Classical Theology.

which I had given thee , and madest to thyself images of men ( like unto Pygmalion ' s image of Venus ) , and didst commit whoredom with them , . . . and thou hast set mine oil and mine incense before them . Moreover , thou hast taken thy sons and thy daughters , whom thou hast borne unto me , and these hast thou sacrificed unto them to be devoured . " And of what is it " that thou hast slain my

children , and delivered them to cause them to pass through the fire for them ? " There is another description of beauty , not " unadorned , " and yet still " adorned the most , " which the prophet explains in the poetry of God— " I decked thee also with ornaments , and I put bracelets upon thy hands , and a chain on thy neck . And I put a jewel on thy forehead , and earrings in thine ears , and a beautiful

crown upon thine head . Thus wast thou decked with gold and with silver ; and thy raiment was of fine linen , and silk , and embroidered work ; . . . and thou wast exceeding beautiful , . . . and thy renown went forth among the heathen for thy beauty : " But then , furthermore , " beauty is vain : but a woman that feareth the Lord she shall be praised . " The " price of a virtuous woman is far above rubies . " " She is a crown to her husband . "

Here we have Hymen with his crown of amaracus ( sweet marjoram ) , and sometimes of roses , to whom young brides offered sacrifices ; as they did also to their tutelar Concordia , and with him the Graces called Charites , the companions of Venus . This is as it should be , to represent the worth of beauty—Hymen being the president of marriage and the protector of virgins ; Aglaia , in herself , both beauty and

worth ; Thalia always in youth and bloom and " perpetual verdure ;" and Euphrosyne never without her cheerfulness of heart and look , ever giving and receiving kindnesses as it were ; because we ought to be free and without disguise in kindly acts of sincerity and truth , and the memory of a received kindness should never be forgotten . In this there is the evidence of the Elysium of the soul ; or otherwise

of the spirit ' s pre-existent and inherent purity . The Graces are virgins to show that kindnesses ought to bo pure , without expectation of- requital ; or because we ought neither to give or receive a base or immodest kindness . Certainly not ; and so it is said , their hands are joined , that it may be understood , one good turn requires another . And , therefore , surely there ought to be an uninterrupted

interchange of kindly regards and affectionate assistance among families and friends . The ancients can teach us by the genius of nature what we are taught through the spirit of truth ; but even they , " oraculo uti , " called their oracles from God . Anacreon , philosophically facetious , tells us , that nature gave women beautythat they miht use it instead of strengthbuckler

, g , or bow , spear or shield , and conquer with it to a surer and greater extent than either iron and fire can . There are innumerable witnesses of this truth besides Helena , and the Phryiies and the Herodiases . We have read of more than one like the lady who , when she was bound to the stake to be stoned to death , with one look of