in your own eyes; to diftrust your own powers; to deem humbly of your own attainments; to feek for wifdom from the experienced; to honour all men; in lowlinefs of mind to esteem others better than yourfelf; to decline the haunts of temptation; to reprefs the fallies of vanity; to nip affectation in the bud; to refift the fuggeftions of pride; to turn a deaf ear to the perfuafions of ambition; to recoil from the voice of flattery; to receive bleffings with lively consciousness of demerit; to refign them with thankfulness that they have been enjoyed fo long; thefe are among the leffons of diffidence. Plainnefs and modesty of apparel are indifpenfable tokens of diffidence. So pronounces St. Paul, when, in contradiftinction to decorations confifting in gold and pearls and coftly array, he directs that women fhould adorn themselves with shamefacedness (d) Diffidence is likewise infeparable from meekness. Their union is repeatedly prefuppofed in the injunctions of Holy Writ. Thus when the female fex is warned by St. Peter against a fondnefs for exterior embellishments; the Apoftle, according to the di

vine wisdom stamped on every page of the Scriptures, fubjoins: Let their adorning be the ornament of a meek and quiet fpirit; an ornament which, however undervalued, neglected, or despised by the world, is in the fight of God of great price (e). If lowlinefs and humility, if conviction of inherent weakness, if gratitude for undeserved mercies, are requifite in every Chriftian: from every age and fex diffidence is required. If the obligation is to be ftrengthened by confcioufnefs of inexperience: it weaves additional ties around youth. If delicacy of frame and of mind, naturally predisposing to diffidence, are especial indications of the divine will: then is the want of diffidence peculiarly offenfive in young women. The declared object of the Scriptures with refpect to the female fex is to form a retiring character. To be keepers at home; to guide the houfe; to be obedient to their bufbands; to bring up their children; to unite fear, modeft and refpe&ful deference, with chafte converfation; not to be idlers, nor tattlers, nor bufy-bodies, nor waṇderers from boufe to boufe; these are among the facred precepts defigned to imprefs and to

fuftain it. Against that character the prevailing fyftem of modern education and modern proceedings declares war. If the precept to be adorned with fhamefacedness, when presented to parents and inftructors, be received with paffive acquiefcence intending no practical regard; it experiences favourable treatment. More frequently it is encountered with a fmile of felf-complacent fagacity, with open indifference, or with undifguifed contempt; as an antiquated injunction abrogated by established cuftom, a maxim annulled as inconfiftent with the fuperior tafte and breeding of a polifhed age. And the pupil who is unfortunate enough to betray fymptoms of a tendency to exemplify it, hears her conformity to a fcriptural model, her obfervance of a scriptural duty, pronounced vulgarity and ignorance of the world; and is taught that the adorning which God has beflowed and enjoined is in the eyes of enlightened fashion a blemish and a difgrace. The leading concern of the greater number of thofe perfons, who as relatives or guardians have the fuperintendence of young women, feeins to be, firft, to train up the pupil in accomplishments for the purpose of difplay; and, afterwards, to push her forward into occafions

occafions contrived for difplaying them. To act thus is styled “doing justice" to her! If, from thefe leffons and this difcipline the fhould efcape with the feelings of diffi dence unfubdued; fhe is configned to the influence of that general and unabashed familarity, which conftitutes, in the apprehenfion of multitudes, the eafe and perfection of modern manners. Remember, ye young, the inftructions of your God. Let not cuftom with her countless, worshippers feduce you to deem effrontery politeness; or to regard a Chriftian grace as dependent on the fanction of an idol. Come out from among them, and be ye feparate.

But while diffidence is affiduously cherifhed as no lefs in itself a virtue than as the ornament and guard of every other virtue; let not its nature be fo mifconceived, its influence fo unwifely extended, as to rob the mind of felf-poffeffion. Amidst ingenuous humility and retiring meeknefs, let difcernment to perceive the track of duty, promptitude to enter it, perfeverance to abide in it, be unimpaired. Let not Chriftian modefty, degenerate into falfe fhame. Be not ashamed, when it concerneth thy foul. For there is a fhame that bringeth

fin:

fin: and there is a fhame which is glory ana grace. Accept no perfon against thy foul; and let not the reverence of any man caufe thee to fall. Be not thou afbamed of the law of the Moft High. Be not thou ashamed of the teftimony of our Lord (f). Ridicule is the weapon which the diffidence of youth -is leaft able to parry. Take then to thyfelf the field of faith. That fhield no dart of the wicked one can penetrate. When finners entice thee, confent thou `not, Follow not a multitude to do evil. Remember Him, who for thy fake hid not his face from fhame and fpitting, endured the cross, defpifed the flame (g). Remember his awful denunciation: Whosoever shall be ashamed of me and my words, of him shall the Son of man be afhamed when he cometh in his own glory and the glory of the Father (b). Remember the Apoftles of your Lord, who rejoiced that they were counted worthy to fuffer fhame for his name (i). As Chrift bas Suffered for us; arm yourself likewife with the fame mind. If any man fuffer as a Chriftian, let him not be afhamed; but let him

(ƒ) Eccl'us, iv. 20-22. 6) If. 1. 6. Heb. xii. 2.

ix. 25.

(i) Acts, v. 41.

xlii. 1, 2. 2 Tim. i. 8. (b) Mark, viii. 38. Luke,

glorify