to their own selfish gratification, God requires of them that they usefully employ the time which He allots them. If they will not labor for their bread, neither shall they eat. They shall not be a voluntary tax upon the bounty of their neighbors, nor their parents, nor their husbands. They shall, at least, earn what they consume, in some way or other, either by caring for their children, when the greater good requires it, or by ministering to the wellbeing of some of God's creatures. Neither shall they be, in any way, a tax upon the bounty of God, without seeking to make return by those labors which He has ordained; not as a curse in consequence of the fall, but as an ennobling and necessary effort of their existence.

God saw how congenial idleness and ease would be to our feelings in our fallen state, and for that very reason cursed the ground, that it might not bring forth its fruit without proper exertion on the part of man; consequently, he placed woman under his dominion, and increased her cares and sorrows. It is vain to attempt to screen ourselves behind the customs of the world, as an extenuation of our disobedience. These very customs are to be changed, and that through the agency of woman, before she can again take her proper rank among the creatures of God. While she disregards the law of her Maker, which teaches her to care for her offspring, to train them up in accordance with the dictates of nature and revelation, to see that their bodily wants are properly supplied, and that their minds are imbued with the pure love which a mother alone can impress; while she sets them the example of indulgence in idleness and extravagance, as well as of positive disobedience to all physical laws, can she claim exemption from the divine penalty? Does she not still need the spur of want, of care, of suffering, to cause her to reflect, and to feel the necessity of conforming to the will of her heavenly Father? Does she not verily

rob God, not merely of her own time, and the food which she eats, the expensive robes she wears, and the extravagant equipage which she demands; but of the time and influence of those who surround her, and minister to her vanity, and the very bodies and souls of her children, committed to her care, only that they might, by her, be trained for "glory, honor, and immortality, and eternal life.' ""

Do any of you, who thus rob God, endeavor to shield yourselves from the weight of this responsibility, by saying, “We are not Christians? This is all very well for them, but we make no such profession. And even they by no means come up to the standard you would set up. They not unfrequently conform to all these customs of the world. Go to their churches, and you will see instances of extravagance and devotion to fashion, that hardly find a parallel in our theatres and ball-rooms. Indeed, if we wish to learn what is fashionable, we would as soon go to church, as to a place of amusement. You talk of the violation of physical laws; but we see among them as absolute deformities, occasioned by injurious dress, as among the most thoughtless and unconcerned. Their time is apparently occupied with the same trifles that consume ours; they toil no more, they deny themselves luxuries no more. Go to them, first, with your reproof, and then we will listen to you, when we see the benefits of these teachings exemplified in them." All this may be true, but such are not Christians. Without repentance and conversion, they will never enter Heaven. Those fashion-seekers have no more love to God, than they have This any one may learn from the Bible.

to man.

Beloved, let us tell you, that you, too, are of God's creation; that He exercises over you, also, the right of ownership; that for you He has opened a way of redemption; that you are not your own, but are bought with a

price, even with the blood of Jesus. Because you live in a state of open rebellion, think not that you owe no allegiance to your lawful Sovereign. Think not that God will visit upon you, lightly, the penalty of your misdeeds. He looks upon sin with no allowance, with no favor, whether in those who profess his name, or those who do

not.

true.

That many of the professing friends of the Lord Jesus are thus conformed to the world, is, indeed, lamentably And on them rests a most fearful responsibility. They have professed to forsake all, and follow Christ. But how have they followed Him? Surely, not by forsaking all; not by denying themselves, for the advancement of His kingdom; not by laboring with their own hands, that they might have wherewith to contribute to those who have need; not by using the things of this world as not abusing them. They wear not the humble robes of Jesus; they adorn not themselves with the adorning of the heart, that is alone beautiful in the sight of our Saviour.

There are professors, however, who deny themselves, and live exemplary lives; and for this exhibition of true christian character, we have reason for gratitude. But the character above described is so common, that it stands out in bold relief, striking the minds of the enemies of Jesus as a strong evidence that religion does not make men and women what they ought to be. However pure and beautiful they may acknowledge the theory to be, still, they find too much pretext to assert that it reforms but partially. Especially is this the case in regard to those who have an abundance of this world's goods committed to their trust. The brightest examples of Christian character are far oftener found among the poor and lowly of the earth, than among those who possess riches and honors.

We shall, perhaps, better understand the practical duties of wise and godly women by considering the character given to such in the Old Testament, and also the duties assigned them under the New Dispensation. Let us see what the wise, in olden times, understood in relation to their duties, and their sphere of action; and mark the contrast which God makes between those who obey, and those who do not.

CHAPTER II.

THE INSPIRED MODEL.

SECTION 1.

Description of a Virtuous Woman.

"Nor look, nor tone revealeth aught
Save Woman's quietness of thought;
And yet around her is a light,

Of inward majesty and might."

THE 31st chapter of Proverbs opens with a most beautiful prophecy, the instruction given to King Lemuel by his mother. After relating those wise precepts which maternal faithfulness had early impressed upon the heart of a child, the king, as though struck with the immense value of such a faithful instructress, thus breaks forth : "Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies." O how priceless to him seemed the love and faithfulness of that mother, who sought to impress upon his heart those maxims of truth, temperance, justice, and humanity! The very counsel which had perhaps alone restrained his ambition, and made him a man of peace, and a discerner of the true secret of judging righteously between man and man.

He had not always given heed to the pure admonitions of her wisdom; but now, as he looked back, and saw the purity and excellency of her counsel, and how wise he would have been in following it, in all its injunctions, he could not refrain from bursting forth into a strain of pure and grateful praise of the virtues, which, in all probability, he ascribed to her character, in connexion with others.