22
Testimonies on Sexual Behavior, Adultery, and Divorce
great rock in a weary land. Only have faith, trust in God and He will
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strengthen and bless. All three of her children are susceptible to the
influences of the truth and Spirit of God. Could these children be as
favorably situated as are many Sabbathkeeping children, all would be
converted and enlist in the army of the Lord.—
Testimonies for the
Church 2:99, 100
.
The Head of the House—Mary, ... I wish in all sisterly and
motherly kindness to kindly warn you upon another point. I have often
noticed before others a manner you have in speaking to John in rather
a dictating manner, the tone of your voice sounding impatient. Mary,
others notice this and have spoken of it to me. It hurts your influence.
We women must remember that God has placed us subject to the
husband. He is the head, and our judgment and views and reasonings
must agree with his, if possible. If not, the preference in God’s Word
is given to the husband where it is not a matter of conscience. We must
yield to the head.—
Letter 5, 1861
.
An Overbearing Husband—I have a few words to say in regard
to your marriage, not by revelation but permission. Yes, I feel com-
pelled by the Spirit of the Lord to say to you [that] I have had less
confidence in your integrity since your marriage than I have had hereto-
fore. My heart was greatly burdened. I knew you were not qualified
to make a proper husband for Sister Drake. If you had permitted her
to lay her case before us, we could have advised her according to the
light God has given us of your case. You knew this, therefore you were
unwilling to have us consulted. Brother R, I believe that your motives
in this marriage were purely selfish. I do not believe you had a thought
of the good of Sister Drake or the glory of God. You urged yourself
upon her without consulting those who knew you best. You hurried
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this matter off with your own hasty spirit that you have ever possessed.
Stewardship of Means—Your course since your marriage, in tak-
ing possession of and controlling the means of her [whom] you had
made your wife, shows your motives to be wrong. All these things are
against you and show on your part very deep selfishness and a dicta-
torial spirit which God would not have her submit to. Her marriage
does not make null and void her stewardship. It does not destroy her
identity. Her individuality should be preserved if she would glorify
God with her body and spirit, which are His. Her individuality cannot
be submerged in you. She has duties she owes to God which you have