chaste conversation coupled with fear._ That is, when a man sees that
his wife proceeds and conducts herself with such propriety, then he
is drawn toward obedience, and holds the state of a Christian to be
one that is truly blessed. And although it is not directed to women
to preach, yet should they so conduct themselves in their demeanor
and conversation that they may thereby attract their husbands toward
obedience:--as we read of the mother of St. Augustine, who converted
her husband, who had been a heathen, before his death, and so
afterward her son Augustine. Still it is an external thing, which, as
it is not to be performed in order to our justification for
obedience, does not save you, for you may perhaps find an obedient
wife who is yet unbelieving, but you should do it for this reason,
that you may thereby benefit your husband. For thus has God ordained
(Gen. iii.) when He says to the woman, "thou shalt submit thyself to
thy husband, and he shall be thy master," which is also the
punishment which he has imposed on the woman. But such is (I say) the
outward conduct--that which belongs to the body, not to the spirit.

But this is a great thing, to know what works we should do to please
God. By this rule are we to run, just as we see that the world runs,
by the rule that it has falsely devised. It is a high, noble blessing
which a wife may have when she so conducts herself as to be subject
to her husband, inasmuch as she is saved, and her works please God;
what can be a happier experience? Therefore whoever wishes to be a
christian wife is to reason after this manner: I will not pay regard
as to what sort of a husband I have, whether he be a heathen or a
Jew, righteous or wicked; but to this I will pay regard, to the fact
that God has placed me in the marriage state, and I will be subject
and obedient to my husband. Then all her works are precious if she
stands in such obedience.

But where the influence of attraction is not employed, nothing else
will avail:--for you never will succeed by blows in making a wife
pious and submissive. If you strike one devil out you will strike two
devils in, as they say. Oh! if people who are in the marriage state
knew this, how uprightly would they walk; but no one does cheerfully
what God has commanded, but all run after that which men have
invented. This command God has wished to be so carefully observed,
that he authorized husbands to make void the vows which their wives
mad