REFLECTIONS.

It was most important for the object of their mission, that the apostles should be at peace with all men; that no ground of offence should be afforded by them to any; and that no earthly care, no foreign pursuit, should be permitted to divide their attention. They are therefore warned, not to encumber themselves with any provision for their journey, beyond the demands of necessity, and to accept readily the hospitality that might be offered. They are directed, during their stay in a city, not to change their place of abode; lest their great object should be forgotten, in an anxious regard to personal convenience. Our Saviour teaches us not to be diverted by trifles, from the pursuit of important ends; to avoid, as far as possible, causes of contention with our fellow-men; and especially to go on, in the pursuit of Christian excellence and usefulness, undisturbed by thoughts of worldly advantage or disadvantage, but ever keeping our grand object full in view; blending, in our means for its attainment, the wisdom of the serpent with the harmlessness of the dove.

HYMN.

Behold the apostolic band,
The servants of the Lord,
Convey to each remotest land,

Their Master's heavenly word.

A holy charge on them was laid,
And well that charge they bore,
As, trusting in their Father's aid,
They pass'd from shore to shore.
Fearless, when hostile men combined,
They stood, in power and love;
And with the serpent's wisdom, join'd
The mildness of the dove.

And when disease, or sword, or flame,
From earth had set them free,

The souls to heaven from whence they came,
Sprang upward, Lord! to thee.

PART V.

TO THE RETURN OF THE TWELVE.

SECTION XXIX.

RAISING OF LAZARUS.

JOHN XI. 1, 17.

Now a certain man was sick, named Lazarus, of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha. (It was that Mary which anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick.)-Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus. When he had heard therefore that he was sick, he abode two days still in the ame place where he was. Then after that, saith he to his disciples, Let us go into Judea again. Then when Jesus came, he found that he had lain in the grave four days already. Now Bethany was nigh unto Jerusalem, about fifteen furlongs off; and many of the Jews came to Martha and Mary, to comfort them concerning their brother. Then Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met him; but Mary sat still in the house. Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if thou hadst been here,

my brother had not died; but I know that even now, whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee. Jesus saith unto her, thy brother shall rise again. Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again, in the resurrection, at the last day. Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection and the life; he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live; and whosoever liveth and believeth in me, shall never die. Believest thou this? She saith unto him, Yea, Lord; I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world. And when she had so said, she went her way, and called Mary her sister secretly, saying, The Master is come, and calleth for thee. As soon as she heard that, she arose quickly, and came unto him. (Now Jesus was not yet come into the town; but it was in that place where Martha met him.) The Jews then which were with her in the house, and comforted her, when they saw Mary, that she rose up hastily and went out, followed her, saying, She goeth unto the grave to weep there. Then when Mary was come where Jesus was, and saw him, she fell down at his feet, saying unto him, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died. When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews also weeping which with her, he groaned in the spirit, and was troubled; and said, Where have ye laid him? They say unto him, Lord, come and see. Jesus wept. Then said the Jews, Behold, how he loved him! And some of them said,

K

Could not this man, which opened the eyes of the blind, have caused that even this man should not have died? Jesus, therefore, again groaning in himself, cometh to the grave. It was a cave, and a stone lay upon it. Jesus said, Take ye away the stone. Then they took away the stone. And Jesus lift up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me. And I knew that thou hearest me always; but because of the people which stand by, I said it, that they may believe that thou hast sent me. And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth. He that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with grave-clothes; and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go. the Jews which came to Mary, and things which he did, believed on him. But some of them went their ways to the Pharisees, and told them what things Jesus had done.

REFLECTIONS.

Then many of

had seen the

The feelings of sympathy and affection, sacred in themselves, are sanctioned by the religion of Jesus. It may be difficult, and it can be but of little use, to say what train of thoughts passed through the bosom of our Lord, and to account curiously for his shedding tears for an event which he was about to reverse. is enough for us that he was by a friend's grave, with

It