noble mountain

Nor need we be

of the olive trees whose richness gave a name to the which looks down upon "the city of the great King." surprised if in Paradise we be told that the garden of Gethsemane, on the other side of the Mount, was owned by this family of Bethany.

We are expressly told (John xi. 5), "Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus." And yet it is no uncommon thing to hear ministers of the Gospel discourse upon the characters of Martha and Mary as though the first were the model of an earthly-minded woman, and the latter that of a spiritual or heavenly-minded one. Forty or fifty years ago this was more frequently the case than it is now; and a Sundayscholar's heart has burned with indignation while he listened to the indignity thus done to one "whom Jesus loved."

How is it that good men make such fearful mistakes? Were the Gospels first commented upon by some woman-hating, selfish, and sourminded old monk? And have succeeding exponents of the truth followed the lead of such a one without due thought-just as a flock of silly sheep will follow an old bell-wether over a hedge into the ditch beyond, while the shepherd holds the gate plainly open all the time, but they will not look.

We read (Luke x. 38-42) of that which may have been one of our Lord's first visits to Martha. She received Him into her house, and her sister Mary sat at Jesus' feet and heard His word. But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to Him and said, "Lord dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me." The reply was, "Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things; but one thing is needful; and Mary hath chosen that good part which shall not be taken away from her." Let any young housekeeper put herself into Martha's place. An honoured guest arrives, and with Him His twelve disciples. The house must have been built large, when the family were richer, or there would not have been room for the guests; but there is room for them without entrenching on the Saviour's privacy. Hurrying to and fro to set out the long table with food, Martha's hands are fall; and seeking something better than ordinary food for such an occasion, she fears that all will not be ready at the proper time, unless she can obtain her sister's help. Is it any wonder that she should ask that help ?

Dr. Adam Clarke contends that the "one thing needful" refers to the food required that our Lord wished to check the exuberant hospitality of Martha, and to teach her that one dish of homely fare was all that was needful for His bodily wants and those of His disciples. If this be so, the reproof of our Lord is a very gentle one indeed; excusing, while it checks, the anxiety of a loving heart; and giving to Martha information concerning her sister's state of mind which would be a good reason why Mary had not yet begun to wait upon her guests.

Martha's faith as recorded in John xi. concerning the sickness and death

of her brother is worthy of great praise. "Lord, if Thou hadst been here my brother had not died. But I know, that even now, whatsoever Thou wilt ask of God, God will give it Thee." "Yea Lord, I believe that Thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world."

But again we read of Martha's untiring activity (John xii. 2). Simon of Bethany, who had been a leper, made a feast for Jesus and His friends. Lazarus, newly raised from the dead, was one of the guests; "and Martha served."

So notable a housewife this, that Simon is glad to beg her help. So pleasant a waiter, that all the guests are pleased to see her there. So glad to be where Jesus is, that she counts labour to be rest while serving Him.

Surely it ought to be written of this good woman, "Now Jesus loved Martha, and all His followers have learned to love her too."

T. C.

ASK, AND YE SHALL RECEIVE; OR, THE NEW COAT. A friend at Worcester sends us the following fact, certifying to its

truthfulness.

SOME months ago I had occasion to attend a village meeting in one of our country circuits. The day was warm; and after tea in the chapel, the meeting was continued in the open air. It became, in fact, a garden party. Speeches were made, and hymns sung under the trees, and our host threw open the house and garden to his numerous guests.

A wonderful garden it is; stocked with the choicest flowers, arranged with great skill. The dwelling, half cottage, half farmhouse, is in keeping with its owner. The walls of the little parlour are adorned with many texts of Scripture, and the most conspicuous object in the room is a large family Bible upon a stand, which has been open since the day of its owner's marriage years ago.

The head of this home has been, we believe, a local preacher many years. He is a man of simple faith; and the little village chapel is his especial care. The following is one of many experiences which he relates:

Some years ago, when in very straitened circumstances, he was appointed to preach in a village chapel some miles from home. It rained very heavily that day; and, as an overcoat was a convenience he did not possess, he was drenched to the skin long before he reached the chapel. As he stood in the pulpit, the rain trickled from his clothes. He finished the service, and started on his long walk home. Going along cold and wet, the thought passed through his mind that it could not be the will of His Father that he should suffer so much discomfort in His service. He

was poor, and could not afford to get the clothing he needed; so he told his want to God, as he had done before on many other occasions; for he had the simple faith of a little child. A little while afterwards-I do not know how soon-he was told a parcel had come directed for him. At first he felt sure there was some mistake; then, recollecting the wet Sunday, he exclaimed, "My Heavenly Father has answered my prayer; my coat is come." He opened the parcel, and there lay before him a warm new overcoat, with no message, no name, except his own. "I put it on," he said, with charming simplicity, "and it fitted splendidly. Of course it did, for had not my Heavenly Father measured me?" coat still exists, though beginning to show signs of wear; but to this day our friend only knows that his Father sent it.

REX.

The

A BRIEF FAMILY TOUR IN DEVON AND CORNWALL.

(Continued from page 82.)

Wednesday, October 9th.-A very wet forenoon. Imprisoned by the weather, we wrote letters and postcards. We had a walk down to the Esplanade and back, there being a very fine sea. We dined at two o'clock, and at 3.50 we left Penzance by train for Truro and Falmouth. There is a branch line through a beautiful country from the former to the latter place. Truro has since been raised to the dignity of a city, the seat of the See of Cornwall. Perhaps the Bishop of Exeter had too much work for one man; but one object sought by the creation of the See of Cornwall is confessedly to check Methodism, and bring back Methodists to the Established Church. No doubt some will be induced to sever their connection with Methodism; but we feel confident that the number will be small. The Cornish Methodists are more "fervent in spirit" than comports with liturgical services and hearing sermons read instead of earnestly and fervently preached.

