neyed that way. There was a bed for his repose, a table on which he might write, a stool to sit upon, and a candlestick for a light. There is an important lesson of order and propriety, as well as of considerateness, in the arrangement which she suggested. Her husband trusted to her discretion, for he knew that he might do it safely. The result shows how wise he was in thus trusting to her. When the son, who had been given them for this piety of the mother, fell sick and died, we do not find her indulging in uncontrollable grief, but with a strong, yet deeply subdued spirit, looking to the intercessions of the prophet as a source of hope and consolation.

It was not that she lacked maternal tenderness, as the account shows; but a proof of her true wisdom and strong self-control. She did not overwhelm her husband and friends with passionate grief; but with strong faith, even in the deep anguish of her heart, she said, "It shall be well." She sought for her child the most sacred resting-place, even the bed in the prophet's chamber, well judging that there would the holy man find utterance for the most prevailing prayer. And she was right. From that act of faith and hospitality, which led her to prepare a lodging for the faithful and weary prophet, what blessings, even above the common lot of earth, did they receive! Happy the man whose wise-hearted companion is ever ready thus to prepare a PROPHET'S CHAMBER,' and welcome the man of God to their dwelling; that they may be made partakers of the prayers and sympathies of those who hold most intimate communion with Jehovah.

Peter shows also the influence of a virtuous woman. "Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that if any obey not the word, they also may, without the word, be won by the conversation of their wives; while they behold your chaste conversation, coupled with fear; whose adorning, let it not be that outward adorn

ing of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; but let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is, in the sight of God, of great price. For after this manner, in the old time, the holy women, also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their own husbands; even as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord; whose daughters ye are, as long as ye do well, and are not afraid with any amazement. Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honor unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel 1; * * * that your prayers be not hindered.”—1 Pet., 3: 1–7.

This is a most admirable lesson to all, and especially to those wives who themselves think they have found favor with God, while their husbands are not in a state of reconciliation to Him.

So far from counselling her to assert any supremacy, in consequence of her elevation to God, and treating her husband's wishes with disregard, she shows how gentle and lovely Christianity has rendered her. So perfect and amiable is she in her conduct, that even without the preaching of the word, he will be won to the Saviour, by an irresistible attraction. While he beholds her modesty, her propriety, her fidelity to all his interests-her endeavor to grow in favor and knowledge-his heart is led irresistibly to acknowledge the divine agency, which alone could so change her heart; and, from a vain and trifling woman, convert her into a being fitted to be the rational companion of man, in all his pursuits.

She is adorned, truly adorned; but not with perishable ornaments. The beautiful propriety of her character needs no foreign aid to render her attractive. She needs no extravagant apparel, no gold and silver, no glittering gems, no distorted shapes, to render her an object worthy

of his most sincere regard. Indeed, she feels that it would be casting reproach upon the perfect workmanship of her Creator, if she were to seek to render herself attractive by any conformity to the customs of the world, and the dictates of arbitrary fashion. Her own refined taste is sufficient to point out what is really fitting; and her husband is far more ready to pay homage to her true charms, than to the gold and silver with which she was once ornamented.

Did women consider what is really implied in an admiration of extravagant dress, surely, even their vanity would revolt at it. The lady who receives one iota of regard, in a fashionable garment, more than she would in a simple, unaffected dress, would, were she capable of reflection, see that it is not to herself the compliment is paid, but to those who have manufactured and fashioned her apparel. And would not the thought be humiliating, that the adulation she has courted, often at the expense of justice and humanity, is not paid to her, but to the very ones whom she has wronged? It was not her skill that manufactured the material, nor her labor that wrought it into the fantastic shapes which others may admire. Her very praise becomes her degradation.

No gold nor pre

Not so with the virtuous woman. cious gems can add to her intrinsic worth, nor claim for her one thought of admiration. She is far above receiving any additional charm from the mere weeds that wrap her decaying body, for in her heart she possesses a casket of jewels, richer than all the treasures of the earth. The ornament of a nature, which has been restored, by the grace of Jesus, to the same high dignity that was given to woman before the fall, is infinitely superior to every external embellishment. But if her heart is really prepared to sympathize with the Author of all beauty and perfection, she will seldom lack that sense of order and

propriety, that always render the female character truly attractive. Her just taste, and neat unpretending apparel, will recommend her even to the unbeliever.

The female character, thus beautiful in its own unassuming dignity, has not only been the model for all sacred writings, but it has formed the highest ideal of imaginative description. The heroine of romance is always exalted in the estimation of those who trace her fictitious history, in proportion to her resemblance to the model here given. Fenelon, whose pure style, and chaste didactic teaching, through the medium of fiction, surpasses almost every other writer of his age, thus describes a virtuous woman-Antiope, daughter of Idomenus, king of Crete.

"ANTIOPE is gentle, ingenious, prudent; her hands disdain not labor; she foresees things long before they happen; she provides for everything; she knows how to be silent, and to do things regularly, without being in a hurry; she is always employed, but never in confusion, because she does everything at a proper time. The good order of her father's house is her glory, and adorns her more than her beauty. Though she has the care of everything, and is charged with the office of reproving, denying, saving (things which make almost all women hated), yet has she made herself the delight of the whole house; because they find in her neither passion, nor obstinacy, nor levity, nor humor, as in other women. With a single glance, she makes herself understood; and they are afraid to displease her; she gives precise orders, she commands nothing but what may be done, she reproves with gentleness, and encourages when she reproves. Her father's heart rests itself upon her, as a traveler, fainting with the heat of the sun, rests himself upon the tender grass in the shade."

The apostle, after exhorting woman to adorn themselves "with a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price," goes on to enforce it, by referring to

the example of holy women in former times; those who trusted in God, and had been, for generations, accounted worthy of veneration. Even Sarah, the mother of the chosen people of God, was obedient to Abraham, and treated him with the reverence and respect that would contribute to his honor in the sight of others. She did not look up to him with fear, but she gave him that respect which was becoming, both on his account and her own. She probably realized that, if she did not respect him, neither would the rest of her household. And while she thus honored him, " calling him lord," and did it not from any fear, but from true affection and reverence for his virtues and his station, she did not find herself compelled to put on the ornaments of those vain women who surrounded her. She felt that it would not bring favor to him, nor his house. Neither did she exempt herself from the duties of life. "And Abraham hastened into the tent, unto Sarah, and said, Make ready quickly three measures of fine meal, knead it, and make cakes upon the hearth.” No, even the princess Sarah was not ashamed to perform the duties of a hospitable wife. "Whose daughters ye are, so long as ye do well, and are not afraid of any amazement." So long as those who profess to love the Lord do really follow after truth and virtue, not because of any fear, but because it is their duty; so long as they are modest in their apparel, faithful in their employments, respectful in their demeanor, so long may they call themselves the daughters of Sarah, even as their husbands, who have proved themselves worthy of like honors, are the sons of Abraham. So long will the heart of her husband trust in her, and "she will do him good and not evil all the days of her life."

She not only brings a blessing to the good, but if, like Abigail, she chances to be the wife of some churlish Nabal, who knows no gratitude, and is liable to fall under the