justice to her claims? In what country have the provisions of legislation lost sight of the distinction of male and female; looked at both with the same aspect, rendered the one as personally responsible as the other, and entitled them equally to the same rights and privileges? When a woman steps on this sacred ground, she becomes free; she is her own; she is a party, she treats for herself. your reproach is rolled away. We see one of your sex bringing forth IMMANUEL, God with us.' We see the angels of heaven bringing you messages, and performing for you miracles. We see you last at the cross, and first at the tomb of our common Lord. We see JEHOVAH

your cause.

Here, my sisters,

listening to your supplications, and maintaining We see you the DAUGHTERS of the Lord Almighty.' We see you redeemed with an infinite price, destined to possess a 'far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory,' and hastening to partake of a resurrection in which they 'neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven.'

A third reason is drawn from those devo

tional exercises which cannot be properly performed where relative duty is not observed: "That your PRAYERS be not hindered.' It is impossible for a Christian to live without prayer. He prays alone, and he prays with others. The field, the temple, the closet, the family, are with him places where prayer is wont to be made.'

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How necessary is prayer in the marriage state! How does social devotion sweeten social life! It obtains strength for its duties, and succour for its trials. It gives a direction to the mind, by which we escape numberless snares; an elevation, by which we rise above a thousand vexations. How it sanctifies our comforts! How it prepares the soul for disappointment or success! How it calls down the blessing of Heaven to attend the labour of our hand!' How it attracts the divine presence, and places Him within our reach 'who is nigh unto all them that call upon him; to all that call upon him in truth.' Of a prayerful habitation it may be said, How glorious is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven!' 'The voice of rejoicing and of salvation is in

the tabernacles of the righteous.' O happy mansion! where all the members of the family 'dwell together in unity;' living with each other here, as those who expect to be associates forever; maintaining a friendship, the centre of which is religion, the duration of which is eternity, the bonds of which are 'faith and love which are in Christ Jesus.'

Guard, therefore, against every thing injurious to the service of God in your families. Let nothing hinder its exercise. Let nothing prevent its fervour. Let nothing destroy its freedom. Let nothing frustrate its efficacy. Let nothing limit, or even delay its success. Let your whole conversation be consistent with devotion, or preparatory to it. Avoid whatever renders an introduction into the Divine presence less easy, or less delightful. Keep open a passage wide enough to advance together to the throne of grace. Go hand in hand into his presence: Agree, touching the things you shall ask, and it shall be done for you of our heavenly Father.'

In reviewing the subject, I would beseech you, my dear hearers, to remember, That

those who make light of moral and relative duties, contemn the will of God. 'He knows

what is in man,' and what is necessary to him. Every condition lies open to his view. He sees how things blend, and how they issue; how they oppose, or how they aid each other. Though invisible to us, he sees the worm that lies at the root of our social happiness: we wonder at the effect, he sees the cause, and would remove it. He has condescended to speak we have HIS judgment relative to every station and relation in life. He speaks as a sovereign who has authority to command, and he speaks as a friend who consults your welfare, and takes pleasure in the prosperity of his servants.'

Again. We have reason to lament, that there is such a general deficiency among professors of religion, with regard to those duties which they owe to each other. Many, to show their love to the gospel, testify their indifference to the law. Numbers are too orthodox, or too devotional, to be moral. Morality is below their faith, or their raptures. Various things their system has taught them; but one

thing it has not taught them, one thing it does

not require them to learn -'to deny all ungodliness and worldly lusts, and to live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present world.' Shall ministers, by their silence, be accessary to this corruption of manners, this awful perversion of religion? Let them 'affirm, constantly, that they which have believed in God must be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men.'

Let those who stand already in the marriage relation, be willing to know, and to practise the duties which spring from it. Enter, my brethren and sisters, the temple of revelation; bow before the divine oracle; say, 'Lord, what wilt thou have ME to do.' Speak, Lord, for thy servant heareth.' Extract from the scripture, the mind of God concerning yourselves individually. Take home the words I have been explaining. Read, compare, resolve, reform. Let not husbands take away the duties of the wife, nor wives the duties of the husband; but let both take respectively their own, and say, 'O that my feet were directed to keep thy statutes.' 'I have chosen