LECTURE IV.

ON THE SPHERE AND DUTIES OF WOMAN.

N THE lecture before the last we instated woman in that sphere which she was created to fill, that of the wife, the mistress of a home, the head of a family. family. In that position we shall contemplate her in the present lecture. I intend to show that it is one eminently calculated to promote her happiness, to develope and perfect her character. We have a right to infer this antecedently from the nature of the Deity. Being infinitely wise as well as infinitely benevolent, he could not fail to fit woman to her sphere, and her sphere to woman in such a way, that when she follows the leadings of his hand she shall attain to all the happiness that is compatible with this imperfect state.

She is fitted to find happiness in that relation by the affections of her heart. The grand essentials to happiness in this life are something to do, something to love, and something to hope for. We all must have something to love. Especially is this the case with woman, whose capacity for affection is much greater than that of man.

There is a famous passage in the writings of Rousseau, that great delineator of the human heart, which is as true to human nature as it is beautiful in expression; "Were I in a desert I would find out wherewith in it to call forth my affections. If I could do no better, I would fasten them on some sweet myrtle, or some melancholy cypress, to connect myself to; I would court them for their shade, and greet them kindly for their protection. I would write my name upon them, and declare that they were the sweetest trees throughout all the desert. If their leaves withered, I would teach myself to mourn, and when they rejoiced I would rejoice along with them." Such is the absolute necessity which exists in the human heart of having something to love. Unless the affections have an object, life itself becomes joyless and insipid. The

affections have this peculiarity, that they are

not so much the means of exercise is happiness itself.

happiness, as their And not only so, if they have no object, the happiness derived from our other powers is cut off. Action and enterprise flag, if there be no object dear to the heart, to which those actions

can be directed. The woman then, who has chosen a husband worthy of her affections, with a common share of this world's prosperity, has the highest possible chance for happiness. Her heart has found the very thing to which it was made to attach itself. It is filled and satisfied. She has now something to live for. All her powers of action are awakened to an energy which she never felt before. She has, moreover, guidance and protection. What more can she want? Her affections are the buoyant motives to her activity, and her activity is the more happy as it expresses and gratifies her affections. Thus life is absolutely full. Every day brings with it its own satisfactions. There is consequently no regret for the past, nor any necessity of postponing all happiness to the future.

Then, the affections are not only their own reward, their own happiness, but they are the

best teachers of duty. And here is an exhibition of Divine Wisdom which ought to call forth our perpetual admiration. As affection is the strongest motive to duty, so the wise Designer has secured the most intimate and fundamental relation by the strongest affection. No human legislation could enforce that treatment of husband and wife which is essential to the happiness of both. No interference from any source is of the least service, and happiness and all prospect of it, must be banished before there can be any appeal to a third party. But when two are united by true affection, the heart has given a bond of duty stronger than can be imposed by any compulsory obligation. Hence it is that marriage generally produces the best effect upon the female character. Indeed it may be said, that it always improves it, if it be capable of improvement.

There is no teacher like true affection. The Jewish and Christian religions vindicate their claim to a Divine origin as much as in any other way in the deep wisdom and philosophical truth upon which they are founded. They do not begin by saying, thou shalt do this or that, but they go deeper, and say, "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God, with all thy heart, and

with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind, and thy neighbor as thyself," well knowing that these two commandments embrace all others. So in laying the foundations of society, the Creator based them upon affection. He made no outward law directing the conduct in the primary relations. He did not say to the first pair, "Ye shall treat each other thus and so." But he put between them those affections which are the best security of duty. He so formed their hearts, that they must involuntarily fulfil the first command, "Ye shall love each other with an affection, before which all others fade away;" an enactment which has lost nothing of its force, and which has in all ages led husband and wife, forsaking all other connexions, to cleave to each other, SO as to all purposes of this life to become one, to be identified in feeling, purpose, interest, and endeavor.

Marriage generally improves the character of woman, not only because it puts her under the best possible tuition, that of the affections, and affords scope to her active energies, but because it gives her higher aims, and a more dignified position in society. Oh! how much there is of female talent and capacity, which