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with a splendid entertainment, and for perplexing herself to prepare it for him. It aggravated the sin and folly of her care, that but one thing is needful. This is certainly meant of what Mary made her choice-sitting at Christ's feet, to hear his word of salvation. Martha was troubled about many things, when she should have applied herself to one; godliness unites the heart, which the world had divided. Martha's work was good in the proper season and place; but now she had something to do unspeakably more needful, therefore it should be first attended to. The favour of God is the only thing absolutely needful to our final happiness; the salvation of Christ is absolutely needful to us sinners. Where this is attended to, all other things will be pursued in subservience to it.

Christ declared, "Mary hath chosen

the good part." She had justly given the preference to that which best deserved it. "For one thing is needful;" this one thing that she has done, to give up herself to the guidance of Christ her Saviour.

What Mary then heard from those sacred lips, we hear still in the blessed gospel. That heavenly doctrine is ever the same, always new. It is not more subject to change than its great Author. The exercise of the gospel may be taken from us, but the benefit resulting from it is as inseparable from our souls as their very existence.

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A hundred sheep, of ponderous fleece and train,

A shepherd fed on Dothan's fertile plain, Yet one, by hope of better pasture led, To distant barren deserts wandering fled.

THE LOST SHEEP AND THE SILVER.

Such joys in Heav'n receives each friendly mind, (Not unconcern'd at cares of human kind)

When one poor sinner here, whose loss they mourn'd, To virtue's shining paths, and to himself return'd.

"WHAT man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, till he find it?" (Luke xv. 4, 5.)

The parable of the lost sheep is very applicable to the great work of our redemption. The lost sheep represents the sinner as departed from God, and exposed to certain ruin if not brought back to him, yet not desirous to return. Christ is the Shepherd of his purchased flock, and counts them as his own. As a man would leave the rest of his flock in a safe state, and go to seek one lost sheep, so Christ is earnest

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