Christ's love to his people.
Mark iii. 31 — 35. There came then his brethren and his mother, and, standing without, sent unto him, calling him. And the viultitude sat about him, and they said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren ivithout seek for thee. And he answered them, saying, Who is my mother, or my brethren ? And he looked round about on them ivhich sat about him, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren! For whosoever shall do the will of God, the same is my brother, and my sister, and mother ,a.
IT is common for persons to feel an undue degree of solicitude for the bodily welfare of their friends, whilst they have little anxiety for the spiritual and eternal welfare of mankind at large. Hence, if a minister be in danger of impairing his health by his exertions, they are ready to say to him, " Spare thy- self :" but, if thousands be perishing all around them for lack of knowledge, they are not so ready to stir him up to increased activity and diligence. The near relations of our Lord were under the influence of this partial regard, when " they went out to lay hold on him, and said of him, "■ He is beside himself;"
a Another on nearly the same words (Matt. xii. 46 — 50.) has oc- curred before. But on a comparison of the two they are so exceed- ingly different, that without altering a word in either, they are both presented to the public, in hope that both of them may be profitable, as illustrating different modes of treating the same text.