Yals University Library.

WOMAN'S WORK.

SERMON

PREACHED ON THE

SEVENTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY,

ST. PAUL'S CHURCH, BURLINGTON,

REV. E. R. ATWILL,

Rector of the Parish.

'Published by request of the "Y'estry and others.
1869.

Ni t- - -

WOMAN'S WORK.
A
SERMON
PEEACHED ON THE
SEVENTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY,
IN
ST. PAUL'S CHURCH, BURLINGTON,
BY
REV. E. R. ATWILL,
Rector off the Parish.

Published by request of the Testry and others.
1869.

BURLINGTON, VT.:
FREE PRESS -PRINT.
1869.

SERMON.

I will therefore * * * that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with
shamefacedness and sobriety, not with broidered hair, or gold or pearls,
or costly array; but (which becoineth women professing godliness) with
good works. I Tim. II, 8-10.
These words of Saint Paul to Timothy concern
ing the women of Ephesus, his admonition to the wo
men of Corinth, and Saint Peter's admonition to the
women of the church in general, are eminently plain
and practical. In harmony with the rest of Holy Scripture, they
assign to woman a definite position in the community,
and declare what her duties are. It is my design
this morning, in the hope of divine guidance, to offer
you a few thoughts upon the subject thus brought
before us, viz ; woman's position and duty.
So many jocular, common-place and satirical
controversies have gathered about ib, that such treat
ment as befits this place is difficult, and so much has
been well written, that I cannot hope to produce
what is new.
But the fact that the subject is of deep solemni
ty, lying at the very root of our national and domes
tic prosperity ; and the other fact that amid the reso
lutions, and the articles, and the speeches of the day

its true interpretation and bearings are often lost,
demand that the ministry be not silent from publish
ing the old but undying truth of the Gospel. Now,
in the first place, woman's position in the communi
ty ; what does the word of God affirm concerning it ?
Is she simply the slave of "man, to do his bidding,
minister to his gratification, and be crushed under his
lordly heel ? Or on the other hand, has she the same
duties ; is it for her to enter the arena with him, and
relying upon her individual strength, to jostle and fight
in the fierce conflicts of life ?
In answer to these questions, it may be asserted
upon the authority of apostles and at least with the
implied sanction of the Master, that woman is not the
slave of man.
In Christ Jesus, says Saint Paul, there is
neither male nor female. They are, says Saint Peter,
heirs together of the grace of life.
In the Heaven for which they strive in common
the Lord tells us that they neither marry nor are given
in marriage, for they are equal unto the angels ; and
are the children of God.
But on the other hand woman's condition, woman's
duty does not bid her forth into the world to mingle
her voice with the harsh din, and her gentle nature
with the rude throes of conflict.
It does not indeed concern us to enquire whether
the manly or the womanly nature is superior. The
agitation of that question is useless. Its complica
tions are endless. Be it sufficient for us to know that

woman's nature qualifies her for a distinct class of
duties. She is designed by creation for a diffe
rent kind of service, she developes a peculiar char
acter which we do- not confound with manliness.
And [ while in mental, moral and physical deve
lopment woman differs from man, the peculiarity of
each sex is needed for the welfare of the community.
As in a compensating pendulum, the metals of which
it is made have many of the same characteristics, are
composed of some identical elements and yet are va
luable in combination only because they differ, so in
regard to the qualities of manhood and womanhood in
society ; the equipoise of thought, of morals and of
religion is only preserved when each sex enjoys an
opportunity of unfolding and exercising its own pecu
liar character. The mutual restraints and incitements to action
thus developed are the safeguards of society.
The Bible declares that nature itself teaches u&
the propriety of this distinction. And nature is
often a divine guide. For those natural instincts
and affections which have been debased by the
fall, Christianity .respects, refines and sanctifies.
But only a distorted reasoning can draw from
nature any defence of the claim made in Corinth,
and repeated to-day, for the right and power of wo
men to do all that men should do.
Christianity does not, as some seem to think,
render men effeminate ; nor does the christian wo
man's liberty carry her away from the instincts and

