SERMONS.

SERMON I.

INTRODUCTORY TO A COURSE OF SERMONS ON THE CHARACTER AND DUTIES OF

WOMEN.

1 PET. iii. 5.

After this manner, in the old time, the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves.

"THIS manner" means what the apostle had just laid down as the proper adornment of the female character; and he had spoken of it as the "hidden man of the

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heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is, in the sight of God, of great price." (ver. 4.)

It is "the hidden man of the heart," because it is a divine principle, planted by the secret operation of the Spirit of God in the soul, then changed, and constituting the "new creature," "created in Christ Jesus." It" is not corruptible," because it is an immortal seed, sown by the incorruptible God, and eternally productive of its pure and holy fruit. It is "the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit,” because it is a transcript from the life of the divine Saviour of mankind, who was "meek and lowly in heart," and adorns those with the "robe of his righteousness," who take "counsel" from his mouth, and buy of him "white raiment," that they "may be clothed." (Rev. iii. 18.) And all this "is in the sight of God of great price," because, when the soul of the believer is thus enrobed, the glory of Christ shines

forth from it, and the all-holy God can look upon it with the light of his countenance, and in the reflected image of his dear Son, put it "to the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved." (Eph. i. 6.)

It was "after this manner in the old time that holy women adorned themselves;" and the apostle puts it as a powerful appeal to women of all times so to trust in God as these trusted, and so to adorn themselves with the same Christian graces.

With the view of holding up such example, I have thought it well to bring before the various duties of women, you as we find them marked in the different characters written in the word of God; and thus, through God's permission, to address you upon this valuable delineation of female character under its various relationships. I propose to speak to you, in the first instance, upon the character and duties of the Christian mother: then, in

regular succession, unless interrupted by peculiar calls for other subjects, I shall speak upon other relationships and duties, as connected with the Christian characters of women.

In adopting such a plan of address to THIS Congregation, I would name two reasons which appear to render it particularly called for, and therefore likely, under the blessing of God, to be made useful. In the first place, the congregation here is chiefly made up of female members. This is the fact; and it constitutes one reason for what I have proposed.

But let us not dismiss the fact from our present consideration, without making some observation upon it.

How is it that the numbers of women who attend places of worship in large towns, should, generally speaking, preponderate over those of men? Among ourselves, indeed, so far as the higher and middle classes of society are concerned, local circumstances may, in part,

account for it. But still, making the full allowance for a larger number of women being visitors or residents amongst us, I should say, that the cause of so disproportioned an attendance of our sex, on public worship, is yet to be accounted for. Can it be thought that, taking the number of your respective families, there is any thing like a fair proportion? I fear not. What is it then which occasions this disparity? Is it the sin of a false shame of the blessed gospel of Christ, that crying sin amongst our sex, which extinguishes the feeling, called forth, perhaps, in all of us, in early years, men, women, and children, that we should "serve the Lord with gladness, enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise ?" (Ps. c. 4.) Or is this sacred day of holy rest made a day of secular employments? is it a day set apart for the transaction of worldly business at home, or for purposes of travelling from home? Or, are there places open on this day, and frequented