o
her now; she has learned the lesson of that day spoken of in the tenth
of Luke. But Mary still excels her, for, whilst sitting at His feet in
that same day of tenth of Luke, she has heard some story that makes her
come with precious spikenard to anoint His body for the burial!
Strange act! And how could that affectionate heart force itself calmly
to anoint the object of its love for burial? Ah! still a far sweeter
story must she have heard "at His feet," and a bright light must have
pierced the shadow of the tomb. For, look at that little company of
devoted women around His cross, and you will find no trace of the no
less devoted Mary, the sister of Lazarus, there. The other Marys may
come, in tender affection, but in the dark ignorance of unbelief, to
search for Him, in His empty tomb on the third day. She, with no less
tender affection surely, is not there. Is this silence of Scripture
without significance, or are we to see the reason for it in that "good
portion" she had chosen "at His feet"?--and there did she hear, not
only the solemn story of His cross leading her to anoint His body for
the burial, but the joyful story of His resurrection, so that there was
no need for _her_ to seek "the living amongst the dead;"--she _knew_
that He was risen, and she, as long before, "_sat still in the house_"!
Oh, blessed calm! Oh, holy peace! What is the secret of it? Wouldst
thou learn it! Sit, then, too, "at His feet," in simple conscious
emptiness and need. Give Him the still more blessed part of
ministering to thee. So all shall be in order. Thou shalt have the
good portion that shall dispel all clouds of death, and pour over thy
being heaven's pure sunlight of resurrection; and, with that Light,
song shall displace groan, whilst thy Lord shall have the still better
part--His own surely--of giving; for "more blessed it is to give than
to receive."

CHAPTER VII.

But whilst the King has not that most blessed light, yet there are some
things in which he can discriminate; and here are seven comparisons in
which his unaided wisdom can discern which is the better:--

1. A good name is better than precious ointment.
2. The day of death " " " the day of birth.
3. The house of mourning " " " the house of feasting.
4. Borrow " " " laughter.
5. The rebuke of the wise " " " the song of fools.
6. The end of a thing "