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graces of her sex, but the love of Christ makes man
more manly and woman more womanly than before.
" Each sex holds its title by the ordaining of a divine
plan, and the displacement of either from its sphere
would be a resolution of the whole system into
chaos !"
What then is the sphere of womanly action, and
how should she acquit herself therein ?
We answer, that it differs from man's duty not
so much in kind, as in range of operation.
In many instances, she accomplishes the same re
sults at which man aims, in a different way and in a
place peculiarly her own. It has been remarked
that "while man and woman possess the same men
tal characteristics, the distinguishing faculty of man
is mental concentration, and that of woman moral
impulse. Neither one monopolizes the special de
partment but pre-eminently she is intellect : she is
love." And if this, involving somewhat of subordi
nation on her part, tinges her condition with a drop
of bitterness, let us find the cause not in any imper
fection of God's arrangement, but by reason of the
presence of sin in the world. At the first, man and
the woman possessing the same nature that now be
longs to each, obeying their instincts, were happy.
But woman having been deceived by Satan, became
the instrumentality by which man fell. Now in the
good Providence of God, she becomes the instrumen
tality by which man may be restored. It was the
seed of the woman that should bruise the serpent's
head. She became in due time the mother of the

Redeemer of our race. She gave Him, an infant, to
the world, and now it seems to be her mission to lead
mankind to Him. And the nearer we approach
Christian perfection, tlie loftier will this her vocation
and her power appear. Amid the low aims and scant
piety of this age tve adore the power to get money,
the ability to grapple with the rougher duties of life,
and the achievements of concentrated intellect for
which man is qualified. And as the sex who can
succeed in all these ways admire themselves, woman
is left sometimes in bitterness of spirit to drudge and
to suffer. Whereas, in a community that was per
fect, goodness would hold the leading place. rJhe
qualities of submission, obedience, and patient endu
rance, which are most excellent in woman's character,
would be honored above all. And men would learn
from her who like the Master can be meek and lowly
of heart. IJWere we true to our religion, we would
know that just the features which are most
prominent in woman's nature are what we all
will need in the hour of death and in the day of
judgment. The loftiest glory of God is His all — em
bracing love ; the chief duty exemplified in the Sa •
viour's life was patient obedience. And these pre
cisely are the glory of the Christian woman. She is
to be not only man's companion, his earthly help
mate, but she is appointed to a higher office, viz ; to
help him on towards Heaven.
Mr. Ruskin has noticed that the wisest and pu
rest authors of all ages have attributed to woman the
highest dignities of life. In works of fiction that are

truest to nature, noble women outnumber noble men,
and men are made noble by the power of woman.
Shakespeare writing with the acutest knowl
edge of human nature presents us with no heroes ;
he has only heroines stedfast in grave hope and error
less purpose, characters conceived in the highest he
roic type of humanity. He represents women as in
fallibly faithful and wise counsellors, uncorruptibly
just and pure examples, strong always lo sanctify even
when they cannot save.
Sir Walter Scott too in his imaginations of wo
men, clothes them with an infallible sense of dignity
and justice, a fearless, instant and untiring self sacri
fice to even the appearance of duty, and much more
to its real claims, and finally a patient wisdom of
deeply restrained affection, which does more than
protect its objects from momentary error; it gradual
ly forms, animates, and exalts the characters of the
unworthy lovers until at the close of the tale we are
just able and no more to take patience in hearing of
their unmerited success.
Woman has indeed, brethren, a mission and a
power which is even more exalted, more heavenly
than that which man easily attains. She is in the
Providence of God the instrumentality of man's ele
vation. Beyond the saving of her own soul, she has
this great work to do from which she may cease only
at her peril.
The importance of this duty may become more
plain, by a consideration of some of the peculiarities

