d
the manner in which our race is propagated in the world. Nothing ever
rises above its own nature. A spark, however high it may rise, however
brilliantly it may shine in the blue ethereal, can never become a star.
It ever remains but a spark, and so the offspring of a woman cannot, in
its nature, rise above its origin. A man can never become superior in
nature to his mother, and can certainly never, with right or justice,
exercise authority over her. He may be stronger, wiser, and better, but
he cannot be a superior being. Such a claim is alike foolish and
despicable. The two sexes, therefore, being one in nature, their chief
end is one, and reason and revelation unite in the assertion that man
was created to glorify God and enjoy him forever. God made all things
for himself. He is presented to us as the sole and supreme object of our
love and worship. His laws are our only rule of conduct, and he himself
the sole Lord of our souls. This he claims from us as creatures. This,
at the same time, he has required with the promise of eternal life to
obedience, and the threatening of eternal death to disobedience; thus
showing us that he regards this end as of infinite importance--for this
end, his own glory, happiness in himself. When we had sinned he sent his
Son into the world, and formed the plan to save our immortal souls from
woe, while from the nature of the case it is evident that this is the
highest and noblest end which man can accomplish. What can be a higher
aim than to be like God? What can God confer superior to himself as a
source of happiness? As he is the source and sum of all good, both moral
and natural, to know and to love _him_ is to know and love all that is
excellent, great, and lovely, and to serve him is to do all that is
amiable or desirable, all that is pleasing to God or profitable to his
rational creatures. True happiness and true worth are thus attained, and
thus alone. There is, there can be no other design in the creation of
man than this, to glorify God by loving, serving, and enjoying him; by
obeying his laws, living for him, living to him. This, then, is of
course the general answer to the inquiry, What is woman's mission? To
glorify God and to enjoy him forever. She, as well as man, has come
short of this. She, as well as man, therefore, needs atoning blood and a
renewed heart. She is a fallen, depraved being, influenced, until she
comes under divine grace, by unholy and unworthy motives. Her
|