mer
ages. They began to give a better education to their families. These
circumstances produced a more enlarged opinion of female genius. Hence
learning became an instrument of giving new consequence to women. But it
gave it to them on a principle different from that of chivalry: for
whereas chivalry insisted upon a polite attention to them on account of
the weakness of their constitutions, learning insisted upon it on
account of the strength of their understanding, or because they were
intellectual and reasonable beings. But that which contributed most to
make women important in society, was the introduction of the Christian
religion. By the mild spirit which it diffused, it produced a certain
suavity of behaviour towards them. By the abolition of polygamy it
allowed of no division of a man's love among many women, but limited it
to one. Thus it made one woman dearer than another, and of course every
individual woman of consequence. By the abolition of polygamy, it added
to their consequence again, by raising them from the rank of slaves to
that of the companions of men. This importance it increased again by the
inculcation of specific duties towards them, and by the doctrine, that,
as all, without exception, were equally accountable for their actions,
and the Divine Being was no respecter of persons, so all, whether men or
women, were of equal importance in his sight.

But though Christianity has operated, as it always will, where it is
felt in the heart, to the production of a tender attention to women, and
to the procuring of an honourable station for them in society, we have
yet to lament, that this operation has not been more general,
considering our public profession of this religion, than we find it at
the present day. Women are still seldom appreciated as they ought to be.
They are still weighed in a different scale from men. Their education is
still limited, as if their understandings, notwithstanding the
honourable testimony which history has borne concerning them, were
incapable of high attainments. If homage be paid to their beauty, very
little is paid to their opinions. Limits also are assigned to the sphere
of their utility. To engage in other pursuits than they do would be
thought strange. In short, the education they receive marks the inferior
situation for which they are considered to be designed. Its tendency is
mostly to outward shew. Formed like dolls or play-things, which are
given to children to c