Daily Stirring {Marriage Monday}

By Jenni, July 22, 2013

I haven’t much time today, I don’t have a post pre-scheduled, and it’s already late, so I will keep this short.

Looking again at Richard Baxter’s Practical Works, in the section where he discusses the mutual duties of husbands and wives to each other, he has a list of practical ways husbands and wives can maintain marital love and affection. I will eventually share them all, but for today I will just share item #10, with no commentary, simply because I find it amusing. He’s addressing husbands, but I think the principle goes both ways. Good old practical wisdom – and how he says it makes me giggle. What strengths — or weaknesses — of your spouse are you stirring up each day?

“10. Stir up that most in them into exercise which is best, and stir not up that which is evil; and then the good will most appear, and the evil will be as buried, and you will more easily maintain your love. There is some uncleanness in the best on earth; and if you will be daily stirring in the filth, no wonder if you have the annoyance; and for that you may thank yourselves: draw out the fragrancy of that which is good and delectable in them, and do not by your own imprudence or peevishness stir up the worst, and then you shall find that even your faulty wives will appear more amiable to you.”*

*Baxter, R., & Orme, W. (1830). The Practical Works of the Rev. Richard Baxter: Volume IV (119). London: James Duncan.

Other posts in this series include: As a Bone Out of Joint and But We’re NOT Disjointed! You can also read all posts on marriage here.