We reached Falmouth soon after six o'clock, and took the 'bus for the Green Bank Hotel, where we found suitable accommodation in a beautiful situation. Heavy rain fell in the evening; and at about ten o'clock, when we retired to rest, there was a thunderstorm, and a still heavier downpour,

Thursday, October 10th.-Much rain fell in the night, and continued for some time after daybreak, the atmosphere appearing loaded and pervaded with thick vapour. We could not get out until eleven o'clock, so occupied the time in looking over some bound volumes of the "Graphic," reading the news, and examining the hotel " Visitors' Book," which supplied sufficient amusement. Under date of Oct. 21, 1873, was this entry :

"Mr. and Mrs. Bird Crewkerne Somerset. A very well manged hotel."

Between the last two words some sharp-eyed critic had inserted a caret, and supplied the words, "Cavete canes," as an illustration of the word "manged," blunderingly written for managed, which was strongly underlined to give it emphasis, as a high character for the house.

Near our hotel was a ferry, to which we descended immediately on going forth for a ramble. The boat had just then come from the other side of the creek, and landed its passengers. Inquiring the fare, which was only a halfpenny each passenger, we stepped aboard and seated ourselves. We had a few minutes' detention, during which there was an addition to our number; and then we moved off, with wind and water strong, and were soon rowed over to the landing steps on the other side. At the far end of the creek, running inland, is the conspicuous village of Penryn, which is near the line by which we had travelled, and it has a station. Inquiring the name of the village at which we landed, we were surprised to find ourselves at Flushing. It was so called by some Dutch immigrants by whom it was first inhabited. We walked through it, and then up the road leading to Penryn; and when we reached a road diverging to the right, went a little way thereon, then over a stile into a field, and past a cottage, and through other fields commanding a fine view of the harbour and shipping, and the neighbouring hills. We descended to the water at the eastern end of Flushing, where we found a day-school, and near it some girls with slates in their hands. I like to talk with young people; so I put the question: "What! are you leaving school? " "Yes, sir," said one of the girls. "What have you been learning this morning?" I asked. "Arithmetic," said the girl. "In what rule?" "The fourth rule." "Then you can do multiplication?" "Yes, sir." Here another of our party interposed the question, "Do you know the greatest multiplication sum that ever was done?" "No, sir," said the girl, with an inquiring look. "The multiplying of five barley loaves and two small fishes into twelve basketsfull," said he; 66 was not that the greatest multiplication sum?" "Yes, sir," said the girl. "Well," said he, "you have read about that, have you not?" "Yes, sir," was the prompt reply. No allusion was made to the subtraction from the multiplied quantity whereby the hungry thousands were fed and satisfied. I gave the girls a few words of encouragement, and then stepped into the school, which I found as plain and rough-looking as a barn; but more secure, perhaps, from storm and tempest. It is pleasing to find educational progress wherever we go now, in England.

There is a narrow path leading from the school, along which we walked, over a bank and down to the haven, by the margin of which we continued our walk to the left, as far as we could easily get, and then followed a narrow and steep path up a wooded slope to the bank above, whence we returned by an upper path to the ferry. The prospect was

charming; and I counted over a hundred vessels of all sizes in the estuary of the Fal, whilst an equal or greater number were in the harbour towards the town. On our recrossing the ferry, we had the wind blowing so strongly from the west, that we got a plentiful baptism, from which I was able to protect myself with a waterproof mantle.

We took a walk into the town and among the shops, and then returned to our dinner, ordered for four o'clock. We ascertained that good fowls might be bought at Falmouth for 3s. 6d. a couple, and large ones for 4s.; whilst the prices at home are 5s. 6d. to 7s., and more. Butter is sold at sixteenpence a pound, whilst at home it is 2s. Eggs are a shilling the dozen. We bought two newly-laid ones of a girl at Flushing for a penny each. At home we get only eight farmers' eggs' for a shilling. A family wanting to spend a few weeks at the sea-side, might soon save the expense of three or four hundred miles' journey in the cost of living, by coming to Falmouth instead of going to the more fashionable places of resort.

Friday, October 11th.-A beautiful day. Going out immediately after breakfast, I went up the hill opposite our hotel, wishing to get the view' of the harbour and country as seen from the elevated terraces running parallel with the main street. We divided our number into couples, taking different rounds. I and my companion soon came to a Boys' School on the hill by the roadside, and found boys waiting in the porch of the school for admission, their master not having arrived. Inquiring' what they were taught, a bright-eyed lad replied, "Everything." On questioning him I found that his everything comprised reading, writing, spelling, arithmetic, geography, grammar, and the French and Latin languages. A sufficient number of subjects for such boys to study and practise, but only sufficient to clear the way to many other subjects, without the possibility of reaching everything. We chatted with the boys until beyond the time for commencing school, but no master appeared; so to what extent he transgressed the law of punctuality, I know not. Were I a resident at Falmouth, having a son at that school, the master's example would seriously shake my confidence in him as a trainer of boys. Ascending the road beyond the school, we came to a stile, by which we entered a field, and at a few yards' distance found several men at work in a deep quarry. I asked what they were getting. One of them answered, "Spar, sir." "What for?" I asked. "To mend the roads," he replied. A few words of grace were spoken, and a few tracts given, and we walked off, a few steps farther bringing us to the highest spot near, called The Beacon. There is no beacon standing there; but a deep hole in the ground looks like the mark left by a thick post or pole that once was there. The prospect in every direction is extensive. The town, the harbour, the castles, the river, the shipping, the wide sweep of cultivated fields, the outer sea, the cliffs, and the wooded hills, make altogether a magnificent combination of diversified scenery.