of woman's work in which she has succeeded and may
succeed again.
And first there is power for good or ill vested in
the young women of this and every other age. They
are either radiant in purity and truth, or direful in
their silent influence for evil. The spirit that pre
vails in their hearts and souls pollutes or sanctifies
the world in which they move. There are indeed im
pulses to evil for which they are called to render no ac
count. There is a counter influence working upon their
own lives. Their desire to please leads them to adopt
those fashions and customs which win admiration. The
burden of society's downfall does not rest entirely
upon them. But they are responsible more than we
often think. They can hinder a young man rushing
wildly through a career of dissipation and sin, They
can make idleness shameful. They can so elevate the
tone of conversation that the empty headed gallant
must either withdraw or acquire knowledge. They
can so dignify religion that scoffing shall cease from
before them. They can so glorify purity and virtue
that obscenity and innuendoes shall be unknown in
their presence. The sternness, of woman's disappro
val, and the unmistakeableness of her language can
awe every form of vice and cause it to flee from the
pathway where she treads. Hers is a benign apostle
ship. When commands fail, and experience of elders
is scorned, and the restraints of school and home are
thrown off, and the youth new-fledged goes forth to
license and to ruin then; woman, young, companion-

10
able, virtuous, lovely, may watch over him as an
angel of light. The charms of her society may then
be made the vehicle of teaching and influence which
no other human power can use successfully. There
is too great a disposition among the younger women
of our day to half admire dashing wickedness, to re
prove and yet encourage, to prefer the "married profli
gate to the virtuous but purseless scholar," while vil
lage maidens turn from the honest farmer, merchant
or mechanic to admire and encourage those who bring
into the pure sunlight of the country a little of the
culture, and much ofthe wickedness, of city life.
When the youth of the country are encouraged
and driven by this open manifestation of preference
on the part of those whose favor they desire, what
will they do but learn that wickedness, those ways
that please ? And upon the heads of America's
daughters will fall a double curse.
But more than this — when woman learns to know
the meaning of those words wife, and mother, there
devolves upon her a weightier charge. Then she must
make what no money can buy, a home for husband
and children, for without the taste, the grace, and
the beauty which she alone can bring, there can be
no home. Here is where her queenly powers shine
in their mature splendor.
God has given her the mission of purifying and
sanctifying the home and finding in it her realm, her
sphere of duty, her earthly Paradise of joy and peace.
No household gods of heathendom stand in that

LI
home ; but a dearer than any heathen deity governs
the conduct of husband, wife and children. The
Prince of peace is their constant and welcome com
panion. But who can tell how largely the Lord of
life and peace uses the woman's influence to bring
heavenward that husband and those children. Who
can tell what she may accomplish by her willing obe
dience and fervent piety ; or how she may banish by
her worldliness and frivolity, serious thought, and
heavenly wisdom ? Only God knows. His be it to
judge her if she prove unfaithful. But let us recog
nize the fact, that He whom women lingered last to
see upon the cross, 'He whom women first greeted in
•the Eesurrection morning, guards the home to-day
through them. Where He is truly served, where His
presence is continually discerned, the home will be
bright all the year round with innocent joy, husband
and sons will turn towards it as a haven of rest from
the throes and strifes of the world without. "Wher
ever a true wife comes this home is always round
her. The stars only may be over her head, the glow
worm in the night cold grass may be the only fire at
her foot ; but the home is yet wherever she is ; for a
noble woman it stretches far round her, better than if
ceiled with cedar or painted with vermillion, shed
ding its quiet light far, for those who else were home
less?" We cannot prophesy that this sweet ordering of
homelike influence will always meet with its reward.
There are wretched men whom neither the graces of

12
earth, nor the love of Heaven can win from their
stern and wicked ways. But more than once the
loving piety of woman has had its reward. More
often than we think, have hard hearts been softened
by the remembrance of those who patiently endure,
and love, and strive for them still. In tho early
days, the heathen husbands Avere won for Christ by
the godly conversation of their wives. Christianity
wrought such a bright change in the faithful women
that persecutors were amazed and converted. And
by means of zealous women to-day, the faith is kept
alive in many hearts Avhere unbelief has chilled it and
worldliness overflowed.
The judicious praise or disapproval of woman ¦
though productive of no immediate result, will yet
restrain and direct the energies of those with whom
her life is joined.
While man creates and proposes plans she de
cides by quick intuition concerning their expediency.
And what work is there in the world so adapted to
her nature as to cheer and counsel man, wearied with
the struggle of life, to lead children and children's
children to the knowledge and the worship of the
Father in Heaven.
Dear friends, the sweet but powerful influences
of woman in her home are the safety of the world.
The greatest minds of any age, in whatever depart
ment they have excelled, point back to the power of
some noble mother as the beginning and cause of
their triumph. A single glance at History will show

