Ver. 5.-The philosophy of clothes. We have here particular directions a.s to the maintenance of the distinction of dress between the sexes. On the termination of what Carlyle calls "Adamitism," in his 'Sartor Resartus,' when through the fall of man fig leaves were first resorted to, it is evident that the Lord was not content therewith as the device of self-conscious modesty, but gave them "coats of skins." These "c011ts," we can well believe, were differentiated, so that Eve's wa.s in some particulars distinct from Adam's. This distinction in dress between the sexes, begun, let us suppose, immediately after the Fall, is designed by God to continue; and we have here the law prohibiting any exchanges of apparel, so as to conceal one's sex. It is, i:n fact, an earlier "philosophy of clothes" than Carlyle has given us. I. THE PROMISCUOUS INTERMINGLING OF 1.'BE SEXES IS MOST UNDESIRABLE. Of course, this is quite another thing from the entire separation of the sexes as it prevails among Orientals. '!'he latter. custom proceeds on the supposition that there can be no social intercourse between them except licentious intercour~e; and is the poor pre- caution of deep depravity. But suppose that men anJ women were wont to dress alike, there could be no enforcement of decorum such as difference in dress renders possible. The sexes are intended to be distinct, and cannot profitably be intermingled. II, IT IS A DEEP INJURY TO BOTH SEXES TO OBLITERATE THE DISTTh'CTIONS PROVI- DENCE HAS MADE. Whatever tends to render the male sex effeminate and the female sex masculine, is an injury to both. The tendency of the times is in this direction; women are being introduced to fierce competitions with men: we have had women, forgetful of their sex, even entering the prize-ring, to afford amusement to brutal onlookers; we have women persistently knocking at the door of professions fit for men only; while, on the other hand, we have a number of occupations, which will readily ocour to every one, where men a.re made effeminate, and which could be most fitly discharged by women; and those reformers are not friends of either sex who try to break down the barriers between them, THE BOOK OF DEUTERONOMY. [CH. UII. 1-30.
H Prcn-idence has made the one !!eX different from the other, then it ie idle by any ninnipulntion of ouni to obliterate the distinction. III. AT THE BAKE TillE, IT 18 A DEEP WRONG TO EXAGGERATE THE DEFECTS "fl"Ill('B PRO°\IDENCE HAS ALLorn:n TO EACH BY E1'""LIGHTE1''"ED BYSTEHII OP EDUCA- TION, ·we thoroughly sympathi;,:c with the effort to do away with the exng(leratcd "~ubjection of women," upon which Mr. Mill in his book has 80 ably insisted. The education of each sex should be as broad and liberal as possible. Dut no education can ever remove the inequality which naturally obtains between the eexee.1 Le& education consider the providentiai purpose of sexual distinction8, and work on these lines, and then, and then only, need we expect permanent amelioration for oppressed sisters. l\'. MODESTY 18 01''"E OF THOSE SOCIAL GRACES WHICH SHOULD BE FOSTERED AND NOT RESTRA.n.'"ED. We ha,·e heard of men "'hose command of their emotions was so perfect as never to allow their modesty to appear by any chance. It may be harmless ,,r ludicrous in men ; but it is ruin to women, and whatever tends to make them "Amazons" or" Trojans" is to be reprobated most earnestly. Y. lT TAKES THE TWO SEXES OOIIBn.'"ED TO GIVB A COMPLETE Ill.AGE OF THE DrnxE NATURE. W"hen God said, "Let us make man (01~) in our image, after our likeness," he used the generic term, and hence immediately resorts to the plural verb, "and let them have dominion (rTf.)," etc. (Gen. i. 26). The idea is that it takes the female with the male to complete the Dh·ine ima;e. There is a maternal element as well as a paternal and afilial in the Divine nature (cf. Isa. xlix. 15 with Ps. ciii. 13 and John viii. 29). And it is interesting to notice among the theological vagaries and conceits of such a man as Theodore Parker, that he was forced to call his God," Infinite Father and In.finite Mother," a sei--off to his dreary unitarianism.2 If then we find the sexual distinctions to be but the reflection of elements iu the Divine nature, then a hair. of true glory is thrown around each. In their respective spheres the sexes are exhibiting: traits of dinnity, and all effort at obliterating the distinctions through nrti6cial means, will be found only to obliterate the Divine. Father, Son, and Holy Ghost have their counterparts in the development of humanity, and it is well clearly to sc-e this. May the sexes carry on their respective missions so faithfully that earth may soon reflect in undimme.d lustre the various qualities of God !-R. M. E.
, ers. 6, 7.-Bird.s' 71Uta. The command to spare the mother bird while the young might be taken, comet; in significantly after the law distinguishing the sexes. The female sex is intended for motherhood ; it " binds the generations each to each," as our Laureate ~ays. On the exercise of this function the continuance of the species depends. Hence the command here is at once humane and intended to ensure the continuance of the species. Birds are very needful to keep down grubs and insects, and g:'l'e the land a chance of due fertility. Hence the sportsman's enthusiasm was thus kept in proper check. I. WHILE GoD GITES THE .ANIJULS TO IU.ll' FOB FOOD, HE WOULD HAVE THE EACl!IFICE OF LIFE THOUGHTFULLY JUDE. There must be thought and deliheraticn about ti,e selection of the young hirds, about the pouring ont of the blood, etc. All this introduekd a humane element into the act. II. THE FE.E:E:0011: OF TJrE DAI( WAS ENroa1m BY THE SACBIFICE OF THE YOUl{G- A PERl'ETL'AT, LESB0:5' AllOUT SUBSTITUTION AND BACIHFICE. As the mother received liberty, the Jewish sportsman woulrl be led to think of the law of substitution and of Sacrifice u;,oo which all his religious hopes were built. ill. Jil:OTIIEBBOOD WAS TIIUS JIE1''DEBED SACRED IN THE EYES OF TIIE JEWS. The iaea, sa.cred in the woods among the wild birds, would become sacred elsewhere. " The mothers in Israel," instead of being sacrificeq to their children, would be honoured !,y them, which is the Divine order. The young generation should bear the burden rather than the old. To such a line of thought the law about birds' nests would naturally give rise.-R. M. E. ' CL Hiwey's arliele on • Emancipation. Black and White,' in his ' Lay Sermon•.' pp, 23--30. ' C!' Frot.binghe.m's • Life of Theodore Pe.rker,' pp. 283,529. err. xx.n. 1-30.] THE BOOK OF DEUTERONOMY. 363