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Christ and his disciples into her peaceful home at Bethany! How liberal was the provision which she made for his comfort and entertainment! Hers was no grudging hospitality, no niggardly supply. She was ready to give the best that she had, and all that she had, to the Saviour. She spared no expense, nor thought any trouble too great, which might contribute to his ease and refreshment.

Does your spirit, dear reader, bear any resemblance to hers? Does your love to Christ thus practically express itself? You think, perhaps, that if you had lived during Christ's mission upon earth, you would gladly and eagerly have shared in Martha's kindly administrations. Well, this is a point easily settled. If you would have treated Christ so then, you will treat Him so now. "But how can I," you ask, "when He is no longer amongst us ?" Turn to that but halfremembered and but half-understood declaration of the Saviour's, "Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto Me." Do you believe this? Then act upon it; and prove your love to Christ by your earnest and self-denying efforts to help his people. Ah! how few of us have attained to Martha's generosity and unselfishness! Or else, when there is to be a collection made for the benefit of Christ's ministers, or for the furtherance of his gospel, would our churches be so thinly attended, and our complaints about the "numerous calls" wax so eloquent? Would our widows and orphans be destitute of food and clothing? or money be carelessly lavished upon self, and stingily doled out to others? Do not say that if you were in an influential position like Martha, and had the same means at your disposal as she had, that you would manifest similar liberality. For a loving heart will easily find channels for the outpouring of its affection. Where there is the will there is sure to be the way. And if ere be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to

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that which a man hath, and not according to that which he hath not. If the mistress of Bethany's household could furnish a well-spread table for her honoured guest, the poor solitary widow can drop her two mites into the treasury, and win for herself an imperishable The late James Nisbet was a man remarkable for his Christian benevolence. His very name suggested some idea of charitable contribution. There were few evangelical societies, and not many philanthropic institutions, to which he was not a stated or occasional giver; and there have been objects which so stirred his feelings that he gave them a thousand pounds at once. But when he commenced life, his means were limited. Yet when "expected to be a gentleman on fifty pounds a-year, he contrived to save three sovereigns for benevolent purposes; and during the first year of his apprenticeship, he spent on cordials for a poor consumptive patient the money which should have procured him a new hat!"

Youthful reader, purposing to do great things when you are rich, imitate his example, and begin your career of usefulness now. However humble may be your position in life, you can give a little. Indeed, it is oftener in the annals of the poor, than in the records of the wealthy, that we read the noblest instances of generosity. There was an Irish girl, named Peggy, whose labours as a servant gained her only food and clothes. At length her mistress, finding her services increasingly valuable, offered her a small yearly salary. Peggy was highly delighted to have money which she could call her own. What did she do with it? One evening she went to her minister, and, with great apparent joy, slipped a piece of paper into his hand-it was a one-pound note. "Peggy," he said, "what is this ?" Oh, sir," she said, "it is the first pound that I could ever call my own since I was born. And what will I do with it ? Ah! will I forget my country? No! It is for poor Ireland-it

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is for my countrymen to have the blessed, blessed gospel preached to them." But, Peggy, it is too much for you to give; I cannot take it." "Oh, sir," she replied, with her characteristic energy, "if you refuse it, I would not sleep for a fortnight," and she went away, leaving the money in his hand, and exclaiming, "God bless my poor country with the ministry of the gospel!" How much does her liberality outshine that of many! Who has not found the first possession of money bring with it a temptation to avarice? Who ever gave his first pound to charity? It was what Peggy had been wishing for, for some years; it was her all when she obtained it, yet, with a joy far greater than that which arose from its possession, she delivered it up for the spread of the gospel in her own country! Dear reader, can it be said of you, as it might have been of Peggy, "She hath done what she could"?

But Martha of Bethany not merely provided for the Saviour's wants, but she herself waited upon him. Her active hands were busied in administering to the comforts of her beloved Master, for she could not rest satisfied without doing so while he was present to be served. And we want more Marthas, more personal workers now; those who will give, not only their money, but their time, their talents, their active exertions, to the cause of Christ. Many will put down their names as subscribers to some good object, who would not dream of walking half-a-mile, or of working half-an-hour, in order to assist the needy and succour the distressed. "Yet there is a form of Christian kindness quite as precious as alms-giving, what we might call alms-doing-the giving away to a heavy heart a little of the joy of your cheerful one-the giving away to a forlorn or friendless person a little of your large influence-the giving away to a person in perplexity a little of your experienced counsel."

And now, as we turn away our glance from the

busy, bustling, energetic, warm-hearted Martha of Bethany, do you think, dear reader, that your natural temperament resembles hers? Then, if your energies are rightly directed, you are fitted for a sphere of extensive usefulness. You will be able to achieve much, which those of quieter and less resolute dispositions could never accomplish, even if they wished to do so. Whatsoever your hand findeth to do, you will do it with your might. Press onwards then in the path which is so evidently marked out for you; and be a faithful and devoted servant of your loving master.

Yet, bear in mind, that, with Martha's excellencies, you are also exposed to Martha's temptations. The Saviour's pointed and tender rebuke, "Thou art careful and troubled about many things," is, perhaps, as applicable to you as it was to her. You are liable to be harassed with distracting anxiety-Martha was cumbered about much serving-to find fault with differently constituted Christians because they do not manifest your enthusiasm, and emulate your labours"Lord, dost Thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her, therefore, that she help me." You will be in danger of cultivating outward zeal at the expense of private devotion; of neglecting closet duties for missionary enterprises; of wishing to regulate other people's feelings and emotions according to your thermometer. Be upon your guard, dear reader, against these tendencies. Watch and pray. Strive to acquire patience and self-control. Keep from hasty words and harsh criticisms. When inclined to censure or despise those who come not up to your standard, think of these words, "Who art thou that judgest another man's servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth; yea, he shall be holden up, for God is able to make him stand." Your safest and happiest plan is to "study to be quiet, and to mind your own business." Does all this seem a difficult task to one of your excitability and warmth of feeling? How is it

to be accomplished? By sitting at Christ's feet, and learning of Him, who is meek and lowly in heart. Waiting upon Christ must be combined with working for Him. And then bright and useful will be your onward course. You will be a blessing to all who come within reach of your influence; and your ardent toils will, perhaps, stimulate some who are standing idle in the market-place to go and work to-day in Christ's vineyard.

And then think of your reward! Think how delightful it will be to meet in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ, at his coming, those who shall be your hope, your joy, and your crown of rejoicing! Think of the unspeakable gladness with which you will hear the commendation of your Saviour," Well done, good and faithful servant, enter thou into the joy of your Lord!"

But perhaps, dear reader, you are not like Martha of Bethany. You dislike bustle and excitement. You are quiet, gentle, unassuming, fond of repose. Well, be it so. Diversity of character is both pleasing and requisite. There are varied spheres of usefulness in Christ's service, for which varied qualifications are needed. You may be walking quietly along some narrow and sheltered path, while another is hurrying over the hot and dusty high-road, yet the object to be attained may in each case be the same. There are Marys" as well as Marthas," whó minister to Christ.

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Only don't take it for granted that if you are not one you must necessarily be the other. You are not an admirer, you say, of the busy and impatient Martha. You have too much refinement and delicacy of feeling to sympathize with a love of domestic occupations; you are so timid and sensitive that you shrink from those arduous engagements in which others seem to find much pleasure. A life of perpetual activity, of stirring employment, is not your vocation. Now, I am

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