and make good housewifery and honest labour to be admired, in the rich and noble, as well as the poor and obscure among women. For you must bear in mind, that in works of the several kinds here mentioned, queens and princesses, of old time, disdained not to be occupied. You will likewise be pleased to consider, that if the rich are exempted from the necessity of working for themselves, they cannot be better employed than in working for the poor; since 'the coats and garments, made by the charity of Dorcas, were judged the best proofs of her goodness, that could be submitted to the inspection of an apostle.'

"13. She seeketh wool and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands. 19. She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff. 17. She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms. 15. She riseth also, while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens. 27. She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness. 21. She is not afraid of the snow for her household; for they are all clothed with double garments. 22. She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple. 24. She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles to the merchant. 18. She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle, goeth not out by night. 14. She is like the merchant ships; she bringeth her food from afar. 16. She considereth

a field, and buyeth it; with the fruits of her hands she planteth a vineyard.'—On account of this her marvellous and unceasing diligence, with the many and great advantages derived thereby to her family, well may it be said, as it is said of her, 25. Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come.'

"But the honour is not confined to herself. It extendeth to her friend and her companion in life; 23. Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land;' that is, he is known as her husband; as a man blessed with such a wife; as indebted, perhaps, for his promotion, to the wealth acquired by her management at home (for honours are seldom open to the poor); for the splendour and elegance of his apparel, to the labour of her hands; and it may be, for the preservation and establishment of his virtue and integrity, to the encouragement in all that is holy, and just, and good, furnished by her example as well as her conversation, the nature of which is thus described.

"26. She openeth her mouth with wisdom, and in her tongue is the law of kindness.' She thinks before she speaks; and, therefore, neither introduces a bad subject, nor disgraces a good one by an improper manner of discoursing upon it. And as charity reigns in her heart, nothing that is uncharitable proceeds out of her mouth: all is lenient and healing. To express the whole in a few words, she says nothing that is foolish, nothing that is ill

natured. But her charity is shown in deeds as well as words

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20. She stretcheth out her hands to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.' This is yet another good effect of her economy and management. She is not only able to provide plentifully for her household, but has always something in store for the poor. Since what avails a charitable disposition, where vanity, folly, and extravagance have taken away the power to exert it? In vain is the hand stretched out,' when there is nothing in it.

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Having duly considered this finished character of the virtuous woman, we shall not be surprised at the praise bestowed upon it, in the remaining verses of the chapter.

"28. Her children rise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her,' saying, ' 29. Many daughters have done virtuously; but thou excellest them all.' Happy the children of such a mother; they will be living proofs of the care taken by her in their education, when she taught them to walk, by the paths of honour and virtue, to the mansions of rest and glory. Happy the husband of such a wife, who sees all things prosper under her direction, and the blessing of heaven derived to his family through her. They will all join in proclaiming, that among women who do well, honour is chiefly due to the virtuous and diligent wife, the affectionate and sensible mother.

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"30. Favour,' or rather gracefulness, is deceitful, and beauty is vain; but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised.' A graceful person, and a set of fine features, are valuable things, but they are not always to be trusted; they may conceal tempers and dispositions very different from those one should have expected to find: and bitterer than wormwood must then be the disappointment of the man who has been directed to his choice by no other considerations. This, I say, may be the case. It is not often so, let us hope. God forbid it should. The face ought to be an index to the mind, and when all is fair without, as it is said of the king's daughter in the psalm, all should be glorious within.' But, let beauty have its due praise, and suppose what you will of it-suppose all that the poets say of it to be true; still, the wise man tells you, it is vain, it is in its nature transient, fleeting, perishing; it is the flower of the spring, which must fade in autumn; and when the blossom falls, if no fruit succeed, of what value, I pray you, is the tree? The grave is already opening for the most elegant person that moves, and the worms are in waiting to feed on the fairest face that is beholden. Labour, then, for that which endureth for ever let your chief pains be bestowed on that part of the human composition which shall flourish in immortal youth, when the world and all that is in it shall disappear, and come no more into mind.—

A woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be

praised.'

"31. Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her own works praise her in the gates.'

"The crown which her own hands have thus formed shall be placed upon her head, as it were by general consent, even in this life; and her good deeds, celebrated in the public assemblies, shall diffuse an odour grateful as the smell of Eden, as the cloud of frankincense ascending from the holy altar. When her task is ended, the answer of a good conscience, and the blessings of all around, sweeter than the sweetest music, shall chant her to her repose; till awakened on the great morning of the world, descending angels shall introduce this daughter of Jerusalem into the joy of her Lord.

"Such is the female character, and such the importance of forming it by education. Without education it cannot be formed; for we were all born equally ignorant, and are what we are by instruction 1."

The heads of families, and those who can direct the formation of female character, must not disregard this important duty. Let them place in the hands of those females, who may come under their superintendence, the means of knowledge in all things suitable to their station and duties; and, above all,

1 Bp. Horne, vol. ii. p. 353-367.