MOTHER'S MAGAZINE.

JUNE, 1844.

Original.

THE TRUE BASIS OF FEMALE INFLUENCE.

In the last number of the Mother's Magazine, we exhibited the fact of woman's influence in all the relations of soci ety, as one of those elements of power, which contribute most decidedly to the formation of character. And, indeed, how can it be otherwise? Having the first and freest access to the heart of infancy and childhood, woman can hardly fail, from the nature of her position, to put her image and superscription on the character of each successive generation.

We now propose to exhibit the grounds, on which she can exert her best and most enduring influence. And here we are aided by the pen of the wisest man that ever wrote for the instruction of the world. "Favor is deceitful, and beauty vain; but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised." Prov. xxxi. 30. Here it is affirmed, that woman's best and abiding influence is not based on popular favor; for that is deceitful. The favor, which is gained without personal worth and loveliness, cannot endure. It is like the scaffolding, which is not sufficiently supported, and which, therefore, when tried, must fall to the ground. A woman without moral worth may indeed be, and often is, admired, for a season; she may, by the elegance of her form, and the fascination of her wit, attract much public attention; but the

favor, thus gained, is deceitful; for mere novelty cannot last. If then on this ground she expects to exert a wide and permanent influence, she is preparing the way for a bitter disappointment; for as yet she has not exhibited a single trait of character, which can wind itself strongly around the heart, and of which the heart will never tire. Popular favor on such a basis, is deceitful. It is unstable as water. It is like the morning cloud, and the early dew, which pass quickly away. It is a foundation of sand, which the floods and storms of life will sooner or later undermine and sweep away.

Nor can a woman maintain a permanent hold of society by the present possession of beauty. Beauty has won many a heart, but mere beauty never retained one. And besides, it is destined to a speedy decay. It cannot withstand the ravages either of disease or of time: and when it is gone, her power has gone; for beauty is not necessarily allied either with wisdom or goodness. Indeed, a polluted soul may be, and often is, lodged in a most beautiful body. The face may beam with loveliness, while the heart is full of deceit and vanity and pride. Such beauty is manifestly vain for all the purposes of usefulness, or of permanent confidence. It may for a season hold some spell-bound by its fascinations; but who can long take pleasure in gazing at the whited sepulchre? What man of sense can long be held by the charm of such a delusion; a charm which a few hours of sickness will dissolve? Favor, then, is deceitful and beauty vain, as the foundation of enduring power. Nay, more-she who relies on this ground to maintain her hold on her admirers, if she does not herself fall a victim to temptation, will soon find the place where she stands to be only the thin crust that covers the volcano. A face of beauty joined to a depraved heart is like a rose among thorns; whoever plucks it will draw back a bleeding hand and curse the flower.

What then is the basis on which she may exert a good and a lasting influence? The wise man answers-" a woman that feareth the Lord she shall be praised;" her influence will

endure, because it is founded on enduring principles. “Feareth the Lord"-Fear," says an apostle, "hath torment:" but not the fear with which a virtuous woman regards God; not the fear to injure the feelings of an affectionate parent, which characterizes the well-disposed child. Perfect love casteth out all slavish fear, and gives the soul its best and largest liberty. In such fear lies the secret of woman's power to make the best and most enduring impressions upon the minds that come within the sphere of her influence. For such a woman has a loveliness of heart, which will be increasingly attractive, even after the beauty of her face has faded, and the grace and symmetry of her form have given place to the decrepitude of age, and the ravages of disease. Entering with her whole heart into the spirit of her relations to God, she is of course prepared to meet the responsibilities of every other relation; and the heart that truly confides in God, is one in which all may safely confide. What man of real worth himself, would not rather take Mary in her tears at the feet of Jesus for his friend and wife, than Jezebel in her pollution and pride, though occupying a throne!

mon.

That a woman on this ground will gain a strong and permanent hold of those upon whom her influence ought to be felt is strikingly proved by the effects, as exhibited by Solo"Who can find a virtuous," or a capable "woman?" as the word should have been translated. "For her price is far above rubies. The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her. She will do him good, and not evil, all the days of her life. She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hand to the needy. She is not afraid of the snow for her household; for all her household are clothed in scarlet. Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land. Strength and honor are her clothing, and she shall rejoice in the time to come. She openeth her mouth with wisdom, and in her tongue is the law of kindness. She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness. Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he prais

eth her. Many daughters have done virtuously (well); but thou excellest them all."

Now in view of the Fact of woman's power, and the grounds on which it can be most usefully exerted, we are impelled to show some reasons, why she should give it all in favor of the religion of Christ.

One obvious reason is, that she owes her present elevated position in society SOLELY to the influence of Christianity. To be convinced of this, let her see what woman is, where the light of the gospel has not entered the habitations of men;-the mere drudge of the savage-the worse than toy of the Hindoo-the slave of the Mussulman; never treated as the equal of her husband, nor permitted to eat with him at the same table; regarded merely as the instrument of his pleasures, and as having less value in his eyes than the horse that he rides, or the goat that gives him milk; and, when enfeebled by disease, or the infirmities of age, dragged out into the wilderness to die by starvation, or thrown into an open grave, and buried alive, as a thing of naught; let her thus see what woman is under any other auspices than those of the religion of the gospel, and she cannot but feel that she of all others is most deeply indebted to Christ for all her peculiar privileges amidst the institutions of his religion. Owing then so much to Christianity, she ought surely to be its warmest, its most attached friend. It is as cruel to herself, as it is ungrateful to God, to disregard the religion which has elevated her to her true position in society, and fitted her to adorn the relations of mother, wife, sister, and friend.

Another reason why woman especially should give her influence in favor of the true religion, is that it is the source of her sweetest happiness in the several relations of life. In the relation of mother, wife, sister, she is to bear a distinguished part; and from the spirit manifested by those who come into these relations with her, she will derive the largest share of her earthly joy or sorrow. How completely she puts her happiness in the power of her husband! What if he should be a man of deep depravity, licentious, and profane:

could she confide in him, and feel, that wherever he wandered, he would be true to his marriage vow? And having misgivings on this point, could she be happy? Her present peace, therefore, is much concerned in his fearing the Lord and forsaking every sin. For the man who fears the Lord, will of course be faithful to the wife of his youth.

What, then, shall we say of the young woman, who permits her professed friend, during the period of courtship, to sneer at serious things, and to ridicule without reproof the earnest religion of a regenerated heart? Is she not preparing a dagger for the vitals of her future peace by encouraging him to break away from the government of God, and thus to prove faithless in all the relations of this life? Can she suppose that the enemy of God will treat her as an immortal being, or care for her spiritual interests? Can she look for steadfast affection from one, who makes sport of the divine authority, and is governed solely by the laws of self-indulgence? Fools only make a mock at sin; and will she allow herself to be connected with a fool, and expect to be happy in the connection?

Woman, therefore, should give her influence in favor of the universal currency of the gospel, because it will dispose man to look upon her with affection and respect. Religion in his heart will make him noble, generous, and affectionate, as a father, husband, brother, son; and generosity and kindness in these relations will not fail to render woman happy.

Again; she is urged to do this for the sake of this suffering world. The earth is full of woes, as the fruit directly of sin; and they are most unmitigated, where the influence of Christianity is least felt. Of these sufferings, woman has had her full share. We need not enumerate them, nor even allude to such as have most embittered her social life. It is enough for our purpose to say, that open sin in the husband always affects more or less the peace of his wife; that intemperance or libertinism in him is sure to draw down. upon her, whom he solemnly vowed to love and protect, a fearful amount of wretchedness. Add to this the condition