cursions unavoidable; but let a man return as soon as the design of his absence is accomplished, and let him always travel with the words of Solomom in his mind, As a bird that wandereth from her nest, so is a man that wandereth from his place.' Can a man, while from home, discharge the duties he owes to his household? Can he discipline his children? Can he maintain the worship of God in his family? I know it is the duty of the wife to lead the devotion in the absence of the husband; and she should take it up as a cross, if not for the time as a privilege. Few however are thus disposed, and hence one of the sanctuaries of God, for weeks and months together, is shut up. I am sorry to say, there are some husbands who seem fonder of any society than the company of their wives. It appears in the disposal of their leisure hours. How few of these are appropriated to the wife! The evenings are the most domestic periods of the day. To these the wife is peculiarly entitled ; she is now most free from her numerous cares, and most at liberty to enjoy reading and conversation. It is a sad reflection upon a man

when he is fond of spending his evenings abroad. It implies something bad, and it predicts something worse.

But though the apostle intends nothing less than residence, he designs much more. Residence is required with a view to the performance of all the duties of the state, and is used to express them. In the discharge of these obligations, the husband is to act according to knowledge,' to 'behave' himself 'wisely,' to regulate all his proceedings by a holy discretion. O ye husbands, show that you are capable of the relation in which you are placed ! If you will be the head, remember the head is not only the seat of government, but of knowledge. If you will have the management of the ship, see that a fool is not placed at the helm. Shall the blind offer themselves as guides? To enable you to live as a Christian husband, in how many instances will the exercise of an enlightened prudence be found necessary! By this you are to ascertain the temper, the excellencies, the foible of your associates. This is to teach you, how to accommodate. This is to show you, when to

see as if you saw not, and to hear as if you This is to tell you how to extin

heard not.

how even to pre

guish the torch of discord;

when to give up,

vent the kindling of strife;

when to recede from a lawful claim for the sake of a greater good. This is to teach you also, when you are NOT to yield. Adam, to indulge the solicitation of his wife, disobeyed the commands of Heaven. By the same soft, seducing instrumentality, the heart of Solomon was turned aside from God. Their sad examples have been unhappily, too often followed. But, would she force upon you her antipathies; would she embroil you in all the resentments of caprice, or rivalry; would she allure you towards scenes of dissipation and gaiety; would she urge you to extravagance in appearances, dress, table, furniture; would she chill you with suspicions, and render you less generous; the importunity of woman, 'lovely woman,' is to be in vain. He that loveth' even his WIFE more than me, is not worthy of me.'

2dly. You are to give HONOUR unto the wife.'-What honour?

The honour of ESTEEM.

This is to arise

This affec

from a consciousness of her worth, and a knowledge of her importance in the community, in the family, and to yourselves, by polishing your character, dividing your cares, soothing your sorrows, affording you in a peaceful home a refuge from the storm, an asylum from the mortifications of an unfriendly world. The honour of ATTACHMENT. tion is to be peculiar, undivided, unrivalled. Nothing is to wear it away, nothing to diminish it no length of time, no discovery of imperfection. Children are parts of yourselves, but your wives ARE yourselves. No MAN ever yet hated his own flesh :' but many a MONSTER has done so. I disdain to notice those miscreants, who can have recourse to blows; but those who can indulge in a churlishness of behaviour, a sharpness of language, an unkindness of looks, would do well to consider how far they are complying with the divine command, ‘Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them.'

The honour of ATTENTION. Nothing is so intolerable to a female as neglect; and upon

what principle can a man justify indifference, omissions of observance, and heedless manners. towards a WIFE? Has he not chosen her? Has he not declared his preference? Are not the vows of God upon him? Is she not the chief relation he possesses on earth?

The honour of CONFIDENCE. You are not to proceed without their knowledge and advice. In many cases their opinion may be preferable to your own. Their judgment may be less clouded by interest: they stand back from the object, you are too near; they are cool and calm, you, by being in the scene, are ruffled, and inflamed. An eminent minister of the gospel has published to the world, 'That he had never in any particular business acted contrary to the suggestions of his wife, without having reason afterwards to repent of it.' I believe there are many who are restrained from similar acknowledgments only by a want of candor. Some husbands never consult their wives; or even deign to inform them: and their wives have often to learn from others, or from events, things in which perhaps they are most deeply concerned.