It belongs to the head to rule and govern. Wives are part of the house and family, and ought to be under the husband’s government. Yet his government should not be with rigor, haughtiness, harshness, severity, but the greatest love, gentleness, kindness, tenderness that may be. Though he governs her, he much not treat her as a servant, but as his own flesh; he must love her as himself. Those husbands are much to blame who do not carry it lovingly and kindly to their wives. O Man, if your wife is not so your, beautiful, healthy, well-tempered, and qualified as you would wish: if she did not bring a large estate to you, or cannot do so much for you, as some women have done for their husbands; yet she is your wife, nd the great God commands you to love her, be not bitter but kind to her. What came be more plain and expressive that that? Those wives are much to blame who do not carry it lovingly and obediently to their own husbands. O woman, if your husband is not as young, beautiful, healthy, so well-tempered, and qualified as you could wish; if he has not such abilities, riches, honors, as some other have; yet he is your husband, and the great God commands you to love, honor and obey him. Yes, though possibly you have greater abilities of mind than he has, are of some high birth, and he of a more common birth, or did bring more estate, yet since he is your husband, God has made him your head, and set him above you, and made it your duty to love and revere him. Parents should act wisely and prudently in the matching of their children. They should endeavor that they may marry someone who is more proper to them, most likely to bring blessings to them.