burial. Verily I say to you, wherever this gospel shall be preached in the whole world, there also shall the deed of this woman be told for a memorial of her."

With this remarkable testimony to the excellence of Mary's character and the purity of her motives, the sisters of Bethany disappear from the sacred page.

Like so many others, they are brought before us by the inspired historians for a few moments only, awakening our deep interest and admiration; and having taught us some useful lesson, are suddenly withdrawn from our gaze.

But they are not lost to us for ever. "The pure in heart shall meet again" beyond the river of death; and there we cannot doubt that the brother and sisters of Bethany bow amid the countless throng who cast their crowns at the feet of the enthroned Saviour, chanting the new song, "Worthy is the Lamb; for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood, out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; and hast made us unto our God kings and priests, and we shall reign on the earth."

The False Witness.

HE descent of the Holy Spirit, promised by Jesus Christ to his disciples as his ascension gift, was an event

second in importance only to the advent of the Son of God. It set the seal of the divine approbation on the finished work of the atonement, and supplied the inward power which was to give efficacy to the outward means for the conversion of a world lying in wickedness. In itself, and in its immediate

results on the day of Pentecost, it was an act of omnipotence grand and sublime as that which spoke worlds into existence, for it raised to newness of life thousands who until then had been dead in trespasses and sins.

But the effects of this life-giving power were not confined to the unconverted alone. The apostles felt its transforming influence, and instead of following the Lord at a distance and with halting steps, they became from that time bold and fearless pioneers, willing not only to spend and be spent in his service, but also to lay down their lives for their beloved Master. They had received his last command, “Preach the gospel to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem," and while waiting in that upper chamber for the baptism of the Holy Ghost, doubtless many were added to them of such as should be saved.

But after the day of Pentecost, under the faithful preaching and wise care of the apostles, the little band of believers, the first Christian church ever gathered on earth, increased rapidly in numbers and influence. So closely were they united in the love and fellowship of the

gospel, that no man among them called aught that he possessed his own, but those who were rich sold their possessions, and throwing the money into a common stock, gave it to the apostles for distribution among the poorer brethren. Thus bound together by the deathless principle of love to their ascended Lord and to each other for his sake, the world took knowledge of them that they had been with Jesus, and the word of God had free course and was glorified.

But the enemy of all good watched the infant church with envious eyes, and resolved to sow tares among the wheat that looked so fair and flourishing.

A man named Ananias, in concert with. Sapphira his wife, who entered heartily into his dishonest plans, sold his estate, and keeping back part of the purchase money for his own selfish purposes, brought the remainder and laid it at the apostles' feet as the whole of his property.

Having now given up all I have in the world," he may have said, "I must henceforth with my wife Sapphira depend for subsistence

on the benevolence of the brethren to whose fund I have contributed."

Had Peter been left only to his own sagacity, he might have admired the seeming generosity of the professed convert. But the Holy Spirit acting through him at once detected the pitiful lie, and fixing his eyes upon the trembling hypocrite, Peter exclaimed,

"Ananias, why hath Satan filled thy heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land? When thou didst resolve to sell it, was it not thine own? And after it was sold, was not the money in thine own power? Couldest thou not have disposed of it freely, either to give or retain? Why then hast thou sought to deceive the brethren in this matter? Thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God, whose just vengeance is upon thee."

While Peter was still speaking, a mortal paleness overspread the countenance of Ananias; and as he ceased, the self-convicted sinner, smitten by the just judgment of God, fell at his feet and died instantly. Addressing the young men who stood by, terror-stricken at this act of divine vengeance, Peter commanded them to