ENCOURAGEMENTS.
What woman has done. Zenobia, Isabella, Pocahontas. The Catholics.
Facilities for Improvement. Political Institutions. Growing
Elevation of the Sex. Illustrious catalogue. Constitutional
Susceptibilities. Domestic Habits. Means. Self-observation. The
Scriptures. Prayer. The life of the soul, how glorious.
In approaching the conclusion of these Chapters, I cannot doubt that
some of my female friends will inquire, "Who is sufficient for these
things. How is it possible for me to reach the high standard now set
before me?" We reply briefly, that the first thought to be presented in
this place is,
That you should contemplate what your sex has actually accomplished in
the Past. The Scriptures, the oldest records of our race, contain a long
catalogue of female names, illustrious for the virtuous and pious
associations, that cluster around them. Greece and Rome abound in
examples of women of intellectual, and sometimes, of moral, distinction.
Zenobia, queen of the East, stands forth a pattern of excellence, in
whom were combined an enlarged understanding, singular refinement,
courage, prudence, and fortitude. Modern Europe has exhibited more than
one instance of this kind. The kingdom of Spain produced that female, to
whom the discovery of this continent might be almost directly traced,
one who had rare talents and strength of mind, yet no arrogance, or
despotism, like the renowned queen of England; one "who possessed the
grace, the gentleness, and feminine accomplishments, of Mary Stuart,
without her weakness, who joined to Castalian pride, as a queen, extreme
sensibility and softness of deportment, as a woman."
If we turn to the records of this country, we find, among the female
portion of its aboriginal inhabitants, proofs of no despicable
qualities. Looking at the red man's race, who can fail of admiring the
noble, self-denying spirit of Pocahontas, the friend of our fathers, the
victim, in her prime, of civilized life? Within the present century,
when the men of the Mohawk tribe were debased by Intemperance, and
embroiled in sanguinary wars with their brother Indians, the females
called a council, by themselves, and so did they protest against these
giant sins, as, for a season, to bring sobriety and peace within the
borders of their people.
Such being the power of Pagan woman, what might we not anticipate from
this sex, where the mild gospel of Jesus had appeared? It was for
conscience' sake that females, like the lady Arabella, left homes of
peace and plenty, and often families of noble rank, and came to these
shores with the Pilgrim band. How many of this sex once fled to this
land, from the religious persecutions of France, and chose danger,
privation, and death, rather than subscribe creeds hostile to their
faith. What sacrifices have they made in the Catholic Church. The
Convent may be the fruit of erroneous opinions, yet it has shown forth
gloriously the power of woman. Such self-denial, such unwearied devotion
to prayer and the ceremonies of a church, such offices of charity,
furnish proofs of the moral capacity of this sex, misled as they often
have been, on which the Protestant believer may dwell with grateful
emotions and inspiring thoughts.
Another encouragement to female effort may be found in the general
Facilities for Improvement in our age. Education is receiving more
thought, than in any former period of the world. She, who desires it,
can enjoy higher literary advantages, better instruction, more useful
manuals, and other aids in the school-room, than were ever before
possessed in any community. The pulpit is emitting new light for the
spiritual man, and the press is redolent with a moral fragrance. Such
is the progress of society, that conversation, social manners, and the
incitements of example, now combine in furtherance of personal culture.
Our Political Institutions present, likewise, eminent incentives to a
higher self-training than has ever yet been witnessed. The republican
principle not only gives scope for individual freedom of thought and
action, but awakens associated effort. We have, hence, Female Societies
for benevolent purposes, Maternal Associations to assist the female
parent in her responsible tasks, and Young Ladies Circles for reading
and intellectual sympathy and mutual enlightenment. These are a portion
of the fruits of our free institutions. They create an healthful
atmosphere, and, associated as they are with the memory of their noble
founders, they utter to woman the inspiring summons,
"Through thy veins
The blood of Heroes runs its race!
And nobly shouldst thou brook the chains
That, for the virtuous, Life prepares,
The fetters which the matron wears,
The Patriot Mother's weight of anxious cares."
The growing elevation of your sex in popular estimation should also
encourage you, my friends, to untiring devotedness, and patient
self-culture. She, who was once regarded as but the satellite of a proud
planet, is now herself marked in the catalogue of heaven's luminaries.
Already are the names of Madam de Stael, Edgeworth, Jameson, Martineau,
and Hemans, abroad, and of Sigourney, Sedgwick, Child, Lee, and others,
in our own land, enrolled on this bright register. Nor is the moral
advancement of woman less remarkable than her literary attainments. The
Alcoran may exclude her from Paradise, and teach her that she has no
soul; practically, if not literally, it has done this. But Christianity
places her in the same high rank with man. She is an heir of the
Redeemer's kingdom. In the social edifice, she is viewed as the rich
tracery of its massive frame-work; the more graceful and delicate part,
yet as essential to the completeness of the structure, as its giant
pillars and solid masonry.
In her Constitutional Susceptibilities woman should find motives for
signal excellence. Philosophy teaches that sensibility alone will prompt
to the kind offices of Christian beneficence. Why does man pass so
often, in passive indifference, the helpless child of woe? Because
nature has not gifted him with a tender heart. He was formed to buffet
the storms of public commotion. Extreme sensibility would have made him
shrink from the encounter. But woman was endowed with a sensitive
spirit, that she might feel for the sufferer, and an active imagination,
to picture his troubles, and an ardent love, to relieve them. How can
she fail of perpetual charities?
