neither few nor small. They had their full share of the contempt and scorn which was poured on all fol- lowers of Jesus by the Scribes and Pharisees. They had, besides, many a trial from the hard speeches and hard usage which any- Jewish woman who thought for herself about religion would probably have to under- go. But none of these things moved them. Grateful for mercies received at our Lord's hands, they were will- ing to endure much for His sake. Strengthened inwardly by the renewing power of the Holy Ghost, they were enabled to cleave to Jesus and not give way. — ^And nobly they did cleave to Him to the very end ! It was not a woman who sold the Lord for thirty pieces of silver. They were not women who forsook the Lord in the garden and fled. It was not a woman who denied Him three times in the high priest's house. — ^But they were women who wailed and lamented when Jesus was led forth to be crucified. They loere women who stood to the last by the cross. And they were women who were first to visit the grave "where the Lord lay." Great indeed is the power of the grace of God !
Let the recollection of these women encourage all the daughters of Adam who read of them, to take up the cross and to follow Christ. Let no sense of weakness, or fear of falling away, keep them back from a decided profession of religion. The mother of a large family, with limited means, may tell us that she has no time for religion. — The wife of an ungodly husband may tell us that she dares not take up religion. — ^The young daughter of worldly parents may tell us that it is impossible for her to have any religion. — The maid-servant in the midst
246 EXFOsiroBY thoughts.
of unoonyerted companions^ may tell us that in her place a person cannot follow religion. — ^But they are all wrong, quite wrong. With Christ nothing is impossible. Let them think again, and change their minds. Let them begin boldly in the strength of Christ, and trust Him for the consequences. The Lord Jesus never changes. He who enabled ''many women" to serve Him faithfully while He was on earth, can enable women to serve Him, glorify Him, and be His disciples at the present day.
Let us mark lastly, in these verses, the peculiar privilege which cur Lcrd grants to Hia faithful followers. We read that those who accompanied Him in His joumeyings, '' ministered to him of their substance." Of course He needed not their help. '' All the beasts of the forest were his, and the cattle upon a thousand hills." (Psalm 1. 10.) That mighty Saviour who could multiply a few loaves and fishes into food for thousands, could have called forth food from the earth for His own sustenance, if he had thought fit. But He did not do so, for two reasons. — One reason was, that He would show us that He was man like ourselves in aU things, sin only excepted, and that He lived the life of faith in His Father's providence. — The other reason was, that by allowing His followers to min- ister to Him, He might prove their love, and test their regard for Himself. True love will count it a pleasure to give anything to the object loved. False love will often talk and profess much, but do and give nothing at all.
This matter of "ministering to Christ" opens up a most important train of thought, and one which we shall do well to consider. The Lord Jesus Christ is continu-