to lofe one accent of that voice, which was able to make her wife unto falvation.

Ar length the anxiety of Martha for the welcome of her Saviour leads her to complain to him of the neglect of Mary. In terms of eager expoftulation fhe exclaims, " "LORD, doft thou not care that "my fifter hath left me to ferve alone?" She knew, that as long as JESUS preached, Mary was fixed, as with chains of adamant, at his feet, unless his own interference difmiffed her.

AND does the fifter of Lazarus then prefume to dictate to the Lord of heaven and earth? to tax him with inattention and neglect? to prefcribe to his infinite wifdom, instead of receiving directions from his mouth? Alas, how ready is our weakness, upon the flighteft caufe of difcontent, to murmur against a good and gracious GOD, as if he neither heard our voice, nor beheld our forrows! If

we

we groan on the bed of fickness, tormented with pain, and complaining of the wearifome nights of anguish, how ready are we to exclaim, "LORD, doft thou CC not care that we fuffer?" If the Church of CHRIST is in apparent danger-if our adverfaries are the chief, and our enemies profper-if they roar in the midst of the congregation, and fet up their banners for tokens, immediately we cry out, "LORD, doft thou not r care?" But be affured, O thou feeble and diftruftful foul, that the more thou fuffereft, the more thou art in calamity, fo much the loved and cared for.

more thou art

Never is GOD

more truly a Father, than when he vifits thee with falutary correction. Thou knoweft, LORD, the works, and the labour, and the patience, of thy fervants-we may be ignorant of thy counfels-we may not fee the hand that chaftifes us-thou canst not but be gracious.

THE devout Mary could not hear this petulant appeal without a degree of forrow, and aftonifhment. She could not but think, "If I have offended,

why was I not admonished lefs publicly? If I have omitted any duty " of practical religion, while abforbed " in these holy meditations, why must I "be reproved in the prefence of my "Saviour, and his difciples? LORD, " doft thou not care that I am injuri"oufly cenfured?" But this devout foul was too well verfed in the faith of CHRIST to engage in angry controversy. Not a word escapes her lips. In filence and meeknefs fhe hears the accufation of her fifter. Martha blames her for her piety-the difciples afterwards blame her for her bounty*-ftill does fhe poffefs her foul in patience. "Grievous words ftir up anger-therefore leave off See John xi. 3.

con

contention before it be meddled with." She is flow to fpeak, flow to wrathcommitting the vindication of her innocence and piety to Him, who is a difcerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

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WHAT need had she to plead for herfelf, when she had fuch an Advocate ? Doubtlefs, Martha had entertained the hope that her fifter would be difmiffed with rebuke, herself with thanks. Now her expectations fail her: and though she be not directly reproved, fhe hears the juft tribute of preference bestowed on Mary-" Thou art careful and troubled "about many things-but one thing is "needful." Our Saviour was not infenfible of the courtefy, which fought to give him grateful welcome-but he will not overlook her errours, or juftify her weak misapprehenfions. No obligation fhould fo far weigh with us, as to prevent us from difcovering and reproving

the faults of those we love. Those are bafe and fervile fpirits, which refuse to utter a word in due feason. "Admo"nish thy friend-it may be he hath "not done it or if he hath, that he do "it not again." In fome degree, our care must neceffarily extend to earthly things. Religion is not confined to duties merely fpeculative; nor must we be fo far loft in contemplations, however fublime, as to forget thofe concerns which belong to this our state of warfare, till our change come. He that provides not for his own, and fpecially for those of his own household, hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.

But

our care must be free from diftraction, free from diftruft-from distraction, that it interfere not with the due exercife of piety and charity-from distrust, that while we use our beft endeavours, we may ftill rely upon the providence of GOD.

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