by those who would desecrate the Christian sabbath in society, deeds, and pleasures, which are all contrary to the law of God and man? Whatever be the

cause, the fact is plain; and therefore, in bringing before you a series of addresses more immediately referring to the Christian duties and characters of women, I have one sufficient reason from the larger proportion of attendants here being confined to them.

But there is another reason. In all matters pertaining to religion, experience has long shown that women possess great influence, not only in their own families, but in society at large. It would seem that men had conceded this superiority in the expected, and even the required exercise of religious duties, on the ground of a common feeling, that it n

under th

which I have already spoken of-false shame in all matters pertaining to religion

-I mean the personal application of it in the duties of prayer, and praise, and hearing the word; for when opportunity calls for the exhibition of knowledge, and the ingenuity of argument, many men are forward enough in defending its evidences, or contending for some favourite topic, hinging upon curious or upon controversial Bible criticism. Man will stand forth as the avowed advocate of orthodox religion; but when the affections are called for in the love and service of a redeeming God, it is a call which is not responded to, or it is denied.

Women, on the other hand, are not ashamed of their religion. If they have no more than an outward interest in it, they will not be ashamed to show it; and if they are under a holy, spiritual influence, from its sacred truths, they cannot conceal it. A professed infidel amongst men is nothing regarded; whilst the wo

man who manifested herself ashamed of her religion would, by the public voice, be named a monster in society, and universally scorned. Hence women have much influence, from the very circumstance of its being expected that they should not be professedly irreligious.

Now, in pressing the duties of women, from the principles of the doctrines of Jesus Christ, upon the female members of this congregation, I shall have the opportunity of urging them to use the influence, which, by general acknowledgment and concession from our sex, they possess, as a special talent entrusted to their care. If theirs be but the observance of the forms of religion, though whilst it remains thus they are living in extreme danger from the wrath of an offended God, still they are in the way of the means of grace. They at least hear" the truth as it is in Jesus," from which those of our sex, who absent themselves, are necessarily excluded.

You, who attend the public ordinances of the church, and exercise your Christian knowledge in waiting upon the Lord, because by his grace he has brought you to "learn first to show piety at home," (1 Tim. v. 4,) remember that your influence ought to be great: take a few instances in which you know it to be true. As CHRISTIAN WIVES, you may be tried in seeing the man to whom you are bound in the sacred tie of marriage, either dead in ignorance and sin; or opposed even unto persecution of the truth; or altogether careless of any thing beyond a few external forms. If it be thus with any of you, remember your acknowledged influence. Under the grace of God, submit to this bitter trial, and persevere in holy example, fervent prayer, and judicious watchfulness for anxiously expected opportunities. "For what knowest thou, O wife, whether thou shalt save thy husband?" (1 Cor. vii. 16.) What though, at present "your husbands obey

not the word" of eternal life?

Remem

ber your Christian influence; and perhaps in the sovereignty of divine grace and goodness, "they may without the word, be won by the conversation of the wives; while they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear;" grounded upon "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.' (1 Pet. iii. 1, 2. 4.)

AS CHRISTIAN MOTHERS, you have an uncontrolled influence; all of us acknowledge, and many feel it. We men are constantly confessing, that if we are brought to real seriousness in religion, the seeds of piety were, for the most part, sown in the nursery by our Christian mothers; and if we be not so brought, we do not gainsay the truth, that our mothers did what they could herein, and taught us early the knowledge and the duties of Christian piety. Remember, then,