Gracious Creator of the whole human race! haſt thou created ſuch a being as woman, who can trace thy wiſdom in thy works, and feel that thou alone art by thy nature, exalted above her,—for no better purpoſe?—Can ſhe believe that ſhe was only made to ſubmit to man, her equal; a being, who, like her, was ſent into the world to acquire virtue?—Can ſhe conſent to be occupied merely to pleaſe him; merely to adorn the earth, when her ſoul is capable of riſing to thee?—And can ſhe reſt ſupinely dependent on man for reaſon, when ſhe ought to mount with him the arduous ſteeps of knowledge?—
Yet, if love be the ſupreme good, let women be only educated to inſpire it, and let every charm be poliſhed to intoxicate the ſenſes; but, if they are moral beings, let them have a chance to become intelligent; and let love to man be only a part of that glowing flame of univerſal love, which, after encircling humanity, mounts in grateful incenſe to God.
To fulfil domeſtic duties much reſolution is neceſſary, and a ſerious kind of perſeverance that requires a more firm ſupport than emotions, however lively and true to nature. To give an example of order, the ſoul of virtue, ſome auſterity of behaviour muſt be adopted, ſcarcely to be expected from a being who, from its infancy, has been made the weathercock of its own ſenſations. Whoever rationally means to be uſeful muſt have a plan of conduct; and, in the diſcharge of the ſimpleſt duty, we are often obliged to act contrary to the preſent impulſe of tenderneſs or compaſſion. Severity is frequently the moſt certain,
