The True Woman

The True Woman

The Project Gutenberg eBook, The True Woman, by Justin D. Fulton
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Title: The True Woman
Author: Justin D. Fulton
Release Date: June 30, 2004 [eBook #12790]
Language: English
Character set encoding: US-ASCII
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THE TRUE WOMAN:
A SERIES OF DISCOURSES
BY REV. J. D. FULTON, (TREMONT TEMPLE, BOSTON.)
TO WHICH IS ADDED
WOMAN VS. BALLOT.
BOSTON, 1869

TO
THE TRUE WOMAN,
WHO, THROUGH CHRIST, BLESSES MAN, AND HELPS TO MAKE HIS HOME A JOY AND HIS LIFE A PRIVILEGE,
THIS BOOK
IS RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED.

PREFACE.
This book grew. Its history is very brief. The lecture entitled "Woman versus Ballot," while well received by the majority, has met with a strong opposition from those who do not believe in the position assigned to Woman in the Word of God. This turned the attention of the author to the scriptural argument more and more, and resulted in producing the impression that the effort to secure the ballot for woman found its origin in infidelity to the Word of God and in infidelity to woman.
In "Woman as God made Her" we saw Eve as she was brought to Adam, and familiarized ourselves with the purposes He had in her creation, which were chiefly embodied in the one word "Helpmeet." In "Woman as a Tempter" we saw the ideal woman despoiled of her glory, and influencing the world to turn from the worship of the Creator to that of the creature. For ages woman suffered the consequences of sin. In Eve she lost her recognition; through Christ she regained it. The study of the Bible has convinced the writer that the purpose of God, in creating woman, still lives, and is to find its complete fulfilment under the New Dispensation. We have seen that Christ--the embodiment of all manly properties--turned his face towards and lavished his blessings upon womanly characteristics, such as meekness, purity, love, and humility, and that, because of His influence, woman is invited to take her place in the church on an equality with man, to help on the cause of truth by an illustration of those virtues which received the glory shed upon them by the life of the Son of Man and the Son of God.
In the work devolving upon mankind, woman has a distinct mission to fulfil. Society owes to her love, honor, and protection. Every right, social and religious, should be guarded. Associations calculated to secure for her every privilege enjoyed by man, should be formed and supported. Above all else, efforts should be made to lead her to recognize in Christ her Saviour, for Christ in woman is her hope of glory, her joy and strength. Said Florence Nightingale,--
"I would say to all women, Look upon your work, whether it be an accustomed or unaccustomed work, as upon a trust confided to you. This will keep you alike from discouragement and from presumption, from idleness and from overtaxing of yourselves. Where God leads the way, he has bound himself to help you to go the way. I would say to all young ladies who are called to any peculiar vocation, Qualify yourselves for it, as man does for his work. Don't think you can undertake it otherwise.
"And again, if you are called to do a man's work, do not exact a woman's privileges--the privileges of inaccuracy, of weakness, of the muddle-head. Submit yourselves to the rules of business, as men do, by which alone you can make God's business succeed. For he has never said that he will give his blessing to sketchy, unfinished work. And I would especially guard young ladies from fancying themselves like Lady Superiors, with an obsequious following of disciples, if they undertake any great work. I would only say, Work, work, in silence at first, in silence for years. It will not be time wasted. And it is very certain that without it you will be no worker--you will not produce one 'perfect work,' but only a botch, in the service of God."
In the above spirit, and with a kindred desire, this volume was written. For good or ill, for better or worse, the book is sent forth in the hope that it may recall attention to the Divine IDEAL for Woman, and aid in inducing man, to prize her as the first gift of God to him, designed "as a helpmeet for him."

CONTENTS.
WOMAN AS GOD MADE HER Man's Faith in a Helper suited to him Woman Man's Complement What Man desires to have loved Woman is God's Gift to Man What the Fact implies:-- 1. The Father's