jealous self-seeking spirit which estimates highly its own services, and cannot bear to see others made equal to it. This was, in fact, the spirit of the elder brother in another parable. But charity, true charity, envieth not, vaunteth not itself; and such charity shall never miss its true appreciation.

To the disciples, the moral of the parable was, that early as they had entered the vineyard, and highly as they might think of their own services, they might be excelled by those who came later. Was it not so when St. Paul, who came in after much of the burden and heat of the day had been borne, “laboured more abundantly than they all!"-and so far as we know had more abundant success. Nay, even some might be rejected altogether; some who were called, might not be chosen. So was it with Judas, and but for great preserving mercy, so might it have been with Peter himself. So is it among ourselves—" many are called"—have opportunities of a religious life; but few comparatively will abide the test of God's selection, when He makes up His jewels, and casts aside the mere superficial disciple. May God make us His in deed, and in truth!

SECTION XXXVI.

MESSAGE FROM THE SISTERS OF LAZARUS.

"NOW

JOHN xi. I-16.

TOW a certain man was sick, named Lazarus, of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha."

How long our Lord remained in the parts beyond Jordan, we cannot precisely determine,* but He was now summoned back to the neighbourhood of Jerusalem by a special message. The sisters of Lazarus,

one of whom St. John takes care to inform us was "that Mary which anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped His feet with her hair," as is subsequently related; these sisters of whom we heard before, when Jesus was a guest at their house, " sent unto Him, saying, 'Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick.'" They did not, perhaps, in so many words ask Him to come and see him, for they must have known that He ran a risk in coming to Jerusalem, from which He had been driven by the plots against Him; but they knew He would wish to be informed of the dangerous illness of a dear friend, and no doubt it was to them an object of first importance to send to acquaint Him. "When Jesus heard that, He said, 'This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby.'" The sickness was unto death in one sense, but not in another; not in its final result, and it was permitted at this time that it might form one link in the approaching glorification of the Son of God. It was in fact the immediate cause of His apprehension and execution. "Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus." He had evidently been on intimate terms with them, and He was known to regard them with great affection.

* Perhaps about two months, the greater part of the time between the Feast of Dedication and the Feast of the Passover.

"When he had heard therefore that he was sick, He abode two days still in the same place where He was." We should rather have expected to hear that He set off immediately, but He had reasons for the delay, the glory of God was concerned in it, and therefore He waited yet two days before acting upon the message. What a dreary suspense must this have been to the dying Lazarus and his sisters! Few things are more chilling to the heart than to be neglected in illness. If our friends do not love us enough to take a little trouble about us then, what can we think of their affection? We ought to remember this more than we do. It may seem little to those who are full of occupation, life, and interest, whether they go one day sooner or later to see a sick friend, but the invalid counts every hour, and feels keenly the indifference implied in delay.

"Then after that saith He (Jesus) to His disciples, 'Let us go into Judæa again.' His disciples say unto Him, 'Master, the Jews of late* sought to stone Thee; and goest Thou thither again?' Perhaps they had not been told of the urgent message, or if they had, they might not think it justified His incurring such serious danger. "Jesus answered, 'Are there not twelve hours in the day? If any man walk in the day he stumbleth not, because he seeth the light of this world. But if a man walk in the night, he stumbleth, because there

*This shows that the time spent beyond Jordan, though so crowded with interesting discourses and incidents, yet was but a short period.

is no light in him." The meaning of which saying seems to be, "I have a fixed time appointed Me for My work in this world, and till that time is expired, I am as safe as a man who goes about his business in the ordinary working hours of the day.” "These things said He: and after that He saith unto them, 'Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep.' Then said His disciples," with that singular literalness of which they gave so many examples-"Lord, if he sleep, he shall do well.' Howbeit Jesus spake of his death: but they thought that He had spoken of taking of rest in sleep. Then said Jesus unto them plainly, 'Lazarus is dead. And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, to the intent that ye may believe; nevertheless let us go unto him.'

"Then said Thomas, which is called Didymus, unto his fellow disciples, 'Let us also go, that we may die with him." There at least spoke out a noble and devoted spirit. His words show also how real in their eyes was the risk incurred by their Master.

THEN

SECTION XXXVII.

THE RAISING OF LAZARUS.

JOHN xi. 17-—44.

HEN when Jesus came, He found that he had lain in the grave four days already."

Four days already! What sad hearts, what anxious expectation, what baffled hopes, what painful

misgivings, what blank despair had there been in the interval since the message had been first sent! What must have been the feelings of Lazarus himself, when again and again, perhaps, he asked and was told, that as yet there were no tidings of the approach of Jesus; and when at last he must have felt that he should die without seeing Him again! What must have been the feelings of the sisters!-but they come out in the narrative. "Now Bethany was nigh unto Jerusalem, about fifteen furlongs off and many of the Jews came to Martha and Mary, to comfort them"-condole with them"concerning their brother. Then Martha"-the more energetic, impulsive sister-" as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met him: but Mary"-more thoroughly dejected "sat still in the house. Then said Martha unto Jesus, 'Lord, if Thou hadst been here, my brother had not died."" She felt confident that He would have saved her brother from the grave, and yet she might have recollected that Jesus never did His own will, but the will of the Father who sent Him; and that, therefore, even the promptings of partial affection might be silenced. "But"-she still has a lingering hope

"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.'' Her words imply a sort of question: Dost Thou mean anything more than this? "Jesus saith unto her, 'I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in Me,