HERE

we find a canonical epistle inscribed, principally, not only to a

single person, but to one also of the softer sex. And why not to one of

that sex? In gospel redemption, privilege, and dignity, there is

neither male nor female; they are both one in Christ Jesus.

Our Lord himself neglected his own repast, to commune with the woman of

Samaria, in order to show her the fountain of life; and, when almost

expiring upon the cross, he would with his dying lips bequeath his

blessed mother to the care of his beloved disciple, and thereby

instruct him to respect female disciples for the future. It was to one

of the same sex that our Lord chose to appear first after his return

from the grave, and to send by her the news of his resurrection to this

as well as to the other apostles; and we find afterwards a zealous

Priscilla so well acquitting herself in her Christian race, and

particularly in some hazardous service towards the apostle Paul, that

she is not only often mentioned before her husband, but to her as well

as to him, not only the apostle himself, but also all the Gentile

churches, were ready to return their thankful acknowledgments. No

wonder then that a heroine in the Christian religion, honoured by

divine providence, and distinguished by divine grace, should be

dignified also by an apostolical epistle.