and judge him, there is one so completely identified with his life, that in her he may confide as in his own conscious self.

But it is with a very common-place exhibition of this general virtue that our domestic description of a good woman is chiefly occupied, and the importance of it in a religious point of view will be obvious very soon. Regarding her household duties as the proper sphere of her fidelity, she conducts them with prudence, economy, discretion, consulting the true interest, and advantage, and honor of her husband. With no interest separate from his, she directs the domestic department of their joint life with such wisdom and discretion that he is happily satisfied and content. He confides to her hands the means of expenditure, knowing that she will show neither meanness nor extravagance.

There is an expression in this passage before us which is very suggestive: "The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil." So much of prudence doth she display in her domestic economy, that he is under no temptation to do a hard or dishonorable thing. There is lurking in many a mind a false notion about economy and extravagance which I verily believe has done more to embitter domestic peace, and ultimately destroy character, than any other; it is an unnatural association between economy and meanness, and between extravagance and generosity. Many a man has been ruined for time and for eternity by this falsity gliding insensibly into his domestic arrangements. Let there be in his home an ambition for display, a covetousness for articles of luxury, an emulation in the career of fashion, a passion which grows the more it is indulged; let there be a purpose to gratify this craving without due regard to ability and propriety, and the certain result you would expect would be an expenditure exceeding his means, an unnatural stimulation in his habits of business; unwise and hazardous speculations; at length projects dishonest and fraudulent, followed by suspicion, exposure, bankruptcy, ruin and despair. So many cases of this description have there been-so many wrecks of fortune, of hope, and of character, the true origin of which was in ambition and extravagance at home, that it is not to be wondered at that the word of God insists so much on this virtue of discretion and prudence in domestic economy. While some have been instigated to deeds of folly and of crime by that domestic extravagance which is here rebuked, how often has the character of a man been saved, and fortunes repaired by that discretion which presides over his household. Harrassed in business, perplexed in his affairs, just ready to abandon all to a general ruin, he comes home to her in whom his heart safely trusts, and instead of reproach and sullen grief over fading hopes, a cheerful discretion is there for his counsellor; a prudent economy is prompt in its suggestions; measures of relief are joyfully commenced under his own roof, and he recovers his heart and his foot-hold by the noble heroism, perhaps, sacri

fices of her who doeth him good and not evil all the days of his life. Show me a man beginning life with none of this religious prudence in his home, but in its stead, neglect, imprudence, and extravagance, and you see a man with the saddest prospects of disappointment, dishonesty, irreligion, crime and destruction.

It is obvious, on the very face of this passage, and every traveller in the Eastern hemisphere has observed the same, that among oriental nations it is common for women to take a more direct and immediate part in the management of business than our occidental customs allow. She is here represented as buying and selling, as concerned in merchandize and in vineyards, and, in general, as being more actively engaged in her husband's affairs, than any thing which is known to us. Nothing is so hopeless of change as national customs. While in the East we might judge the error was in one extreme, we are quite disposed to believe that we of the West misjudge in the opposite direction. If a virtuous woman is so discreet in her domestic domain, why may not her discretion be of immense value in affairs now seldom or never submitted to her judgment? We have often thought that it would be more for one's prosperity and permanent good in every regard, if, when stimulated by the excitement of trade, venturing in the exhilirations of brilliant speculations, into the regions of peril, he would oftener avail himself of the calmer judgment of her in whom his heart trusteth. There is an instinct which is sometimes safer than the reason, and the tranquillity of domestic retirement is more favorable for that quick intuition which is wiser than argument, and better than demonstration. Many a man would have been saved from deplorable shipwreck, if he had but once consulted the discretion of his wife, before entering upon an illusive project, or plunging into a ruinous speculation.

There is another part of this description which is very important, an infusion of which into our national habits would occasion no evil, but much of good. Running through all this portrait there is a glow and gleesomeness such as are imparted to physical exercise and activity. The good woman is described as clothed with strength, and working willingly with her hands. There has, from some cause, sprung up a notion, and it is not necessary that we should trace the pedigree of the error-which associates work with vulgarity, and feminine delicacy and refinement with physical debility and inactivity. It is literally a heathen senti. ment, and every motive of religion should be active for its extirpation. Health and happiness are inseparably related; nor is there one of the human race exempt from the law of Divine Providence, which makes some manner of occupation and exercise essential to the health alike of body and mind. A heresy is it, fatal to the temper, and so to domestic peace; fatal to the highest happiness (and there is no part of the world where it more abounds than among ourselves), that the very pink and perfection of womanly delicacy is reached just when it shades off

into incipient consumption: when the forces of the body are sublimated away almost into ethereal essences; and removed just as far as possible from the necessities of vulgar exertion. Our very language is tainted with this poisonous sentiment. The word "homely," derived etymologically from the best of all words, home, and signifying simply what is "domestic," has, by insensible degrees, glided into the sense of "inelegant," "coarse," and "rude," as if homely occupations were to be discarded by such as are emulous of elegance and refinement.

Modes and methods of occupations vary with time and circumstances. But it is to be observed that this description of a good woman was given by the mother of a king, and that at a time when civilization culminated at the Jewish Court. So that if there were any absolved from this Providential law of physical activity, we might have expected to find them among those wearing soft raiment in the cedar palaces of Oriental Kings.

