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." CONTENTS. ALLEGORY, No. 1-Rachel's Leprosy II. Varieties, from Oversight. ALLEGORY, No. 2-Rachel's Exile 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 occasioned by faults or defects of character and temper, require the same treatment which Martha received from Christ;-tenderness enough to prevent despair, and reproof enough to check presumption. Martha's faults are not the only faults, which the Saviour rebukes and chastises, in all whom He loves. His object is, to have all his real disciples conformed to His own image; and, therefore, he contends against whatever, in each of them, is most unlike himself. Whatever had been the besetting sin of Martha's character or spirit, his rebuke,—“ Martha, Martha !" would have been equally pointed and unequivocal. It applies, therefore, to all those varieties of piety which, like hers, leave some doubt upon all minds (the possessors not excepted) of its present reality, or of its future issue. The rebuke bears directly, not indeed upon all imperfection, but upon all imprudence and oversight, negligence and self-will. Accordingly, it is applied to themselves, by many pious females, who never went Martha's lengths in ill-temper. There are meek and amiable women, who feel instinctively that they have more of Martha, than of Mary, in their character. Some of them, although not 66 cumbered about much serving," are yet so cumbered about something, that their hearts are almost divided between God and the world. Others, again, although not "careful and troubled about many things," are yet so absorbed |