Again, her temperament is friendly to piety. St. Augustine calls hers
the "devout sex." And meet is the appellation. For her weakness teaches
her to lean upon an Almighty arm; and her trustfulness,--so striking,
that to doubt, suspect, and despond, come, in her, only from peculiar
physical infirmity, or from a most erroneous education,--leads her to
confide in God. Add to these the earnest affection of this sex, and we
have a moral predisposition to religious sentiment. To them is given a
vantage ground, which they should joyfully and gratefully occupy. She,
on whom the heavier burden is laid, is gifted with superior powers of
endurance. Virtue is the prize of humanity, and she is placed nearer
than man to its goal. Piety is the crown of our life, and for her brow
is it pre-eminently fashioned. The divine Spirit, dwelling in all souls,
is yet imaged to our minds, in Scripture, and in Nature, as "a still,
small voice," a gentle and quiet influence, which are peculiarly
congenial to the soul of woman.
Her Domestic Habits furnish the final encouragement of woman to constant
self-improvement. In the sequestered paths of home, having hours and
days, in which the needle is her quiet employer, how may she meditate on
the touching and lofty themes of human concern. Why should she wander
from the ways of truth, integrity, and purity? She has her temptations
it is true. In some situations they may be greater than man's. But,
taking our whole mortal existence, and the usual occupations of the
sexes, it will hardly be denied, that woman may, if diligent in
attention, hear those voices of admonition, which are drowned in man's
ear, by the world. She may enjoy seasons for communing with her soul,
and surveying the riches of the interior world, and for estimating the
vanity of sensual, and the glories of spiritual things, such as are
seldom granted to man. She walks, ever, as it were, beneath that moral
arcade, which Providence has raised above us to proclaim his hallowed
presence. Can she withdraw her eyes from it, and look downward, and
become a servant of time? Will she,--will one thus nobly
privileged,--surrender her birth-right? If she comprehends its value,
she cannot be other than an aspirant for the prize of life eternal.
But how shall this prize be obtained?
Let the young woman understand that religion is not a strange thing,
disconnected from this world, out of herself, and to be introduced by
some mysterious influence. It is the unfolding of a principle within
her. You must study self, and seek the kingdom of God in your own soul.
There only will you ever find, and establish, it. Religion consists in
giving the heart,--this very heart which beats with emotion at the
objects around you,--unto spiritual pursuits. So directed, it will flow
out on your fellow beings, and spring upward to the Father.
Search the Scriptures. Use them chiefly as a mirror in which you are to
see yourself. Dwell on the writings of the Psalmist. They speak to human
experience as few books, even in the sacred volume, address us. You will
feel no joy, for which they have not the language to express your
gratitude. No sorrow will so deluge your heart, that God will not,
through them, send a holy wind, to assuage the waters. Peruse especially
the life of Christ. There is your model, an incarnation of the Divinity.
Rest not until you also have begun to grow in the image of God. Do you
love what he loved? Are you living as he lived? Have you the same high
purposes, to "please your Father," and to "go about doing good?"
Pour out your soul before the Lord. Prayer is our spiritual aliment. It
teaches us humility. For who can carry self-important and haughty
feelings to the throne of Infinite Purity? Prayer will teach you to see
the hand of Providence in all that befalls you. While you present all
issues before Him, second causes will not disturb and distress you.
Submission is the fruit of devoutness. "Thy will be done," be this your
petition, and it will not only reconcile you to those overwhelming
events, which would else prostrate you in the dust, but it will be a
daily sedative amid the disquieting cares of your lot. And, though you
feel burdened with guilt, do not restrain prayer before God. He is the
friend of the penitent. Nor let a cold heart keep you back from this
service. The habit of being instant in prayer is indispensable to
salvation. Besides, who can tell that, even while you are speaking, the
cloud will not roll off, and the face of your Father, a view of his
love, deep, unutterable, and divine, and the sense of his precious
presence, revisit your soul?
You are now in the prime of your being. Commence to-day the life of the
soul, and you will enter on that course, which leads to an immortal
virtue. Time is short; why should you give to it your noblest energies?
This world is but a passing shadow. Oh, do not consent to build your
dwelling, as if the suns, that scorch and blast the soul, could not
strike you. That Being, in whose hand is your breath, has placed you,
for a few swift-winged years, on a vessel, propelled by fearful
elements. In an hour you least imagine, that, which now bears you
brightly onward, may burst its confines, and scatter on the wild waves
the black fragments of all that is mortal. Yet fear not death; FEAR
LIFE. Live as you ought; leave the rest with God. Calmly may you then
lean on Him; peacefully will you pass the strange ongoings of earth.
Through tears, and through smiles, in the body, or parted from it, live
as you ought, and heaven is gained. Wait upon the Lord, and while
worldlings, living to earth's pleasures, dead while they live, shall
faint and be weary, and many shall utterly fail, you shall renew your
strength; you shall mount up with wings as eagles; you shall run and not
be weary, and you shall walk and not faint.