THE LADY'S LOOKING-GLASS,

The thirty-first chapter of the Proverbs has been called the La dy's Looking-Glass. In this glass, there is to be seen the most just and striking portrait of a virtuous woman, moving with dignity and gracefulness in her own proper sphere. She is represented as placed at the head of a numerous and flourishing family, where she displays her piety, prudence and economy, in conducting her domestic affairs. Such female virtues, displayed in the discharge of such female duties, deserve the attention, approbation and imitation of all, whom God has formed to move and act in the domestic circle. It has been a question, whether God has given superior mental powers as well as stronger nerves to men, than to women. Though it may be easy, yet it is not very important to decide this point. It does not admit of a doubt, whether our Creator has not formed men and women for very different employments; or whether he has not given them such corporeal and intellectual abilities, as are best adapted to their respective conditions and employments.

Men

are formed and designed to cultivate the earth, to traverse the ocean, to transact commerce, to frame political constitutions, to enact and execute civil laws, to perform military service; and, generally, to do every thing, which is necessary to preserve public peace and order and safety. But women are formed and designed to perform less public and extensive, though not, perhaps, less necessary and important duties.— It is theirs to superintend and manage the variety of domestic concerns, which call for perpetual attention, industry and economy.— Their cares and labors continue, while the sun continues to shine, and the candle continues to burn. They have, therefore, peculiar need of vital piety, for their assistance and support, under their constant and heavy cares and burdens. Whether men are religious or irreligious themselves, they agree in the opinion, that piety is necessary to form the most important and beautiful trait in the female character. Solomon expresses the general sentiment of mankind, when he says, "Favor is deceitful and beauty is vain ; but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised." The reason, why piety in women is more admired and valued than piety in men, is because it spreads a peculiar lustre over their natural excellencies, and eminently fits them for their appropriate employments in life.

I now propose to describe the

nature of true piety and its happy effects upon women in the discharge of their various and important duties.

True religion, or vital piety, consists, essentially, in the filial fear of God. The woman, that feareth the Lord, is, in the sense of the scriptures, a virtuous or pious woman. The filial fear of God is the beginning of that wisdom, which cometh from above, and which is first pure, then peaceable, gentle and easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. Though vital piety implies the belief of the pure doctrines of the gospel, and an external conformity to its requirements, yet it essentially consists in pure and holy affections. The reason, why experimental religion is so often called vital piety, is, because it consists in that holy love, which is the fulfilling of the law, and which never fails to produce a holy and devout life.There are probably more pious women, than pious men in the world. And pious women are not only more numerous, but more pious than pious men. After their hearts have been renewed, they commonly become ardent and devout in their religious affections. Their peculiar duties and trials, and their retired situation, unitedly, lead them to improve the means of grace, to eye the hand of God in the dispensations of his providence, to seek divine support and comfort, and to cast themselves

with their cares and burdens upon the Lord. This is certainly true of the pious women in ancient times. How devotional was Hannab, the mother of Samuel; Elizabeth, the mother of John; Mary, the mother of Jesus; and Anna, the prophetess, who departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers, night and day. Whatever may be the reasons, why women are more generally and more eminently pious and devout than men, the fact is too plain from scripture and observation, to require particular illustration.

1, therefore, proceed to show, that vital piety will have a happy influence upon women in the dis charge of their various and important duties, in their proper domestic situation. And I observe,

1. That piety will naturally dispose women to be industrious in the superintendence and management of their domestic concerns. The human race were originally formed and destined to be active and diligent in their various secular employments. When God placed Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden, he let them know, that he did not place them in paradise to spend their days in indolence, but to dress and cultivate the garden by their daily cares and labors.— Eve, as well as Adam, was under moral obligation to improve her time in some manual or mental employment; and the same obligation lies upon all her daughters, to improve their time in discharging

the duties of their domestic destination. Though some women may be placed in a higher station and more affluent circumstances than others; yet none can be exempted from domestic cares, and but few from manual labor. The multiplicity of domestic cares and concerns is always more or less irksome to the feeble and delicate constitution of women; and sometimes too heavy to be borne. But piety is a principle of activity and self-denial, and never fails to dispose women to perpetual diligence in their ever necessary and important duties. Accordingly we find, that industry forms a very prominent trait in the scriptural character of the virtuous woman. "She seeketh wool and flax and worketh willingly with her hands. She riseth while it is yet night and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens. Her candle goeth not out by night.She looketh well to the ways of her household and eateth not the bread of idleness." Such a pious mother will not only be active and diligent herself, but cause her daughters and all her domestics also to be active and faithful in whatever she employs them. Piety gives a peculiar dignity and gracefulness to a woman at the head of a numerous and industrious family.

2. It belongs to the mother not only to guide the house, but to instruct the children, who are more immediately and constantly under her care and eye. They are by

nature depraved and continually need maternal instruction and restraint. Mothers generally have more time, more opportunities and better talents to instruct little children, than fathers. The pious mother "openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness." The instructions, the reproofs, the restraints, the counsels and warnings, which flow from maternal affection and kindness, are adapted to make the deepest and most permanent impressions upon the tender and docile hearts of children and youth. It is well known, that pious mothers have often been happily instrumental of forming the characters of some of the brightest and best men, that have ever lived in the world. To mention particular instances: Samuel and Solomon received their first and best instructions from their mothers.— Solomon, under the name of Lemuel, records for the instruction of all future ages, the instruction and admonition, which his mother gave him in this tender and affectionate language: "What my son? and what the son of my womb? and what the son of my vows?" Paul reminds Timothy of the saving benefit he had received from the early instructions, which were poured into his young and tender mind by his grandmother Lois and his mother Eunice. In reading the lives of great and good men, how often do we find them gratefully and respectfully mention their mothers, who early instilled into