The dark places of the earth are full of the habitations of cruelty, therefore take heed to thyself that thou be not snared in them. There dwell the abandoned, who, as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness, full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity, whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, without understanding, covenant breakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful, who knowing the judgment of God, (that they which commit such things are worthy of death) not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.-Paul. and besides this giving all dilligence, she adds to her "faith, virtue ; and to virtue, knowledge; and to knowledge, temperance; and to temperance, patience; and to patience, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, charity," without which she is "as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal." Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies. The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil. 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 merchant's 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 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 sit arms. teth among the elders of the land. She maketh fine linen, and selleth it, and delivereth girdles unto the merchant. Strength and honor 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. Favor is deceitful, and beauty is vain; but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised. Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her own works praise her in the gates.-Solomon. No. 3. A VICIOUS WOMAN. "the dead Were in her house-her guests in depths of hell." POLLOCK. My son, keep my words, and lay up my commandments with thee -keep my commandments and live, and my law as the apple of thine eye. Bind them upon thy fingers, write them upon the table of thy heart. Say unto wisdom, thou art my sister; and call understanding thy kinswoman; that they may keep thee from the strange woman, from the stranger which flattereth with her words. For at the window of my house, I looked through my casement, and beheld among the simple ones, I discerned among the youth a YOUNG MAN void of understanding, passing through the streets, near her corner; and he went the way to her house, in the twilight, in the evening, in the black and dark night; and behold, there met him a woman, with the attire of an harlot, and subtle of heart. (She is loud and stubborn; her feet abide not in her house: now is she without, now in the streets, and lieth in wait at every corner.) So she caught him, and kissed him, and with an impudent face said unto him, I have peace offerings with me; this day have I paid my vows: therefore came I forth to meet thee, diligently to seek thy face; and I have found thee. I have decked my bed with coverings of tapestry, with carved works, with fine linen of Egypt. I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes and cinnamon. Come, let us take our fill of love until the morning: let us solace ourselves with loves. For the good man is not at home; he is gone a long journey; he hath taken a bag of money with him, and will come home at the day appointed. With her much fair speech she caused him to yield; with the flattering of her lips she forced him. He goeth after her straightway, as an ox goeth to the slaughter, or as a fool to the correction of the stocks; till a dart strike through his liver; as a bird hasteth to the snare, and knoweth not that it is for his life. Hearken unto me now therefore, O ye children, and attend to the words of my mouth. Let not thine HEART decline to her ways; go not astray in her paths. For she hath cast down many wounded; yea, many strong men have been slain by her. Her house is the way to hell, going down to the chambers of death. A foolish woman is clamorous; she is simple, and knoweth nothing. For she sitteth at the door of her house, on a seat in the high places of the city, to call passengers who go right on their ways; whoso is simple, let him turn in hither; and as for him that wanteth understanding, she saith to him, Stolen waters are sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant. But he knoweth not that the dead are there, and that her guests are in the depths of hell.-Solomon. No. 4. A VICIOUS MAN. "She wove the winding sheet of souls, and laid POLLOCK. A naughty person, a wicked man, walketh with a froward mouth. He winketh with his eyes, he speaketh with his feet, he teacheth with his fingers; frowardness is in his heart, he deviseth mischief continually; he soweth discord. Therefore shall his calamity come suddenly suddenly shall he be broken, without remedy. These six things doth the Lord hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him a proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, a false witness that speaketh lies; and him that soweth discord brethren. among My son, keep thy father's commandment, and forsake not the law of thy mother; bind them continually upon thy heart, and tie them about thy neck. When thou goest, it shall lead thee; when thou sleepest, it shall keep thee; and when thou awakest, it shall talk with thee. For the commandment is a lamp, and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life, to keep thee from the evil woman; from the flattery of the tongue of a strange woman. Lust not after her beauty in thy heart, neither let her take thee with her eyelids. For by means of a whorish woman, a man is brought to a piece of bread; and the adulteress will hunt for the No. 1. JAN. 1832. 