Luther's Words: Regarding how husbands are to treat their wives

St. Peter says: You husbands should dwell with your wives according to reason and should not desire to rule over them with a headstrong will.  A wife is indeed to live according to the direction of her husband; what he bids and commands is to be done.  But he is also to see to it that he treats his wife with tenderness and reason, so as to spare her and honor her as God's weaker vessel.  The husband too, is an instrument of God; but he is strong, while the wife is weaker bodily as well as more timid and more easily dispirited.  Therefore you should so deal with her and treat her in such a way that she may be able to bear it.  You must act here as you do with other instruments with which you work.  For instance, if you want a good knife, you must not hack on a stone with it.  Naturally in this mater no rule can be laid down.  God makes the individual responsible for treating his wife with reason according to the character of each woman.  For you are not to use the authority which you possess just as you please.  You are her husband in order to help, support, and protect her, not to destroy her.  In this mater no one can lay down a rule for you.  You yourself must know how to act with reason.   

WLS, #2821