in
particular so love his wife even as himself, and the wife see that she
reverence her husband." "Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands,
as unto the Lord. Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let
the wives be to their own husbands in every thing." Eph. 5:22, 24. "Wives,
submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord." Col.
3:18. "Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if
any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the
conversation [conduct] of the wives." 1 Pet. 3:1.

Such is the true position of the wife, giving the husband reverence. This
means to fear. Not the slavish fear, but a fear in love, like as one would
fear God whom he loved with all his heart. Fear to purposely displease
him. Fear to wilfully neglect him. Fear to obstinately disobey him. To be
in subjection with reverence. Such words are full of solid thought, and we
would ask every wife to wisely consider them, especially if she places any
value upon Christianity. The husband is to command in love. She is to obey
in fear. He is to govern without giving vexation, and she is to be in
subjection without feeling herself a slave. He is to watch over her
conduct and guard her from every act that would be damaging to her
character or her soul. She is to trust in him, and obey.

Let the wife be in subjection,
Let the husband give protection;
He to honor, love, defend,
She to trust him to the end.

The humble apostle, after exhorting the wives to be in subjection to their
husbands, commands them to not adorn themselves by plaiting the hair or
wearing gold or apparel. 1 Pet. 3:3. "But let it be the hidden man of the
heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and
quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price." Ver. 4. Can
the wife in the fear of God, profess to sincerely love her husband, and to
be a true wife, when she is spending his hard earnings for gold and
pearls, and costly apparel for adornment? he to struggle against poverty,
and she to embarrass him to satisfy a proud, selfish heart? Such is not
true love to husband nor to God. The wife who adorns herself with modesty
and sobriety (1 Tim. 2:9), with a meek and quiet spirit (1 Pet. 3:4, 5),
with good works (1 Tim. 2:10) is a blessing to her husband. "A virtuous
woman is a crown to her husband." Prov. 12:4. "Who can find a virtuous
woman? for her price is far