in the perfection of beauty and excellence, was she produced and given unto Adam, "to be an help, meet for him." Mark the modesty of Eve: she puts in no offensive claim to superiority, on the score of a more refined nature, but seems content to live with Adam as his equal—and, for a while, all was harmony in Paradise.

In the second place, we will examine the charge of woman's being weaker in intellect than man, because she is stated to be the "weaker vessel." We think that we shall be able to prove that this has reference to physical and not to mental strength. That man has given to him muscular strength greater than is given to woman, we are ready to admit; and there is wisdom in the arrangement, since man is commanded to labor, to support himself and his family by "the sweat of his face;" whereas, no such commandment being given to woman, no such great strength is required in her case, she being left to the culture of her mental powers and to the sweet charities of life.

And is the possession of physical strength any argument in favor of superiority of mind? Were not Moses and David and Solomon weaker men than Samson and Goliath? Had Samson and Goliath, therefore, greater minds than they? Had not the fine linen of Egypt less strength than the coarse sail-cloth which wafted her ships? Was it, therefore, an inferior fabric, because it was finer and more beautiful? Husbands are commanded- to give honor unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel; but Peter had surely too much respect for himself and his sex to command them to honor any who were their inferiors by nature. Who do men honor? Their superiors generally-their equals sometimes

-their inferiors never. Had Peter considered the wives of those men whom he was addressing as possessing minds inferior to their own, would he not have said, be kind, be pitiful, be compassionate to your wives, instead of saying, honor them? Most certainly he would. And Peter, very possibly, had the doctrine of compensation in his mind when he gave that command, and considered that as woman was weaker in body so she might be even stronger in mind-more spiritual—and, therefore entitled to honor.

We now come, in the third and last place, to consider why Satan chose Eve, instead of Adam, for his victim. We have before said that, for a while, all was harmony in Paradise. But there was an enemy lurking near, and its happy inmates were marked for destruction.

We understand that Adam was lord of Paradise. How did he exercise his power? When an enemy advances on his foe, does not the commanding officer of the antagonist army, ever on the watch, employ all his skill, exert all his energies, to baffle that enemy's designs, and to become himself the victor? Does he not take every precaution for the protection of his troops, and stand himself, if need be, in the forefront of the battle? Did Adam so? Did he, in virtue of his high commission and boasted superiority, seek out the enemy and breast his assault? Did he even act on the defensive, by keeping near to his companion, cautioning her against the foe, protecting her, if assailed, and defending her, at the hazard of his own life? The enemy approacheswhere is Adam? Reclining supinely on the flowery banks, partaking of the luxurious fruits and inhaling the odoriferous perfumes

of the fragrant groves of Eden! Where is Eve? Gone forth, alone, to her work! The arch enemy assails her, tempts her to disobedience, and the sad story of her fate is recorded in the tears groans of her race!

and

And how stands it with Adam? Had he, indeed, pos

now,

sessed a stronger mind than his companion, would not the ambi tious foe for his sagacity would not have left that point undetected -have attacked the most powerful, disdaining an inferior conquest? But was it Adam whom he attacked? On the contrary, did not his high ambition-an ambition which had cost him heaven-prompt him to seek the woman, that he might wreak his vengeance on God's most perfect work? Did he not know that, to Adam, he would have but to say, take and eat; whereas it required all his ingenuity, all his powers of artifice, to undermine the principles of Eve? He even found it necessary to change the appearance of his identity, ere he could cause her to swerve from her obedience.

In what did he

Did he not fall

Again we ask, how stands it with Adam? display the mighty efforts of a mighty mind? from his allegiance to his Maker and forfeit life without the least resistance? The command was given to Adam before Eve was created: "Thou shalt not eat of the tree of knowledge of good and evil, for, in the day thou eatest thereof, thou shalt surely die." It was therefore imperative on Adam especially to obey that law. No stratagem, no finesse were practised upon his understanding; but in the full exercise of all the faculties that had been given him, he coolly and dispassionately ate of the

forbidden tree; and thus sealed the ruin of the world! Surely, surely, if Adam were gifted with higher intellectual powers than his companion, his transgression was as much greater than hers, as his ability was greater to avoid it.

But, there is yet another scene-and we once more ask, how stands it with Adam? "What is this that thou hast done?" "The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat!"

Was it manly-was it the mark of a generous, noble spirit— was it indicative of a superior mind-thus to endeavor to shield himself by casting the blame upon the woman? Was there not meanness, was there not cowardice in the reply? See you not the contracted shoulders, the arms close pressed to the sides, the trembling step, the quivering lip, the blanched cheek, the apologetic look of Adam, as, in faltering tone, he says, "She gave me, and I did eat?"

Alas, poor Adam! We have sought, but sought in vain in thy history for those proofs of a superior intellect, which, as a sort of birthright, is claimed by many of thy sex, for thee and for themselves. As our first father, our hearts, with all thy faults, still warm to thee. But we think that the jury should not be impeached that pronounces the verdict, "Woman is thy equal;" and all thy intelligent descendants should say-Amen!

Grows green and silken where the wood-paths wind— Alas! for thee, sweet mother! thou art blind!

And nature is all bright;

And the faint gray and crimson of the dawn,
Like folded curtains from the day are drawn;
And evening's purple light

Quivers in tremulous softness on the sky-
Alas! sweet mother! for thy clouded eye!

The moon's new silver shell

Trembles above thee, and the stars float up,
In the blue air, and the rich tulip's cup
Is pencilled passing well,