\NV^ • THE MAEYS OE THE BIBLE. v. '•. - Ir.V • -^-- Come now, my children, let us sit down under the branches of the old elm-tree, where we shall find 'a shade from the heat of the sun. Here we can rest for a few 2 THE MARYS OF THE BIBLE. minutes, and enjoy the pleasant scene. When we have well looked on the prospect, I will tell you about the pious Marys of the Bible. We can enjoy the sweet breezes, and get health for our bodies, while we gain good for our souls. JSow I see you are ready to listen to me, and so I will beoin. The first of these holy women is Mary of Egypt. Her name is spelt Miriam in the Old Testa- ment, but that is the same as Mary in the New. The books of the Old Testament were writ- ten in Hebrew, and those of the New in the Greek language, but the name in both languages has the same meaning. All Scrip- ture names express some thought or sense; and so Miriam and Mary THE MARYS OF THE BIBLE. 8 alike signify " exalted." "What a happy thing it would be if every little girl who bears this name was truly exalted — not lifted up with vanity and pride, but raised in the fear and favour of God, and exalted by a holy life! I hope you know all about Miriam ; how she was placed to watch her in- fant brother when he was laid in an ark of bulrushes by the water's side ; and how gladly she ran to bring her own mother to be the nurse of the dear little babe. If you do not know about her, get your Bibles, as soon as you gc home ; for it will be a shame for j^ou to be ignorant any longer* (Exod. xv. ; Numb, xii.) Mary of Bethany. She was a gentle and loving woman, and sat 4 THE MAIiiH OJf THE BIBLE. at the feet of Jesus to hear Ins words. Whenever I think of her I seem to hear the kind words of her Lord and Teacher: — "Mary hath chosen that good part whicfi shall not be taken away from her." It was this Mary who broke the alabaster box, and poured the precious ointment on the head of Jesus, while she wiped his feet with her hair. (Matt, xxvi. : Luke x. ; John xi.) JMary of Mag data was one who followed the Lord, as a disciple. Like the other Marys, she was drawn to him by feelings of gra- titude. We may suppose we see her, torn by "seven devils." But Jesus is passing that way. He t% going about doing good. The afflicted woman is brought to him, THE MARYS OF THE BIBLE. 5 and at a word he heals her body and mind, and casts out the evil spirits. What a Physician was Jesus ! He healed the poor — and the rich too — without money, without delay, ^without medicine, and without pftin. If he was so willing to cure the bodies of men, will he not have pity on their souls ? Yes, he surely will ; for he has died on the cross to take away their sins, that all who be- lieve on him might be saved. (Matt, xxvii.) Mary of Galilee was the mother of the apostle James, and of Joses and Salome. What a happy mo- ther to have such pious and useful children ! It is said that they all "ministered" to Jesus w r hen he ■was in Galilee. Perhaps they THE MAEYS OF THE BIBLE. took him to their house, and gave him food and a place of rest, for though he was the Lord of all worlds, jet he had on earth no spot to call his home. (Mark xv.) Mary of Jerusalem was another happy mother: John, who was also called Mark, was her son, and he became one of the first missionaries to the heathen. It was at her house the disciples met to pray when Peter was in prison. (Acts xii.) Mary of Rome was a pious woman, who showed great kind- ness to the apostle Paul— per- haps when he was in a prison at Rome. (Horn, xvi.) But most honoured of all was Mary of Bethlehem. She was not a princess, nor was she rich ; for she was a poor young woman THE MAEYS OF THE BIBLE. 1 Yet she was chosen to be the mother of our Lord. Though he was, in his Divine nature, the Son of God, he grew up to obey his earthly mother. He loved her all through life ; and, when on the cross, he gave her to the care of his disciple John. Well did she bear the name of Mary, for she was indeed " exalted." Yet even this Mary may by men be ex- alted too much. She was the " most blessed among womeu," but she is not our Saviour. Jesus is the only Mediator be- tween God and men: it is through his merits alone that we can ob- tain pardon for our sin. Let us, then, in faith and love, look to him. (Matt, ii.) There, I see you have listened to what I have had to say about 8 THE MARYS OF THE BIBLE. these holy women. It is very ■ pleasant to think that they all oved and served the Lord on earth, and that they are now in heaven. May you be like them here, then you shall be with them there for ever ! The children now plucked some of the wild flowers which grew around them. The girls tied them in small nosegays, and the boys put a few in their jackets and caps. They then all ran home to tell their parents how they had rested with their kind teacher under the old elm at the top of the hill, and had been taught some useful lessons about the Marys of the Bible. PARDON & S'iN, PRINT! KRS, PATfllVNOSTER ROW. s <%* -^-^ 4* 4^fHH- 4* ^ 4 ^ ^ " Formd them not," the Saviour cried, ,i. *r" "Let children in my blessings share ; t ^^*- My love can never be denied *&* >L To such as need my special care." >{/ >L^ Then in his kind enfolding arms, 4>- y Children enjoyed his tender love ; j *N^ Heard his mild voice, that voice which / Sf* charms ^f y The saints below, and blest above. \ t Rejoice, ye children, rich and poor, #f sp For, lo ! his smiles to you extend : r ^p r?$£e* Receive his words ; then love, adore, r^fe* ■sp Sp ^ Your nearest, dearest, kindest friend. t >J- Lord, may it be our chief delight 4* t To yield to thee our early days ; t >ir Address to thee our songs of praise. ^