138 Education. [Chap. XXV, 



tainin*, that maii}^ things which Christianity, and 

 those who take their standard of morality from it, 

 pronounce vicious, are really innocent, if not 

 laudable. 



Thirdly 5 To defend the system which would 

 confound all distinctions of sex, except in the 

 business of love, is as opposite to the spirit of 

 Ciiristianity, as it is inconsistent w^ith the pur- 

 suits of the female sex, and immoral in its conse- 

 quences. Those who are familiar with the scrip- 

 tures will recollect, that a line of distinction be- 

 tween the sexes is frequently and carefully drawn 

 therein, and an habitual reference to this distinc- 

 tion represented as highly important in the system 

 of human duty. Upon this distinction, consider- 

 ed in several points of view, are founded some of 

 the most interesting conjugal obligations, and all 

 the leading principles of domestic government. 

 The scriptures indeed do not exhibit w^oman as 

 an enslaved and servile being; they represent 

 }ver as a rational and immortal creature, as the 

 counsellor, companion, and helpmate of men, 

 and teach us, both by precept and example, to 

 consider her as holding a high and respectable 

 station in society: but they exclude her, by di- 

 rect prohibition, from the office of public reli- 

 gious instructor, and plainly intimate, that seve- 

 ral other eniployments and pursuits are unfit to 

 engage her attention. In short, they distinctly 

 and unequivocally hold up the idea of an appro- 

 priate sexual character, and represent a corre- 

 sponding peculiarity of studies and action as pro- 

 perly belonging to the male and female. 

 ; It is Evident then, from reason, from the uiiin 



