Chapter 5—The Christian Spouse’s Behavior
No Thought of Divorce—If the wife is an unbeliever and an op-
poser, the husband cannot, in view of the law of God, put her away on
this ground alone. In order to be in harmony with the law of Jehovah,
he must abide with her, unless she chooses of herself to depart.—
Letter
8, 1888
.
A Christian Wife’s Obligations—I have some things to say to
you from the Lord.... The Lord has a work for you to do; it is not a
public work, but a very important one, a work in your own home, to
be true to your position as a wife and mother. No other can do this,
your work.
The Spirit and the Word of God agree. Remembering this, let us
read the words of inspiration from Jesus Christ through Paul to Titus.
He is charged to speak “the things which become sound doctrine: that
the aged men be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity,
in patience. The aged women likewise, that they be in behavior as
becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers
of good things: that they may teach the young women to be sober,
to love their husbands, to love their children, to be discreet, chaste,
keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word
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of God be not blasphemed” [
Titus 2:1-5
].
A Wife’s First Duty—Her Home—With this Scripture before
you, I ask, For what are you spending your time in Battle Creek? Has
God called you to neglect your home? No, no. My sister, the Lord
has shown me that you are mistaking your duty. Your husband needs
you; your children need their mother. You have stepped out of the path
where Jesus leads the way. He is saying to you, “Follow Me,” and He
will lead you in your own home duties, which are now sadly neglected.
The voice of the Lord has not bidden you to separate your interests
from that of your husband and children. Your first duty is in the home.
The Spirit of the Lord has not given you a work, or qualified you to do
a work, that is contrary to His own Word....
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