acts rather than loud protestations. She delighted to sit at His feet and hear His word. While Lazarus sat at meat with Him, and Martha served, she anointed His person. It was an act of homage as well as of love.

"Actions speak louder than words" in every sphere of life, but especially in religion. The influence of character here is more marked and powerful than anywhere else. A consistent life is the best testimony any one can give in favour of Christianity. The influence of one whom love to Christ has led to love others with a strong and pure affection, will have greater weight than a long and elaborate argument. In the case of woman especially, her power for good in this direction lies in her clothing herself with what the Apostle says becometh women professing godliness,—viz., good works. A woman will speak in vain, and worse than in vain, about religion to her household, if it is not manifest in her daily life that religion has conferred upon her unspeakable blessings, and adorned her with many graces. She will repel rather than attract,—she will hinder rather than allure. "A word spoken in season" is good; but to have any effect there must be, at the back of it, a life of love and grace. A woman's wisest, often her only way of influencing those dearest to her towards religion, is by silently showing that it has made her a holier and happier woman, a more loving and patient wife, a kinder and wiser mother, a more sincere and constant friend, a more bounteous and sympathetic benefactor. Let a woman's life declare this by night and by day, at home and abroad, and there will not be wanting those who will acknowledge that she has led them to the Saviour.

The influence of woman in the various relationships of life must be considered.

Woman's influence as a member of society is great.

Woman often regulates the habits and customs, the style and topics of conversation, in the circle in which she moves. Men refrain from expressing themselves in her presence in the way they do elsewhere. Deference is paid to her known prejudices and prepossessions, her likes and dislikes. She has it in her power to command respect and honour, not only for herself, but also for her sex. To an extent of which sometimes she is little conscious, she gives the tone to the society in which she moves. The other day the remark was made that if women were to combine to say there should be no more war, they could secure that most desirable end. Whether this be so or not, it is certain they have it in their power very largely to influence public opinion on a great variety of the social and religious questions of the times. Nor is woman without very marked influence in the political world. Apart from personal exercise of the suffrage, she has decided

many a vote,

Whilst this is

and returned many a member to Parliament. so, she should know how to use her influence aright. Her voice, when heard, should always be on the side of virtue, freedom, temperance, and truth. Her face should be set against vice, by whomsoever perpetrated, and whatever disguise it may assume. The profligate, the profane person, the man of loose morals, the scoffer and caviller at religion, should find no favour in her sight. Real worth, not showy incapacity, should win her smile; honest poverty, rather than wealthy expediency, should have her commendation. Plebeian refine

ment should be preferred by her to aristocratic vulgarity; the pleasures of home to the attractions of the gay world, and the pursuits of rational enjoyment to the frivolities of fashionable life. It is natural to men to seek the society of women, and they will conform themselves to the arrangements and observances she enjoins, rather than be debarred from it. If she is frivolous, they will talk nonsense; if she is sensible, they will be ashamed to be silly; if she is well informed, they will not be content to be ignorant; if she is vain, they will be weak enough to flatter; if she is modest, they will not dare to be indelicate and rude; or, if they venture once, they will take good care not to commit themselves a second time; if she is pious, profanity will be hushed in her presence. It is well that women should know the influence which they exert, in order that they may exert it wisely. If men enact the laws of a country, women determine its morals; if men form the strength of a community, women decide the nature of that strength; if men are the defenders of a nation from foes without, women are its guardians from more insidious foes within. The influence of a daughter may be welcome and helpful.

A good daughter is a well-spring of help and gladness in any home. Fondly do parents love and lean upon her; sweet is the sound of her voice in conversation and in song; delightful is her warm embrace, most gratifying her thoughtful love. How great a comfort and joy she is to their hearts, she little knows. If they have reason to be proud of their boys, they feel thankful for their girls.

This is true of good daughters: of those who repay the care and money expended on their education, who seek in a thou

F

sand ways to minister to the comfort of home, and contribute, to the utmost of their power, to the family weal. It is not true of those who are satisfied if they can just get through their allotted tasks, whose thought centres in themselves rather than in others, and who care nothing for father's purse or mother's work if only they can have fine clothes and take their pleasure. There is a wide difference between these two kinds of daughters. The one is a gain, the other is a drain; the one is a comfort, the other a care; the one a help, the other a hindrance. The influence which the one exerts is most beneficial and blessed, the influence of the other is baneful and disquieting.

Daughters have it in their power to repay their parents for the care bestowed upon them in early life. When grown up, they can relieve their mother of many household cares, and greatly lessen the burden of her life; they can perform many kind and serviceable offices for their father, which, by cheering his heart, will strengthen his hands. And in the closing scenes of life, who can minister to parents like a daughter? Who can so smooth the pillow of declining age, or close so well their eyes in death? A daughter's influence is of the sweetest and the best.

The influence of a sister may be powerful and beneficial.

Girls, it is to be feared, do not often realize the extent to which they can promote the happiness and affect the characters of their brothers. Brought up together in the same home, it is natural to suppose they will consciously and unconsciously influence each other. There have been brothers who have found in their sisters the chosen companions of their early life,

and who have been kept by them from forming other less desirable friendships. There have been youths who have felt they should not only be more refined, but also more steady, if they had known the influence of a sweet and loving sister. Such influence is of incalculable worth. But affection does not come by relationship alone. The fact that a girl is sister to a boy, will not of itself constrain the love without which there can be no salutary influence. She must be lovely in herself, in her character and life, if she is to be loved; she must be companionable, if she is to be a confidant and friend; she must be ready to render any service in her power, and be solicitous for her brothers' comfort and happiness, if she is to be prized by them. Not that she is to be their servant, subject to their every call and whim; but there are many things which sisters may do for their brothers, which will win their gratitude and constrain their love. As a rule, it is a sister's own fault if she has no influence over her brothers; she may be such an one as they will be proud of, and will cherish in lasting affection.

The influence of woman as a wife, if wisely exerted, is almost boundless.

The influence gained before marriage is not always retained after. It ought to be perpetuated, and even increased; but in some instances it is lessened, and in others, wholly lost. Influence is founded on esteem and love, and if closer intimacy discloses fewer grounds for these instead of more, it is inevitable that the influence will lessen. If the means which, before marriage, were employed to win admiration and regard, are neglected afterwards, it cannot be a matter of surprise that these should wane.