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THE LOVELINESS OF FEMALE PIETY.

abeth, Anna the prophetess, and even the mother of Jesus, were prepared to greet his entrance upon the stage of life. In view of this most glorious event, they all seemed moved with a divine influence, and exalt and "magnify the Lord." They break forth in songs of praise, as best befitting the advent of Him who inspires the songs of angels, and who was to be the subject of the new and endless song of the redeemed in glory. Well may they sing, for in him "mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other." He is "the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star." Ponder all these things in thy heart, Mary, highly favored of the Lord; thou shalt yet know him, the holy child Jesus, as thy Lord and Master; thou shalt yet find salvation in him when he shall, with his own blood, have purged thy sins, and shall have "set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens."

How beautifully is an awakened interest in Christ represented in the history of the woman of Samaria. A wearisome journey brings Christ and his disciples to the well of Jacob, near Samaria, on which the Savior sits to rest himself, while his disciples go into the city to buy food. Meanwhile the woman of Samaria comes to draw water, and is surprised to find a Jew condescending to converse with her, an outcast from Jewish communion and intercourse. Our Savior, to whom all earthly things are a mirror which reflects his own infinite wisdom and goodness, points out to the woman, in the refreshing water of Jacob's well, the exceeding riches of his grace the spiritual mysteries of his high character and mission. And as he discourses, he reads to her her very thoughts, and the history of her life, and sheds a ray of light upon her mind, by which, to her astonishment and grateful surprise, she begins to discover the true Messiah of her religion in person before her. Full of the wonderful tidings, she forgets her errand for water, and hastens to repeat the story in the ears of her doubtful countrymen. She insists upon the truth of her declarations, and they pour forth in eager crowds to behold and hear the illustrious stranger for themselves. They hear, they are convinced, and rejoicingly announce to her who was the happy instrument of their joy," Now we believe, not because of thy saying; for we have heard him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Savior of the world."

How tender and affecting is the exhibition of humble, heartfelt penitence and faith in the instance of the woman (probably Mary, the sister of Martha,) who washed our Savior's feet with tears, and anointed him, in the house of Simon the leper, at Bethany. She

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was a sinner who thus ministered to Christ, and this circumstance made the scrupulous Simon very much doubt whether Jesus were really a prophet. But while the Pharisee looked only at the outward appearance, Jesus looked at the heart; and he saw that whatever she had been, her tears of penitence and confidence attested the sincerity of her reformation; while the services which she rendered him became the means of convicting the Pharisee himself, not only of the erroneous judgment which he had hastily formed of Christ, but of his want of attention to the common civilities which were due his guest. Upon the woman's penitence and faith, so signally shown by her works, the Savior, with authority and power which startled his fellow guests, pronounced her "forgiven" of all her sins, and bade her "go in peace." go in peace." He did more. He immortalized her memory, and sent this eventful, interesting passage of her history down to all succeeding generations of men, throughout the world, that they might "go and do likewise."

Take other instances of the strength of woman's faith in Christ. He is on his way to heal the daughter of Jairus. Through the crowd which throngs him, intent only on her purpose, a woman diseased for twelve long years, who had spent all her living upon physicians only to grow worse, urges herself along, till, with breathless anxiety, her arm nerved with faith and hope, she touches the border-but the border of his garment; and lo! she is immediately healed. And did the Savior chide her, as she feared, when he discovered her trembling and prostrate before him? O no; but "he said unto her, Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole go in peace." In the borders of Tyre and Sidon, Jesus had withdrawn to a house, as he hoped, unseen, unknown; but he could not be hid." A Syrophenician woman comes to enlist his sympathies for her daughter, possessed with an unclean spirit. Repulsed by his silence, by the impatient murmurings of his disciples, and, at length, by his own apparent refusal of her request, she, nevertheless, persists in her application for his assistance, until Jesus himself exclaims, in unwonted terms of commendation, "O, woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt."

