to many nameless cares and toils in rearing their children. Their anxieties are frequent, their schemes are manifold, their hopes are flattering, their fears are eafily awakened, their prayers are fervent, and their fatisfactions exquifite. Much falls to a mother's share as to the health and vigour of conftitution of the young family; nor is fhe less employed, often she is more, than the father, in forming the mind, and in training up her fons and daughters to usefulness, refpectability, and true enjoyment. We detract nothing from the worth and praise of a father in "training up his child in the way in which " he should go," when we afcribe more to a mother's inftructions. They are, as may be eafily fuppofed and explained, more frequent, more tender, more winning and affecting; and, to her unspeakable joy, fuccefsful. The duty of a father requires him to be abroad; he is in the fields, in his shop, on a journey, in the market; he directs others, he obeys others. The greater portion of the time of the children paffes with the mother, in that period when instruction is most neceffary and most effectual. She knows their difpofitions and capacities; the avails her

felf

felf of her presence, of her obfervations, and the convenient feafons of teaching, of reproving, of impreffing and affecting their minds; in a word, of training them up to usefulness, to happiness, for God, and for immortality. Whatever the other parent is, the mother who feareth the LORD, with the father of the faithful, commands "her chil"dren and her household that they keep the

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way of the LORD, to do justice and judg"ment." Whatever others do, fhe refolves, with the leader of Ifrael," as for me and my "houfe we will ferve the LORD."

WHEN her children go abroad into the world, expofed to new dangers, and called to new scenes and duties, they are on her heart; her best advices are affectionately and affiduously imparted; and she commends them to GOD and the word of his grace.

If the mother is fingle in these cares, and exertions, and prayers, her claim to esteem and commendation is increased; as we pity her, we admire her the more. But if her every care is her husband's also, if their efforts are equal, and if fuccefs crowns their L labours

labours of love, how happy is that family! Their friends and neighbours are much delighted, and all who know them are forward and cheerful in their commendations.

IT is in the various ftations and conditions of human life, that excellence appears and is manifefted. Real worth may be the fame in the fun and in the fhade, in elevation and in depreffion. The value and beauty of the diamond is not loft when light is withdrawn ; reftore the light, and its brilliancy is restored: Nor is tinfel valuable because it attracts the admiration of the multitude. In adverfity, the woman that feareth the LORD fhall be praised, while fhe is contented, and refigned, and active, to the extent of her powers, committing herself and her family to the care and protection of a good Providence, in well-doing. A poor woman, a poor widow woman, who educates her children creditably, and to be useful and worthy members of fociety, and pious Christians, is a most respectable character, and is highly entitled to our esteem and praise.

BUT her fphere is narrow, her exertions

are

are neceffarily few, and of very limited influence; her heart would devife "liberal "things," but her hands are tied up; and few know, and fewer publish, her worthy fame.

LET us therefore confider a woman that feareth the LORD, placed by Providence in an exalted ftation.

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ces."

Ir cannot be denied that rank and opulence to many have proved dangerous and fatal. Many, alas! are the melancholy proofs, that in the day of profperity, when GoD addreffes them, men will not hear. "They are fet," fays the Pfalmift, " on flippery plaThey are corrupted; they corrupt others. But, has the fear of the LORD taken poffeffion of the heart, and are all things regarded by the eye of faith, and with the fentiments of devotion? exalted station, and superior wealth and influence, become eminently precious; they at once manifest, and diffuse, and preserve the qualities, and character, and conduct, that are most amiable, and useful, and blissful. The heart does not feel for diftrefs with unavailing pity; the hand relieves: To a great extent, to wants

and ills of various kinds, fupply, and remedies, and comforts are afforded. The haunts of poverty are known; the bed of pain is vifited; misfortune is affifted; grief is alleviated; enjoyment is imparted or restored, It is not the body alone, it is not outward condition, that wholly engross the attention, the cares, and the liberality of the pious; there are other things that more affect and penetrate the heart. Where ignorance, and vice, and irreligion, and impenitence are, there must be wretchedness. The pious woman beholds their abodes with deep concern. Poverty may be cheerful and happy; vice is miferable. While the heart is touched, and the lamentation uttered, and the prayer is poured forth, for reclaiming and converting finners, for refcuing from deftruction, for reftoring to GoD and happiness; schemes are devised, and means are employed, for these most benevolent and important objects.

WE readily admit, that in the plans and exertions of Chriftian benevolence, whether respecting temporal or fpiritual things, the diftinction of male and female is nothing. A pious man, as well as a pious woman, is

pitiful