Martha (probably the eldest sister) appears to have been of a totally different character from her brother and sister. She was the St. Peter of her sex-her thoughts and feelings were all displayed by her life and animation. When she had an opportunity of proving her affection for Jesus, we find her restless and occupied, seeking by every means in her power to receive with due respect a guest so worthy of veneration and love. When Jesus appeared, every thing in the house was made use of that could be serviceable to him. It never occurred to her that she might for an instant lay aside her services, and sit at his feet, and hear his word. No, she would not weary him, before he was rested and refreshed with the choicest provisions she could procure for him-though she was far from understanding the thoughts or wishes of Jesus, yet she was sincere and steady in her own method of proving her devotion to him. St. John includes her with the other members of the family whom Jesus loved, and our Lord gives her only a gentle reproof, when he says to her, "+Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things, but one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part which shall not be taken away from her."

Mary felt and acted differently. She was the St. John of her sex; her quick feelings were concealed in the depths of her sensitive mind-she felt that none

• 1 Peter v. 4. t St. Luke x, 41.

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but her Lord could satisfy the desires of her pious heart. When she saw him, when she listened to him, the world vanished from her sight; her sole happiness was to sit at his feet, to devour with avidity, and lock up in the storehouse of her memory, every word that fell from his divine lips-the visits of our Saviour were too few and too short for her wishes-the hours of his presence flew but two swiftly; she could not bear to waste one moment of them. Like Martha she would have offered him all most dear to her, but she knew that Jesus came rather to give than to receive, and that he who had despised " *all the kingdoms of the world and the glory of them," required but one thing, the hearts of his disciples. She could offer him nothing she deemed worthy of him, or even find words to express her adoring love. Her attentive looks, and a few tears which occasionally fell from her eyes, were the only outward signs of her emotions. O! how precious were the moments when she could listen to her Saviour, and hear him speak of the salvation he purchased for his redeemed-of their forgiveness by God -of their reconciliation with God, and of that blessed kingdom, where there could be no more sorrow because there was no more sin.

However, we should be much mistaken if we supposed that Mary's religion consisted in inactive contemplation, and unfruitful persuasion; no, in one of

St. Matt. iv. 8.

C

the last visits that Jesus paid to Bethany, a few days before his crucifixtion, St. John tells us, that "they made him a supper." It was in Lazarus' house, and Martha as usual "served." Mary, wholly devoted to her Saviour, "+took some ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair." Judas blamed her, saying, "why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor ?"" Then said Jesus, let her alone, against the day of my burying hath she kept this. For the poor always ye have with you, but me ye have not always." Does not this imply, that she whose whole soul was filled with the love of God, would find that very love an incitement to every good action, and the foundation of all good works and holy living? This is the love which springs up in a regenerated heart-which is felt for him who loved us so well as to give his life for us, and without which Religion would be an empty sound, a barren tree, an unfruitful soil. 66 He that loveth not knoweth not God." It would be idle of us to say we are Disciples of Christ because we are called by his name, because we may be useful in our generation, and take an interest in the advancement of his kingdom, or because like Martha we may be "careful about many things." If we do not feel in our hearts the love that seeks the Communion of God-which makes us love his word as Mary did-which changes our hearts, and makes St. John xii. 2. St. John xii. 3–7. ‡ 1 John iv. 8.

us new creaturės-which conquers our self-will, and teaches us to deny ourselves; a love that can never perish, that will endure when all other things have passed away which will be the foundation of our eternal happiness, I say, if we do not feel this love in our hearts in vain may we "* Speak with the tongues of men and of angels;" in vain have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, in vain would we bestow all our goods to feed the poor, and give our bodies to be burned, without love (mind, this is the word of God) we should be as nothing-we should become as sounding brass or a tinkling cymbal." All this would be as nothing in the day of our Lord, when all things shall pass away, love alone excepted. My dear friends, let us take Mary's example and ask ourselves seriously, what is our faith? what are our hopes? what the motives of our actions? If we love Jesus, and have in him that "+faith that worketh by love," all is well; but if we feel coldly towards him all is wrong, eternally wrong. Such was the happy family of Bethany, its members were loved by Jesus, they loved him, and consequently loved one another-bound together by that constraining power, they shared all in common, pleasures, pains, hopes and fears, and under this sweet influence they had lived long in peace and joy; but, alas! they dwelt in á world of woe, and must expect misfortunes. A black cloud suddenly darkened their horizon, and announced

* Cor. xiii. 1. ↑ Gal. v. 6.

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a coming storm. But they had already given their hearts to Jesus, and knew how to "§ bear one anothers burthens," and they will also see that in trials the Lord multiplies the proofs of his love and grace.What could they fear? Jesus was their friend: You that are fathers and mothers, brothers and sisters, whom God has united by the most endearing ties to run together your earthly course, do you find nothing in this humble dwelling worthy of your desires and imitation? Are you acquainted with that Christian love which contributes so powerfully to soften all that is bitter in life? Do you love one another in Jesus? does his grace reign in your families as it did in the family at Bethany; if so, we trust that you will find pleasure and improvement in following us through their trials as well as through their joys. You will there learn how the friends of Jesus behaved in sorrow, and, O! may you also be taught how to give your hearts in perfect confidence to him.

LECTURE II.

THE ILLNESS OF LAZARUS.-THE GLORY OF GOD.

Therefore his sister sent unto him, saying, Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick. When Jesus heard that, he said, this sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby. St. John xi. 3, 4.

The actual state of human nature would be an incomprehensible enigma to us, if revelation had not

ý Gal. vi. 2.