come unto this house, forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham.'

..

"Here we must conclude: a yet more interesting subject awaits us, the consideration of which I anticipate with the liveliest feelings of pleasure; for while I am deeply sensible of the mighty importance of the task before me, I experience the truth of that encouraging promise, 'The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that watereth shall be watered also himself."" (Prov. xi. 25.)

With these words Mr. Chis attentive auditors.

took a kind farewell of

R. CLAY, PRINTER, BREAD STREET HILL.

THE

NEW TESTAMENT HISTORIES.

A LARGE party assembled at the Court, and with looks of deep anxiety and interest took their respective seats. The allusion made by Mr. C―― to his next subject, had produced much discussion during the past week; and old Hyford would by no means agree that any chapter he read and explained could surpass those he had already heard.

"They are all good," he exclaimed, "all; I always think the last the best; and our good parson may say what he likes, but I shall be much surprised if what we hear to-day will be better than what he told us about Zaccheus."

"I do not think it will be better, Master Hyford," said Mr. Hill," but more deeply interesting I expect it will be; for I guess the subject, and a more beautiful one cannot be found. But you shall judge for yourself; and now we must hasten in, for there are more folks than usual, I see, and we may lose our seats; though I know the good old butler, Mr. Thomas, would not see us stand for a minute, if he could help it."

When the arrangements were completed, and Mr. Chad taken his usual place, the deepest silence pervaded the room: opening his Bible, he said, in a voice full of emotion-"I promised you to-day, my friends, a subject replete with interest. Oh! may the Lord the Spirit enable me to treat it aright; and may he so bless our reading and conversing thereon, as to cause us to profit by it; and also bring the glorious truths it contains home to our hearts, to their everlasting benefit and comfort."

A low but solemn "Amen," was responded to this their beloved pastor's prayer; and, surely, such an assembly as was collected together in the fine old room in M

Court

afforded matter of rejoicing to the cloud of witnesses who, we are told, compass the Church Militant, (Heb. xii. 1,) and behold their conduct in that difficult and arduous race wherein they had each successively obtained, by faith, a blessed victory.

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"The incidents I am going to dwell upon," resumed Mr. C are only related by St. John. It is supposed that the silence of the other Evangelists arose from their writing their Gospels during the lifetime of Lazarus, and, consequently, fearing to excite the hatred of the Jews against him; let us, therefore, turn to the 1st verse of the 11th chapter, wherein it is written, Now a certain man was sick, named Lazarus, of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha.' Thus we are introduced to a family with whom our Lord and his disciples were intimate. Of Lazarus we have not heard before, but of Martha we are told, that when Jesus was at Bethany, she invited him to visit her, treating him and his numerous followers with all the hospitality of the East. Desirous of expressing her sense of the honour he conferred on her, she made him a feast, and exerted herself even beyond her strength in preparing it. But was she alone? We read here of her sister Mary; did not she, likewise, wish to welcome her Lord? Oh, yes! but her reception of him was widely different, and yet more in accordance with the character of her guest; she sat at Jesus' feet and heard his word.' As was his wont, he taught at all times, and in all places; he desired to afford every opportunity to lost, perishing sinners to hear the word of life; no sooner, therefore, had he entered the sisters' house, in Bethany, than he began to teach some precious truth to the surrounding people. This attracted the attention of Mary; 'she sat at his feet,' eagerly drinking in the instructions he bestowed; she could attend to nothing else. The doctrines taught by Jesus were such as she heard from none besides; and to lose one single word was not to be thought of. But not so Martha; she, too, loved Jesus-nay, she believed in him and his divine mission with all her heart; but worldly feelings were mixed up within; and we read that she was 'cumbered,' troubled, distracted, with her numerous cares and household duties. It vexed her, therefore, to see her sister sitting at the feet of Jesus, doing nothing, as she thought; and consequently, in trouble of mind, she exclaimed, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone?

6

bid her therefore that she help me.' But not so; she sadly forgot the nature and character of Jesus. Feasting was no gratification to him whose meat it was to do his Father's will, and win souls to glory. Therefore he replied to his hospitable but hasty friend, 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.' (See Luke x. 38-42.)

"Here is a promise indeed, and an encouragement to all who are influenced by the Holy Spirit to make the same happy choice; for through him that loved us, and gave himself for us, we are not only influenced to make our choice, and arrange ourselves under the banner of Christ, but we are strengthened to persevere, to hold on our way, to maintain the contest, and finally, to gain the palm of victory; for Mary, and all believers likewise, have chosen that good part, which all the powers of hell combined shall not be able to take away from them.”

"You remind me of John x. 28," said Mr. Lawrence. Yes," replied Mr. C—," it is the same doctrine of assurance our Lord mentions there also. He says of his people, his redeemed ones, My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: and I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.' It is he, my friend, who, having begun the good work, having influenced us to choose the better part, will carry it on unto the day of Jesus Christ, and present each individual in whom he has begun it, faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy.' (Jude 24.)

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"But Mary is again to bear a prominent part in her. Lord's history; by anticipation she is spoken of as anointing his body for his burial, which circumstance St. John mentions here, that she may not be mistaken for one of the other Marys who constantly followed him. The Gospel was written by John about sixty years after the death and resurrection of our Lord, and was, as it were, a calm, considerate record of that wonderful history. He had pondered upon the past, and his affectionate heart, warmed by the divine influences of the Holy Spirit, performing his promise of bringing all things to his remembrance, whatsoever his gracious Master had said to him, (John xiv. 26,) poured forth its feelings by relating, for the benefit of his brethren, all the sayings and doings that