Many christians in former times, were obliged to to the deserts, on account of the cruel persecutions heathens; while others voluntarily denied themselve intercourse with men, and withdrew to monasteries in as they supposed, to devote themselves more exclusive God. Many women from similar motives followed example, until eventually, a monastic life was consid the most sacred of all others. The country was filled cloisters; and their inmates, who pretended to renounce pleasures of the world, and solemnly promised to liv the greatest poverty and abstinence, were now rioting i the pomp and splendor that wealth could procure. Here instead of harmony and love, was enmity, injustice, oftentimes cruelty. The females, who were thus cut off from society, w more particularly deserving of sympathy. They were quently the unwilling sacrifices of the cupidity of their rents. They were persuaded or compelled to seal the in vocable vow, at an age when they had but a limited kno lege of the world; or when they were unable to comp hend the importance of the step, which could never be traced. They found, alas! when repentance was too la that they had been infamously deceived. Nature and e obliged to flee secutions of the themselves all steries in order › exclusively to ; followed their was considered 7 was filled with to renounce the mised to live in ɔw rioting in all cure. Here too, , injustice, and society, were hey were fre y of their pa seal the irrclimited know. le to compred never be re perience taught them that they were not fitted for such unin- The wise regulations of the Creator for the continuation But to return to our subject. Women generally, are better suited for domestic happiness; and for the performance of social and tender duties. To make themselves and others happy, seems to be their chief delight. There are many, however, who have denied themselves this opportunity. They die, lonely and neglected. They either preferred the unmarried state; or vainly forfeited the respect of those men, who, under other circumstances, would have been willing to become their companions for life. In the latter instance we may perceive the evil effects arising from the defective education of females, which prevails in our principal towns and cities. And how just are the complaints of this degeneracy by reflecting and sober thinking men, who would select a prudent, faithful and economical wife, instead of one who is a worshiper at the shrine of fashion, delighting to exhibit herself to the gaze of a stupid but admiring crowd; one who has collected her wisdom and experience solely from the dreamings of poets and romancers; one who prefers splendor to simplicity or self adoration to ami. 1 ability or modesty; one whose ideas of dignity and ty are such, that she would consider the performan household duties as something too vulgar and con to be even thought of. Well may it be said that many, who, by the faults they have acquired, eithe habit, or the dangerous instruction of their parer rendered themselves unworthy and unsuitable for tion which it should be their pride to become th A man, on the contrary, whatever may be his in life, can always be useful. He will find some engage his attention, cither in the service of his co some domestic or scientific pursuit. Even though h remain unmarried, he has numberless chances of himself useful in the world, by a proper use of the ties and powers which his creator has allotted to that he may finally exult in the glory of his car withstanding he has no wife or children to comfort carth. Far feels that he has not lived in vain upon is it with woman. There are not so many objec forth her zeal and activity. If she remains unmar services are rendered for the benefit of some other services that would be in reality a pleasure rathe pain, if they were intended to cheer and exhilerate of her own; but as it is, no husband is gladdened toils of the day are over-no children are nourish unto her a support in her age and infirmity. From this source arise many evils which are oft acteristic of unmarried females. The want of s grossing pursuit or object to employ their minds nity and proprie. rformance of her and contemptible said that there are red, either by long eir parents, have able for that sta. come the orna ay be his situation find something to of his country, or en though he should chances of making r use of the capaci allotted to him; so of his carcer, not to comfort him. He carth. Far different nany objects to call ains unmarried, her ome other familysure rather than a exhilcrate a family laddened after the e nourished to be them to seek amusement or gratification in things, which in other situations, they would think unworthy of their characters. They grow talkative, restless and ill-humoured, and are unusually severe in their remarks upon those of their sex who have been more fortunate than themselves. They still expect the flattery with which they were greeted in the bloom of youth. By their untimely coquetry, they make themselves ridiculous and disgusting. Others, who may avoid these errors, we see amusing themselves with some bigoted or fanciful theory of religion. They are regular in their attendance at church; but in their general intercourse with society, they thoughtlessly wound the feelings of others, and break through the restrictions that are imposed by decency and sobriety. These, however, are the errors of an uneducated mind, rather than any natural wickedness of heart, and consequently are the more pardonable. They have sought after contentment, and endeavoured to reconcile themselves with their present condition, but in this they have been disappointed. They are sufficiently punished by the mockery of the unthinking. But you, who look upon them with a sneer, should not forget that you are committing a crime of still greater magnitude. Not that their faults should pass unnoticed, nor that you should not make them sensible of their defects; but in doing this, you run into an error yourself, by forgetting the respect that is due to them in all cases, and under all circumstances. Why will you increase the misery of her who has renounced the happiness of a matrimonial life? Are you qualified to judge of her motives? Do you know what disgust she may have folt for the a witness of her agony-her burning tears-the g secretly devoured her, when the spell of her affecti broken? when the vows of love proved a deceiving ing oracle? when the joys of life fled quickly aw existence became to her a curse-a torment? And despise her-you, who do not possess an atom of bleness of soul-you, whose passions, whose lusts, unrestrained. As she advances in years, her frien by one, desert her-friends, who in her youth, ma the warmest attachment. But there are those by wh will not be forsaken-those who are imbued with th and love of a true christian. It should now beco especial care to attend faithfully to the requisitions "The unmarried woman," says the apostle, "car the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both and in spirit; but she that is married careth for the of the world, how she may please her husband." sphere in which the former now moves is more circu ed; she does not mingle so much with the world; th she should feel more deeply concerned about the t religion; not alone by habitual praying and pious ex which may be only an outward demonstration of he tion-but rather by kind, charitable and humane a whereby those will be benefited who may require her Let her avoid every thing that might creat like for her among men. Only she who knows how tain universal respect and esteem can have the same tunity of doing good. Then it is essential to avo imprudence of those who injure themselves by lig titiel conduct: who express their hatred on every |