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| Of the Hindrances Which an Unbelieving Husband Puts in His Wife's Way.
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Chapter IV.—Of the
Hindrances Which an Unbelieving Husband Puts in His Wife’s
Way.
But let her see to (the question) how she
discharges her duties to her husband. To the Lord, at all events,
she is unable to give satisfaction according to the requirements of
discipline; having at her side a servant of the devil, his
lord’s agent for hindering the pursuits and duties of
believers: so that if a station470
| 470 For the meaning of
“statio,” see de Or., c. xix. | is to be kept,
the husband at daybreak makes an appointment with his wife to meet him
at the baths; if there are fasts to be observed, the husband that same
day holds a convivial banquet; if a charitable expedition has to be
made, never is family business more urgent. For who would suffer
his wife, for the sake of visiting the brethren, to go round from
street to street to other men’s, and indeed to all the poorer,
cottages? Who will willingly bear her being taken from his side
by nocturnal convocations, if need so be? Who, finally, will
without anxiety endure her absence all the night long at the paschal
solemnities? Who will, without some suspicion of his own, dismiss
her to attend that Lord’s Supper which they defame? Who
will suffer her to creep into prison to kiss a martyr’s bonds?
nay, truly, to meet any one of the brethren to exchange the kiss? to
offer water for the saints’ feet?471
to
snatch (somewhat for them) from her food, from her cup? to yearn (after
them)? to have (them) in her mind? If a pilgrim brother arrive,
what hospitality for him in an alien home? If bounty is to be
distributed to any, the granaries, the storehouses, are
foreclosed.E.C.F. INDEX & SEARCH
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