Los Angeles daily herald., 1888-04-09
FIRST CONGREGATIONAL.
"Christ I'm tho House Of Mary
and Martha.,

G. Hutchins, D. D., at the First Con-
gregational Church yesterday. Hi
theme. "Christ in the House of Mar!
and Martha" uke X, % to 42) wa:
we'll chosen, and the sermon full o
interest and practical thought. His de
scription of Bethany and its twenty
inhabitants, indigent and thriftless a.
they were, was eminently picturesque
Speaking further, he said: The ten
derest scenes in the life of our Lore
are closely associated with this ancient
village. Here Lazarus was raised
from the dead, and Mary performed
her act of unselfish devotion, pouring
the precious ointment on the feet
of Jesus. This home of Mary
and Martha was a spot most
dear to the heart of our Lord, who
found his sweetest rest in this simple
home, not noted for it's poverty, and
certainly not for opulence. In this
situation, this medium of finances il
true happiness to be found. As mau
becomes independent there is danger
OF his growing proud. As his wishes
become satisfied, his desire for con-
slant indulgence increases. On the
other hand, we must recognize poverty
to be the prolific mother of crime, and
should be assiduously Stunned. There
is no special merit in poverty or wealth.
While we are to initiate the spirit of
Christ we are not to initiate the per
son of Christ, like the Chinese. Christ
came to show naked manhood and by
His spiritual sovereignty to teach
spirituality. Had He come in a cha
riot the poor man would have felt 10th
to follow in His train, and only the
rich would have found eternal inher-
itance. Yet not all Christ's followers
were poor. Peter had house at Ca
pernaun and fishing appurtenauces !;
Matthew was a custom-house officer,
and we know that all custom-house
officers are not poor. There is a
prominent error cons' antly made
in speaking of great men as hav-
ing risen from poverty, such
as Garfield rose from that poverty
To you who are in the middle walks
of life, be content. You who are sur
rounded by poverty, get our Of it as
soon as fair means will allow and to
you who are in opulence, be generous
and bestow your gifts on those less
favored. In this simple home we find
the nature of true hospitality. Mar
tina thought to give the best she had in
the best way; Mary thought she could
show her desire to serve the Lord best
by her receptivity, and thus sitting at
the feet of Jesus, we find her listen
ing attentively to every word
as it fell from divine lips,
Yet Martha in her bustling way
marred this hospitality by her rebuk-
ing words, "Dost thou not care, hast
thou no sense of sympathy for me,
bid her aid me in the preparation of
the meal" Nothing can kill hospi-
taIity quicker than this lack Of tran
guilty, calmness and repose. Christ
was more desirous of the society of
these women than of table loaded
with rich viands. Martha's method
of reproof was wrong. Anger dis
qualities anyone in giving reproof, but
let rebuke be given in love and it
shall be a blessing to the rebuked.
The desire to show ones good works
as did Martha in complaining
of her tack in the bane
of all sensoriousess. A woman like
Martha can never understand q wo-
man, like many. Oftentimes in our
church relations, We meet with a
member who does not appear to be
shining or great light and yet this
poor one may be doing some secret
ample service as did Mary. Let not
the hands say to the foot, I have no
need of thee, the eye to the ear, have
no need of thee. all are members of
one man and are necessary in the
great work to be done. Every home
is doubly blessed that has Christ in
it, and especially should every wo-
man who desires to live life of true
womanhood, recognize Christ as the
giver of all. With His coming came
new life for woman and all
she has and is she ows to Christ.
To the young man let me say if you
do not wear the white ribbon on your
breast let me hope you at least wear
its emblem in your heart. Take a
practical lesson from the biography of
Charles Kingley. Christ taught sub
missiveness Of minor to major things.
He recognized the devotion Of Mar
tina; for He said: "Thou art careful
of many things, but one thou lack
est" OF Mary, He said: "She hath
chosen the good part" The lesson
comes direct to us and should teach
us how to throw off some Of this bur-
den that is training us away from that
tranquility that is so essential to q
true Christian life. Therefore with
Mary let US oftener sit at the feet of
Jesus. Forget if you will all these
other lessons. but take this lesson OF
Christ with you into your homes and
firesides.
The Lecture Burcau. S,