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To His Wife

Tertullian

Book 2 · Chapter 4

About this work

Author: Tertullian

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

‹ Book 2 · Chapter 3 Book 2 · Chapter 5 ›

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

station

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

?

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

.

Notes

1
For the meaning of “statio,” see de Or., c. xix.
2
1 Tim. v. 10.