Among Christ's miracles of mercy "he had healed of evil spirits and infirmities" certain women, Mary, called Magdalene, and Joanna, the wife of Chuza, Herod's steward, and Susanna, and many others. And as he passed from city to city," preaching and showing the glad tidings of the kingdom," these women accompanied him with the twelve, and ministered unto him of their substance.

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THE LOVELINESS OF FEMALE PIETY.

Here are gratitude, benevolence, and charity combined-an active, liberal, useful piety. This is a piety which consists not in abstract speculations, nor in sentiments of taste, nor in the mere emotions of the heart; but, having the fount of feeling unsealed, it gushes forth in refreshing streams that follow him in his journeyings even down to the cross and the sepulchre. Here is a bold and woman-like benevolence which brooks the contumely of the proud, and the violence of the powerful, and dares to administer to his relief and comfort, when, perhaps, all other resources failed him. Though he was possessor of all things," he had not where to lay his head; and was totally dependent on the charities of a world which he had created, which he preserved, and which he came to redeem. Astonishing condescension! And surely they are reaping their reward in his heavenly glory, who did not shrink from acknowledging and sustaining him here in his humiliation and his sufferings. Noble women ! Your names are written in heaven, and they are written in God's book on earth, to be objects of our admiration, and examples for our imitation !

The sisters of Lazarus are among the most interesting of scripture female characters. The meek and gentle Mary, sitting in humility at the feet of Jesus, listening to his lessons of heavenly wisdom; the bustling, active Martha, equally attached to Christ, but exhibiting her attachment by unnecessary trouble in providing entertainment for him, present us with two finely contrasted specimens of female character, true to nature, and beautiful in the simple devotedness of their piety. They were both the objects of the Savior's love; and he found nought to reprove in either, save that the zeal of Martha led her to exert herself beyond what his simple taste, and his kindness of heart, inclined him to allow. Christ, it is true, might also have perceived that this eagerness to provide so abundantly for the wants of the body, might lead her to forget or neglect the higher interests of the soul. Such may too often be the case with us. With a real regard for religion, we may be disposed to carry our endeavors for its outward prosperity so far as to lose sight, for a time, of what is infinitely more important, its spiritual interests. Behold Martha, with her accustomed alacrity, running to meet Jesus as soon as she hears he is coming to Bethany, after the death of her brother; "but Mary sat still in the house," overwhelmed, doubtless, with the bitterness of grief. Mark her confidence in his affection for the family, in his power with God in prayer, in the divinity of his mission, and in the truth of his solemn and sublime declaration, "I am the resurrection and the life." But

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though Martha was thus ready, zealous, confident, Mary is doubtless an example of the tenderest, deepest emotions. There are a subduing softness in her whole manner, a melting of the soul, as in her listening posture at the feet of Jesus, her washing his feet with her tears, her weeping when she met him and repeated the appeal of Martha to his affection, which go irresistibly to the heart, and produce in others corresponding emotions.

A DAUGHTER'S ERRAND OF LOVE.

Some thirteen years ago, while in the employ of the American Home Missionary Society, I preached in a certain neighborhood in the town of W. During the services, which were very solemn, I observed a woman who wept much. I went to her after the audience was dismissed, and inquired why she wept. "Sir," said she, "I am from ; I came this long jour

ney to visit an aged mother, who is yet out of Christ, with the earnest desire not to leave her until she is converted to him. Since I arrived, I have been sick, and now, when for the first time, I am able to come to the house of God, I find what I hardly dared to hope for, the faithful preaching of the truth, as I have been taught to love it; and it is God's goodness, in permitting me to hear his precious word in this wilderness, which overwhelms

During further conversation, she manifested a spirit of meekness and trust in God, and spoke of the prospective conversion of her mother, in a manner which showed that the fervor of desire and agony of intercession had sweetly subsided into the calm confidence of faith.

