Blog : A Dutiful Helpmate

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9/15/2007 1:30 am

A Dutiful Helpmate

CONTINUED from Richard Baxter's
"The Duties of Husbands and Wives"

Direct. VIII. Another duty of husbands and wives is, to be helpful to each other in their worldly business and estates. Not for worldly ends, nor with a worldly mind; but in obedience to God, who will have them labour, as well as pray, for their daily bread, and has determined that in the sweat of their brows they shall eat their bread; and that six days they shall labor and do all that they have to do; and that he that will not work must not eat. ( 41 )

Direct IX. Also you must be careful to guard the honour of one another. You must not divulge, but conceal, the failings of each other; The reputation of each other must be as dear to you as your own. It is a sinful and unfaithful practice of many, both husbands and wives, who among their friends are discussing the faults of each other, which they are required in tenderness to cover up. MANY peevish persons will aggravate all the faults of their spouse behind their backs. ( 42 )

Direct X. It is your marriage duty to assist one another in the education of your . ( 43 )

Direct XI. It is your marriage duty to assist each other in charity. ( 44 )

Direct XII. LASTLY, it is a great DUTY of husbands and wives, to help and comfort one other in preparing for a safe and happy death. ( 45 )

1. In the time of health, you must often and seriously remind each other of the time when death will make the separation; and live together daily as those that are still expecting the parting hour....Reprove everything in one another, which would be an unwelcome memory at death. If you see each other dull and slow in heavenliness, or living in vanity, worldliness, or sloth, as if you had forgotten that you must shortly die, stir up one another to do all without delay which the approach of such a day requireth.

2. And when death is at hand, oh then what abundance of tenderness, and seriousness, and skill, and diligence, is needful for one, that hath the last office of love to perform, to the departing soul of so near a friend! Oh then what need will there be of your most wise, and faithful, and diligent help!....They that are utterly unprepared and unfit to die themselves, can do little to prepare or help another. But they that live together as the heirs of heaven, and converse on earth as fellow travellers to the land of promise, may help and encourage the souls of one another, and joyfully part at death, as expecting quickly to meet again in life eternal.

References:
41. Pro 31; Tit 2v5; 1Ti 5v14; 1Ti 5v8; Ex 20v9,11; Gen. 3v19; 1Th 3v10-12

42. Jam 4v11; Pro 17v9; 1Pet 4v8

43. Gen 18v19; Gen 35v2; Josh. 24v14; 1Tim 5v14; Prov 31v1

44. Heb 13v2; Gen 18v6; Rom 12v13; 2Cor 9v6; Luke 16v9; 1Tim 3v2; 1Tim 5v10; Pro 11v20; Pro 11v28; Neh. 8v1; Pro 19v17; Job 29v13; John 31v20 Acts 20v35

45. Deut. 32v29; Psalm 39v4; Psalm 90v12; Rom 14v8; Heb 13v14; 1Pe 1v17; Psalm 3v5; Psalm 37v37; Psalm 49v15; Psalm 73v24; Psalm 116v15; Pro 14v32; Eccl. 7v1; Luke 16v22; Luke 23v43; 1Cor 15v51-57; 2Cor 5v1; 2Cor 5v4; 2Cor 5v8; Phi 1v20-23; 1The 5v9; 2 Pet. 1v11; 2 Pet. 1v14; Rev 14v13; Psalm 23v4

*Taken from Volume 1, Baxter's Practical Works, A Christian Directory, page 431-438.*

NOTE: I know this was a long series, but I felt
it very much worthy of posting. And, yes I had read it word for word before posting it in here.

With Great Love,

Hiz4Ever †

Vincit Veritas~Truth Conquers