Thu~ the Vulgate, MuUre filire cong1·ega1Jemnt foe.r of the Lo1-d (eh, i. 7). Such, too, is tho divitias; Septue.gint," Many daughters have conclusion of Ecclesiastes (xii. 13), "Fear obte.ined wealth," But it adds another God, o.nd keep his commandments : for this rendering, "Me.ny have wrought power is tho whole duty of mo.n." Septuagint, (hrol71cravliwa.µiv)," which is nearer the mean- "False are ohe.rms (4plcrtc<1a.1), and vain is ing in this place. Chayil (e.s we have seen, the beauty of womnn; for a prudent woman 'l'llr. 10) means "force," tJirtus, "strength of is blessed, and let hel" praise the fee.r of the c.he.mcter" shown in various ways (comp. Lord." Numb. xxiv. 18; Ps. Ix. 12). "Daughters," Ver. 31.-TAv. Give her of the fruit of equivalent to "women," as Gen. xxx. 13; her hands, So may she enjoy the vnrious Cant. vi. 9. Roman Catholio commentators blessings which her zeal, prudence, and he.ve, with much ingenuity,opplied thewhole economy have obtained. Ps. cxxviii. 2, description of the virtuous woman, and " Thou abalt eat the labour of thine hands; especially the present verse, to the Virgin happy shalt thou be, and it shall be well Mary. We may regard it as a representation with thee." Septue1gint, "Give her of the of the truly Christinn matron, who loves fruit of her lips." And let her own works husband and children, guides the house, is praise her in the gates. She needs no far- discreet, chaste, good, a teacher of good fetohed laudation; her lifelong actions spee.k things (1 Tim. v. 14; 'l'itus ii. 3, etc.). for themselves. Where men most congre- Ver. 30.-Snrn. The writer confirms the gate, where the heads of the people meet in husband's praise by assigning to it its just solemn assembly, there her praise is sung, grounds. Favour is deceitful, and beauty is o.nd a unanimous verdict e.saigns to her the vain. Chen, "favour,'' may signify either highest honour. Septungiut, " Let her the good will with which one is regarded, husband be praised in the gates." This or gracefulness, beauty. As being in close frequent introduction of the husband is parallelism with the next words, it is best curious. St. Gregory thus apirituo.lizea the taken as referring to loveliness of form. passe.ge: "As the entrnnce of a city is called Mere gracefulness, if considered as a token the gate, so is the day of jndgment the gate of II wife's work and usefulness, is mislead- of the kingdom, since oll the elect go in ing; and beauty is transitory o.nd often thereby to the glory of their heavenly dangerous. Neither of them is of any real country.... Of these gates Solomon says, value unless accompanied by religion. All 'Give her of the fruit of her bands, and her the gnomic poet says- own works shall praise her in the go.tea.' For holy Church then receives of 'the fruit M~ tcp,v', 6pow .,1, tcillos, ct\>.11 .,1,., -rplnro11. of her hands,' when the recompensing of "Judge not at sight of beauty, but of life." her labour raises her up to the poaseaijion of heavenly blessings; for her 'works then But a woman that feareth the Lord, she praise her in the go.tea,' when iu the very ah.all be praised. So we come back to the entmnce to bis kingdom the words are spoken maxim with which the whole book began, to bis members, 'I was au hungred, and ye that the foundation of o.11 excellence is the gave me meat,• etc.'' (' Moral.,' vi. 9).
HOMILETICS,
Ver.1.-.A mother's counsel. The le.at cho.ptcr of the Book of Proverbs gives us the picture of a mother's cou1;1sel t? her son-wise and. goo~ and eloquent with love and yearning anxiety. Here 1s a p1ctw·e to suggest the rneat1mable advnnto.ge to o. young man of a mother's guidance. In thoughtless, high-spirited youth this too often pe.sses unheeded, and precious advice is then wasted on ungrateful ears. It would be more seemly to consider its unique merits. I. IT SPRINGS FROM A WOMAN'S NATURE. We have many beautiful pictures or women in the Bible. Inspired women have conveyed to. us some parts of the biblical teaching. Deborah (Judg. v. 7), the mother of Samuel, and now the mother of Lemuel, all help us with great Divine truths or holy thoughts and influences. It is the gift of women to see into truth with a fie.ah of sympathy. 'l'he wonder is that we ho.ve so small a po.rt of the Bible from the tongue and pen of women. II. IT IS INSPIRED BY A JIIOTHER's HEART. The biblical gallery of holy women does not introduce us to the cloistere. The Hebrew heroines were "mothers in laro.el," not nuns. Maternity completes woman. "The perfect woman, nobly plo.nned," is one who can think, love, and act with the large heart of a mother. III. IT 1s CHARACTERIZED DY UNSELFISH DEVOTION. 'fhere is nowhere in all creation VH, llXI, 1-31.] THE PROVERBS. 603