female suffrage-第10节

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plain　moral　principles；　first　by　your　own　personal　example；　and　then
by　all　pure　influences　in　your　homes　and　in　the　society　to　which　you
belong。　In　no　other　mode　can　you　so　well　forward　the　great　work　of
Christian　civilization　as　by　devoting　yourselves　to　the　daily　personal
practice；　and　to　the　social　cultivation；　by　example　and　influence；　of
these　plain　moral　duties。　Your　present　domestic　position　is
especially　favorable　to　this　task。　You　have　more　time　for　thought　on
these　subjects；　you　have　more　frequent　opportunities　for　influence
over　the　young　nearest　to　you；　you　have　more　leisure　for　prayer；　for
invoking　a　blessing　on　your　efforts；　however　humble　they　may　he。　It
is　not　enough　to　set　a　decent　example　yourselves。　You　must　go　to
the　very　root　of　the　matter。　You　must　carry　about　with　you　hearts
and　minds　very　deeply　impressed　with　the　incalculable　importance　of
a　sound　morality；　you　must　be　clearly　convinced　of　the　misery；　the
shame；　the　perils　of　all　immorality。

In　this　nineteenth　century　the　civilization　of　a　country　must
necessarily　prove　either　heathen　or　Christian　in　its　spirit。　There　is　no
neutral　ground　lying　between　these　boundaries。　Faith　or　infidelity；
such　is　the　choice　we　must　all　make；　whether　as　individuals　or　as
nations。　Thanks　be　to　God　we　are　not　only　in　name；　but　also　partially
in　character；　a　Christian　nation。　Faith　is　not　entirely　wanting。　We　all
in　a　measure　feel　its　good　effects。　Even　the　avowed　infidel　living　in
our　midst　is　far　more　under　its　influences；　though　indirectly　so；　than
he　is　aware　of。　And　where　there　is　life；　there　we　have　hope　of
growth；　of　higher　development。　To　cherish　that　growth；　to　further
that　higher　development　by　all　gracious　and　loving　and　generous
influences；　is　a　work　for　which　women　are　especially　adapted。　They
work　from　within　outwardly。　Men　work　chiefly　by　mental　and　physical
pressure　from　without。　Men　work　by　external　authority；　women　work
by　influences。　Men　seek　to　control　the　head。　Women　always　aim　at
touching　the　heart。　And　we　have　the　highest　of　all　authority　for
believing　that　this　last　is　the　most　efficient　mode　of　working。

〃Out　of　the　heart　are　the　issues　of　life。〃　This；　therefore；　Christian
women；　is　your　especial　　task。　Use　all　the　happy　womanly　influences
in　your　power　to　forward　the　moral　education；　the　Christian
civilization；　of　the　country　to　which　you　belong。　Be　watchful；　with　the
unfeigned　humility　of　the　Christian；　over　your　own　personal　course；
and　the　example　connected　with　it。　Aim　at　keeping　up；　on　all
occasions；　a　high　practical　standard　of　sound　morality　at　all　points。
Cultivate　every　germ　of　true　moral　principle　in　your　own　homes；　and
in　the　social　circle　about　you。　Let　the　holy　light　of　truth；　honor；
fidelity；　honesty；　purity；　piety；　and　love　brighten　the　atmosphere　of
your　homes。

What　heathen　civilization　means　we　know　from　many　sources；　more
especially　from　the　records　of　Rome　under　the　empire；　in　the　days　of
St。　Paul；　when　it　had　reached　its　highest　development。

What　Christian　civilization　means　we　learn　from　the　Apostle：　〃Let
him　that　nameth　the　name　of　Christ　depart　from　iniquity。〃
〃Whatsoever　things　are　true；　whatsoever　things　are　honest；
whatsoever　things　are　just；　whatsoever　things　are　pure；　whatsoever
things　are　lovely；　whatsoever　things　are　of　good　reportthink　on
these　things。〃







End