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    HEFORMATORY MOVEMENT. 291

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    «» O^R No Portion Of The Human Race Has ...

    _wid troubled about many tiling's , fails to impart ; she will be the devoted Mendhumbly sitting at the feet of the Saviour , shedding

    , over the loved one the sweet perfumes of costly offerings , which the worldly may sneer at , but which embalm her love for ever ; she

    may discharge for the lowly and the destitute , humble offices of daily life , which will carry divine charity into their hearts , and the

    earthly clothing made by her own hands for them will be transformed into heavenly raiment which even to the world ' s end will clothe her

    spirit , when its mortal covering has been dissolved ; she may bestow , unforbidden by a true apostle , " much labor" on the affairs of the

    church ; and as her most holy and natural mission , she may devote herself with Lois and Eunice , to the kindling and drawing out of

    the divine spirit shrined in a young child , —a child who may become the leader on of thousands to the heavenly kingdom .

    All these are the peculiar privileges of woman , as such ; they involve sacred dutiesbut before considering what these are , let us premise

    , _Br few observations , lest we should be misunderstood . In the first place we are not now speaking to married women . They

    iiave entered into a solemn and most holy engagement ; each one such lias inseparably linked her whole being to another , to whom is hencer

    her forth being her first 1 . Whatever duty , saving she onl now y that undertakes which she of owe what s to may Him who be called gave

    Christ ' s especial work , must be done with his concurrence , or at any rate without interfering with her duties to him and to her household .

    "Whatever woman devotes herself to external work , to the neglect of those devolving on her , either as a wife or a mother , is , we believe ,

    incurring a very heavy responsibility before God . Nor , again , are we speaking to all unmarried women . There

    are many who , without having by their own act , and of their own willtaken upon them the sacred relationship alluded to , are bound

    , hy others equally sacred , imposed by Him who is the God of Nature as well as of Grace . We would not judge others , but entreat all to

    apply to the test of their own consciences , the following remarks . We call * then , on _^ Christian women , who are not bound by their

    pecuniary circumstances to work for their own living , to exercise their privileges , and at once , if they have not hitherto done so , address

    themselves to some earnest work for the good of others ; and should their inclinations and powers so direct them , we would especially

    commend to them the work in the Reformatory movement . In this , every function which we have already spoken of may be fully

    exercised . The Martha may find full scope for her household cares ; the Mary will watch for the moments when she may pour

    precious balsam , not on the Saviour , but for him , oil his little ones ; the Dorcas will expand her heart ' s love into innumerable humble

    daily duties for these young lost ones ; she who would have labored much for the Apostle will do so for his disciples of these distant ages ;

    and those who are mothers in heart , though not by God ' s gift on earth , will be able to bestow their maternal love on those who are

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    Heformatory Movement. 291

    HEFORMATORY MOVEMENT . 291

• Citation
  • English Woman’s Journal (1858-1864), July 1, 1858, page 291, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/ewj/issues/ewj_01071858/page/3/