Social Purity
585
I have long been designing to speak to my sisters and tell them
that, from what the Lord has been pleased to show me from time to
time, there is a great fault among them. They are not careful to abstain
from all appearance of evil. They are not all circumspect in their
deportment, as becometh women professing godliness. Their words
are not as select and well chosen as those of women who have received
the grace of God should be. They are too familiar with their brethren.
They linger around them, incline toward them, and seem to choose
their society. They are highly gratified with their attention.
From the light which the Lord has given me, our sisters should
pursue a very different course. They should be more reserved, manifest
less boldness, and encourage in themselves “shamefacedness and
sobriety.” Both brethren and sisters indulge in too much jovial talk
when in each other’s society. Women professing godliness indulge in
much jesting, joking, and laughing. This is unbecoming and grieves
the Spirit of God. These exhibitions reveal a lack of true Christian
[570]
refinement. They do not strengthen the soul in God, but bring great
darkness; they drive away the pure, refined, heavenly angels and brings
those who engage in these wrongs down to a low level.
Our sisters should encourage true meekness; they should not be
forward, talkative, and bold, but modest and unassuming, slow to
speak. They may cherish courteousness. To be kind, tender, pitiful,
forgiving, and humble, would be becoming and well-pleasing to God.
If they occupy this position, they will not be burdened with undue
attention from gentlemen in the church or out. All will feel that there
is a sacred circle of purity around these God-fearing women which
shields them from any unwarrantable liberties.
With some women professing godliness, there is a careless, coarse
freedom of manner which leads to wrong and evil. But those godly
women whose minds and hearts are occupied in meditating upon
themes which strengthen purity of life, and which elevate the soul
to commune with God, will not be easily led astray from the path of
rectitude and virtue. Such will be fortified against the sophistry of
Satan; they will be prepared to withstand his seductive arts.
Vainglory, the fashion of the world, the desire of the eye, and the
lust of the flesh, are connected with the fall of the unfortunate. That
which is pleasing to the natural heart and carnal mind is cherished. If
the lust of the flesh had been rooted out of their hearts, they would not