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This book grew. Its history is very brief. The lecture entitled "Womanversus Ballot," while well received by the majority, has met witha strong opposition from those who do not believe in the positionassigned to Woman in the Word of God. This turned the attention ofthe author to the scriptural argument more and more, and resulted inproducing the impression that the effort to secure the ballot forwoman found its origin in infidelity to the Word of God and ininfidelity to woman.
In "Woman as God made Her" we saw Eve as she was brought to Adam, andfamiliarized ourselves with the purposes He had in her creation, whichwere chiefly embodied in the one word "Helpmeet." In "Woman asa Tempter" we saw the ideal woman despoiled of her glory, andinfluencing the world to turn from the worship of the Creator to thatof the creature. For ages woman suffered the consequences of sin. InEve she lost her recognition; through Christ she regained it. Thestudy of the Bible has convinced the writer that the purpose of God,in creating woman, still lives, and is to find its complete fulfilmentunder the New Dispensation. We have seen that Christ—the embodimentof all manly properties—turned his face towards and lavished hisblessings upon womanly characteristics, such as meekness, purity,love, and humility, and that, because of His influence, woman isinvited to take her place in the church on an equality with man, tohelp on the cause of truth by an illustration of those virtues whichreceived the glory shed upon them by the life of the Son of Man andthe Son of God.
In the work devolving upon mankind, woman has a distinct mission tofulfil. Society owes to her love, honor, and protection. Every right,social and religious, should be guarded. Associations calculated tosecure for her every privilege enjoyed by man, should be formed andsupported. Above all else, efforts should be made to lead her torecognize in Christ her Saviour, for Christ in woman is her hope ofglory, her joy and strength. Said Florence Nightingale,—
"I would say to all women, Look upon your work, whether it be anaccustomed or unaccustomed work, as upon a trust confided to you. Thiswill keep you alike from discouragement and from presumption, fromidleness and from overtaxing of yourselves. Where God leads the way,he has bound himself to help you to go the way. I would say toall young ladies who are called to any peculiar vocation, Qualifyyourselves for it, as man does for his work. Don't think you canundertake it otherwise.
"And again, if you are called to do a man's work, do not exact awoman's privileges—the privileges of inaccuracy, of weakness, of themuddle-head. Submit yourselves to the rules of business, as men do, bywhich alone you can make God's business succeed. For he has never saidthat he will give his blessing to sketchy, unfinished work. And Iwould especially guard young ladies from fancying themselves likeLady Superiors, with an obsequious f