sure?" This passage St. Peter has justly noticed and adduced
in this place; for she would not have called Abraham thus her lord if
she had not been subject to him and had him before her eyes.
Therefore, he says, further:

V. 6. _Whose daughters ye are, if ye do well and stand in fear of no
terror._ What does he mean by that? This is what he means. It is
usually the nature of women to be troubled and frightened about
everything, since they are so much occupied with charms and
superstition, while one teaches the other, that it is not to be told
what illusions they have. This should not be the case with a
christian woman, but she should go forward securely, yet not be so
superstitious, and run about here and there--pronounce here a
blessing, there a blessing--inasmuch as it concerns her to let God
direct; and she is to remember it cannot go ill with her, for as long
as she knows her condition, that her state is pleasing to God, what
will she then have to fear? Though your child die, though you are
sick, it is well if it pleases God; if you are in a state which
pleases God, what better can you desire? This, then, is what is
preached to wives. Now follows the duty of husbands:

V. 7. _Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to reason,
giving honor to the wife as to the weaker vessel, and as being heirs
together of the grace of life, that your prayers be not hindered._

The woman is also God's instrument or vessel, he says, for God uses
her to this end, that she may bear children, give them birth and
nourishment, and watch over them, and rule the household. Such work
is the wife to do. So that she is God's instrument and vessel, which
He has created and instructed to this end. For this reason is the
husband to respect his wife. Therefore, St. Peter says, Ye husbands,
dwell with your wives according to reason, not that ye are to rule
over them with a headstrong will. They are, indeed, to obey the law
of the husband; what he bids and commands, that is to be done; but he
is also to see to it that he walks soberly and according to reason
with his wife, so as to give her that respect and honor which belongs
to her as God's weaker vessel.

The husband is also God's instrument, but he is stronger, while the
wife is weaker bodily, as well as timid and more easily dispirited;
therefore, you are so to conduct and walk in respect to her, that she
may be able to bear it. You must proceed in this case just as with
othe