neglect of the cause of Christ. Neither should the poor be discouraged in their humble endeavours to show the sincerity of their love.

Many would have been ready to censure this poor widow, and to think she did ill; why should she give to others, when she had little enough for herself? But our Saviour commends her; therefore we are sure that she did that which was pleasing in his sight. Public charities should be encouraged, they bring upon a nation public blessings; and the feeble efforts of the poor to honour their Saviour, will be commended in that day when all the splendid actions of unbelievers will be unnoticed, or exposed to deserved contempt.

A vial of purest nard Mary brought, That eer for thrice its weight was bought, Which o'er his head she broke, the rich perfume Diffusing all Arabia round the room.

CHRIST ANOINTED AT BETHANY.

Whilst the good deeds this penitent has wrought, Shall through the world be with my gospel taught; As long as earth remains, or as the sun

Shall round the radiant belt his glorious circle run.

"AS he sat at meat, there came a woman having an alabaster box of ointment of spikenard, very precious; and she brake the box, and poured it on his head." (Mark xiv. 3.)

The woman is supposed to have been Mary, the sister of Lazarus. She poured the ointment upon the head of Christ; this was accounted the highest respect. It may be looked upon as an act of faith in our Lord Jesus, the Christ, the Messiah, the Anointed it signified that she believed in him as God's Anointed. Where there is true love in the heart to Jesus Christ, no

K

thing will be thought too precious to bestow upon him.

The disciples said, “To what purpose is this waste?" This shows the want of tenderness towards this pious woman. We must learn to be cautious lest we become censorious of the zeal of others. What we may impute to want of prudence, God may accept as an instance of abundant love. We must not say, Those do too much in religion, that do more than we do; but rather let us endeavour to do as much as they. We must not think that any thing is wasted which is intended to honour Christ, or the time wasted that is spent in his service, or the money wasted which is laid out in any works of piety.

Christ reproved his disciples for troubling this good woman. Observe his rea"And Jesus said, Let her alone; why

son;