The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1859-08-11

| no cqual substitute. Especially, as IL is
| to be expected that thousand cares, anxi-
etles and vexations will mix in with a
married state: That a female endures
many sorrows unknown to any mortal but
herself: And that, in the midst of many
sufferings, it will be sometimes incumbent
to assume a cheerful and serene counte-
nance-even when her heart protusely
bleeds with anguish-and she is well nigh
sinking in despair Here it is resigned
peaceful piety alone which can prepare her
to endure-and shew her lovely, even in
the adverse moment.
Religion hath taught her to sober down
imagination mot to look for more than
moderate joys and transcient felicities in
this life. She is not, therefore, so much
disappointed by the caprice of the world.
and vicissitudes of fortune, the insinceri-
ty of professed friendships, the allays of
real attachments, or the imperfections in
evitably attending all human affairs, but
that she can still relish rational pleasures,
and find a due share of fortitude and res
olution to encounter unavoidapie calami-
tics.
1t hath been said that domestic mis-
fortunes have been born with more forti-
tude by women than by men. And one
reason which has been given is, that there
is greater proportion of women who have
the consultations of religion, than there
are OF men.
The pious woman, or a prudent wife,
can summon animation to pursue and have
real pleasure in prosecuting the same i'm
portant ends in wasting sickness, and on
death bed, which she had projected and
pursued in health.-Thrice happy wo-
man, who can live as tho about to die !;
and die as tho about to live And doubly
happy he, who hath received a prudent
wife.
Religion, in the accomplished fair, be-
nignly sheds a nameless charm on each
attendant virtue: And serves the whole
up with exquisite relish.
Its worth or beauty charm the fight |
Beyond the pearly price or lilly white,
The rainbow brightness, or the morning
light.
1t is the last touch of the divine Work
manship; The high fraught polish, and
the speaking grace.
When all the gentle virtues, soft graces
and good qualities once meet, as in the
prudent woman how deep the gentle and
dclightfulimpressions on susceptive hearts
of favored friends How soft the ties Of
love Alas But | forbear, and owp
my duty to instruct the living. Nor will
[ be silent to an objection which may &C.
cur to some, viz.
Obj. A female thus accomplished aoiU
share too great an influence.
Ans. 1t is not the greatness of ones in
hucuce, but the acrong kind which is
dangerous. The more extensive, the bet
ter the influence; if it be proper or good
in its kind. Man stood in need of good
genius to attend him of an agreeable,
energetic influence to soothe his cares, ar
rest his attention, and chear his heart
And as such the woman was presented to
him. Nor will it be easy to prove that
woman's proper influence is threatning
to the true honors, prerogatives or pleas
ures of her husband until it is proved
that Christ is the less glorious and bless
ed-because of the great influence Of the
church over him.
Ans. 2. The properspheres of the differ
ent sexes are distinctly different: Even
as much so as their persons. The sphere
of the one sex cannot be infripged, till
that of the other hath been deserted. Great
accomplishment in lovely woman can not
induce her to forsake what is pralse-wor-
thy in her own sex. Is it not clearly i'm
possible then that woman, acting wise
ly in her own sphere, should so boldly
infringe on the rules of propriety as to
usurp a single pregrogative of the man
If so, is it not also to be feared that true
believers will one day arrive to such a
degree of perfection-as to attempt to
WELD the septre or assume the authori-
ty of Christ. But,
Ans 3. 1t must be owned that women
may be SO accomplished, as that their in
Auence will be very great But Is it un-
natural to suppose that the growing In
fuence of men would be raised also in its
full proportion?
AS the woman was bestowed as an es-
sential assistant to man, SO reason teaches
that, the more influence she hath with
him as woman, or as an accomplished wo-
man, by so much the more it is to be ex-
pected that the true dignity of man will
, appear. And fact hath fully shewn that
the gentle, still, small voice of woman's
energetic, proper influence is the most
sovereign, finite mean-to moderate the
roughness of rash man; to brighten up
true genius; to raise the philosophic
thought; to elevate poetic strains ito
charge home courage in the field of Mars
: Or, indeed, to summon forth, enlarge and