The veriest wretch that goes shivering by, There is nothing so pure as the beautiful snow. How strange it should be that this beautiful snow How strange it should be when the night comes again, Too wicked for prayer, too weak for a moan With a bed and a shroud of the beautiful snow. Helpless and foul as the trampled snow, Groaning-bleeding-dying for thee, The Crucified hung on the cursed tree! "Is there mercy for me? Will He heed my weak prayer?" O God! in the stream that for sinners did flow, Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow! "And withal they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house; and not only idle, but tattlers also and busy-bodies, speaking things which they ought not. -I TIM. V. 13. "Whose adorning, let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and wearing of gold, or putting on of apparel; but let it be the hidden man of the 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." -1 PET. iii. 3, 4. VI. THE TEMPTATIONS OF WOMAN. A LL persons are exposed to temptations, but all are not equally liable to the same kind; that which is a temptation to one person will be none to another. The temptation which one will resist with ease and without a struggle, another will overcome only by strong determination and prolonged effort. The power which different temptations have over us depends mainly upon our peculiar constitution and character. Temptations are like enemies storming a citadel; where the ramparts are lofty and impregnable, the enemy will be repulsed with little or no effort; but other parts, less strong and more easily accessible, will require for their defence determined, often desperate resistance. Similarly, weak parts in a person's constitution and character are those where temptation has most power, and where he is most likely to be overcome. The reason why many a citadel has been captured by its besiegers, has been, that there was a false retainer within, who unbarred a gate, or showed the weakest point. So temptation would not have the success which it has, were there not a temptable element within, a secret inclination in the direction to which it seeks to lead. It costs us nothing to reject what we do not wish, and that we are tempted at all indicates that there is a tendency, not to say a desire, after the proffered bait. We have seen already that woman, though made the equal of man, was made unlike him. Out of this dissimilarity arise the peculiar forms of temptation to which she is specially liable. It is acknowledged that whilst to man belong greater strength of body, power of more logical and continuous reasoning, of more intense and prolonged application; to woman belong greater quickness of imagination, a gayer vivacity of mind, and more sprightliness of manner. These qualities, which are her strength, are also her weakness. They are apt to lead to unsteadiness of mind, to desire for novelty and change, to habits of frivolity and trifling employment, to dislike to sober application and graver pursuits, to an unreasonable and overweening regard for shining accomplishments, to a thirst for vanity and display, and a love of admiration and affectation. It is in these directions that woman's weakness lies, and accordingly it is here that her temptations are chiefly to be found. This is recognised in the two passages of Scripture which introduce this chapter. The apostle Paul is speaking particularly of young widows, and the apostle Peter to wives; but this indicates that whilst no class of women are exempt from these tendencies and temptations, those specially referred to are liable to their greatest force. Let us consider the several temptations of woman which the apostles St. Paul and St. Peter specify. The temptation to indolence. Idleness is not the temptation of woman alone, men share it; hence the apostolic admonition: "When we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat." Women, however, are specially subject to it, |