Chapter 12: Special Counsel to Women. It is possible for man and woman to share equally in this perfection of which I'm speaking. For example, Judith became perfect among women when her city was under siege. She went into the enemy camp at the entreaty of the elders. She scorned all danger for her country's sake. She gave herself into the enemy's hand in faith in God, and she soon obtained the reward of her faith.
Though she was a woman, she prevailed over the enemy of her religion, and she was able to take the head of Holofernes. Esther is another example of one who was made perfect by faith. She rescued Israel from the power of the king and the cruelty of the satrap. Although she was a lone woman, weak from fasting, she held back ten thousand armed hands. By her faith, she had the tyrant's decree annulled. She appeased the king and restrained Haman. By her perfect prayer to God, she preserved Israel unscathed.
Look also at Susanna and Miriam, the sister of Moses. Miriam was the prophet's companion in commanding the multitude. She was superior to all the women among the Hebrews who were renowned for their wisdom. As for Susanna, in her surpassing modesty, she remained the unwavering martyr of chastity. She went to death condemned by wanton admirers. The wise woman will first choose to persuade her husband to join her in what leads to true happiness.
But if he does not join her, let her earnestly pursue moral excellence by herself. Yet she should gain her husband's consent in everything, so as never to do anything against his will. The only exception would be those things that lead to righteousness and salvation. And a man should not keep either his wife or a maidservant from such a way of life. For to do so would be to drive her away from righteousness and sober-mindedness. In effect, he would be choosing to make his own house wicked and morally unrestrained.
In order to be familiar with anything, a man or woman must first be taught, trained, and then given the opportunity to put the things learned into practice. And as I have said, humanly speaking, moral excellence depends on ourselves above all, not on others. Nobody else can suppress those things that depend on ourselves, no matter how hard they try. For the gift is one conferred by God. It is not in the power of any other. So it should be understood that the morally unrestrained person is the cause of his own evil.
He cannot blame it on someone else. Likewise, the person who is able to exercise self-control is responsible for his own good conduct. Christian marriage. Marriage is sanctified only when it meets certain conditions. First, it must be consummated according to the Word. Secondly, the marriage union must be submissive to God.
Finally, the married couple must live with a true heart and full assurance of faith, having hearts that have been sprinkled from an evil conscience, and the body washed with pure water and holding the confession of hope, for he is faithful that promised. Hebrews 10:22-23. The happiness of a marriage should never be measured by either wealth or beauty. Instead, it should be measured by moral excellence. As a certain playwright said, "Beauty helps no wife with her husband, but virtue has helped many.
For every good wife who is attached to her husband knows how to practice moderation." The role of the godly wife. Fittingly, the Scripture has said that a woman is given by God as a help to man. A husband may have some annoying faults that affect the harmony of the marriage. If so, the wife should try to remedy these annoyances by using good sense and persuasion. But if the husband does not yield, then she should nevertheless try to lead a sinless life to the extent humanly possible.
For she realizes that God is her helper and her companion in such a course of conduct. He is her true defender and her savior in both the present and the future. So she should make God her leader and the guide for all her actions. She should consider sober-mindedness and righteousness as her work. Her life's goal is to incur the favor of God, that is so, whether it be necessary to die or to live.
Gracefully, the Apostle says in the letter to Titus, "The older women should be of godly behavior, not slanderers, not enslaved to much wine. They should counsel the young women to be lovers of their husbands, lovers of their children, discreet, chaste, housekeepers, good subject to their own husbands, that the word of God is not blasphemed." Titus 2:3-5. And then, as if putting the finishing touch to the matter of marriage, he adds, "Marriage is honorable in all, and the bed undefiled.
But God will judge fornicators and adulterers." Hebrews 13:4. As far as perfection is concerned, there is the same goal and the same end for both man and woman. Peter speaks equally to both in his letter, saying, "Though now, for a season, if need be, you are in heaviness through manifold temptations, that the trial of your faith being much more precious than that of gold which perishes.
Though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise, and honor and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, whom having not seen you love. In whom though now you do not see him, yet believing you rejoice with unspeakable joy and full of glory, receiving the end of your faith, the salvation of your souls." 1 Peter 1:6-9.