husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed." (Titus ii. 1-5.

The Christian wife must expect, from an uncongenially-minded husband, occasional taunts on account of her religion: in this case, let patience and meekness have their perfect work, in setting a constant guard upon the door of her lips, lest she answer petulantly and unadvisedly. Perhaps she may be required by him to do some things which the word of God forbids. In such a painful alternative, she must, of course, refuse compliance with man rather than with her Maker; but instead of allowing this unkindness to produce coolness and discontent, let it stimulate her alacrity in all domestic duties, and her readiness to meet her husband's wishes in all things not unlawful. Let her cast herself wholly upon the Lord's power and grace, that she may be enabled to glorify his own ordinance of marriage, and to pourtray the conduct of the true church towards Himself. If it be his divine will to change her husband's heart, that consummation will be far better forwarded by her humble and Christian deportment, than by eloquent reasoning, or even than by endearing entreaties. “Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and He shall sustain thee; commit thy way unto Him, and He shall bring it to pass." (Psalm Iv. 22; xxxvii. 5.)

The apostolical injunction to wives, to be "keepers at home," is extremely seasonable in the present dissipated state of general society. It will appear with the stronger force, when we consider how totally unknown, in the apostle's time, were those promiscuous assemblies at night so common in our time. If such a caution was requisite to Christian mistresses

of families, in an age and country when females lived so secluded, what would the Holy Spirit have indited as a caution in modern times?

There is another, and still more delicate topic, which requires to be touched. When the evils inseparable from garrulity are so universally complained of; when the facility with which females are led into this fault is the testimony of all mankind; when the apostles are so express in forbidding women to be" "tattlers and busybodies," and are so severe upon the errors of the tongue; when our Lord sets us the example of expressing our thoughts in few and plain sentences; of frequent retirement for meditation and prayer; and of avoiding much talk in seasons of trial: should not Christian females be more on their guard against the sin which does so easily beset them? And consequently, should they not systematically avoid that sort of society whose object is idle talk, and whose enjoyment is not seldom mischievous slander?

The Bible is not less urgent in pressing the duties of husbands, than those of wives; but the object of this publication does not admit of equally extended remarks on that part of the subject. The apostle enjoins Christian men to “love their wives, even as Christ loved the church, and gave himself for it. For this cause shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh; this is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and his church. Nevertheless, let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband." (Ephes. v. 25-33.) Husbands are e here exhorted to look to Christ's relation

ship to the church, as the great exemplar of their owns conduct towards their wives. Jesus watches over the church with unceasing solicitude; He counts the wrongs done to her as offered to himself; He provides for all her necessities; He directs her by his counsel, supports her in every difficulty, lends an ear to all her complaints, sympathises with all her weaknesses, shares in all her sorrows; and pardons, through love, all her faults and offences.

In a connexion so intimate as marriage, nothing is more essential to harmonious co-operation, than a clear knowledge of the true grounds of that authority lodged with one party. It is expressly revealed, that in the management of the family, the husband stands in a situation analogous to that of Christ over the church; the wife is informed, not by her husband, but by God himself, that as Jesus Christ is governor in the church, so is her husband in the family. His authority there, however, like the Saviour's over the church which He bought with his own blood, has its origin in love, and is meant to be wholly directed by love for their common benefit. What a situation full of high responsibility! In return for the trust committed to him, and for the honour put upon him, God binds him to the fulfilment of corresponding duties, and to abound in every act of real affection. And the model placed before him, by which to regulate his kindness, gentleness, forbearance, long-suffering, patience, pity, and goodness towards the weaker vessel, is nothing less than Christ himself in the work of redemption! The appointment of such a pattern says more than a thousand precepts against tyranny, injustice, harsh language, or bitterness of spirit. If any imaginable

command laid upon husbands could secure the welfare of their wives, it is precisely that of acting towards them in all things as Jesus has acted and still acts, and ever will act, towards his church. The provision made for conjugal happiness in scripture cannot be mended. Only obedient hearts to the divine directions are needed in both husband and wife, to realize the utmost degree of happiness attainable in this life of vanity and trial.

In conclusion, it is highly pleasing to observe that in our country, whose institutions have always recog→ nized Christianity as part and parcel of the common law of the land, the laws affecting the marriage state do most accurately picture forth the relative offices of the Saviour and the church of his redeemed ones. The wife, upon her marriage, loses her paternal name, by its being absorbed into that of her husband: so the church is loosed from the paternity of the first Adam, her father according to the flesh, and is made one with the second Adam, Jesus Christ. The wife, however mean her condition by birth, becomes equal in rank to her husband, even to be, by marriage with a prince, partner of a throne.she/ was not born to inherit; so the poor, mortal, degraded, dying church shall sit with Christ upon his throne, and be, as He is, a sovereign. The wife, whatever the amount of her debts either before or after marriage, is not answerable; the husband must defray them all in like manner the church, who was utterly ruined, and hath nothing wherewith to pay, has had every obligation discharged by the wealth of Jesus; and still, from day to day, her daily accumulating sins are all laid to the account of her heavenly bridegroom. E. H. S.

ACTS AND EPISTLES.

IN moments of separation from the objects of Christian friendship, it is doubtless an invaluable privilege to hold epistolary intercourse, and to contribute to mutual comfort and edification; but it is not the less important to be careful that the privilege is not abused. The weakness of man is always prone to exhibit itself; the virus of human nature is ever ready to commingle with the aspirations even of the renewed spirit, and I fear that Christians sometimes deceive themselves and others by the expressions which they introduce into their letters. With a deep conviction of this truth, I trouble you with a few remarks upon the subject. The young Christian is peculiarly liable to mistake emotion for principle, and in moments of excitement, of gratitude or of hope, to fancy that the spirit is fully conformed to the divine will. At such moments, letters full of vivid description and glowing imagery, are written the correspondent is warmed by the communication; sympathy is excited; sensations arise which are pleasant to the soul, and the solitary luxury is feasted on till the spirit is absorbed, and fancies itself fit for the joys and exercises of heaven. A subtle kind of self-delusion takes possession of the mind; frames and feelings are mistaken for selfdenying, active Christianity. A rivalry in the strains of elevated experience is indulged in by the youthful Christians, and the mixed incense of piety and