The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1874-02-26
Religion In Women.

How often have young men ptopOin-
ded to themselves and others the que5-
tion, what is the first quality sought for
in the choice of II wife? aud how dl-
verse have been the answers to this i'm
portant interrogatorv. The gay and
thoughtless will point you to beauty,
wealth, accomplishments; Others, win"
look beyond the tinscl of the eXterlo ,
regard amiability and feeling as t.
brightest jewels in the female chara r.
ter others still, who have search
deeper into the springs of human a..
ton, and know we'll the fountains fro n
whence flow the purest and most cndnr-
ing happiness, will give the only true
answer to the inquiry, to'wlt: stron2
christian faith, sentiments and practlc =.
Religion is everywhere lovely, but IN
women particularly SO. 1t makes her
but little lower than the angels. 1t
,5urifes her heart, elevates her feelings
and sentiments, hallows her affections
sheds light on her understanding, and
imparts dignity and pathos to her whole
character. Nor does its influence end
1t sits on the lip in smile,
1t checks the ungracous reply,
1t captures but cannot begulle.
1t should be remembered that life is
not all sunshine. Bright as the world
may be before us, we cannot live long
without encountering many sorrows,
and disappoiutments, and troubles. -
They are sent by kind of providence
to sever the cords which bind us 700
closely to earth to turn our thoughts
inward upon ourselves and upward to
heaven. While our bark glides calmly
on summers sea, with the blue sky
above, the bright waters around us, the
Establishments Of youth, beauty, accom-
plishments, may satisfy the heart but
let us be overtakcn by the storm and
tempest, and where is the support they
yield! Let darkness enter your dwell
ing, and the pleasure you derived from
them is forgotten, and you look IN vain to
the same source for relief. Let death IN
wade your social circle, and lay his ruth
less hand upon your first born, shroud-
ing all around you in darkness and
gloom, and where do you look for ray
of hope? IT is under circumstances
like these, that religion transforms a
wife into a ministcrinS angel. She Will
bind up your bleeding heart, lead you
to tho fountain of livin; waters, and
change gloom and despondency into
light and chcerfulncss. As the sun in
setting, lights up every hilltop, aud
tree and cottage, SO religion gilds with
its heavenly beams every feeling, enjoy
mcnt and occupation.
Woman. from her very nature, is dcs'
tined to drink deeper of the cup of sor.
row and suffering than the other sex.
Her trials are chiefly of tho heart, and
consequently the hardest TO bo horno,
She is seldom, perhaps, called upon to
contcna with those formidable evils
and temptations which rouse all the en-
ercies of our nature to repel their at
tack, but is beset Cfrom the time she
merges into womanhoOd) by II thousand
petty trials and annoyances, which,
while they seem too insignificant to re-
uuire much effort to resist, are at the
same time the most difficult to overcome.
Religion alone can disarm these trials,
and enable her to preserve that equa.
nmity and peace OF mind SO essential
to happiness. 1t is her talisman. TC
it she flies in the hour of disappoint'
ment and sorrow, and from it never
fails to derive consolation and support
Yet how few, in their selection of d
partner for life, regard this most i'm
portant qualification. How few thln
to penetrate into the secret chambers OF
the soul, to see what is there hidden
within so fair an eXteriOr---if there the
vestal lamp sheds its clear and constant
ray External attractions may lead MS
captive for time feeling may send {
thrill of exquisite Joy through the hear
of the recipient talent may call forti
unbounded admiration but ii religion
make no part of the character, the key
stone to the arch is wanting, and The
fabric will ere long crumble and fall.
Most persons, on entering a married
state particularly in YOUTH, fancy it
condition of unmingled joy and pleas
ure-that they are within a charmed
circle, the bounds of which no sorrow
or trouble can pass. They forget th'
new aud immense responsibilities tina
are incurred, and the trials that mus
necessarily accompany them. Not tina
these should deter any one from taking
this highly important step, for it is th'
hi h road to improvement and happi
ness. What are the boasted pleasure
of intellect compared to those of aifec
ton? The latter are as truly heaven
born and immortal as the former the.
are the earliest developed in our nature
and the last touched by the finger o
decay. Woman ! thy empire is tn
heart, and he who would know the ca
pacity Of the human soul for happiness
must yield himself to thy sway.