from his own mind, inspired it with his own virtues, endued it with his own tenderness, and left it as an example to his own disciples; He is indeed the good Samaritan; He found humanity lost and destitute; He raised it up redeemed and hopeful; He found unhappy man left helpless by the way-side of life, robbed and wounded by sin and misery; and curing his wounds, and strengthening his powers, he conducted him to a place of rest, of virtue, and of happiness. Go, then, My Brethren, and learn, though at humble distance, to imitate this benevolence; go, and wherever you find a brother sinking in want, or pining in ignorance, rejoice that you have found a field for charity and love; and if, in administering relief and remedy, you advance a little beyond the common prescriptive rules of liberality, and spend a little more than worldly prudence would dictate, remember there is one that promiseth" when I come again, I will repay thee."

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CHRISTIANITY THE ONE THING NEEDFUL, or the A CASE OF MARTHA AND MARY CONSIDERED.

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LUKE X. 41, 42.

And Jesus answered and said unto 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.

It was never within the scope and intention of Christianity, to absolve mankind from the performance of those duties towards their fellowcreatures, to which, by the laws of nature, the laws of society, and the laws of expediency, they stood immutably bound. That Gospel, which was deemed worthy to be heralded by the tongues of angels, breathed nothing but " peace upon earth." That dispensation which was to emit

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glory to God in the highest," was also fraught with "good will towards man." Heavenly in its nature, it sent no earthly pageant as its harbinger, and brought no earthly riches in its train, but, if it occasionally militated with worldly

prosperity, it promised to the firm believer the ample compensation of "peace and joy in believing :" a peace, of which, not disappointment, not adversity, not torture, could deprive him; and a joy, which looking to Christ for its origin, its fruition, and its fulness, was wholly independent of sensual gratification, and triumphed in its immortality.

With these preparatory reflections, My Brethren, I wish to lead you to the consideration of the little narrative in which the important instruction of my text originated.

Our Saviour had no sooner answered the question of the Jewish lawyer, concerning the extent of love required to one's neighbour, than he was called upon to dispose of another topic in religion and morality, not very easy of adjustment. On his journey from the country round Bethsaida toward Jerusalem, he came to a little village, and entered into the house of a certain woman named Martha. This woman, who seems to have been no ways deficient in amiableness and hospitality, immediately began to busy herself with much earnestness, on some little offices which were requisite for his accommodation. It is probable that she had not at this time entertained any distinct ideas concerning the mission of Jesus; that she did not recognize him as the glorious Messiah expected by her nation'; that she had barely heard of his teaching in the vicinity; and

that she was induced to receive him with civility, and to attend to him with kindness, by the natural goodness of her temper, and by a strong sense of duty towards her neighbour. Generous in her disposition, her means seem to have been lis mited. Destitute of servants, the whole œconomy of her house, in which she had no compamion but her sister, chiefly devolved upon herself. Under these circumstances, being pressed for time and preparation by the sudden arrival of a guest, it is natural that she should have expected the assistance of her inmate; but seeing her seated at the feet of Jesus; and listening to his discourse so intently, as to forget her household business, she turned towards the stranger, and asked him with some irritation and impatience, "Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? Bid her therefore that she help me. And Jesus answered and said unto her; Martha, Martha, thou art careful, and trous bled about many things: but one thing is needful; and Mary hath chosen that good part which shall not be taken away from her." Amize you My Brethren, our present business with this passage of Scripture is, to enquire how far the behaviour of Martha may be accounted culpable; and in what the superior excellence of Mary's conduct consists.

And, first, I think you will readily coincide with me in opinion, that this remarkable reply

of our Saviour could not, by any possibility, be intended to blame the motives which actuated the kind hospitality of his hostess, and which so well accorded with the spirit of the parable which he had just related, and which concluded with the emphatic and memorable injunction-" go and do thou likewise." Who, with greater energy than the blessed Jesus, ever pressed upon his disciples those duties of considerate and courteous kindness which tend so admirably to sweeten the bitter draught of this world's sorrows and anxieties? Who, with more earnest fervency than the merciful Redeemer, ever taught, by precept and by practice, that universal compassion and philanthropy, which regards with charitable purpose every caste and character of created man; which, if carried into such extensive operation, as I trust in God is yet in reserve for it, would embrace the interest of millions now separated and revolting from its influence; and would enfold in one capacious and harmonious family, the mighty population of a Christian world? No, My Friends, he who was minutely acquainted with all the virtues, and all the vices of our nature; he, who knows as well what is conducive to our temporal, as what is advantageous to our eternal, interests; he, whose affections were so ardent, as to bring him down from inconceivable glory in kindliest sympathy to a fallen race, never reproved an act of charity, an act of friendship,