13
how noble mothers and noble sons stand ever grouped
together. There are Augustine and his mother Mo
nica, Constantine and his mother Helena, Samuel and
his mother Hannah. It has been well said that " a
man discovered America ; but a woman equipped the
voyage. "And so every where" man executes the per
formance but woman trains the man." Some loving
maiden, some true wife, some godly mother has in
the peace and love of home restrained the violent pas
sions of men ; with trembling hands perhaps, but re
solutely she has pressed down the keys which brought
out ofthe great world organ sounds of harmony, an
thems of praise. As the greatest of musicians must
. sit there quietly at the keyboard if he would draw out
the wondrous combinations of sound, so must woman
do her work concealed from the rude machinery of the
world. But content with the sphere assigned her by
nature's God, " — She can so impress,
With quietness and beauty, and so feed
With lofty thoughts, that neither evil tongues,
Rash judgments, nor the sneers of selfish men
Nor greetings where no kindness is, nor all,
The dreary intercourse of daily life,
ShaU e'er prevail against us, or disturb
Our cheerful faith, that all which we behold
Is full of blessings."
We have thus far endeavored to present an ideal
of woman in the home and in society ; but there is a
field where her virtues shine quite as brightly, where
she can do a work no less noble. And this is in the
exercise of charity, the distribution of loving words
and kindly deeds. To this end she need take upon

14
herself no celibate vows, nor assume the dress of a
peou-liar order. She need not leave the active duties
of life to which Providence has called her, for the cell
recluse. The good deeds of the sister of charity are in
cumbent in a greater or less degree upon the whole
church. God marks out a sisterhood for himself.
There are those in every community whom he isolates
from the cares of domestic life. Upon the unmar
ried, these duties fall, and they who dwell in the
loneliness of widowhood seem eminently fitted
for the deeds of love and charity. The poor and af
flicted are thirsting for that fund of sympathy which
peat up in the lively heart longs to pour forth its
treasures. A life that would else be unoccupied,
aimless, dreary and perhaps mischievous, may be
come useful, alive with busy activity, interesting
with the charm of an earnest purpose. Each unoc
cupied woman, instead of being ungraciously busy in
others matters, may make a pathway among the poor
where flowers will rise on cither side, and some poor
wounded heart shall know the sweetness of Christian
love, some life full of cursing and bitterness shall be
rescued from its doom, and the affliction which has
blasted a woman's hope, thus improved, shall work
out for her a far more exceeding and eternal weight
of glory. And if old age do not find her in the midst of
children, who shall rise up and call her blessed ; but
alone, as the world judges loneliness, still will she be

15
cheered with happy memories and joyful anticipa
tions. Having like Mary, done what she could, her
sins, though many, will be forgiven. Having hastened
like the women from the sepulchre, to those who like
the apostles, seem to have lost the Savior, she will
have brought many to see the place where the Lord
lay, and to die with Him unto sin, that they may
rise with Him unto righteousness, and when silvery
hair crowns her head, a trusting heart will smooth
the wrinkles from her brow, a treasury of experience
will furnish rich instruction for the learner, and in the
end she will depart, full of days, crowned with ho
nors that fade not, and being dead she shall yet
speak. But how shall this consummation be attained?
Suffer the word of exhortation, which may hint a few
of the more apparent remedies where woman fails
to accomplish the proper results of her life. .The apos
tles do not hesitate to point out very plainly the evils
of their day. The women of Ephesus were renowned
for the richness and the doubtful modesty of their
dress. Mistaking the nature of Christian liberty, the
women of Corinth desired to dispense with the veil
in public assemblies, thus tearing away what was
then the very symbol of womanly reserve, and more
over they aspired to a place among the teac hers in
the religious gatherings. Saint Paul says, in answer
to questions concerning these usages ; I will there
fore that women adorn themselves in modest ap
parel, neither shall they teach, or usurp authority.

