et Mater Deum. As to the titles given to the Virgin Mary in Italy at present, some that resemble these will occur to every one. The number of beggars being very great.. a proportional variety has been introduced into the forms of supplication. Thus some beg for the Madonna. It was an ancient practice to beg for the mother of the gods. and a law is mentioned by Cicero, allowing persons in the service of Cybele, the exclusive privilege of collecting alms. . . . There is yet another coincidence. Our Lady-day was heretofore dedicated to Cybele: it was called Hilaria on account of the joy occasioned by the arrival of the Equinox."

This sketch of the trials which beset the path of the early Christian, while they call forth our tenderest sympathy in her difficulties, afford us, at the same time, the most sublime idea of the strength of that faith and courage which, with such a sacrifice in view, could yet dare to embrace the religion of a despised and crucified Saviour. The whole system of social and domestic life among the Greeks and Romans was, as we have seen, entangled with a thou

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sand hidden chains, every one of which must be broken by her who, having counted the cost at which alone she might gain her soul, could nevertheless resolve to give up ties, friends, and habits, as dear to her as a right hand or a right eye. And so uncompromising were the first followers of the Gospel, so strict was their discipline, so entirely were they willing to give up all that they might win Christ, that no one could be admitted into the fellowship of the brethren till she was fully prepared to take her cross and follow Christ. Such a step naturally involved her in daily trials and dangers -fears within, and fightings without—an unbroken and hard-fought struggle—the heart bleeding in its most cherished and sacred relations; and yet she must resign them, or she could not be Christ's disciple. Struggles like these called forth a noble army of combatants, such as we, in our degenerate and lukewarm days, cannot even comprehend. The glory and the ignominy of the cross was emblazoned upon their brow, and they were not ashamed to fight under its banner, and boldly and steadfastly to maintain its honour and its truth with their latest breath.

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CHAPTER VIII.

THE ATTIRE OF THE CHRISTIAN FEMALE.

"Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come."

THE domestic attire of the early Christian female was modest and devoid of ornament, for the apostles "urged that those who professed godliness, should in their dress, as well as in other matters, however indifferent they might seem, act agreeably to their high calling. A gaudy and frivolous attire bespeaks the vanity and secularity of the mind which can find delight in a thing so flitting and capricious as the ever-varying fashion of the world. But trifling and vanity are not the only evils of an inordinate love of dress; too often does it foster a love of display, and awaken a desire for admiration. Alas! how frequently does it become the absorbing passion, and choke the word sown in the heart! The goodly pearls of Araby too often

withdraw our search after the pearl of great price, and the very decking of our hair may lead us to "dress and comb out all the opportunities of our morning's devotions, and half the day's severity."

"St. Paul, in his First Epistle to Timothy, ii. 9., directs that women "adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broidered (or plaited) hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array, but, which becometh women professing godliness, with good works." St. Peter, to the same effect, enjoins Christian wives to win their heathen husbands by their chaste conversation, coupled with fear: "Whose adorning, let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; but let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is, in the sight of God, of great price."

In order to illustrate the subject of female attire among the primitive Christians, it will be necessary to quote some passages from the early fathers. They appear, however, at times, to

strain the meaning of the apostle's words: on many points, too, their views were erroneous; and Tertullian in particular was severe, and often uncharitable, in his strictures upon the female sex. With respect to the prohibition against outward adorning - if we compare scripture with scripture, the force of the admonition of St. Peter appears parallel to our Lord's injunction-" Labour not for the meat that perisheth;" as it is clear that it was never intended that men were not to work, so neither could the apostle mean that Christian women might not lawfully dress in apparel suitable to their rank. In the one case, the great stress was to be laid upon the meat that endureth unto everlasting life; in the other, upon the more lasting and attractive qualities of the mind, meekness and good works.

Solomon, in the Canticles, dwells with evident complacency upon the various parts of the bride's dress, from the rows of jewels and chains of gold, to the sandals of cunning work; and yet how severe is the prophet Isaiah in denouncing the pride with which the bravery of their apparel lifted up the daughters of Zion;