The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1839-10-12
PIETY IN WOMEN.
pY NRs. pALL

II lisa matter Of proud congratuaiion among
women. that whatever extraordinary powers
may nave Deen urstvwOu, Pio- .,.si..o..s -
Tents developed in their sex, piety has ever
been their concomtants. There is a native
purity in the heart of woman which natural
~ leads her to christianity On no other al
tar can she pour out all the pure aspirations
of her nature. But the moment woman ceases
to be yiltuous, she shrinks with nervous ter
ror from the convictions Of conscience, and
listens to the bewildering voice Of infdelity,
in the vain hope Of sitting the seli-reproach
which haun,s her solitude. Then, and then
only, il she has talents, they become per-
verted, and 10 'make the wrong appear the
better reason" becomes the aim of all her
efforts. Her object is TO create admiration,
now that she can no longer inspire love; and
she turns from her own sex and assumes the
masculine coarseness Of infdel philosophy,
for the pure, meek, and holy religion Of the
gospel. Thus she stands forth to the world
an isolated object Of contemp, and pity and,
cut off from all the sympathies Of society,
becomes wandering meteor, destined finally
to sink in the gulf Of infamy.
But how bright is the reverse of this pic
ture Look back upon the historic page, and
see woman proudly filling her destiny, See
Helena the pious mother OF Constantine, lay
ing the foundation Of Christian empire
Look at the British king outstanding and
humanizing his subjects, under the influence
of pious Queen. And in more modern
times, see the Augustan Queen of England,
with the frmness Of manhood, clearing away
the superstilions with which time and weak
ness had obscured the light Of religion,
and at once reyiving learning and Chris
tianty. But need not 60 back Look at
Mary, the mother Of Washington, " a devon,
woman" and the preceptor of him who stands
in bold relief on the record of time, above
host of heroes and conquerors, the boosted
worshippers of an abstract virtue, but in re-
atty the practical murderers of their species.
Washington was as good as he was great.
and his mother taught him the true philoso
ply Of greatness.
And why should man, who leans with such
confding trust upon woman's truth and fdeli-
ty, upon woman's holy tenderness and purity
for all that soothes and consoles, and makes
home happy-why should man seek to sub
stitute in her heart, for its innate elevation,
the bewidering glare Of unbelief? Is wo.
man unhappy in her domestic regulations
what allays the bitterness of discord !-wh
like religion robs the reproach Of its sting and
substitutes the heart-touching prayer for the
cold taunt! Is her husband wanderer frc'a
the domestic hearth what hiaders her fron
a wish of retaliation, and what recalls him -
soon as the settled conviction Of his wit
virtue, guarded and sustained by her INV 4
vering faith in another and more blessed state
Of existence, where the wicked cease from
,roublingl Oh! sweep not from around tic
female heart the barriers which religion h
reared, by cold deluge Of infdel sophism
Deny part, and you shake her faith in Il c
whole Teach her not to seek the contain
mating influence of vice in The world, by it
culcating the union Of virtue and vice il,
heaven. Her bible teaches her that meek
and quiet spirit is the distinguishing trait OF a
Christian, and what man will displace it for
the glitering bubble Of licentious infdelity.