routine of domestic life; we must trace their perplexed and thorny path amid the entanglements of idolatrous usages and the restraints of inveterate habits.

It is the FEMALE CHRISTIAN whose position it is here attempted to portray; and it must be obvious that such a view not only affords the fairest criterion by which to estimate the difficulties of her situation, and the unspeakable advantages of our own, but it should also excite in our bosoms feelings of the most devout gratitude to the "Father of all mercies" for having rescued us from the darkness of heathenism, and brought us into the glorious light, and liberty, and peace of the Gospel.

The author has adopted, in her general outline, the arrangement followed by Dr. Munter, Bishop of Seeland, in his brief but erudite treatise, "Die Christin im Heidnischen Hause."

Blackheath,
May, 1845.

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I.

THE BENEFITS OF CHRISTIANITY TO WOMEN, 1—12.

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The Gospel specially glad tidings to the female sex —
The divine law of female subjection to man- Mystical
character of marriage -Evils of polygamy - Woman's
moral and social condition raised under the Gospel -
Devotion of women to the Saviour during his humi-
liation Christianity does not exempt woman from
the law of submission Remarkable early female
converts Chrysostom's eulogium on the holy women
of his time - Heroism and fortitude of Christian
females.

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CHAPTER II.

-

-

Its

JUDAISM AT ROME.- FEMALE PROSELYTES, 13-24.
Religious tolerance among the Greeks and Romans
Judaism tolerated, although jealously watched
professors banished from Rome - Christians no longer
considered a Jewish sect - Multiform religion in Rome
favourable to the spread of Christianity - Jewish
proselytes: Drusilla, Berenice, Zenobia, Poppæa, and
others.

CHAPTER III.

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THE WOMEN OF HEATHEN ANTIQUITY, 25-36.

Degraded condition of the female sex in heathen
antiquity - Despotism of the father and husband

Servitude of the wife - Tribunal for alleged offences
of married women - Demand and concession of an
equality of rights to the Roman matron - Its fatal
consequences State of morals among females at the
period of the promulgation of the Gospel.

CHAPTER IV.

-

THE CHRISTIAN FEMALE IN THE APOSTOLIC AGE, 37-51.

Influence of the Gospel on the character and position of
women - The Gospel a code of love — The apostle's
directions to the Christian wives of unbelievers
Homage of heathen writers to Christian excellence -
Testimony of Justin Martyr, Athenagoras, Origen, and
others.

CHAPTER V.

THE COMMUNICATION OF THE GOSPEL TO GENTILE

WOMEN, 52-87.

The way prepared by the dispersion of the Jews-
Devout women of the Gentiles in the synagogues

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converts

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Lydia Jewish and Christian females and slaves a

means of spreading Christianity in Gentile families

Sindonites Onesimus - Philemon - P. Torpacion

and Emperor Severus Testimony of Celsus

Christians reviled, and styled Asinarii Illustrious

Christians

- Zeal of the Christian slaves
in Nero's palace — The Emperor Claudius - St. Paul
and Seneca at Rome-Caractacus in that capital-Bran,
the Briton, hears the preaching of St. Paul-St. Paul
is said to have accompanied Bran to Britain Linus
and Claudia Pomponia Græcina - Domitian per-
secutes his Christian relatives - Pliny's account of

the Christians

-

Martyrs of distinction under Trajan
Commodus - Tertullian's appeal to Scapula -
Empress Julia - Her son, Alexander Severus
The Empresses Prisca and Valeria - Lucian and
Dorotheus, martyrs - The Empress Helena.

CHAPTER VI.

THE CHRISTIAN BRIDE, 88-109.

Marriage among the heathen Its honour under the
Gospel - Mixed marriages denounced-Nuptial forms
of the Romans - Repugnance to them by the Christians
The heathen bride Pagan customs retained by

the Christains-Chrysostom's testimony-Early rites

of the Christians — Tertullian's report - The wedding

ring.

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CHAPTER VII.

THE CHRISTIAN WIFE, 110-130.

Idolatrous customs, public shows, &c. Difficulties

which beset the female convert in consequence - Ter-

tullian and others on theatrical representations, as irre-

concileable with Christian purity - Cyprian opposed

to the drama — Canons against frequenters of games

and the theatre - Christians not allowed to enter

heathen temples - The Collyridian worshippers

Mariolatry - Joint worship of Christ and a tutelary

deity.

CHAPTER VIII.

THE ATTIRE OF THE CHRISTIAN FEMALE, 131-155.

The evils of fondness for dress - Injunctions of St. Paul
and St. Peter Veiling the head — Lucian on the

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-

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Roman toilet, &c.- Tertullian and Clement of Alex-
andria attack the female vanities of their day-Olym-
pias described by Chrysostom - Rivalry between the
Christian and Heathen women Its extravagance --
Clement denounces mirrors and perfumes - Signet
rings - Cyprian's censure of vain apparelling - Cos-
metics - Jezebel, Judah, and the daughters of Zion
Roman ladies' boudoir Theodoret's mother-
Gorgonia, sister of Gregory - Clement's counsels on
female attire.

CHAPTER IX.

THE CHRISTIAN MOTHER, 156-186.

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Contrast between the Christian and Gentile mother-
Chrysostom's injunction to parents for their children's
education, especially that of females - Tertullian on
schoolmasters Jerome's admonition Tacitus on
the domestic education of the Romans · The
Christain mother's care-Cyprian's advice-Perpetua
- Gregory of Nazianzum - Education of Basil
Anthusa, mother of Chrysostom-Training of Ambrose
and Augustine by their mothers.

CHAPTER X.

THE CHRISTIAN FEMALE AS A MEMBER OF THE

CHURCH, 187-223.

As a wife Spirit of prayer cultivated

Midnight

devotions — At every occupation and at all hours
Tertullian-Jerome -Origen-Clement (Alexandria)
on prayer — The Lord's day- - The Friday-Fasting
- Reading and expounding Scripture — Nepotian and