We say again, not a word does the Scripture utter against that which is becoming and beautiful in taste, for the very person here described maketh herself coverings of tapestry, and her clothing is silk and purple; a toilet which in material and arrangement is befitting her rank and station, yet this is the very one who, rising up while it is yet night, personally superintends the inmates and affairs of her household: strengthening her arms with cheerful work; and with all allowances as to modes of employment which changes of life require us to make, it is more than we can believe that inspiration should honor the counsel given by the mother of Solomon, "She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff," and that in these modern times there should be such a complete reversal of all laws as to justify the application to any class of the words of our Saviour, "They toil not, neither do they spin, yet I say unto you that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these." The life of a flower or a bird cannot be a true model for an immortal being to imitate; nor can any one who has a just conception of what or how much is needful to perfect the comfort, adornment and attraction of a christian home, ever imagine that there can be any lacking of occupation, or that any one, even in the most affluent condition, who looketh well to the ways of her household, according to the spirit of this passage, will be compelled to eat the bread of idleness.

While there is a radiance given to this whole portraiture by the healthfulness and cheerfulness which proceed from active. and useful occupation, the true charm of the character is an inward disposition. "She stretcheth out her hand to the poor, yea, she stretcheth out her hands to the needy." "She openeth her mouth with wisdom, and in her tongue is the law of kindness," and the crowning glory of all is, she feareth the Lord.

She is charitable in feeling, prudent in discourse, kind in speech, and all these are the fruits of that religious sentiment

which is nurtured in the heart. This is the one thing needful and essential. All the prudence, the economy, the diligence which are here commended, are not for the gratification of selfishness-they are the offspring of duty, and are sacred oblations to God and man.

The individual who attendeth to the ways of her own household after the manner here described, you would expect to be charitable to the poor. Extravagance petrifies the heart. Ambition for display-devotion to fashion-leave a small space for any thought or care for the destitute. Everything which can be acquired is exhausted in personal indulgence; but she who is prudent from religious principle, hath not only a heart but an ability (for discretion guideth her impulses) to bless the needy. The most unnatural of all objects is a woman with every gift of fortune and grace of person, with no sympathy for those who are in want; nor is it the least of the many mischiefs of domestic extravagance, that it leads those who indulge in it to practice hard things in their dealings with the poor, of which humbler and more honest economy would be heartily ashamed.

Out of a heart filled with all sweetness proceeds a speech of kindness and wisdom. "In her tongue is the law of kindness." Not an occasional thing is it, now and then, to employ words of sauvity-it is a law of her life, from which she knows not how to depart. An infringement of this rule would be more than a breach of conventional courtesy-even in her view a sin against God. A meek and a quiet spirit in the sight of God is her priceless ornament. She would not tarnish these celestial regalia by a word of peevishness, censorousness or calumny; and if there be any who are disposed after all to undervalue, among the many agencies of this great world, the influence of her whose life is in domestic retirement, we would humbly ask what agent there can be in all the world more powerful than the speech of a Christian woman, uniformly kind, uniformly discreet. The stern and sturdy nature of man is insensibly modified by it-as the face of the earth acknowledges the power of sun and dew. He may not define it; he cannot but feel it; he may not even think of it; but he is in fact altogether a different being from what he would have been without it. What a power is this of which a woman may be religiously covetous; by which the chafed and fretted spirit may be soothed, anger conquered by a smile, petulance unconsciously subdued by a word, and the roughness of life smoothed down for a whole household by an habitual kindness and cheerfulness.

More than this is implied in the description before us. The law of kindness in the tongue is one which is instructed of the Lord, and the speech which most honors it pertains to the precepts and practice of piety.

The good woman easily, wisely, habitually speaks to her household in honor of true religion. Think not that all her care

and diligence are expended on the food and raiment of her children, for that would be to expose herself to the rebuke which our Lord pronounced upon her who was cumbered with much serving; the law of grace which is in her heart and upon her tongue will prompt her to those words of religious persuasion, which drop like the rain and distil as the dew; and in nothing will she display more of the wisdom and discretion, which are her power and success on all other subjects, than in so adapting her pious discourse to times, characters and circumstances, as to win assent and command respect, without the suspicion of art, arrogance or authority.

Set speeches on special occasions, with a great show and effort at wisdom, may repel and disgust; but how many have been moulded for time and eternity by that law of kindness which has been round about them like the air and light, and of which they are scarcely conscious until it be removed. Priceless above all rubies is that natural kindness of disposition and manners which divine grace has sweetened into a law of religious persuasion. How unnatural and perilous is that perversion which would employ the gift of speech in the sacred enclosures of domestic confidence exclusively on matters of form and attire, modes and accomplishments, to a neglect of those high and heavenly themes which affect the conscience, mature the principles, purify the affections, shape the character, and arbitrate eternal destinies.

If any one is disposed to ask for the profit and reward of this domestic fidelity, the answer is before us. Not to speak of the dignified satisfaction which must ever attend the effort to fill the station which Providence has appointed, there is another reward which outshines all the fame and wealth the world can ever bestow. She is surrounded by those who are the proofs and witnesses of her excellence. "Her husband is known in the gates when he sitteth among the elders of the land." "Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her." "Give her of the fruits of her hand, and let her own works praise her in the gates." Complain that woman is doomed to retirement and obscurity-that she is denied a part in the public applause of the world! What applause can goodness ever wish or value, save that which follows virtue unsought, as shadows follow the light.

If you would rectify the heresy, look at the honors large and imperishable which garland the head of domestic fidelity. Her works applaud her in the happiness, the success and the character of her household. Her praise is not in words of renown, not in the honor of official promotion, but in the lives of those who were fashioned by her influence. Her husband is known in the gates, not merely by the decencies and proprieties of his dress, revealing domestic care and taste, but by a thousand indescribable felicities of manner and conversation, cheerfulness