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ored. He knew how women are exposed to special sorrows; He knew, in addition to their own peculiar and personal troubles, how their tender hearts are easily wounded by neglect and unkindness; how generously and deeply they feel the griefs of others; how the calamities of those around them often weigh more heavily on them than any that can afflict themselves alone; how they often bear alone and in secret some agonizing cross, and beneath a cheerful exterior carry a lacerated and bleeding heart. And so He honored womanhood, as peculiarly needing sympathy, with His very first resurrection word, Woman, why weepest thou?

6. We are taught the inconsistency of unconsolable sorrow in the case of those who are seeking Christ. "Woman, why weepest thou? Whom seekest thou?" Art thou seeking One who is likely to be angry with thee when found? or One who will prove treacherous and disappoint thy hopes? or One who is so feeble that though, when found, He would desire to help thee, He would be unable to fulfil that desire? Whom seekest thou? It is I whom thou seekestable, faithful, kind. Why weepest thou? Thou art looking for a dead body. But I am here, myself, thy ever-loving, constant Friend. Why weepest thou?

Be encouraged, weeping and seeking soul! Weeping and seeking are sure to bring thee to Jesus. Weeping and seeking are a sure sign that Jesus is close to thee already.

7. Much ignorance may be combined with a love which scorns difficulties. Mary said, "Sir, if thou have borne Him hence, tell me where thou hast laid Him, and I will take Him away." No one was named. She only spoke of "Him." One Being alone occupied her thoughts. It seemed to her as if no one could think of any other. No name was needed. "Tell me where thou hast laid

Him." So let our love exalt Him to the highest throne in our hearts. Let the thought of Him be paramount. Shall I meet Him there? Will He accompany me yonder? Shall I obtain help from Him in this work? Will He give me His blessing in what I am about to do? Will this promote His glory?

Such love laughs at difficulties, and does not believe in impossibilities. Mary was a weak woman, wasted with sorrow, and alone; yet she said, "I will take Him away." And when we truly love Jesus, we shall undertake any duty to which love prompts, and nothing will be impossible to us.

Yet was the love of Mary allied with much ignorance. She thought Jesus was dead! She had not understood His own promise. She knew not yet a most important fact respecting Him. But her love was fervent, though her knowledge was imperfect. Thus there are many who, with hearts full of love to Jesus, are better friends of His than some whose heads are stored with truths respecting Him. Happy when head and heart combine complete knowledge and perfect love. But better a heart like Mary's, with great deficiency of knowledge and of creed, than the most complete acquaintance with theology, and the most orthodox confession of doctrine, without the love that would prompt the request and the resolve, "Tell me where thou hast laid Him, and I will take Him away."

8. Christ knows His disciples individually, and calls them by name. "Jesus saith unto her, Mary." He addressed her by the familiar name of old relationship. So He had often addressed her before. So He addresses her still. His victory and resurrection glory have not changed His love, nor placed her at a greater distance than before. She is still, as she had been, Mary!

Thus Jesus knows each of His disciples. He "calleth

His own sheep by name." However great the multitude, He knows them each from the other. He does not regard and treat them as alike, merely as so many similar units in a great sum. But as a discerning, tender parent knows the special peculiarities, temperament, and necessities of each child, so Jesus, in calling each of His sheep by name, implies His distinguishing knowledge of the character and wants of each. And He addresses us as friends -not generally, but individually and personally. With each he has special relations; to each he says, Mary!

Are you in some great sorrow, absorbed by it, thinking only of it, not discerning Him through the big tears that fill your eyes? He gently and consolingly reminds you of His presence, and directs your attention to Himself. Mary! Are you in fear because of some impending peril, or fainting amidst actual trials? Jesus stands beside you to animate your courage by the assurance of His succor, and says, Mary!

Are you allured by some temptation? Are you looking with desire at some forbidden fruit? Are you handling it, toying with it, longing for it? Jesus stands beside you, and with kind but warning tones says, Mary!

Are you becoming worldly, more and more absorbed in cares or pleasures, gradually losing the fervor of your first love? Jesus knows it, and desiring to be again chief in your affections, He appeals to you, and says, Mary!

9. Every true disciple recognizes the Savior's voice, and replies, Rabboni-Master. What joy it was to Mary's heart when she beheld not the dead body, for the absence of which she had been weeping, but the living Lord Himself! To us, also, Jesus comes as the risen, the living, the ruling Savior. Do we respond and say, Rabboni? Do we confess Him to be our Master? Do we say,

"Lord, what wilt Thou have me to do?" When we are in sorrow, and He comes to us, and says,

I

Mary, do we respond, and say, Rabboni?-Master. will submit to Thine appointment; I will drink Thy cup; not my will, but Thine, be done.

When we are in fear, and He comes to us, and says, Mary, do we respond, and say, Rabboni? - Master. I will trust, and not be afraid; for Thou art strong, and nothing can do me harm whilst Thou art near.

When we are tempted to evil, and He comes to us, and ays, Mary, do we at once give heed to His warning, turn it His reproof, give up the coveted indulgence, and with self-reproach and renewed consecration respond, Rabboni?

At death Jesus will come to summon us away. Shall we be found watching, and shall we at once be prompt to welcome Him with our Rabboni?

From His throne of judgment He will invite every faithful follower to Himself. Not one will be forgotten. O, let us in heart and in life acknowledge Him now as Rabbo, if we would hear Him welcome us then as Maryi

ΤΗ

XVII.*

THE DIGNITY OF LABOR.

HE Dignity of Labor! Consider its achievements! Dismayed by no difficulty, shrinking from no exertion, exhausted by no struggle, ever eager for renewed efforts in its persevering promotion of human happiness, "clamorous Labor knocks with its hundred hands at the golden gate of the morning," obtaining each day, through succeeding centuries, fresh benefactions for the world!

Labor clears the forest, and drains the morass, and makes the wilderness rejoice and blossom as the rose. Labor drives the plough, and scatters the seed, and reaps the harvest, and grinds the corn, and converts it into bread, the staff of life. Labor, tending the pastures and sweeping the waters, as well as cultivating the soil, provides with daily sustenance the nine hundred millions of the family of man. Labor gathers the gossamer web of the caterpillar, the cotton from the field, and the fleece from the flock, and weaves it into raiment, soft, and warm, and beautiful - the purple robe of the prince, and the gray gown of the peasant, being alike its handiwork. Labór moulds the brick, and splits the slate, and quarries

* Extract from a lecture on the Dignity of Labor, delivered in Lafayette Avenue Presbyterian Church, Brooklyn, (Rev. Dr. Cuyler's), Saturday, November 30, 1867.

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