night cometh when no man can work." Alas! whilst we are deliberating numbers, perchance, are, like the interesting subject of this little narrative, almost overcome by despair. "I looked for some to take pity, but there was none, and for comforters, but I found none,' Ps. lxi. 20. Knowing that God willeth not the death of a sinner, but that all should come to repentance, shall we not fly to their rescue, preach deliverance to the captive, bind up the broken hearted, and aid them in their return to virtuous society? It has been urged by professing Christians, in reply to appeals made for co-operation in this labour of love and mercy, that they feared such exertions would prove incentives to vice. Such a view of the case is somewhat incomprehensible. True, we are told we must not "do evil that good may come;" but where is it recorded that we should refrain from doing good, lest evil should come? Are we not verily guilty concerning our brother, whilst we hold back in so merciful an enterprize?

Too long have we slumbered in weakness supine,
Too long have we tampered with sin,

Too long have we favour'd the tempter's design,
And aided his triumphs to win.

Let us, therefore, now "redeem the time, because the days are evil."

EVIL PREVENTED.

The agent of the London Female Mission appointed to encourage fallen females, being penitent, was called on for assistance by a young girl of good character, whose mother had tried in vain to get her a place, and who had parted with all her clothes in order to feed herself and daughter from day to day. The agent, recognizing the value of the saying that prevention is better than cure, immediately exerted herself on her behalf, and happily succeeded in procuring an excellent situation for her. How much crime and misery might thus be prevented by the seasonable interposition of Christian philanthropy!

TO CORRESPONDENTS.

Communications have been received from Tryphosa and Christiana, which will appear as soon as possible. We must beg our correspondents to remember that our limits require a rigid compression in articles sent for insertion.

THE FEMALES' ADVOCATE.

A CALL TO BRITAIN'S DAUGHTERS.

"Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart."

IT is a humiliating pre-eminence that St. Paul gives to women. “Adam,” he 66 says, was not deceived, but the woman, being deceived, was in the transgression." She was acted upon by Satan, and then performed Satan's part towards the man. The daughters of Eve have, through all subsequent ages, had their full share in forwarding the general corruption. This it would be vain to deny, while a deep persuasion of it would tend powerfully to stimulate personal exertion to resist and overcome it. The word of God frequently reproves women; and it is not a little humiliating to observe how often their sins, and even their weaknesses, are brought up for illustration. "Can a maid forget her ornaments ?" saith God! Then it is evident that the Holy Spirit looks not only at sinfulness of action, but to the infirmities of a fallen mind, and notices every peculiarity of character which we endeavour to hide from ourselves and others. "Can a bride forget her attire ?" How it lowers us to be thus

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detected and exposed! The Lord sees our folly, and he supposes every one to acknowledge it, for he refers to female vanity as something unfailing, to contrast it with that which had failed. When he upbraids the city of Jerusalem for that wickedness which brought down judgments, he specifies women in particular, and makes their sin a type of the sin of the whole city. Like Sodom, "pride, fulness of bread, and abundance of idleness," were the crimes of her daughters. The prophet cried to them. "Tremble, you women that are at ease"-" Be troubled, you careless ones," was his exhortation; and it might well trouble and make them tremble to know that the Lord's eye was upon all their ways and their thoughts, that he saw their idleness in the midst of their apparent activity, that he watched their "haughtiness," their "mincing walk," their " ornaments," their "chains, bracelets, bonnets, veils," &c., and that nothing which nourished and betrayed their pride escaped his observation.-See Isaiah iii. 16-23. And can we hope that these things are not so now? Is the natural heart of woman better at this time than it was then? Is there less of infirmity? Is there less of pride? If we look within us, and around us, we shall find a lamentable similarity. The same accusations apply still, for there is the same weakness and the same sin. Neither has the Lord changed; he is still overlooking the women who are at ease, and is observing their ways. Surely, then, we ought to apply

to ourselves all that he has spoken by the mouth of his prophets.

I would earnestly beseech the daughters of England to look well into this matter, that they may not content themselves with noticing general observations on sin, but may especially regard those which are peculiarly directed to females. Let them meditate upon the evils which their instrumentality has brought upon the world, and see how Satan has employed them in his service, as they may find it recorded in Scripture. Let such meditation bring them to heartfelt humiliation before God, with a particular reference to themselves individually, and then let them observe the same marks and the same character in others, that they may supplicate more earnestly, and with more personal and deepfelt interest.

Are we not conscious of "fulness of bread and abundance of idleness?" Can we escape this charge, which was brought home upon the daughters of Jerusalem? The sin of idleness extends to all whose occupations are not useful and whose doings are not to the glory of God. The most diligent working of elaborate embroidery, or the most studious pursuit of accomplishments, come under the curse of idleness if they form our chief оссираtion. The most moderate use of the good things of life is included in "fulness of bread" if there be no self-denial. And who will excuse themselves of pride, which pervades every thought and act? We

systematically indulge the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eye, and the pride of life. Our ease and comfort are invariably consulted. We place few things in our sight which were not formed especially to gratify our eyes; and our houses and persons exhibit a "pride of life" which would perfectly astonish our forefathers, could they see how greatly their ancient simplicity has been departed from. If the Bible sets all this forth as sin, how largely are females partakers and promoters of it? Oh that the women who are at ease would tremble! Oh that the careless ones would be troubled! They are not required to abandon the comforts which a merciful God has given them, but they are required not to abuse these comforts. They need not exchange their silks for sackcloth, but they have great need to guard against ostentation. They need not give up their accomplishments, but they should sanctify them to the Lord.

Let the handmaids of the Lord show that they can forget their ornaments, that their affections can be placed upon heavenly things, that their desires can rise beyond the seat of vanity. What could not be done through the weakness of the flesh may be accomplished by means of the Spirit, and I call upon

women professing godliness" to place before them the prize of their high calling, that they may press forward in the Christian race, to the glory of their God. It may be that the Lord will fit them for instruments of great usefulness in hastening the times