Imatges de pàgina
PDF
EPUB

son in the world, and the world knew him not. When he was on the earth, the Son of God was but an outside passenger. With what consternation will many of those who treated him with disdain, recognize in the Almighty Judge of quick, and dead, the despised itinerant from Galilee whom they scorned and derided! And as it was with him, so it is with his living representatives. By far the greater number of those who belong to the court of the prince of princes, have been outside passengers. What will be the feelings of many who have treated them contemptuously when they hear the words, 'Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these, my brethren, ye have done it unto me?' Happy would it be for the churches of Christ if all who belong to them were to remember habitually that they also have a master who is in heaven, and that nothing is more clearly deducible from his instructions, than that every one who desires to enjoy his favor, should be ready at all times to exercise courtesy towards an outside passenger.

It might seem that patriotism alone would be sufficient to effect a reform upon this subject, if there were no higher consideration. But when we add to it the solemn sanction of divine law, when we see that the interests of the body, as well as the soul, demand of us that we should “be diligent in business," as well as "fervent in spirit," it seems past comprehension that human beings should persist in such folly.

When will the day return when idleness will be a reproach; and industry, combined with true and exalted wisdom, the highest honor? Then, and not till then, may we hope to see the world regenerated, and brought back to the state designed as the true sphere of human beings. Then will one true king reign over subjects who delight to know his way, and obey his word.

cr Strength and honor are her clothing, and she shall rejoice in time to come," ver. 25.

We see from this that though her outward adorning was silk and purple, as might have been common for those in her station, still she was clad in far brighter, and more enduring vestments. Strength and honor were the robes in which she was truly arrayed. She had not squandered the powers that God had committed to her stewardship, but she had doubled them by discreet use. She was strong, both in body and in spirit; nothing disconcerted her; no duty perplexed her, and she was duly honored for the faithful fulfillment of every trust.

Nor will her rejoicing be in the present life alone. Through the unending series of time and eternity combined, she will continue to rejoice that she has been faithful to discharge the duties of life, with a skillful, willing hand. Her descent to the grave will be sweetened by the consciousness of having finished the work which her Father gave her to do; and no terrors, no apprehensions of his displeasure, will darken her descent thither. In her heart she bears the witness of his acceptance; his smiles, seem continually to invite her onward, while, from every strain of passing melody, she hears the gentle voice of approving love, saying, "Well done, good and faithful servant, enter thou into the joy of thy Lord."

Who would not for such a prospect gladly lay down the toys of fashion, the ease and self-indulgence of the vain. and frivolous, and seek, by a true conformity to the law of God, that honor which He delights to confer on his willing and obedient children? Who would hug her costly tatters stained, as they often are, with the tears and the blood of the poor and sorrowing of earth, when by obedience, she might be clothed with strength and honor? Who would prefer a life which cheered no heart by its efforts, which wiped no tear from the eye of the sorrowing, which raised

no soul to a higher appreciation of duty, which led no wanderer to our father's home, to that of the faithful Dorcas, who was wept by the widow and the fatherless, because of her self-denying efforts in their behalf ?

May the day speedily arrive, when the women of all lands shall be clothed with strength and honor, when they shall " put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no proviThen will sion for the flesh, to fulfill the lusts thereof.” they look forward in hope, and rejoice in the time to

come.

"She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness," ver. 26.

verse.

There is a volume of instruction contained in this short The wise woman here spoken of, is not among those who know nothing, except to deck their bodies in most unbecoming finery. Her mind is stored with knowledge, she has good common sense. When she speaks, it is indeed with wisdom, since she speaks only when she has something to say that would be instructive and edifying to others, or where she can gain for herself useful knowledge. Consequently she is panoplied all over, and round about with wisdom, integrity, and virtue. On her lips will dwell "the law of kindness ;" yea, "apples of gold in pictures of silver." What a contrast those present to such as believe it unbecoming the delicacy of female. character to know anything that is useful. Delicacy! What is true female delicacy, but that modesty and propriety, dictated by sound judgment and a virtuous heart! True knowledge, so far from leading a woman to commit unbecoming acts, becomes her teacher in all that is appropriate; but how senseless, despicable, yea, even loathsome, in the eyes of God and all good men, are the foolish, vain, extravagant, fashionable women of the present day.

The standard of female education has long been false among the "self-styled" polite. They have not been

educated to become intelligent companions of men, but mere childish toys, for the amusement of an idle hour. Is this such a being as God designed woman to be? Look at her allotted sphere, and say if such a training can possibly be consistent with the immortal destiny of a human soul. Were the consideration confined to herself alone, reason would pronounce it utterly inadequate to fit her for her true station. But, as we have shown, she is not a solitary, isolated being, made for her own individual happiness or misery, but the companion of man; the sharer of his toils, his hopes, and his joys; the mother of the race. Her influence is felt in moulding the character of every human soul, from the prince to the beggar, and determines whether it tends to weal or woe.

(6 Among the Hindoos, none but the women who are in the service of the pagodas are allowed to dance. Such an accomplishment belongs to them exclusively, and is for that reason held by the rest of the sex in such abhorrence that every virtuous woman would consider the mention of it as an affront. Peculiar to "ladies" of this description are also perfumes; elegant and attractive attire, particularly of the head; sweet-scented flowers, entwined with exquisite art about their hair; multitudes of ornamented trinkets, adapted with infinite taste to the different parts of the body; a graceful carriage, and measured step, &c.

If, in reading these passages, we omit the fact that this is the education of females intended for "the service of the pagoda," who would not believe that they related to the conduct of some fashionable boarding-school in a very different part of the world!"

Will parents who have the means of knowing their duty on this point, dare to train up their daughters as the devotees of fashion! as the victims to be most surely offered up on the idol shrine of folly and vanity? The aliment you offer their minds is as truly destructive of their spi

450876 A

ritual life, as are the condiments with which you pamper their appetites preparing the way for an early grave.

The unperverted mind does not crave the light trash you supply it; it is only when it becomes diseased, and labors under a morbid excitement, that it eagerly devours the unwholesome food you proffer it. Think of educating an immortal soul at most of our fashionable boarding-schools for ladies! How utterly inadequate is the course pursued to develop those energies designed to bless the family of man. They are taught a little needle-work, a little drawing, a little music, a little French and Italian, a smattering of chemistry and philosophy, and possibly a very small amount of arithmetic. Yet it is all in homeopathic portions. Not one science is so thoroughly taught as to put the soul in possession of its powers. It serves as an amusement, not a discipline. A thorough scholar in our common schools is often far better informed and better qualified to shine in the walks of science, than those who have graduated from those superficial schools. A word from a Western periodical will be read with interest :

"Female education at the present day is radically defective; the great end being, not to make intelligent, useful, and agreeable members of society, but fine ladies. From the time the child leaves its nurse's arms, till it blossoms into womanhood, all efforts are directed to this result.— The cultivation of the affections, the discipline of the mind, and its preparation for actual duties, are esteemed of secondary importance, compared with the external graces which are to make a figure in society. And weak, fond mothers, never feel so gratified, as when their daughters are able to exhibit the airs, and to flaunt in the plumage of fashionable, fine ladies. If the world in which young ladies are afterwards to move were an ideal world, as many of them seem to imagine; if womanhood brought with it no cares; if friends were always to smile, and flatter,

« AnteriorContinua »