BOYS OF THE BIBLE. 305

as tenderly, though not as noisily as Martha’s work. Martha
found her joy in busy service; Mary in quiet thought.
Martha was cumbered with much service, but Mary sat still
in the house. And verily Mary chose the better part. In
this busy age Martha is at the front and Mary is almost
forgotten. We do well to pause now and again, and ask if
it would not be for our good to turn aside occasionally from
the din, and the roar, and the battle, and “sit still in the
house.” The earth is full of “dreary noises.” And mere
noise not only distracts, it demoralizes. It draws from us
the sap of our best possible growth.

The heart is the fountain of life, not the brain. And
the heart can only be nourished by devout, prolonged, fre-
quent meditation. We must “sit still in the house” if we
would hear the Master’s words. There is such a thing as
hearing and not hearing, till the pitcher at the fountain over-
flows and the water is wasted. If we would, like Mary,
open wide the windows of our soul, what streams of sunlight
would pour in upon us; what melodies of heaven would
“sweep their gradual gospels in” to cheer and heal the weary
heart! If, like Mary, we could “sit still” for one hour in
the day, all the day would be bright and calm. Strong in
the strength that would come from such hallowed musings,
we should be prepared for trial, and sufficient for any exi-
gencies that might arise. How beautiful the words of
Wesley on the thoughtful attitude of Mary! What desire
could be more worthy than that expressed in his matchless

 

verse?
“Oh! that I could forever sit
With Mary at the Master’s feet;
Be this my happy choice.
My only care, delight and bliss,
My joy, my heaven on earth be this,

17 To hear the Bridegroom’s voice.”