ing their character; yet this diffidence of manners, this disposition for a retired sphere which in a certain degree is expedient and ornamental, may be readily indulged to excess. "Miriam the sister of Aaron" was bold in ascribing glory to Israel's God for the deliverance he had wrought and animated the daughters of Zion to that exercise : Hannah the mother of Samuel was open in offering the tribute of thanks to Jehovah for an answer to her prayers and the gift of a son: "Anna the prophetess" was public in the profession of her faith in Jesus as the promised Messiah, and spake of HIM "to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem: Priscilla, the wife of Aquila," was open, unshaken in her attachment to the apostle, accompanying him from place to place; she undertook to teach an "eloquent Apollos the way of God more perfectly;" yet were these illustrious personages impeached with presumptuous conduct, were they charged with throwing off that softness, that gentleness of manner which form the ornament of the female character? No; "they are held in everlasting remembrance" their names are embalmed on the inspired page, and their zeal is exhibited as a pattern for the imitation of all succeeding generations. With what elevated sentiments of esteem and affection does the apostle mention the latter of these women; he acknowledges not only his personal obligations to "this mother in Israel," but the VOL. 4. 2 B2

obligation of the whole society of the faithful?" to whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles:" he considers her edifying conversation and example as diffusing their happy influence throughout every part of the christian community.

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3. This passage may be improved for admonishing and animating female believers to a dignified zeal in promoting the gospel of our Lord. 66 Seeing, ye DAUGHTERS OF JERUSALEM, seeing ye also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses,' with a splendid retinue of women, in earlier and latter ages, who lived the ornament of their sex, the glory of human nature, the blessing of their own age, the admiration of future generations: women whose characters were adorned with every virtue, private, relative, and social; in whom appeared fervent piety to God, unfeigned charity to men, zeal for the diffusion of the gospel and solicitude for the salvation of others; are ye" compassed with a cloud of witnesses so great, ARISE AND TRIM UP YOUR LAMPS ; lay aside every weight" and rouse into vigorous exercise each gift and grace in imitation of their high example. You have the same command authorizing your exertions, the same plenitude of grace to support in the arduous work, the same compassionate Saviour to sympathize amidst every discouragement that may attend" your labors in the gospel;" and the same prize of im

mortality at the end of your christian course. Let each female hearer, who has beheld the glory of Jesus or felt the constraining influence of his love, solemnly inquire what are the peculiar duties of my station? How may I most successfully labor with ministers in advancing the gospel of my gracious Lord?

YE WOMEN who have an interest at our Father's throne: on whom the Holy Ghost has rested as the spirit of supplication, labor with us by frequent and fervent prayer for the success of our gospel; wrestle mightily with Israel's Shepherd for his blessing on our feeble administration, that it may please him" by the foolishness of our preaching to save" precious souls. "Ye that make mention of the Lord keep not silence and give him no rest until he arise and make Jerusalem a praise in the earth."

YE WOMEN, who are honored with children, whose tables are encircled with these rising plants, your own rejoicing and the future hopes of Zion, labor with us by ardently promoting their salvation; " be instant in season and out of season" advising and admonishing, and expostulating with them. If there be any consolation in Christ, any thing endearing in these little pledges of your Father's love, any thing valuable in their immortal souls, any thing desirable in their usefulness through life, any thing interesting in their future glory and blessedness," fulfil ye my joy" by making their

instruction your chief employment, and their salvation your chief concern. The Lord God has conferred a peculiar honor on the woman in frequently, I venture to add, in ordinarily using her instrumentality for the conversion of her children. In reading the history of those who were early brought to the knowledge of the truth, or lived public and eminent blessings to the world, I have noticed that their first impressions may be usually traced back to her exertions; a Samuel, a Timothy, a Gardiner, a Newton, a Lady Glenorchy appear each of them to have been indebted, under God, to the early prayers, and tears, and entrea ties of a pious mother..

YE WOMEN, who are crowned with worldly affluence; on whom Jehovah has poured in rich profusion the treasures of the earth, labour with us by devising and executing liberal measures for the enlargement of his kingdom. While you reflect that your silver and your gold are derived from his bounty, let them flow in the advancement of his glory. Bear with me if I use freedom in admonishing and expostulating on the proper distribution of your wealth, because on this not only the salvation of thousands but your own eternal rejoicing and glorying intimately depend. Charge them that are rich in this world;" and how does HE, "whose are the silver and the gold," require that these talents be occupied? In luxury of diet or dress; in personal or family aggrandize

ment; in adding possession to possession, and thus securing an independence for their offspring after them? No, widely different is his solemn, sovereign command. "Charge them that are rich in this world that they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate, laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life."

YE WOMEN, who are poor in this world; who are encumbered with many cares, who have numerous families and look on this hand and the other hand and see little prospect of their support, labor with us by throwing your "single mite into the treasury of God." It is not the possession of much, but the proper occupation of what you do possess that is accepted of Jehovah and secures the reward. "The widow's farthing" will be cheerfully acknowledged by HIM who judges "according to what a man hath and not according to what he hath not."

One talent well improved amounts to more in his estimation than ten or ten thousand slothfully neglected.

Shall I multiply arguments for animating my christian hearers, male and female, to imitate those who have gone before "in the labors of the gospel?" Shall I call forth to their consideration the infinite, eternal obligations imposed on us by the redeeming love of the Son of God? Shall I dwell on those complicated miseries from which he