1. You know from the word of God where the marriage state has its origin, namely: that it is an order of God that man and woman should dwell with each other and spend their lives together. First of all, so that by this means sin and the flesh may be warded off and we may live in good conscience. For God has severely forbidden fornication and immorality, and, as can be seen in all history and daily experience, has punished them horribly. Secondly, so that God's kingdom and the Church may be preserved: not only by God's giving children in marriage through His blessing, but also by the children being raised by the spouses to fear and in God's Word, so that God's knowledge and the right worship of God may always be inherited from one to the other, and thus many may attain salvation.
2. because the marriage state is against sin and for the increase of the kingdom of God, you and all who come to the marriage state should thank God from the bottom of your hearts for this grace, that He has given you such a heart and mind that you do not desire fornication and sin as the ungodly world does, but fear God and desire all fornication.
To avoid. For this is a great mercy, because it is an example of how Satan has many strings to keep hearts apart from the state of marriage, so that they remain in sin and an evil conscience. But what kind of judgment will follow against those who commit fornication, Paul says in 1 Cor. 6:9: "Neither fornicators nor adulterers will inherit the kingdom of God." You, praise God, have now escaped such an abominable judgment, if you keep together according to God's order and stay with one another.
(3) But against this you shall not yet be sure. The evil enemy, because he has not been able to hinder your heart and divine purpose, will subdue himself in another way, how he may come between you and break up such marital union, or at least make it difficult and troublesome. And this especially is his hold, how he may tear the hearts from one another, that as ye now have lust and love one toward another, so he may cause unkindness and enmity. And the evil enemy finds in us a great advantage for such his purpose. For we have been accustomed to this from our youth through sin, so that each one likes to have the right to
and is reluctant to give way to the other; this does not lead to unity, but to discord. For this reason, the spouses should guard against it with special diligence, and first ask God for His Holy Spirit to govern them in this way and to bring their hearts together in this way, so that the evil enemy may not sow his seed between them and separate the hearts. Such prayer is highly necessary, that it may go on daily among husbands and wives, always asking one for the other, that God may protect us from such evil.
(4) But because few people consider this, and there are far fewer who do it and pray diligently, it is seen how the evil enemy plays his game, that there are very few such marriages where there is no quarreling, quarreling, cursing, reproaching, fighting, and beating. The same people do not see that the devil likes it that way and creates it that way; otherwise they would not only pray against it, but also defend themselves, and where any anger wanted to drive them to scolding or beating, they would not impose it as a real devil's work, which, if followed, always makes things worse and brings one evil upon another. For this is certainly true: through such a beginning the evil enemy brings it about that in the end the hearts separate and love is even lost. A miserable life must follow, where two should be with each other, and yet cannot be with each other. And yet such plague is very mean in the world. Where does it come from? People do not look at the enemy, the devil. That is why they do not pray that God will defend them. And they themselves do not know, when they are angry, when they insist, when they do not give way to one another, when they do not want to get out of the way, that they are only giving the devil his way. Now if you want to be protected from such evil, if you desire to have a peaceful, friendly, united marriage with your spouse, learn to ask God to rule your hearts through the Holy Spirit, to ward off Satan, and to keep you in right unity.
5 In addition to such prayer, special diligence must also be used. Peter teaches about this, 1 Petr. 3, 7. "Husbands," he says, "dwell with your wives with understanding, and approach the female as the weakest.
The husband is to begin and help to maintain unity and love in the marriage. This command is especially directed to the husband, who is to begin and help to maintain unity and love in the marriage. But this is done so that he may proceed with reason and not with force, and overlook the wife. The reason is that women are weak creatures and do not have as much courage and a strong heart as men; they are quicker to be challenged, quicker to take things to heart, quicker to be moved to joy and sorrow than men. A man should notice this, not be hard on them, sometimes overlook them, overhear them, help them with a good word and spare them.
(6) But the world considers this modesty to be a womanish thing, and thinks that if one is angry, if one beats with fists, that is a man's duty. Well, St. Peter sees what is best for a man and what he should do best. It is not called beating with fists. Needs reason, he says. And that is even more, he means to give the woman her honor, that is, to spare her and give in to her, that she is a weak tool, she has a small, weak, soft heart, can be upset with a word, moved to anger. Learn that and spare it. In this way you will not only obtain unity, but also win its heart. For good words always do more for the right people than blows. But whoever does not think well of the woman, always cursing, beating and the like, what does he accomplish? He helps the devil to his work, so that where there should be unity, love and joy, there becomes enmity, hatred and suffering. This in itself is a serious matter, and without a doubt the greatest evil that can befall people on earth in worldly matters.
(7) But there is another and greater hindrance which prevents prayer. For where there is disagreement, one cannot pray properly. Cause, the Our Father or prayer is not for us alone, but for all the world. And especially we include in it: we want to forgive our debtors, as we desire that God will forgive us.