16
This matter of personal adornment is carried in these
days to a ridiculous and sinful extreme. Character
is lost sight of, in the midst of costly array. The
capricious customs of a foreign and corrupt court, de
cide what our country women shall wear. Costly
outlay, often takes the place of elegance and taste.
True refinement is cowed down and despised. We
have naturalized the vices of the older world as if
they were reputable. The wealth of our land is often
thrown away upon trinkets, while legitimate demands
are passed by. But among those of limited incomes
the evil tells most fearfully. Seeking to copy the
follies of those whom perhaps money alone places
higher in society, men are led to dissipate their for
tunes, anticipate the payment of salaries, borrow
without leave, take more to cover up the mistake, be
come hopelessly involved, die suicides or go to prison.
The daughters of humble parents catch the spirit
of the rest of the world. Their demands are so great
that young men cannot afford to marry. The love of
finery overtops the love of God, and she who might
have been the loving wife becomes the prey of the
dissolute. The feverish thirst of ambition attacks the ma
trons of society, disturbs the peace of home, banishes
simplicity, institutes jealous and discomforting com
parisons between their appearance and that of a
neighbor. Economy is laughed to scorn. Dishones
ty is a boon companion. .Amid the turmoil and
anxiety about dress that must soon he changed fpr

17
the simple garments of the tomb, and position which
if real, need not be sought, and which if not real is
not worth having, meekness and quietness of spirit
can find no place.
And akin to this condition, a consequence of it,
is the supposed need of excitement which seeks its
gratification in trivial ways, and finds its interest in
these ephemeral pleasures, which remain only long
enough to sting and poison the soul.
In this condition of unrest, serious thought is
an unwelcome guest, resolute goodness is a stranger,
and good works, which would occupy the time that
pleasure demands, are enemies.
But gathering up the thoughts which have been so
imperfectly presented, suffer me to conclude with a
rough sketch of a christian woman's character.
She appears before us with no affectation of mo
desty ; but clad in the bright mantle of purity which
is more impenetrable to the enemy's darts, than war
rior's shield. Her heart is the home only of innocent
impulse, Even in conversation with companions of
her own sex, she preserves the integrity of chaste
language. Her presence is more terrible to vice
than law or punishment. She does not reach out be
yond the bounds of modest retirement , but she ever
preserves that tacit acknowledgement of dependance,
which when united with a certain strength of char
acter, is one of the charms of her nature. And while
she essays not to take the warrior's place, still can
she buckle on the armer for those who go out into the

18
world's battfefield, she can guide without seeming to
rule ; by her readier intuition, she will often solve
the mysteries that perplex men, as Dante's sainted
companion taught him the mysteries of Heaven, she
welcomes man with smiles when he returns victorious
but weary from the contest. She is the true lady, or,
as the word signifies loaf giver, she extends her char
ities to those who need, and finds time for deeds of
love and sympathy. She sits with Mary at the feet of
Jesus, listening to His words, she labors in the church
like* those faithful women who helped Saint Paul.
With delicate skill, by a sign or a word, she bears
witness for Christ, checks the folly of men who seek
to ruin themselves. Her highest delight is found in
the divine story of God's people's deliverance ; the
rapturous poetry of psalmist and prophets, the sim
ple history of the Redeemer's life, the golden vision
of Saint John. Her soul is lifted up in the spirit of
devotion. She grows richer in love while she en
dures affliction. She dies ; but leaves bright memo
ries behind; and reaches on to brighter joys beyond.
0, Christian woman, yours is a noble mission,
and I counsel you first of all to love the Lord, and
then be useful in that station which God has ap
pointed you. Suffer neither worldliness, nor ambition,
nor the corruptions of society to debase your heaven
ly nature, but adorn your lives with the ornament of
a meek and quiet spirit. Woman's sphere and man's
are indeed different ; but blending their holy minis
tries, as the colors in the sunbeam blend together,

19
they may with one voice adore the Great Creator,
and by harmonious action, promote the world's good,
and by faith and love and obedience win for them
selves that reward which is promised, to the
righteous, without respect of sex or nationality.