The Role and Fidelity of the Wife

After being born, the sequence of living together is necessary, which should be honored as God's law. Those joined to one another are no longer two, but one flesh; so what God has joined, let no man separate (Matthew 19:6). These things were said to the Pharisees then; but now listen, you who easily change markets and wives like garments; who frequently and easily frequent the brothels as if they were festival works; who marry for ease and trade wives; who are easily provoked and immediately write the document of divorce; who leave many widows while still living.

Be persuaded that marriage is cut off only by death and adultery. For it is not like the concubines, where a short number of days disturbs the living together and only hunts pleasure, so it is with those performed according to law and decree; but on the contrary, O man, a single union occurs of both body and soul, just as character is intertwined with character and the flesh is in a certain way bound to the fleshesh.

How then will you cut it off indifferently? How will you easily and without pain withdraw, having taken a share of life, having served for only a few days, the sister and wife? A sister according to the word of formation and creation, for from one cause of the earth and the same matter you came into being; but a wife through the union of the marriage, through the law of marriage.

What then bond will you break, being bound by law and by nature? And how will you set aside the vows which you laid upon the marriage? And who does he think I am to speak to you? Is it perhaps regarding the dowry written here, when with your own hand I mark it in the book while sealing the completed things?

For those are indeed strong and have sufficient security; yet I refer myself to the voice of Adam (Genesis 2:23): 'This is flesh of my flesh and bone of my bones; she shall be called my wife.'

This voice is not preserved as a vain copy, but is a common confession of men, set forth through the one person of this first man for the common multitude of women joining to men by law. And do not marvel if, from those whom another said, another is held accountable. For all things that happened concerning the first-formed in the beginning, these...

A nature of a following kind was produced. If, having taken the book of creation, a wife abandoned her mother and dragged you before the judge, the very same judge and witness, what words would you say? How will you erase your own voice, which you made before God, where the writer became Moses, the servant of God, instead of a mere scribe?

God gave the woman to Adam without fault and without blemish, and for this reason, as a good guardian, He protected the orphan. But now daughters use the rights of the mother strongly against ignorant and faithless men, so that for you, contempt for the wife is impossible from any direction, being bound by the ancient divine laws and the new human ones.

Let the usefulness of the woman for life also restrain you. She is a member, she is a helper; a partner for the enjoyment of life and for the generation of children; a helper in sickness, a consolation in tribulations, a guardian of the hearth, a treasure of possessions; the same when grieving, the same when rejoicing; possessing wealth in common, if it should fail; managing hard poverty, bravely and patiently enduring what is painful through her, toiling in child-rearing because of her dwelling with you.

But if a crisis of circumstances should seize her, she vanishes when baptized; but those considered friends, measuring friendship by the season of prosperity, withdraw in terrible times; slaves flee both the master and the misfortunes together.

Therefore, the wife remains: a member of the part that is sick, a slave to the evils, and the tear that wipes away the healing of the husband; healing the wound if it is struck; following the one being led to prison; and even if one allows her to enter, she shares the pleasure of the confinement; but if even this is forbidden, she remains at the doors of the prison, as a little dog accustomed to her master.

I knew a woman who had cut her hair and put on manly clothing, this flowering garment, so that she would not be separated while the man was fleeing and hiding. She seemed to be a slave, but truly she was a slave to passion; and she lived this life for many years, moving from place to place and from desert to desert. We find such a thing also in the most patient Job.