Some of them, however, continue to this day the little centres of piety and domestic instruction, blessing the attendants, and conveying blessings to all whom they influence.

A lady, one Friday morning, heard some poor women speaking of Mrs. Sherman. One of them said, "There she is, the dear creature; she is like Jesus Christ." "What do you mean?" said another, "I know she is very good; but why is she like Jesus Christ ?" "Because," replied the first, "she never despises any one, and has always a smile and a kind word for the poor.”

No grace shone more conspicuously in her than humility. Every thing she undertook was begun with trembling, and prosecuted with fear; she had no confidence in herself, nor any leaning to her own understanding, the most childlike spirit of dependence on her Heavenly Father characterized her entire course of life. When a letter was read to her a few weeks before her death, containing an allusion to the bright example she had set, she remarked, "I cannot understand what they mean. They have drawn a picture in their imagination of what they think I ought to be as a minister's wife, and then have persuaded themselves that I resemble it, because they do not know me." Such

language in the lips of some, would be a hint for flattery, but in her the transparent sincerity with which it was uttered was visible to all, and her whole conduct demonstrated, that she believed the lowest place suited her best. On an occasion when a similar remark was made by a friend, she replied, "Alas! that any one should think my imperfect walk, every step of which needs cleansing in my Saviour's blood, suitable for imitation. I can only answer in the sentiments of Cowper,―

'Since the dear hour that brought me to thy foot,

And cut up all my follies by the root,

I never trusted in an arm but thine,
Nor hoped but in thy righteousness divine;
My prayers and alms, imperfect aud defil'd,
Were but the feeble efforts of a child;
Howe'er perform'd, it was their brightest part
That they proceeded from a grateful heart:
Cleans'd in thine own all purifying blood,
Forgive their evil, and accept their good;
I cast them at thy feet, my only plea
Is what it was-dependence upon thee;
While struggling in the vale of tears below
That never fail'd, nor shall it fail me now.'"

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CHAPTER IX.

TABLE TALK, ETC., ON LOVE, WOMAN, MARRIAGE, AND DOMESTIC LIFE.

WOMAN.

FROM THE GREEK OF ST. BASIL.

There shines an all-pervading grace,

A charm, diffused through every part

Of perfect woman's form and face,

That steals, like light, into man's heart.

Her look is to his eyes a beam

Of loveliness that never sets;
Her voice is to his ear a dream

Of melody he ne'er forgets:

Alike in motion or repose,

Awake or slumbering sure to win;
Her form, a vase transparent, shows

The spirit's light enshrined within.

Nor charming only when she talks,

Her very silence speaks and shines;

Love gildes her pathway when she walks,
And lights her couch when she reclines.

Let her, in short, do what she will,

'Tis something for which man must woo her; So powerful is that magnet still

Which draws all souls and senses to her.

PLUTARCH.

Women who honour and submit to their husbands, procure honour and respect to themselves; but when they strive to get the mastery, they become a reproach, not only to themselves, but to those who are so ignominiously degraded. However, it behoves a husband to control his wife, not as a master does his vassal, but as the soul governs the body with the gentle hand of mutual friendship and reciprocal affection. For, as the soul commands the body, without being subject to its pleasures and inordinate desires; in like manner, a man should so exercise his authority over his wife, as to soften it with compliance and kind requital for her affectionate submission.

LUTHER.

Between husband and wife there should be no question as to meum and tuum. All things should be in common between them, without any distinction or means of distinguishing.

St. Augustin said, finely: A marriage without children is the world without the sun.

Maternity is a glorious thing, since all mankind have been conceived, born, and nourished of women. All human laws should encourage the multiplication of families.

The world regards not, nor comprehends the works of God. Who can sufficiently admire the state of conjugal union, which God has instituted and founded, and whence all human creatures, yea, all states proceed. Where were we, if it existed not? But neither God's ordinance, nor the gracious presence of children, the fruit of matrimony, moves the ungodly world, which beholds only the temporal difficulties and troubles of matrimony, but sees not the great treasure that is