The aged woman had passed through many awakenings, and was now in a great degree hard of heart. The countenance of the daughter was lit up with a cheerful anxiety which could not be mistaken. She said but little, but I knew her hope was in God. I began conversation with the mother, not without a strong expectation of a favorable result. At first, the interview was solemn; soon, the heart was probed; tears came, and, in deep distress, she cried, "What must I do to be saved?" When I was called away, she was under pungent conviction; and soon after, she was rejoicing in God her Savior.

Reader, have you an impenitent relative? "Go and do likewise," - go with earnest prayer, and a fervent purpose to leave nothing undone; and "according to thy faith, be it unto thee!". - Pastor's Journal.

BEAUTIFUL EXTRACT.- -If Christianity should be compelled to flee from the mansions of the great, the academies of the philosophers, the halls of legislators, or the throng of busy men, we should find her last and purest retreat with woman at the fire-side; her last altar would be the female heart; her last audience would be the children gathered around the knees of a mother; her last sacrifice, the secret prayer, escaping in silence from her lips, and heard, perhaps, only at the throne of God.

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CHEERFULNESS.

CHEERFULNESS.

BY MRS. SIGOURNEY.

Among the ingredients of happiness, few are more important than a habit of cheerfulness. Its lineaments are always beautiful. They have a tendency to reproduce themselves. The calm smile often images itself on the brow of another; and the sweet tone, if it fail to call forth one equally sweet, still soothes the ear and lulls the soul with its melody. A melancholy countenance and a plaintive voice are contagious. "I have always," said the good vicar of Wakefield, "been an admirer of happy human faces." The sentiment is universal. The pleasure thus derived compensates for the absence of beauty, and supplies the deficiency of symmetry and grace.

Cheerfulness is expected from the young. It is the natural temperament of life's brightest season. We are disappointed when we see a frown or gloom upon those features which we persuade ourselves should be ever cloudless. It is as if, in gathering spring's early violets, we found them thorny, or divested of fragrance. The open, clear glance, the unsuspecting aspect, the smile hovering around the lips of the gentle speaker, and interpreting, more perfectly than words, the harmony which dwells within, are inexpressibly cheering to those whom care has depressed, or whom age has furrowed, or whom suffering has taught to distrust.

The young, in cultivating those habits which promote cheerfulness, should remember that they are meeting the just demands of the community, paying an appropriate rent for their lodge among the flowers. That the happiness of others may be thus promoted, will be a strong motive to the amiable and kind to study those rules on which so valuable a science depends.

A cheerful demeanor is particularly expected of young ladies. In their case, its absence is an especial fault. For if, among woman's household duties, it is numbered that she makes others happy, and if, in order to do this successfully, she must in some degree be happy herself, cheerfulness should be early confirmed into habit, and deeply founded in principle.

A contented and grateful disposition is one of the elements of cheerfulness. Keeping our more minute blessings steadily in view, will be found a salutary exercise. Little kindnesses from those around us should be reciprocated, and returned in the spirit of kindness. Forgetfulness of favors, or any tendency to ingratitude on our part, should be guarded against as an inroad upon justice, and a sure omen of incorrect and unhappy moral tendency. Recognition of the daily gifts of our unwearied Benefactor promotes cheerfulness and peace of mind. Contrast will aid us in their estimation. The pure water, which, from its very abundance, we cease to value, would be fully appreciated by the traveller parching amid African deserts, and by the poor camel of the caravan. The healthful air, which invigorates every nerve, and for which we fail to thank God, would be hailed by the suffering inmates of some crowded hospital, or the pale prisoner in his loathsome dungeon.

By remembering those whom disease has immovably chained, or those whose eye and ear light and sound have forsaken, we better learn to estimate the luxury of motion, and the value of those senses by which we hold communion with nature and mind. The mansion which affords us shelter; the food which sustains us, and with whose reception the beneficent Creator has connected satisfaction; the apparel fashioned to the comfort of the ever