tlicrc: and whnt coul,l keep her away? 2. Her sister, Who WM she? Not the wife of Cleoph1111. She Wl\8 also a Mary; and two si~ters of the Mme name was not a lik<'ly thing. She WM doubtless Salome, the wife of Zebedee, and the mother of James and John. John was Ch,ist'e first cousin, which accounts for the likeness, the attach- ment, and the trust. Her name is not mentioned, which is characteristio of John',i rno<le~ty. Be would not mention his own name neither that of his mother. 3. Mary the wife of 0/eopha.s. The mother of James the Less, Joses, and Judas. Whether this Cleophas was the same as that who met Jesus on the way to Emm1ms, it is difficult to deci<le. He was, doubtless, a good man and a disciple of Jesus; but is brought into rrominence in the i,acred history in connection with his more heroic wife, who out- i;trippcd him in the race, left him on the outskirts of the crowd, and pressed on with her comrades to the cross of the Lord. 4. Mary Magdalene. A well-known character of this period. Jesus healed her of many infirmities, at least from her seven unclean spirits, and ever afterwards she was specially attached to her great Benefactor, and was one of the many good women who followed Jesus from Gnlilee, and administered to him of their substance, o.ccording to the custom of the Jews; and she was now among thnt little group of sympathetic souls who attended his last moments. II. TITEra POSITION. "By the cross of Jesus." In this position they manifested: 1. Great fortitude. To realize this: (1) Think of the sufferings they had to witness, and the spectacle they bad to see. They had to witness the agonizing death, the shame, and the untold indignities of their best Friend. Many a stout heart has failed at the death-bed of a loved one; but they stood at the death-cross of their Lord. (2) Think of the public scorn and ridicule to which they were exposed. They were, doubtless, known to many of the Saviour's foes as his adherents, and it was not at all fashionable for women to appear at such a scene ; but what cared they for social propriety or public scorn ? Their courage towered far above this in the performance of a sacred duty. (3) Think of their personal danger. As the friends of the crucified One, in the very teeth of his cruel foes, their lives were in jeopardy; but they counted not these dear unto them, but stood there face to face with death. 2. Strong affection. This accounts for their courage. Their heroism was that of love, and their courage that of affection. Their affection may be looked at as : (1) Maternal affection. What love so faithful and heroic as that of a mother? And it was never stronger than in her heart who was the mother of our Lord ; and it drew her now near to his cross. (2) Social affection. (3) Pious affection. It was more than the ordinary affection of human kindred and friendship. It was love arising from pious attachment, from Christian hope, and faith in him as the Messiah and Saviour. M.ary Magdalene was still on fire with gratitude and faith, which blazed all the more near the cross. 3. Strong and genuine sympathy. They were ready to render him any help, and would, if possible, have taken some of his agonies upon themselves. They were helpless, but did what they could and went as far as possible. 4. <heat self-control. We have read of mothers becoming frantic and losing their lives to save loved ones; but here there was a wonderful calm main- tained, which makes the mother's love more heroic, and her heroism more sublime, There were emotions deep and stirring in their breast!', with but little or no demonstra- tion ; bnt there was wonderful self-control manifested, as if their souls had caught the calm spirit of the crucified One. IIL THEm CO:!'DUCT AS AN ELUIPLE FOB THE IMITATION OF ALL, 1. They stood by him in his hour of greafat trial and sufferings. It was one thing to stand by him in his hour of joy and triumph, in the day of his power and the exploits of hie loving strength, whcu the heaven opened and streamed upon him its glory; when Divinity encircled his brow, and made his word omnipotent and his very gaze or touch almighty; when at his bidding diseases fled, and demons quitted their dark haunts; when the storm was hushed, and the waves crouched at his voice; when food increased under his hands, and even Death gave up his prey when be spoke. But it was another thing to stand by him on a cross, when hell besieged him with its torments, heaven seemed closed to bis breathings, and Divinity itself seemed to have deserted him. 2. They stood by him when others had left him. It is one thing to stand by Jesus, one of many; but it is another to stand by him, one of four. It is one thing to follow him with faithful disciples and a jubilant crowd; but it is another to stand alone by his cross. Where were zealous and good-hearted Peter, James, Andrew, and Philip, and others? They had lilt. xtx. 1-42.] 'l'iltl: GOSPEL ACCORDING TO S'l'. JOIIi-r. 451
Bll luft, with the exception of the diaciple of love and these loving women. Othcrn mf"Ly be among tho crowd, or on the outskirts, beholding from afar; but they stoo,1 by bis cross when all hnd left him. As others leave Christ, let us stand by him and draw to him all the closer. 3. They did all they could. They were helpless, awl could rend~r no assistance. They could make no progress; still they stood their ground, and mnn1fosted their undying nnd unconquerable attachment. They clung to Jesus for his own se.ko a.part from circumstances. Like them, let us do what we can, and ar!nncrJ as for as possible, e.nd, whon we cannot go e.ny farther, lot us stand; and, indeed, in tl10 hour of direst temptation the utmost we can do is to stand our ground. I~EBSONS. 1. Jesus has not been at any time wholly deserted. 2. It is worthy of notice tliat tl1e faitliful ones at the cross were women. Surely " he g; veth power to the faint." In the weaker vessels was the greatest strength. 3. Those who stood by the cross of Jesus ui,consciously stood near a rich treasury. The outward scene was that of shame, poverty, and untold agony e.nd misery; but the inward was that of untold peace, joy, riches, and glory. There was the atonement made, the fountain opened, and the work of redemption finished. They stumbled on a rich fortune. This did not occur to them then, but flashed upon them afterwards. The cross did more good to them than they to him who hung upon it. 4. Those who stand by Jesus in his hour of trial, he will stand by. We all have our crosses, affliction, e.nd death in our turn. Let us stand by the cross of Jesus, and he will stand by ours, and will not leave us in the hour of our greatest trial.-B. T. Vera. 26, 27.-Filial l01Je strong in death. Notice- I. THE INFERIORITY OF HUM.AN RELATIONSHIPS. Our Lord addresses his mother aa 11 woman "-a term of tenderness and respect; still suggesting at once the inferiority of