The Duties and Graces of the Christian Woman. ledge and practice of religion in women are of singular utility and efficacy to the interests of Christianity, and of human society; necessary to the happiness of man in the present life, and conducive to his eternal welfare. These cases I will endeavour briefly to specify. Let me first draw your attention to the case of the married woman, with regard to her inAluence upon the happiness, the principles, and conduct of her husband. To a good man, an imprudent and ungodly consort, given to pleasure, to vanity, to extravagance, unmindful of her family and household, (supposing that she be free from every failing of greater criminality) is an unceasing cause of disquietude. He sees his substance wasted, his reputation sinking, his children brought up to be immoral and irreligious. The hopes of his life are disappointed; the years that promised joy and gladness have brought sorrow or dejection. His home, which should have been the dear abode of harmony, mutual fondness, and unbroken felicity, is the scene of discord, discontent, querulousness, gloom, and perhaps of loathing; so that he either leaves it in an gry The Duties and Graces of the Christian Woman, gry disgust, or sits down in it to the tranquil endurance of misery, in settled sadness for the lost opportunity of life's best enjoyments. On the other hand, a pious and virtuous wife is a crown to her husband. She increases or preserves his wealth; raises him in the estimation of his friends and the public; fills his dwelling with comfort, cheerfulness, love, and joy; and trains his children to happiness and Heaven. Should the husband be wicked and irreligious, the persuasion, patience, and good example of a godly consort may reclaim him, and be the occasion of joy in Heaven for the sinner that repenteth. If any husbands obey not the word, saith St. Peter, they may be won by the chaste conversation of the wives. The second case that I shall notice of the benefits to be derived from the piety of woman is one before alluded to; the happy effects of her example and advice upon the domesticks of her household. The good, which she can do, in this respect, is inestimable, and far more extensive than many heads of families have ever thought of, or would be willing to admit. I am well assured, although aware that P 4 The Duties and Graces of the Christian Woman. that the sentiment may displease the majority, that, if all mistresses of private establishments, particularly of large and opulent establishments, had been as sedulous in the duties of their stations, as in their pleasures, had watched the transactions under their own roofs, as attentively as they have marked the changes and follies of fashion, or the capricious will of the multitude; we should behold less indigence in our streets, and be troubled with less disorder in our dwellings; less idleness, discontent, and disaffection would be found among the poor, less depravity among servants; and we should read a far less affecting catalogue of public crimes. To illustrate this, I will only put the case of the female servant. If she observe in her employers and superiors scarcely the outward form of religion, and nothing of its substance and vitality; if she discover, as their motive of action, nothing but a desire of selfish and present gratification; and as their most important occupations, only a succession of vanities, gaieties, and amusements; can it be expected that her thoughts will be better disposed, and her The Duties and Graces of the Christian Woman, her attention fixed on worthier objects?-No -she will copy the follies and vices set before her in the envied superiors, whom she is bound to please; to these she will add her own peculiar faults, with some of those common to her station and thus she will outdo the bad example that has misled her. To all the guilt of the sensuality and licentiousness continually exemplified to her, she will add something of the grossness and vulgarity of low breeding, or, what is scarcely less disgusting, the affectation of refinement, to which she cannot attain. Uninfluenced by religion, and void of the honourable feeling which is some restraint upon the high bred and well educated, she will know no controul to her evil inclinations: even character she will sacrifice to vanity and voluptuousness. She will hesitate at no method, however immoral, of indulging her favourite propensities, if it be only safe, and suited to her habits. But, it cannot be necessary to amplify on this particular, and I shall close it with repeating that the directress of the Christian household with the exemplary piety of Mary, should The Duties and Graces of the Christian Woman. should possess the prudence and diligence of Martha; to use the words of Solomon, she looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness. Making these observations upon the conduct of some in the elevated walks of life, I do not, however, aver that, in these times of wickedness and apostacy, the interests of religion have suffered particularly in that part of the community. For the growth of the prevailing spirit of turbulence and impiety, which threatens almost to sap the foundations of civil union, and all social happiness, we must look much lower, and to causes not necessary to be noticed here. Nevertheless, that more, much more might have been done by many in affluent and distinguished conditions cannot be denied; and, if this had been done, it is equally evident, the prevailing depravity had been less extensive. But, although a partial preventive of this awakening evil might have been found here, I am little disposed to think that here it had much of its origin, or of its increase. The cause of complaint is that, enough has not been done for its remedy and suppression. A |