How can disunited people do this? How can they pray for each other, since one is so bitter against the other? But if prayer is gone for them and others, what comfort and protection can they have? Since we cannot meet and escape the devil except through prayer, and otherwise have no comfort or help in all distress, since we can hold on.
8 Behold, in such temporal and spiritual miseries thou bringest thyself, if thou wilt be Han's unreasonableness, not needing modesty, but beating and biting like the evil horses. Peter does not call you, but the devil likes it. Therefore beware of this; you can still be a man, even if you do not lash out like this and ever think a word to your spouse is good. Let the husband do this, and God will be pleased with it; but to the husband and wife it brings all good and all blessing into the house.
But what should the woman do? Should she misuse such oversight and sensible attendance, and do whatever she pleases wherever she goes? No; that would also be against God's command. For so Peter also preaches to them, "Wives are to be subject to their husbands." "To be subject" does not mean to rule, to create and to command. This is what a wife should do to her servants and children, but to her husband she should be subject, be commanded and follow. This is also a good thing that helps a great deal in unity, when a wife looks after her husband, does his will, does what she knows he likes, and avoids what she knows he dislikes. For by this she wins the husband's heart away, that he may have pleasure and joy, that he may go home again and to his wife. On the other hand, where women are disobedient, obstinate and domineering, the man is afraid of his own house and thinks that when he comes home he will have to go to war and among the enemy.
(10) But it is not possible, it is sometimes overlooked; for we are all frail, and especially women more than men. Let the woman beware lest she persist in wrong and disobedience, but let her transgress.
Say: Dear husband, this and this happened to me in anger, forgive me, I will never do it again etc. Women should do this especially, because they are more infirm. And not only the benefit should drive them to this, so that they prevent disunity; but the strong command of God, as Paul says, Eph. 5:22, 23, 24, where he says: "Let the wives be subject to their husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church. Therefore as the church is subject to Christ, so also the wives are subject to their husbands in all things." Item: "The woman fears the man." There you hear that it is God's order: You shall recognize your husband as your lord and honor him through fear and obedience. And Peter says in the place reported, "The holy women of old adorned themselves, not with silver and gold, but that they put their hope in God, and were obedient to their husbands; as Sarah was obedient to Abraham, and called him lord. The same daughters," says Peter, "you have become, if you follow their example."
(11) This saying should be especially noted by women. It is true that most of the misfortunes of marriage come upon them; they lose their freedom, and in the married state they must suffer much hardship and misery in bearing and rearing children, which they would have to endure if they were not married. But Peter says: "This was the ornament of the holy women, that they put their hope in God. That is, they had confidence that he would help; for this reason they called upon him and asked for help. Do the same, and you will be gloriously and beautifully adorned in the sight of God and all His angels and saints, and you will no longer be allowed to ask for good works. Be obedient to your husband, let him be your command, look to him for what he desires and wants from you; thus you serve God and preserve peace and unity in your house.
12) It will also follow that God will be with you and your spouse with His grace and blessing, and will do you all good; as the 128th Psalm says, "Blessed is he who fears the Lord, and trusts in His
Because of goes. You will feed on your handiwork. Blessed art thou, for thou hast it good. Your wife will be like a fruitful vine around your house, your children like the olive branches around your table. Behold, thus is blessed the man that feareth the Lord."
(13) Therefore learn to send yourselves into matrimony, and you will be provided for in every way. You have escaped the devil's snare, fornication outside of marriage, and therefore you can have a good conscience before God, because he himself has ordered such a married life. And because you ask God daily to be with you with grace and to preserve love and unity, and also with special diligence to accustom yourselves to be quiet and peaceful and to keep each other's daily faults too well, your attendance will be kind and loving, so that you will have pleasure and joy in it. And even though it will not remain outside, the cross will also be found, that now and then, now and then, evil will come in and evil will happen; yet you can lift up your hands with each other in such common distress and cry out to God for help. And is the promise
Christ says, Matth. 18, 19: "If two of you become one on earth, why should they ask, it shall be done for them of my Father in heaven. Why would you then shy away from the need, because help is promised to you, and the only thing missing is that you and your spouse, as a true, whole church of God, ask for it? Then you know how necessary it is for us Christians to carry the cross; otherwise we would never be aware of God's gracious help.
14 Therefore, as I have said from the beginning, give thanks to God for this grace that you have come into holy matrimony; and pray that God may govern and guide you in it with grace, protecting you from sins and all harm. And be careful that you do not let Satan creep in through anger and unwillingness, so that your prayer, the highest consolation, will not be hindered, and you can cry out to God for help in all distress, and keep His blessing, grace, protection and protection forever; until God calls you with yours to a different and better life, amen.