her presence illumines are more retired, they are not less dignified, or useful, or influential. To her especially is committed the nurture of children. Her downy lap is the cradle of their infancy; her bosom their pillow and their nutriment; her arms their vehicle and defence. And their minds, in the very forming time of life, yield to her plastic influence. She stamps their characters; forms their manners; and almost fixes their destinies! And what kind of an education ought she to have, fitting her for this high and more than senatorial trust? That kind that so expands the mind, and elevates the ideas, that now her highest regards are to shine in the eyes of fools? to be commended in the vapid circles of fashion, for her manners, her brilliants, and her dress? "whose adorning" is mainly that of" plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel?" Or ought she to learn that "the body is more than raiment," and the soul more than the body; and that her best ornaments are those that last forever-" that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price." I am here rebuking many that are not Friends, more than them-for I bear them record that herein their ladies are ordinarily patterns for others in several respects in delicacy of attire; in neatness, with little comparative extravagance; in comfort and prudence, in respecting health and the proper ends of dress; and in being in a good degree independent of the caprices of the ton. But far more than this is necessary mentally and morally in the educa

tion of woman. Deserves she no intellectual culture? no mental discipline, no science, no cultivated vigor of thought? Ought not her understanding to be marshalled in its operations, wonted on common and on sacred subjects to philosophize correctly, enriched with the spoils of solid learning rather than the tinsel accomplishments of life? Ought she not to be fitted for her noble sphere; qualified to instruct, as well as sparkle; to last, as well as shine? Ought she not to know that gems and drapery, and all the courtly foppery of the worldly and the gay, degrade rather than dignify; becoming the cause, as they were at first only the effect, of vanity and pride? How ought woman to be promoted in all that is excellent and useful? How ought her breath to be prayer and her actions piety! How skilfully should she plant the seeds of life eternal in a soil comparatively unoccupied! How well should she understand the nature and the ruin of the common apostacy; and the "new and living way" by which we are restored through the rent veil of the Redeemer's flesh! Like the mother of Dodderidge, she should know how to lecture from the tiles around the fire-place and the common objects of life! and like the mother of Timothy, should she take care that each one of her charge may "from a child know the holy scriptures, which are able to make us wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus." This is the exalted service to which God promotes her; and I have no doubt that her real influence on the salvation or destruction of souls is of immense and uncomputed efficacy, in

the development of their destiny forever! That influence is wrong, if not right. It is bad, if not good. It is neglect, if not assiduity. It is vanity, if not wisdom; wickedness, if not religion. Besides, impressions here are strongest. They are first, and ordinarily indelible. Tell me Is not this enough for her? If she did this well, or competently prepared to do it, would she wish to be a magistrate or a minister? would she have time for the duties of the foreign office? could she be a physician, a lawyer, or a judge? Let her magnify her appropriate work. Let her love her proper sphere; "looking well to the ways of her household and eating not the bread of idleness." I scarce ever knew, said the late Dr. Mason, a fine man, but, upon inquiry, I ascertained that he had a fine mother. So is it almost universally. If all mothers were wise and faithful, there would be more Jacobs and fewer Esaus in every family. What a charge! How competent ought she to be to this high work! It is that to which God hath appointed her. As such she should appreciate it well; realize it solemnly; occupy her place, with serene self-devotement and resigned piety; prepare herself to suffer, as well as do, all the will of God.

Our outward acts indeed admit restraint;
'Tis not in things o'er thought to domineer.
If nothing more than purpose is our power,
Our purpose firm is equal to the deed.

Who does the best his circumstance allows,

Does well, acts nobly, angels could no more.-YOUNG.

Thus, well and wisely should a christian female know her place and keep it. For her reward is rich and her salvation sure. "She shall be saved" in this way of real excellence, glorifying God; that is, if she "CONTINUES" in it and sustains her duties there, in faith and benevolence, with real wisdom joined, vindicating the grandeur of her being as originally produced, and the splendor of her destiny as an immortal, though a sinner, restored forever through the grace that is in Jesus Christ.

What now are we to think of her usurpations ? That they are inspired? By whom? Him who inspired the first example of the sort! What murky and mischievous inspiration! It is well adapted to ruin domestic scenes; to kill the charities of nature that love the circle of "sweet home;" to outrage, invert, defeat, all the ends of order in society! to make confusion, folly, misery-infidelity in the end; where God had appointed order, beauty, blessing! For if a woman desire "the office of a bishop," she is only resuming her old way, desiring or taking the fruit that is-forbidden.

The sex we honor, while their faults we blame ;
Nor thank their faults for such a fruitful theme.

She strikes each point with native force of mind;
While puzzled learning blunders far behind.

What angels would these be, who thus excel
In theologics-could they sew as well!

Naked in nothing should a woman be, But veil her very wit with modesty. Let man discover, let not her display ; But yield her charms of mind with sweet delay, Or, " for a sign," if "naked" one must go,70 Select some sterner victim for the show. But test the claiming inspiration well; Or trust too soon a forgery from hell. Things that are lovely and of good report But ill consist with such outlandish sport. I would, were he alive, prefer that Fox Should be "a sign" to teach the orthodox. And "testify" to hesitating Friends Where inspiration or begins or ends. But know such duties of rare piety, My lady Friend, may next solicit thee! Alas! how few, in these degenerate days, Would own the mandate in its equal ways! Still, for the best we hope and should prepare; Some, if th' occasion called, perhaps there are! In times like ours, few striking "signs" are found: But soon with Friends, who knows? they may abound!

*

*

*

*

Frown not, ye fair! so much your rights we prize We hate those arts that take you from our eyes: Those arts deceptive, which, though well refined, Infect your manners and pervert your mind d;