the word of the Lord shall not pass away, and that "whosoever shall have been ashamed of Christ and of his words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him (or her) will the Son of man be ashamed when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels." Henceforth may we "have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them," and it were well if the apostle's injunction were more followed, see 1 Cor. v. 11. Were such determination acted upon, we might hope to see an extensive reformation on matters involving so much of temporal and eternal interest, and perhaps the arrow of conviction might thus be sent into the breast of some youthful sinner, which might induce him to seek the only balm to heal such wounds, the precious blood of the Saviour. The pen of inspiration has recorded that "without holiness no man shall see the Lord," and the author and finisher of our faith has for our encouragement declared, "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God!' CHRISTIANA. CAUTION TO YOUNG LADIES. MR. EDITOR, A judicious writer has observed that " much reading would be a sure preventive of much writing, because we should be sure to find all we could say already written." If this be true generally, it is especially so of a subject which has employed the pen of poets, sentimentalists, moralists, and philosophers in all ages; yet I beg to be excused by my fair countrywomen if I venture a few hints in "the teeth of their reproaches" that I am but repeating an oft-told tale. There is an evil, the danger of which I have felt and the consequences I have witnessed, from which I would especially guard the younger and more susceptible of my sex. It is this allowing a feeling of preference for one of the other sex to acquire form in the mind before they know that it is reciprocal. A young woman of quick sensibility and confiding temperament can scarcely pass all unheeded by, or converse freely with those of somewhat kindred taste without giving and receiving impressions: the sympathies of our nature forbid it. But it is in cherishing and nursing such feelings that the danger lies. I believe many a blighted, withered, and I had almost said broken heart (though the poet declares "many have died, but not for love") had been saved by a due recognition of what was maidenly and decorous, what was due to ourselves and those around us, seeking the timely aid of reason and religion to cast down our vain imaginations and subject our wills to the guidance of our heavenly Father. A woman should not own to herself, much less to another, that she loves, until she knows that the object of her preference desires her in marriage. The order of God and of nature alike declare, that she should not choose, but be chosen, and "not unsought be won," which is so sweetly and touchingly exemplified in the parallel between Christ and his church, used to show forth the tenderest, closest, dearest, and most unearthly of all earthly ties, even as the unreserved confidence and complete surrender of herself forming the nature of that love which is indescribable, but which every heart responds to, so beautifully illustrates the love of the church to her Lord; and, if this feeling towards the absent Jesus had been carefully watched, an attachment would not have been indulged unless the object of it could be received as God's gift, and so we should serve him in our fidelity to his ordinance. It is not enough that a feeling of propriety merely restrain the expression of preference; the surface may be smooth and fair, while a worm is growing at the core which will eventually spread rottenness throughout. No! religion must do its office in maintaining her sway in the soul, and committing all events into the hands of a faithful and unchanging God. Behold now two pictures under the circumstances I have described in the event of disappointment, or rather the bursting of a bubble which had amused us, and which we had tossed up and down, now high, now low, sustained by trifles light as air." On one side, hear the poet describe her who "Never told her love, " But let concealment, like a worm i' the bud, She sat like Patience on a monument, Smiling at grief." Further see the Christian heroine, who feels as a woman, but who triumphs as a Christian; she clings to the assurance that "no good thing will he withhold from those who walk uprightly." She knows that all the fruit of this discipline is "to take away her sin," to purge her from vanity and to wean her from earthly resting places, that she may repose more entirely in the love of Jesus as betrothed for ever to be the bride of the Lamb! Entelligence Department. J. H. Mary-le-bone Female Penitentiary Society. ABOUT three months since a few friends residing in the borough of Mary-le-bone, whose attention had been arrested to the necessity of more strenuous exertions to rescue fallen females from misery and ruin by the details which had been published by the London Female Mission, assembled to consider what steps should be taken. A committee was soon after organized for the purpose of establishing one or more asylums for penitent females, with a view to their restoration. One house has since been taken and suitably furnished in Upper Lisson-street, Lisson-grove, and on the 21st of June the committee and friends assembled to implore the divine blessing upon the institution. A statement of the past proceedings of the committee was read by one of the honorary secretaries, and an account given of the way in which the Lord had led them. On the 23rd of June seven women were received from the Probationary House, and as soon as the necessary arrangements can be completed the number will be increased to twenty-five. The committee have met with great success in pecuniary matters. They employ an assistant secretary and collector, whose labours are very successful. Several ladies have volunteered their services to help the good work, and they have aided the funds materially. After paying the expenses of furnishing the house, a balance remains in the hands of their bankers of one hundred pounds. But the committee hope that this is the day of small things with them. In the extensive and wealthy borough of Maryle-bone great things ought to be accomplished to rescue "those that are ready to perish." The cause commends itself to the hearts of all; and it is hoped, when the society becomes generally known, that every respectable inhabitant will respond to the appeal which the committee have issued. EFFORTS IN THE COUNTRY. To the Editor of "The Females' Advocate.” DEAR SIR, Denbigh, June 22, 1838.` It may be not uninteresting to you and your readers to know that during the past month several ladies in Shrewsbury have formed themselves into maternal associations. A society has been formed in Chester for the purpose of promoting the interests of domestic servants, president lady Corbet, secretary Mrs. Taylor. A branch of the London Female Mission for North Wales has been formed in Ruthin, Mrs. Edward Jones, of Bryn Hyfryd, secretary. Associations have likewise been formed of mothers, young women, or little girls, in Holywell, Mold, and Dalgetty. That such societies may be increased in number and efficiency, let us pray and labour. I remain, DEAR SIR, yours faithfully, THE FEMALES' ADVOCATE. FEMALE AGENCY. THE church of Christ flourished most when women "laboured with" Paul "in the gospel." Phil. iv. 3. He did not, indeed, permit them to speak in the church; but he employed them to visit and advise out of it, and applauded them for doing so. He even emblazoned some of their names, equally with CLEMENT'S, on the pages of inspiration. The other apostles also, and "all the churches of the Gentiles," gratefully accepted and acknowledged female agency. That agency was prolonged in the western church until the eleventh century and in the eastern until the end of the twelfth. The form of prayer used at the ordination of deaconnesses may be seen in "The Apostolic Constitutions." And are we wiser or stronger than the wise masterbuilders of the church, that we can do without a cooperation which apostles welcomed, and martyrs encouraged, and the fathers immortalized? True, ministers and missionaries have now freer and fuller access to female society than the apostles and evangelists had. Neither the jealousies nor the restraints of the east prevail in the west. But still, with all our superior facilities, the gospel is not brought "nigh unto" all classes. There are hin K |