bloom in the wilderness of life; to be the centre around which hearts gather, and the fondest affections cling; to strengthen, brighten, and beautify existence; to be the light of others' souls, and the good angels of others' path? Jeremy Taylor wrote: "A good wife is heaven's last best gift to man, his angel and minister of graces innumerable, his gem of many virtues; her voice his sweetest music, her smiles his brightest day, her kiss the guardian of his innocence, her arms the pale of his safety, the balm of his health, the sure balsam of his life; her industry his surest wealth, her economy his safest steward, her lips his faithful counsellor, her bosom the softest pillow of his cares, and her prayers the ablest advocate of Heaven's blessing on his head." Is it not a high vocation to be this? And what to be a mother! To give birth to young immortals! To guide and train the opening minds of those who shall influence the coming generation; to teach them to live for the glory of God and the good of man; to make them know by the blessedness of their earthly home how attractive is the heavenly one; to have her children rise up and call her blessed! Sacred, blessed motherhood! is not yours a high and holy mission? And if through her own choice or otherwise the position of wife and mother is not hers, hundreds of examples prove how helpful, honoured, and blessed she may be, and what a noble and useful life she may live! In times of affliction a maiden sister and aunt has been a perfect “God-send,” the person of whom it is said, "we know not what we should have done without her ;" and at other times she has been the confidante, counsellor, and friend of parents and of children alike. She has been held in highest affection, esteem, and gratitude because of

her works and goodness. Her grave has been tended by loving hands, and bedewed with plenteous tears. Quiet and gentle her influence has been, unobtrusive and often unseen ; yet if we could trace its many streams and ultimate issues, we should find it had bound up many a broken heart, given fresh hope and courage to many a despairing one, and been the succourer of many lost. When the records of life are unfolded in the light of eternity, her mission will be seen to be of the highest kind, and great will be her reward.

Whilst home is the chief and proper sphere of a woman's life, it will not, if her heart is right and opportunity serves, be the only one. It may be, that with many little ones around her she may feel that her hands are more than full; yet even then she will contrive to send, if not to go, and comfort some who are in distress. It is not always those who have the least to claim their attention at home who are most active outside. Those whose home duties are not many and manifold will, if the heart be right, find time for much blessed work from home. Home, however, must ever be the chief concern. A woman who neglects her home will never be thoroughly esteemed, whatever good works she may do. A woman who efficiently discharges home duties will be thoroughly respected, though she does nothing besides. Yet if health and time permit, after home is cared for, many are the delightful ministries she can perform. She may write books which will instruct and delight, or care for the young of other less favoured homes than her own; she may originate and carry on movements of a philanthropic kind, or tend the sick, as only woman can; or she may visit the widow and fatherless in their affliction.

The lives of Mrs. Fry, of Sarah Martin, of Florence Nightingale, of Miss Marsh, and others less known, but not less devoted in their spheres, prove what a noble mission is that of woman when rightly apprehended and faithfully fulfilled. Such work is blessed and glorious, blessed of men, and blessed of God.

We hear much in the days in which we live of "woman's rights." There are those who would bring her much more into public life than she has been in the past, and who claim for her offices which have long been thought the proper sphere of man alone. The movement is, to a certain extent, good. When unmarried and possessed of property, woman should have a vote in the representation of the country in which she has a stake. Some women have it in their power to render special and valuable service in connection with School Boards. A gifted few are able to address companies of their own sex with ease and advantage. These, however, are exceptional The possession of the power gives the right to use it. But those are not in my judgment the truest friends of woman who court for her publicity, and make her the rival rather than the help-meet of man.

cases.

They deceive woman who cause her to believe that she will find her independence when she abandons the position assigned to her by her Creator, and reaches one against which her nature, the interests of society, and the laws of God contend. Woman has her sphere and her work, and she is only happy when she finds pleasure in lovingly, patiently, and faithfully performing the relations which belong to her as woman.

In the mission which God has assigned to her, woman can

rise to the height of her privilege and obligations only as she is a follower of Christ. Whilst religion is essential to the man, and ought to be his supreme concern, it is more essential for a woman. Perhaps it is not really so, and yet it seems so. A truly good woman is likest an angel of any being on earth; a really bad woman is likest a devil. It is bad for a man to get drunk; it seems worse for a woman. A man bereft of virtue has sunk very low; but a woman lost to virtue has sunk lower. A man "without Christ" is unfit for the highest duties and unable to attain the noblest ends of his life; a woman "without Christ seems even more unfit for the peculiar and sacred duties of her life. Think of her heart, formed to be the very abode and shrine of love, untouched and unresponsive to the Divine love-the purest, strongest love of the universe. Think of her nature, fitted peculiarly to reflect the most glorious attributes of the Godhead, bearing no reflection of His matchless likeness. Think of her influence determining in the largest degree what the home shall be, and she "without Christ," and without the hallowing and sweetening power of His grace. Think of her giving birth to children, but those children, through her alienation from Christ, deprived of the privileges and blessings of a godly parentage. Think of her united in marriage, but her husband, through her separation from the Saviour, a stranger to the influences exerted by a pious wife. Think of her life with its peculiar dangers and trials and anxieties, which Christ alone can best enable her to meet and to bear, estranged from Him who now as ever is the best friend woman ever had. Think of these things, and then say, Is it not a sad, a dreadful thing for a woman to be without Christ?

Sad and dreadful for herself, and sad and dreadful for those whom she loves more than her life.

"Once in old Jerusalem

A woman kneeled at consecrated feet,

Kissed them, and washed them with her tears.

What then?"

What then? She found that He had power to forgive her sins and make her nature pure. His words woke peace and joy within her heart; hers was a new life from the time she knew her Saviour. It has been ever thus. At His blessed feet from age to age repentant souls have gathered, and found purity and bliss. It is so still. To all who come to Him, Jesus says, "Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace."