Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1879-07-02
Did She Love M0st2

It was q sore affiction TO Mary and Martha
when Lazarus, their own brother, sickened
and died. Desolate now was their home,
and greatly did they long for the presence
of Jesus, their best friend, with them. And
now at length he draws near. His coming
is announced, and Martha Immediately goes
out to meet him. Her first words to BIN
are, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my
brother had not died" But Mary kept her
place. "She sat still in the house." She
waited there till her sister returned and
called her secretly, saying, "The Master is
come, and calleth for thee" And as soon
as she heard that, she arose quickly and
came unto him; and as soon as she was
come where Jesus was and saw him, she fell
down at his feet, saying, in the same words
with Martha, Lord, if thou hadst been here
my brother had not died" Was it proof
that Martha loved Jesus more than Mary
that she was more forward to go out to meet
him ? Was this demonstration of more
ardent affection We can hardly think so
We are assured that Jesus loved Marthf
and her sister" and they both loved him il
return. His love was reciprocated, and il
was sincere on the part Of both. But we re
gard it as no certain proof that the love o.
she so promptly sprang to meet the Saviour
as he approached. We are differently con
stituted Our natural temperaments are un
like. One person manifests his love in on'
way, and another in another. So was it with
these sisters and we doubt not that Jesus
who knew all men, saw that Mary loveC
him not less than Martha. 1t may have beer
that he saw that she loved him more. Ant
.,,t ha &c D,tar hoy
been that Jesus saw that he loved him NJ
more than the other disciples, who were les
demonstrative. He was foremost to say Il
the Saviour, "Though / should die will
thee, vet will not deny thee" And when
after his resurrection, the Saviour appeared
to his disciples as they were engaged il
fishing, and John said unto Peter, " 1t is tn
Lord" it was Peter who, first of all, rushed
to meet him. But was this certain proc
that he loved him more strongly than Jane
aud John and the other four disciples, who re
maiued at their post, dragging the multitud
of fishes that they had caught, to the shore
| We are by no means sure that it was Sc
Peter was naturally impulsive he was ma
of quick and ardent feelings; and yet hi
love may have been no deeper and stronge
than that of his more quiet brethren.
we Judge by the forwardness Of men, W
may sometimes make mistakes. In praye
meeting there are those who are always o
their feet. Give them the opportunity, an
they are always prompt to take part. The
can't keep quiet. 1t were much more of
cross to them to sit still, like Mary, than
rise up, as did Martha. And yet they ma.
in fact, love no more than the brother who's
voice is rarely heard. Were the matte
brought to a test, the latter might stand
better than the former. 1t was John, an
not Peter, who stood firmest in the hour {
fiery trial. and who can say but that ii
same might have been the case with tt
gentle Mary? al cannot plead for Jesus
said difident lady before an examinin
church committee, "but | could die f,
him."-Ne,p York Observer.