than Simon the Pharisee ; and our Lord might say to ms, "I have somewhat to say unto thee."
We see, in the next place, in this passage, that grate- Jul love is the secret of doing much for Christ. The penitent woman, in the story before us, showed far more honour to our Lord than the Pharisee had done. She " stood at His feet behind Him weeping." She "washed His feet with tears." She " wiped them with the hairs of her head." She "kissed His feet, and anointed them with costly ointment." — ^No stronger proofs of reverence and respect could she have given, and the secret of her giving such proofs, was love. She loved our Lord, and she thought nothing too much to do for Him. She felt deeply grateful to our Lord, and she thought no mark of gratitude too costly to bestow on Him.
More "doing" for Christ is the universal demand of all the Churches. It is the one point on which all are agreed. All desire to see among Christians, more good works, more self-denial, more practical obedience to Christ's commands. But what will produce these things? Nothing, nothing but love. There never will be more done for Christ till there is more hearty love to Christ Himself. The fear of punishment, the desire of reward, the sense of duty, are all useful arguments, in their way, to persuade men to holiness. But they are all weak and powerless, until a man loves Christ. Once let that mighty principle get hold of a man, and you will see his whole life changed.
Let us never forget this. However much the world may sneer at "feelings" in religion, and however false or