indeed rose the sun on your nuptial morn; prize her, love her, honour her, and be it the study of your life to make her happy.

But the sacred volume places the value and importance of domestic virtues in the female character, in a point of view at once more grand and elevated than any modern production, and also associates high social responsibilities and dignified privileges with her condition, invests her with mental power and moral qualities, and throws around the whole the beaming mantle of spirituality; as may be plainly perceived in the following extracts." Who can find a virtuous woman? 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 seeketh wool and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands. She is like the merchants' ships; she bringeth her food from afar. She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens. She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard. She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms. She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth

not out by night. She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff. She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy. She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet. She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple. Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land. She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant. Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in 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 arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her. Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all. Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain; but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised." (Prov. xxxi. 10—30.)

To the question "Who can find?" propounded by the inspired penman, it may too often be replied, Who seeks "a virtuous woman?" Is she wealthy? is she pretty?

is she talented? are questions asked much more frequently, than, is she pious, sensible, industrious, affectionate? Oh, husband! we trust thou hast made a rational choice, otherwise our whisper will echo but sadly through thine ears.

CHAPTER III.

ON GENERAL CONDUCT.

EARNESTLY endeavour to deserve among your acquaintance the character of a good husband; and abhor that sort of would-be wit, which I have sometimes seen practised among men of the world-a kind of coarse jesting on the bondage of the married state, and a laugh at the shackles which a wife imposes. On the contrary, be it your pride to exhibit to the world that sight on which the Apostle passes such an encomium, as being "heirs together of the grace of life." (1 Peter iii. 7.)

Supposing that you have chosen wisely, make it an established rule to consult your wife on all occasions. Your interest is hers: and undertake no plan contrary to her advice and approbation. Independent of better motives, what a responsibility does it free you from! for, if the affair turn out ill, you are spared reproaches both from her and

from your own feelings. But the fact is, she who ought to have most influence on her husband's mind, is often precisely the person who has least; and a man will frequently take the advice of a stranger who cares not for him nor his interest, in preference to the cordial and sensible opinion of a wife competent to offer it. A due consideration of the domestic evils such a line of conduct is calculated to produce, might, one would think, of itself be sufficient to prevent its adoption; but, separate from these, policy should influence you; for there is in woman an intuitive quickness, a sagacity, a penetration, and a foresight into the probable consequences of an event, that make her peculiarly calculated to give her opinion and advice. If I was making up a plan of consequence," said the acute Lord Bolingbroke, "I should like first to consult with a sensible woman."

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Have you any male acquaintance, whom, on just and reasonable grounds, your wife wishes you to resign? Why should you hesitate? Of what consequence can be the civilities, or even the friendship, of any one, compared with the wishes of her with whom you have to spend your life-whose comfort