y of _female influence_.
This influence is felt in every department of society; and must be,
wherever the principles of the gospel prevail, so as to elevate your sex
to the station which properly belongs to them. I will endeavor to point
out some of the principal channels through which it can be exerted.

I. _You may make your influence felt in the Bible Society._ You know the
grand object of this society is to put a copy of the Holy Scriptures
within the reach of every individual of the human race. The spirit of
Christ is that of the most expansive benevolence. If you possess this
spirit, and value the sacred treasure contained in God's word as you
ought, you will feel a thrilling interest in this cause. Your heart will
overflow with compassion for those poor souls who have not the word of
life. What, then, must be your emotions, when you consider that more
than six hundred millions of your fellow-beings, as good by nature as
yourself, are destitute of the Bible? The population of the whole world
is estimated at _seven hundred and thirty-seven millions_. Of these,
_five hundred and nine millions_ are heathen, and _one hundred and
fifty-six millions_ are Roman and Greek Catholics; nearly all of whom
are destitute of the word of God. This leaves but _seventy-two millions_
who are called Protestants; but a vast number of these, even in our
highly favored land, are living without the Bible. Can you say with the
Psalmist, "Oh how love I thy law! It is my meditation all the day"? How,
then, must your heart bleed in view of these facts! "But," perhaps you
reply, "what can I do for these perishing millions?" I answer, _Do what
you can_. This is all that God requires of you. Although what you can do
will be but as a drop of water in the ocean, compared with what is to be
done, yet it may be the means of saving many perishing souls. You can
become a member of the Bible Society. You can act as a visitor and
collector, both to ascertain and supply those families which are
destitute of the word of life, and to obtain the means of supplying
others. And if no female Bible Society exists in the place where your
lot is cast, you can exert your influence among the ladies of your
acquaintance to form one. And in his measure I would advise you to
persevere, even though you find at first only two or three to unite with
you. All obstacles in the way of benevolent enterprises vanish before a
spirit of prayerful perseverance, and untiring exer