2 precious life. Can a man take fire in his bosom, and his clothes not be burned? Can one go upon hot coals, and his feet not be burned? So he that goeth in to his neighbor's wife; whosoever toucheth her shall not be innocent. Men do not despise a thief, if he steal to satisfy his soul, when he is hungry; but if he be found, he shall restore seven-fold; he shall give all the substance of his house. But whoso committeth adultery with a woman, lacketh understanding; he that doeth it, destroyeth his own soul. A wound and dishonor shall he get, and his reproach shall not be wiped away. For jealousy is the rage of a man; therefore he will not spare in the day of vengeance. He will not regard any ransom, neither will he rest content, though thou givest many gifts. My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not. If they say, come with us, let us lay wait for blood; let us lurk privily for the innocent, without cause; let us swallow them up alive, as the grave; and whole, as those that go down into the pit; we shall find all precious substance, we shall fill our houses with spoil: cast in thy lot among us; let us all have one purse: my son, walk not thou in the way with them; refrain thy foot from their path; for their feet run to evil, and make haste to shed blood. (Surely in vain the net is spread in the sight of any bird.) And they lay wait for their own blood; they lurk privily for their own lives. So are the ways of every one that is greedy of gain; which taketh away the life of the owners thereof. Wisdom crieth without; she uttereth her voice in the streets; she crieth in the chief place of concourse, in the opening of the gates; in the city she uttereth her words, saying, how long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity, and the scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge? Turn you at my reproof; behold I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you. Because I have called and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand and no man regarded; but ye have set at naught all my counsel, and would none of my reproof; I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh; when your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction as a whirlwind, when distress and anguish cometh upon you. Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me; for that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the Lord; they would none of my counsel; they despised all my reproof. Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices. For the turning away of the simple shall slay them, and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them. But whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil.-Solomon. No. 5. MAGDALENS-THEIR PROSPECTS. The most of the unfortunate females in this city must go down to hell. How can it be otherwise? If they die in their sins, God will not receive them into heaven; and they must die in their sins, unless a general reformation prevent it. In case they reform, for them Christians must provide lodgings in chaste families. But these women will die soon. And will there be no unfortunates when these are in the grave? Will the vice cure itself? No-never. Whose mothers, sisters, wives and daughters shall fall into infamous courses of conduct, to occupy the places their deaths shall vacate? Even now, subjects are daily supplying the ranks in which disease and murder are making daily havoc. So it has been for centuries. Shall it continue for centuries to come? Oh, is not he to be pitied, whose narrow, selfish soul stands aloof, and refuses to aid in exterminating this monster sin? Can he unmoved see these friendless women sink unpitied, unaided into a premature grave, and their places supplied by others? No. 6. MAGDALEN-HER CHARACTER. The character of a Magdalen is as good as the character of a seducer or debauchee. Do not birds of like feathers, according to the proverb, flock together? Will a man consent to associate with his inferiors? Will he walk the street with an unchaste female hanging on his arm, or attending his steps as a companion, close at his side, when he considers her beneath him in point of excellence? Is he better than the company he keeps? If a Magdalen is his associate, why is not a Magdalen as reputable as he is? The truth of this remark is apparent to every mind, and no man will hazard his reputation for good sense by denying that a Magdalen is as good, or even better, than the unprincipled fellow who visits her, to gratify his carnal propensities. No. 7. MARRIAGE. Marriage was instituted by our Creator for the noblest purposes. Conjugal, parental and filial affection will abide a perpetual monument of its praise. It propagates the race, connects families, and forms nations; encourages literature, science, the liberal professions, commerce, agriculture, trades, useful inventions and industry; sustains criminal, humane, literary, scientific, theological, legal, medical and commercial institutions; and promotes virtue, and happiness, and long life. Licentiousness destroys the blessings marriage is designed to convey. It proceeds from vicious principles, riots in triumph in the seat |