first and
imperative duty, therefore, if she would fulfill her mission, is to
return to God by the way of his appointment, to come to Jesus, repenting
of sin and believing on him, to receive pardon and eternal life. This,
indeed, is the imperative duty of all, but it will be seen in the
prosecution of our subject, that, as far as the welfare of society is
concerned, it is most imperative upon woman. She needs it most for her
own happiness here; she needs it most on account of her greater
influence upon the happiness of others.

Having thus seen the general and ultimate design of woman's creation is
to glorify God, our next inquiry is, Is there any particular mode by
which she is to fulfill this duty? How can she most glorify God and
enjoy him in this life? In order to answer these inquiries it becomes
necessary for us to examine her peculiar nature. That woman differs from
man in her very nature is obvious, and the peculiarities of her
organization clearly intimate that her Maker has assigned to her
peculiar duties--that she has her allotted sphere for which infinite
wisdom has fitted her. To enter upon all these peculiarities would
require a volume. I must therefore be content with a brief notice of
some of the more prominent and acknowledged ones.

Her physical organization is more delicate than that of man. She
possesses not the muscular power which belongs to him, and is therefore
not designed to undergo the outward toil and hard labor of life. The
same toil and physical exertion which will strengthen and increase the
power of the man, will often weaken and destroy her more delicate
organism. And when, in addition to this, you consider that to her alone
is committed the entire maternal care, you have not only the difference
between the two sexes distinctly marked, but you have also an intimation
of where her peculiar sphere is to be found, and in accordance with this
physical difference you will find a corresponding difference in her true
spiritual and moral nature. No one who has had around him a youthful
family circle has failed to notice that even from the cradle there is a
difference in the very nature of sons and daughters. Every little girl
knows that she is different from boys of her own age, though she may not
be able just now to point out that difference; she knows that there are
many things which boys like, and which they do, which she does not like
and will not do, and this difference only widens as we