ceal her virtues and talents, but she never ambitiously displays them. She is still more pleasingly adorned with the graces of mildness and gentleness. Her manners are placid, the tones of her voice are sweet, and her eye benignant; because her heart is meek and kind. From the combination of these virtues arises that general effect, which is denominated loveliness, a quality, which renders her the object of the complacence of all her friends, and the delight of every one who approaches her. Believing that she was born, not for herself only, but for others, she endeavours to communicate happiness to all who are around her, in particular to her intimate connexions. Her children, those immortal beings, who are committed to her may be formed to knowledge and principal objects of her attention. their minds the seeds of piety and goodness; she waters them with the dew of heavenly instruction; and she eradicates every weed of evil, as soon as it appears. Thus does she benefit the church, her country, and the world, by training up sincere Christians, useful citizens, and good men. It is scarcely necessary to observe, that with so benevolent a heart, she remembers the poor, and that she affords them, not only pity, but substantial relief. As she is a wise woman, who is not afraid to exercise her understanding, her experience and observation soon convince her, that the world, though it

care, that they virtue, are the She sows in

abounds with many pleasures, is not an unmixed state of enjoyment. Whilst therefore she is careful to bring no misfortunes on herself by imprudence, folly, and extravagance, she looks with a calm and steady eye on the unavoidable afflictions, through which she is doomed to pass; and she arms her mind with fortitude, that she may endure with resolution and cheerfulness the severest trials. When sickness and distress at last come, she submits to them with patience and resignation. A peevish complaint does not escape from her lips; nor does she once murmur, because the hand of her heavenly Father lies heavy upon her. She is, if possible, more serene, more mild, more gentle, on the bed of disease, than she was in the seasons of health and felicity. So affectionate is she to her surrounding friends, and so grateful for the attentions, which they pay to her, that they almost forget, that she suffers any pain. The love of God crowns all her virtues : religion is deeply fixed in her heart; but here, as in all her behaviour, she is without parade. Her piety is sincere and ardent, but humble and retired. She attends only to the essentials of religion, and leaves doubtful controversies to angry theologians, who more highly value the doctrines of their particular creeds, by which they are distinguished from other men, than the duties of the gospel, which belong to all Christians. A mind, in which strength and gentleness are thus united, may be compared

to the soft light of the moon, which shines with the perpetual rays of the sun. We are at first view ready to imagine that it is more lovely than great, more charming than dignified; but we soon become convinced, that it is filled with true wisdom, and endowed with noble purposes.

Such a character can be formed no where but in a civilized country, and in a country which is blessed with the light of the gospel. Among savage nations women are the slaves of the stronger sex; among the ancient heathen they were subjected to disgraceful tyranny; and in the present age, among nations, who are unacquainted with the Christian religion, they are deprived of personal freedom, and are nothing more than beautiful birds confined in cages. Whatever reason, therefore, men may

think they have for wishing, that the arts of civilization were lost, or that the licentiousness of paganism would return, women would lose every thing by such a change. The religion of Jesus is of infinite importance to women; and it should be precious in their eyes, and dear to their hearts. If men therefore, puffed up with the pride of skeptical philosophy, dispute the pretensions of its author, let not women, whose refined sensibility frequently leads them directly to truth, refuse to admit his claims: if men will not have the Prince of peace to reign over them, let women cheerfully submit to

his rightful dominion. The Christian religion restores to women all their rights, and establishes their equality with man in every thing which is valuable. From the dishonourable condition of being one slave among many of the same haughty lord, it raises them to the rank of being the single companion, and the only complete and perpetual friend of their husbands; of being equal sharers with them in the same property and privileges, in the same labours and cares, in the same sorrows and joys. It confers on them the right of being the children of the same God, the disciples of the same Master, and the heirs of the same salvation. They should therefore adhere to it as the charter of their freedom, which not only makes them good, but which also renders them happy. The Christian religion refines and ennobles all who receive it; but it is in particular adapted to the character and habits of the female sex. Women are, almost by nature, humble, gentle, pure, faithful, affectionate, and compassionate, and more distinguished for passive, than active, courage; and these are the virtues, which the gospel every where enjoins. It lays no stress on the false virtues, which are supposed to adorn savages and pagans; on no virtue, which is merely masculine, but on those virtues only, which can be performed by every human being.

During the course of my life, I have seen many instances of the triumphs of this divine

religion in the female heart; and I doubt not, my brethren, that I express sentiments, which you feel, when I say you rejoice in having passed your days among Christian women. You remember with pleasure and gratitude the affection, which watched over your infancy; the tender solicitude, which guided your youth; and the conversation which has charmed, the friendship which has blessed, and the many virtues which have edified, your riper years. These pleasing recollections are however imbittered with the thought, that many excellent women, whom you have known, and esteemed, and loved, now sleep in the grave. If there was not a future state of happiness, you could with difficulty support their loss: but whilst as Christians you believe, that the precious remains, which have been committed to the dust, will again be animated with life, and restored to bliss, you can with reason indulge the hope, that you shall see them again, not shining, as on earth, with feeble and reflected light; but when, in a more emphatical meaning of the text, the light of the moon shall be as the light of the sun, and the light of the sun shall be seven-fold, as the light of seven days; when the ransomed of the Lord shall come to the holy mountain with songs and everlasting joy on their heads; when they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.

4th S. in Advent.