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just reproach of all around him, her discreet and timely intercession will save him from the wrath of his enemies, who will say to her, as did David, "Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, who sent thee this day to meet me: And blessed be thy advice, and blessed be thou, which hast kept me this day. from coming to shed blood, and from avenging myself with mine own hand."-1 Sam. 25: 32-33. Such wives will generally be appreciated, and their husbands will be led to declare, in very truth, that, though "Houses and riches are the inheritance of fathers, a prudent wife is from the Lord." Nor can they be accounted the daughters of Sarah, unless they follow her example, and seek the true interest of all their house. A slothful, arrogant, vain woman, can claim no right to this inheritance. She has no spiritual affinity with the chosen of God, she does nothing to advance her race, and so far from being entitled to favor, merits only reproach, as too indolent, too cowardly, to burst the chains with which she is bound. Subjection to the dominion of her husband, physical pain, and moral degradation, are still her chosen lot.

SECTION II.

Her Particular Virtues.

AFTER the general description with which the poem from which we quote opens, the writer goes on to specify her particular virtues.. Among the most prominent, he seems to rank her industry and capacity for business. Indeed, this follows as a consequence of her wisdom : She seeketh wool and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands." Prov. 31: 13. The more literal translation would render it-" She works with the counsel or delight of her hands,"

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Not as though it were a burthen imposed, but a privilege and a pleasure.

So far from repining at the allotment of labor, it gives a

Here is scope for the exerShe can gratify her desire to

double zest to her existence. cise of her genius and taste. see skillfully wrought garments, and at the same time, be guilty of no wrong. God has given her capacities that require this very exercise to make her happy. Every taste, every endowment, which we receive from Him, is a voice demanding full scope for its utterance. The nature of woman finds its true and appropriate sphere, in seeking "wool and flax," and manufacturing them in the most useful and skillful manner, for the use of her family and friends. And it is also a precious privilege to the benevolent heart, to have a spare garment that may be given to the poor and needy, when it sees them pinched with want. The woman who thus works, may innocently give, for she robs not others that she may seem generous.

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A willingness to be useful seems to have been looked upon in the days of Abraham as a choice qualification in a wife. When he sent his servant to seek a companion for his son Isaac, we find the pious man offering up the following prayer: And he said, O Lord God of my master Abraham, I pray thee, send me good speed this day, and show kindness to my master Abraham. Behold I stand here by the well of water, and the daughters of the men of the city come out to draw water. And let it come to pass, that the damsel, to whom I shall say, Let down thy pitcher, I pray thee, that I may drink: and she shall say, Drink; and I will give thy camels drink also; let the same be she that thou hast appointed for thy servant Isaac ; and thereby shall I know that thou hast showed kindness unto my master."-Gen. 24: 12-14. How remarkably and speedily was this prayer answered, even in its minute details.

In all the grace of an oriental woman, Rebecca passed down before him to the well, and brought up her pitcher, filled with water, when he asked her for a cooling draught; after which, she proffered her services to draw water for the camels also. This was not because she was too poor to afford servants, for, when sent from her father's house to become the wife of Isaac, and the mother of a numerous and powerful people, she was accompanied by her nurse, a tried and faithful woman.

Jacob, also, first saw and admired the graces of Rachel, when she came, a humble shepherdess, to draw water for her father's flock.

So also the wife of Moses, one of the daughters of the priest, or as it might more appropriately be rendered the princess of Midian, was a shepherdess, and tended her father's flocks. Ruth, too, the beautiful Moabitess, whose virtues charmed the wealthy Boaz, was not ashamed to glean in the field. Though she was the prospective mother of the royal house of Israel, yet God did not look upon her willingness to engage in the most humble toil as beneath her dignity. Nor did Boaz treat her with contempt on that account, as we learn from his own words, "For all the city of my people doth know that thou art a virtuous woman."

But one of the most touching accounts that we have of female industry and excellence is found in Acts 9: 39. "Then Peter arose, and went with them. When he was

come, they brought him into the upper chamber and all the widows stood by him, weeping, and showing the coats and garments which Dorcas made while she was with them."

No wonder the poor widows of Joppa mourned the loss of Dorcas! She had devoted her life to the relief of their necessities. She had not spent it in any selfish pursuits; and now that her spirit had departed, they could hold up the coats and garments which she had made, as

living testimonials of her labors of love and mercy. Ah! she was indeed "full of good works and almsdeeds, which she did," as here attested.

No wonder, too, that the apostle should exercise even his power to work miracles, to bring again such a spirit from the dead. Would that a miracle of redeeming love might even now be wrought, to bring again to earth myriads of such self-denying spirits. How bright and lovely would this world shortly become, were every woman thus to seek employment, ministering to the necessities of the needy, and seeking to relieve the sorrows of the suffering! Her own home would be the abode of peace and plenty, and her ears would not be pained by listening to importunities of the despairing. She would not enter upon her labors heartlessly, but it would be appropriately said of her, "She seeketh wool and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands.”

"She is like the merchant's ship, she bringeth her food from afar," ver. 14. See here a mark of her enterprise. The commerce of her nation is increased by her labors, so that the state may justly pride itself in such a woman She has something to dispose of, as well as to purchase. It is bought as a fruit of her own labors, and not as the earnings of others. She does not continually demand, and never seek to supply her necessities. Like a merchant's ship, she goes as well as returns laden. She can afford to supply her table with those varieties of foreign food which the slothful cannot, because she has something to give in exchange. Happy the land, whose women, like her, are not a burthen upon its soil. Well may it rejoice in them, when they combine modesty and propriety with that spirit of enterprise and courage which lead to the extension of commerce, and the cultivation of the arts, which industry alone can sustain. Such a woman can never be slothful, nor will she complain of lassitude and ennui.

"She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens," ver. 15. She is not wearied and exhausted with the frivolities of life. Her evenings have not been spent in dissipating amusements, so that the poor exhausted body demands repose long after the morning light appears; no, she is braced with hope and toil; and, before the morning dawn, she has prepared for her household their necessary repast, that they may enter early upon the active duties of the day. She realizes the full import of the injunction, "Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave whither thou goest."-Ecc. 9: 10. Whatever duties her condition imposes, she makes haste to perform, while the day of life lasts; she does not seek to excuse herself from doing anything which God requires. She knows that the complete harmony of God's arrangements will not allot a second probation, in which she can perform the duties belonging to this. Every day has its assigned labor, and when her days on earth are closed, she will be among those who will hear the welcome plaudit of our Heavenly Father, "Well done, good and faithful servant. Like her blessed Saviour, she rises before day, that she may hold sweet communion with God. With the earliest dews of the morning, her chastened aspirations to Heaven ascend, that the labors of the day may be faithfully performed. Her simple attire does not impose a tax of weary hours for its adjustment. Her precious moments are not wasted at her toilet, compressing her body, and twisting her ringlets, that she may substitute deformity for the perfect grace with which her Heavenly Father has adorned her. She can labor, and that with pleasure, since her vital energies have never been crushed by the unnatural compressions which the votaries of fashion mistake for beauty. Were she journeying, it would not be

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