Ante-Nicene Fathers/Volume IV/Tertullian: Part Fourth/To His Wife/II/Chapter 4

Chapter IV.&#8212;Of the Hindrances Which an Unbelieving Husband Puts in His Wife&#8217;s Way.

But let her see to (the question) how she discharges her duties to her husband.&#160; 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&#8217;s agent for hindering the pursuits and duties of believers:&#160; 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.&#160; For who would suffer his wife, for the sake of visiting the brethren, to go round from street to street to other men&#8217;s, and indeed to all the poorer, cottages?&#160; Who will willingly bear her being taken from his side by nocturnal convocations, if need so be?&#160; Who, finally, will without anxiety endure her absence all the night long at the paschal solemnities?&#160; Who will, without some suspicion of his own, dismiss her to attend that Lord&#8217;s Supper which they defame?&#160; Who will suffer her to creep into prison to kiss a martyr&#8217;s bonds? nay, truly, to meet any one of the brethren to exchange the kiss? to offer water for the saints&#8217; feet? to snatch (somewhat for them) from her food, from her cup? to yearn (after them)? to have (them) in her mind?&#160; If a pilgrim brother arrive, what hospitality for him in an alien home?&#160; If bounty is to be distributed to any, the granaries, the storehouses, are foreclosed.