notice; and, while the peculiarities of their mental constitution remain unchanged, their love to each other and their faith in Christ are fully brought out, in amiable connexion with a pious submission to the divine will.

After the death of Lazarus, Jesus went again to Bethany, to give proof of his undiminished affection to the family, and to show that he is "the resurrection and the life," that he has dominion over the grave, and that those who trust in him shall all be eventually raised to an enduring life. As soon as Martha heard of his approach, she went out to meet him, while the tender-hearted Mary remained in the house, giving vent to her grief in tears. Martha, less susceptible of the more tender emotions though not less sincerely attached to her departed brother, conversed with her Lord on the sublime doctrine of the future resurrection, intimated her conviction that the present restoration of Lazarus was not too much to expect from the Saviour's power, and, after expressing her faith in him as the promised Messiah, she proceeded with affectionate alacrity to call her sister. Mary, overpowered by her feelings, only said, "Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother would not have died," and then wept afresh. Nor did the Saviour attempt to draw her into conversation or to comfort her by words, but hastened to relieve her by restoring Lazarus to life. In all this we see the same difference between the two sisters in their natural disposi

tion, while there is an evident advancement in piety on the part of Martha.

Many instructive lessons are taught us in these accounts of the sisters of Bethany. Two or three we may briefly notice.

The first of these is the supreme importance of religion. There is something very expressive in the manner in which this is intimated by the Saviour when commending the conduct of Mary: "One thing is needful, and Mary has chosen that good part which shall not be taken away from her." All other things, the most important, the most necessary, are nothing in comparison of this: it is the one thing needful. Reader, did you ever seriously think of this? Are you sitting daily at the feet of Christ, to learn of him and find rest to your soul? This, this alone, is worthy of your deepest and most constant solicitude.

"There is a science reason cannot teach;

It lies beyond the depth her line can reach ;
It is but taught by Heaven's imparted grace:
The feet of Jesus is the only place."

Whatever advantages the world may promise, they are certainly at best fleeting and temporary; but this the good part that cannot be taken away."

is

""Tis religion that can give

Sweetest pleasures whilst we live;

"Tis religion must supply

Solid comfort when we die."

We learn also from the conduct of Martha, and the censure passed upon it, the necessity of watching against a worldly spirit. Those who are wholly engrossed by worldly things, whether in straining after the acquisition of wealth or honour or in attending to the cares of a family, are plainly the enemies of God, as well as the enemies of their own souls and of the true interests of their families. It is not however to such as are thus entirely devoted to the world, but to those who do pay some attention to the things which belong to their everlasting peace, that the narrative of these sisters addresses this word of warning: Disproportionate attention to even necessary things is censurable and dangerous. It is of course incumbent upon us to attend to the business of our respective stations. A wise woman is an industrious woman, who looks well to the ways of her household;" but how many, like Martha, while perhaps priding themselves upon the management of their family affairs, become criminally encumbered with them, and find but little time for communion with God, for meditation on his word, and for the cultivation of the Christian spirit! There is a time for every thing, and every thing is beautiful in its season; but, if we would be the friends of Christ, we must regard all things in subordination to him.

Finally, we are admonished of the evil of indulging in unlovely tempers. There is an important sense in which "" temper is every thing," and this more especially in the female character, the principal charm

of which is found in that good-humoured ease, that cheerful serenity, which diffuses happiness around the domestic circle. Little vexations will daily occur in every family, and a woman of fretful or angry temper will be in great danger of magnifying these into sources of perpetual misery to herself and annoyance to all around her. Even where, as in the case of Martha, the influence of an irritable temper was checked and moderated, though not wholly counteracted, by the principles of piety, we see how unlovely and injurious it was, and we are taught that no excellencies can fully compensate the want of a sweet and amiable temper in a woman and no provocation excuse the want of self-government in a woman professing godliness. If it be a maxim of true wisdom to " make no friendship with an angry man," how greatly must an angry woman be an object of general dislike and avoidance! Many a husband and many a family have learnt by experience what the maxims of Solomon so forcibly express, that "it is better to dwell in a wilderness than with a contentious and an angry woman"-" it is better to dwell in a corner of the house-top than with a brawling woman in a wide house." The greater delicacy of the feminine form naturally inspires an expectation of softer and gentler qualities in the spirit which inhabits it, and nature seems proportionably outraged when the countenance of woman becomes clouded by fretfulness or tortured into an expression of harshness by the agitations of anger. The indulgence of this passion is in short

totally inconsistent with every idea we can form of
feminine excellence. "A meek and quiet spirit" is
the spirit which Christianity demands in all, and in
the sight of God and all who fear him it is
of great
price;" but an angry woman is a kind of monster
that should be an utter stranger to the domestic fire-
side,

"Where beauty should in virtue's lustre shine
And gild life's chequered path with peace divine,
Disperse the clouds of gloomy care away,
And be the sunshine of the mental day."

THE IRISH DRESS-MAKER.

66

BY THE AUTHOR OF FUTURITY.," &c. &c.
For "The Females' Advocate."

To females, the generous advocates of the weakest and the most destitute of their sex, a stranger amid the lone and lovely solitudes of a sister land, and with all the fervent tenderness of a sister's feelings, addresses the following lines, convinced that the individual who is the subject of them will be regarded with deep interest, and trusting that her example may cheer and animate some sister in adversity and admonish every sister in Christ to be diligent in works of faith and labours of love. Born to better prospects, according to the current phraseology of the world, she learned in adversity a lesson which she found to be more precious than thousands of gold and silver; it was the lesson of self-denial, taught by him who for her had suffered death, even the death of the cross. Animated by his spirit, this humble believer has brought, and in the course of every week still brings, the everlasting gospel to from 150 to 200