December 9

Proverbs xxxi. — 1). Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above riches.

11. The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil.

12. She will do him good, and not evil, all the days of her life.

13. She seeketh wool and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands.

14. She is like the merchants' ships: she bringeth her food from afar.

15. She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens.

16. She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.

17. She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms.

18. She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night.

19. She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the disraff.

20. She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.

21. She is not afraid of the snow for her household; for all her household are clothed with scarlet.

22. She maketh herself coverings of tapestry: her clothing is silk and purple.

23. Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land.

24. She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant.

25. Strength and honor are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come.

26. She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.

27. She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.

28. Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.

29. Many daughters have done virtuously; but thou excellest them all.

30. Favor is deceitful, and beauty is vain; but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised.

31. Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.

I Timothy ii. — 8. I will, therefore, that men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.

9. In like manner, also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broidered hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array.

10. But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works.

11. Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection.

12. But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence.

13. For Adam was first formed; then Eve.

14. And Adam was not deceived; but the woman, being deceived, was in the transgression.

Christianity recovered woman from the social degradation to which, in almost every nation except the Hebrew, she had been reduced by custom, by law, and even by religion. Christianity ennobled her to her original position as the "daughter of the Almighty." But, in order that woman may hold her just position in society and in the church, the gospel would have her guard with sacred jealousy the proprieties of her sex; and by the modesty and quietness of her manners, the discreetness of her behavior in public assemblies, and the abundance of her good works, wield a redeeming and refining influence over men and affairs. The influence which proved so destructive in the beginning of the race, may, through the gospel, be exerted for the noblest purposes of

good. That these counsels were not intended merely for a local and temporary condition of society is plain from the fact that they are based upon the order of creation and the unchanging qualities of sex.

The gospel, which carries grace, modesty, and purity into the family, would also maintain order and integrity in government, and peace, good-will, and godliness in society at large. For this blessed consummation we should devoutly pray; realizing that there is one God and Saviour for all; that his grace can reach alike the highest and the lowest; that his gospel is the best agent of reform; and that the best wish we can have for the improvement of society is that it should become thoroughly Christian.

APPROPRIATE HYMNS.]

Prayer.

[Nos. 13, 79.

O Lord, the Giver of life! we bless thee that we are of the living to praise thee. We bring to thee the homage of our hearts, desiring to worship thee this day in spirit and in truth; to celebrate thy glory in thy works; to show forth thy loving-kindness to the children of men; to praise and adore thee for thy great mercy in Jesus Christ our Saviour. Oh! do thou for his sake take away our sins, and sanctify our hearts by thy truth and thy Spirit! Bless to us the reading and hearing of thy Word, the worship and order of thy house; bless the assemblies of thy people,

the communion of thy saints, the instruction of children, the visiting and teaching of thy servants among the poor, by the wayside, and from house to house.

As a family we consecrate ourselves to thee, our Father in heaven. We bless thee for the memory of the good who have gone before us, and have taught us thy way, and for the hope of immortality brought nigh to us in the gospel. May we so improve these earthly sabbaths, that by thy grace we shall come unto the fruition of this blessed hope through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.