and cause it to be one of those instrumentalities by which, though feeble in themselves, He is carrying forward His purposes of grace toward our world.

I am, gentlemen, with sincere affection,

Your pastor and friend,

Troy, July 10, 1855.

G. C. BALDWIN.

CONTENTS.

EVE,

THE TEMPTED AND FALLEN WOMAN.

THE Primal Earth-New Form of Existence-The First

Woman-Her Personal Appearance-Ideal of Artists-

Titian-Powers-Earth's First Bridal-Marriage-

Campbell-Robert Hall-The Temptation-The Fall

-Milton-The Banishment-Earth's First Family-

Two deeply interesting facts in relation to it-The First

Murderer First Corpse-Agony-Is Eve in Heaven?-

Lessons Concerning Woman's Relation to Man-Wo-

man's Danger-Woman's Influence.

- 17

SARAH,

THE DEFERENTIAL WIFE.

THREE Facts Concerning Her-Isaiah-Paul-Peter-

Points in Her Biography of Deep Interest-Idolatry—

Chaldean Philosophy-Its Defect-Sarah's Culture—

Her Piety-The Transaction with Hagar-New Testa

ment Testimony-Appeal-Domestic Character-His-

tory-Her Character as Wife-Mother-Why she sent

away Hagar and Ishmael-Practical Love for Children

-Her Estimate of Personal Beauty-Willis-Earth's

First Funeral-Poetry.

P

39

REBECCA,

THE MANAGING WOMAN.

FIDELITY a Feature of Bible Biography-Rebecca's Home

in Mesopotamia-Her Maiden Character and Beauty-

The Patriarch's Tent at Gerar-The Messenger-The

Scene at the Well-side-The Message The Return-

Gold Threads-Faith-Prayer in Exigencies-Life

Crises-Providence-Female Politeness to Strangers-

Flowers-Her Married Life-Black Threads-Partiali-

ty in Families-Presumption-Deceit-Management-

The Successful Plot-The Fearful Results-What a

Pure Woman may Become-Consequences-Guilt—

Beautiful Poem.

61

JOCHEBED,

THE FAITHFUL MOTHER.

EGYPT'S Mysteries-Darius-Antony-Napoleon-The

Asylum of Jesus-Jewish History-The Bitter Perse-

cution-The Mother's Sagacity in Peril-Power of

Prayer-Divine Purposes-Providence-Thermuthis-

Power of Tears of Infancy-Poetry-The Blissful

Restoration-A Panoramic Group-Five Figures-A

Mother's Love-Mrs. Hemans-Alexander-Washing-

ton-A Mother's Influence-Her Reward-The Parting

-John Q. Adams-John Randolph of Roanoake-

Poetry.

86

MIRIAM,

THE FIRST PROPHETESS.

INFLUENCE of Local Associations in the Formation of Cha-

racter-Egypt's Mysteries--The Interest which Christian

minds feel in Egypt-Miriam's Vigil by the Sacred

River Her Triumphant Song at the Red Sea-The

History Continued-The Plagues-Their Four-fold

Object A Critical Development of the Wonderful

Manner in which those Objects were Attained-Miriam's

Sin and its Punishment-What was it ?-The Guilt and

Prevalency of it in our own times-Her Death-Daniel

Webster-The Victory over the Last Enemy-Bry.

· 110

ant.

RUTH,

THE YOUNG WIDOW.

CONSTITUTIONAL Love of Variety-Nature and the Bible-

The Book of Ruth-Voltaire-Singular Incident-The

Judges-A Family-Emigration-Death-Happiness

-Desolation-The Return--A Country Gentleman-

Jewish Law-Night Scene on the Threshing Floor-

Mlle. DeSombreuil-The Marriage-Joy of Old Age-

Astonishing Development of Special Providence-Beth-

lehem-Its Associations-A Curious Fact-Who Told

the World that Ruth was a Beauty?-Her Unselfish-

ness-Disinterested Love-Industry-James Russel

Lowell-Piety--Exhortation-Beautiful Scripture. 133

ENDOR'S WITCH,

THE FEMALE SPIRITUALIST.

SPECIAL Attention Requested to this Lecture-The Cha-

racters of Samuel, Saul, and the Witch Analysed-

Their Conditions Described-Parallel between Saul

and Macbeth-Did Shakspeare take the History of the

former as a model for the latter?-The Witch Scene-

A New Interpretation-Poetry-The Battle on Gilboa-

The Sad Lamentation-Light thrown on a large Class

of what are called Spiritual Manifestations-The Philo-

sophical probability in regard to the Remaining Class-

A Parallel Traced-The Witch's Sabbath-Objections

Examined-The Validity of Proof from Consciousness

Tested-Reasons for Opposing "Spiritualism"-The

Boasts of its Advocates Considered, &c. &c.

159

ABIGAIL,

THE SUPERIOR WIFE OF AN INFERIOR HUSBAND.

THE reign of David-Analysis of his Character-Hazlitt's

Slander-A Family Scene-Husband and Wife-Wil-

derness Scene in Paran-A Deputation--Threaten-

ing Aspects--Another Deputation-Carmel-An Im-

promptu Address by Abigail--Its high Character—

Effect-Woman's Energy-Her Success-The Unla-

mented Death—The Lecturer Attains an Object-Why

has Abigail been so Neglected by Readers and Artists ?

-Two Pictures-A Wilderness and a Home Scene-

Why did she Marry a "Churl ?"-Power of Family and

Money-Hood-Duty Illustrated-Three Visions-

Abigail Justified-Advice to Women Similarly Situated

-Woman's Privilege-Woman's True Support. - 200