THE Lady's Closet Library. THE MARTHAS; OR, THE VARIETIES OF FEMALE PIETY. BY ROBERT PHILIP, OF MABERLY CHAPEL. "Jesus loved Martha-and her sister."-JCHN. "As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten." -JESUS. Third Edition. LONDON: GEORGE VIRTUE, IVY-LANE, GEORGE PHILIP, LIVERPOOL; MENZIES, EDINBURGH, CUMMING, DUBLIN. PREFACE. THE Author did hope, that this volume would have embraced the Varieties of Female Character, as well as of Female Piety, because character and piety are so identical. He has, however, found it impossible to trace the developement of both, under the name of Martha. "THE LYDIAS, or the Developement of Female Character," will, therefore, follow this volume, and complete the first section of the Closet Library. The Author gratefully acknowledges, that he has not appealed in vain to the Mothers or the Daughters in British "Israel." Maberly Chapel. INTRODUCTION. MARTHA AND THE MARTHAS. THE key to the second volume of the Lady's Closet Library, must be taken from the fact, that pious females, who have not exactly the spirit of Mary, are usually ranked with Martha. Indeed, they regard themselves as Marthas, and are somewhat doubtful whether they have really "chosen the good part, which shall not be taken from" them. It is, therefore, because these who are not very like Mary, class themselves, and are classed, with Martha, that I bring under her name, "The Varieties of Female Piety." Many of its varieties are almost as unlike her, as she was unlike her sister but all of them, so far as they are |