narrative takes its rise in the affection of Mary and Martha to their sick brother, and to their applications to our Lord in his behalf.

A second lesson we might learn, is the overruling providence of God, so ordering minute circumstances as best to promote the accomplishment of his gracious designs.

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Again we might learn the sinfulness of the human heart, manifested in unbelief and selfish averseness to encounter danger even in the path of duty. Still further this history instructs us in the compassion of our blessed Lord; his tender sympathy for his friends, and the peculiar wisdom and excellence of that sympathy. It affords also a most encouraging motive to patient waiting for the accomplishment of the Divine purpose; and, above all, it manifests the glory of the Lord Jesus in the sure testimony it gives of His Deity and Godhead; by a word raising the dead, and quickening whom he will.

The Evangelist St. John, who was especially favoured by the Holy Spirit to record

this part of the history of this highly favoured family, seems unwilling to leave this miracle of power and love under the distressing appearance it takes at the close of the eleventh chapter. There we are told, that instead of being led to acknowledge the blessed Jesus as their Messiah, the infatuated rulers of the Jews determined from that day to put him to death. Instead of leaving the history at this distressing point, this disciple of love closes the narrative by one of the most delightful domestic scenes which is to be found in the inspired volume:-a supper made for our Lord by his friends at Bethany, as a token of their gratitude for his generous love.

May the Holy Spirit so assist us in opening this inspired account, that this supper, made for our Lord at Bethany, may lead many Christians to attend to another gracious declaration of which this scene reminds us:

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Behold, I stand at the door and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and sup with him, and he with me." Oh may there be many who shall manifest that the door of

their hearts is indeed set open, by coming as willing guests to partake of that supper which this day our Lord has made a supper to which He invites all who love his name freely to come.

May

He thus bless the Word, for His name's sake.

The Evangelist thus commences the narrative: "Then Jesus six days before the passover came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, which had been raised from the dead."

It appears, from the preceding chapter, that our blessed Saviour, after raising Lazarus from the dead, to avoid the malice of the Jews, had retired into a country near to the Wilderness, into a city called Ephraim, and there continued with his disciples. The time for his offering himself for our sins as the true Paschal Lamb being very near at hand, He came to Bethany, that from thence he might make his public entrance into Jerusalem. His faithful followers who had heard of his intention, determined to honour his visit by making him a supper. Instead however of having it at the house of Martha,

St. Matthew informs us it was in the house of Simon the Leper, whom our blessed Saviour had healed of his leprosy; and who, like the Samaritan leper of whom we have this day heard in the Gospel for the day, was now desirous to shew his gratitude to our Lord, by making his house the place where this feast of love should be held. But although the house was the house of Simon, the feast was the united offering of his faithful followers at Bethany. "There they made him a supper; and Martha served: and Lazarus was one of them that sat at the table with him."

It appears, also, that besides his disciples, "much people of the Jews, who knew that he was there, came, not for his sake only, but that they might see Lazarus also, whom he had raised from the dead; our Lord encouraging their visit by receiving them at Bethany at this supper. What a most remarkable supper was this! It may well be questioned whether such a company ever met

before or since.

Here was the blessed Jesus, the Almighty

Friend, who having first wept at the grave of Lazarus, shewed his power and goodness by raising him from the dead. Here was also that sick man who had yielded up the ghost, and had been laid for four days in the silent tomb, now sitting in as full health and strength as if he had never died. Here, again, was one who, in his leprous state, was commanded to dwell alone; but having been restored to health by Him who alone could heal that generally incurable disease, was also a guest at the same table. Whilst they were thus sitting, Martha was serving: not as she did on our Lord's first visit, when her over-anxiety brought from her lips that inconsiderate speech, "Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone; bid her therefore that she help me?" Nothing of this hasty spirit is now discernible. Her's is now the service of grateful love, grown wise in the school of affliction, and delighting to turn every talent to the honour of the Saviour.

Although we may have some faint conception, it would be impossible accurately to