Twenty-Third Sabbath—Morning. THE BEST ROBE. "Bring forth the best robe and put it on him."-Luke xvi. 22. SIN has clothed us all with filthy garments, but when we come to ourselves, and turn to the Lord, He will clothe us with the best robe. What is the best robe? and who are the persons adorned with it? WHAT IS THE BEST ROBE ? It is the righteousness of Christ provided for the covering of true penitents. "The fine linen is the righteousness of saints." This righteousness was provided by Christ at a great expense. His obedience and death, whereby the law was fulfilled, and the justice of God satisfied, constitute His righteousness, and if we would sit among the King's guests, if we would have a covering in the day of divine wrath, and if we would have a garment of beauty to wear in the palace of the Great King, this righteousness must be ours. Shall Jesus procure it with his own blood, and present it freely to us in the gospel, and shall we live one moment without it? We must put it on. Though this robe of righteousness cost Jesus His life, yet the sinner obtains it without money and without price. "It is unto all and upon all them that believe." It becomes ours by faith, appropriating faith. "The Lord is our righteousness." We must have it, or we shall stand speechless before the King and His guests, for a righteousness unaccepted and unimputed, cannot benefit-a robe cannot cover and adorn unless it be put on. In prosperity, in adversity, in youth, in advanced age, in life and in death, let us depend on the blood-bought righteousness of Jesus, for acceptance and salva tion. It is the This robe must be constantly worn. distinguishing badge of all true Christians. We cannot put it off and put it on at pleasure, but we must wear it every day, and wear it before men. If we would be decidedly for Christ, we must not be ashamed to confess Him, nor afraid to let others know that we have been with Jesus; besides, the robe when constantly worn is not only comfortable, but invulnerable and durable. WHO ARE THE PERSONS ADORNED WITH IT? Those who have felt and confessed themselves sinners. Distress brings the sinner to himself, and his first cry is, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and before Thee." Were God to set my sins in His presence, and my secret faults in the light of His countenance, and make me see their number, and aggravations, and consequences, how alarming! how overwhelming! Yet this sight of sin and sense of misery, produce bitterness of soul and earnest wrestling with God; and are as sure THE BEST ROBE. 135 a sign of divine grace as the rainbow is the sign of a sunny shower. They have believed in God as their Father. The prodigal was away from his Father, but he no sooner comes to himself, than he remembers and believes that God is his Father still. God still loves His child though a wanderer and transgressor, and is ready to forgive him for Jesus' sake. Tired of the service of Satan-loathing the practice of sin-plunged into distress-and uncared for by friends, he pleads for mercy and pardon through Christ, and he does not plead in vain. Youthful reader, God is ready to forgive thee, art thou ready to retrace thy sinful steps, and abandon thy evil ways? Hast thou had any misgivings about thy course of life, let this moment be the turning point in the history of thy soul. Be assured the best robe is ready for thy covering, a warm reception shall welcome thy return, and angels shall rejoice over thy repentance. Does the fond parent long to hear good news of an erring child, and would the return of such a child gladden his heart? So, our heavenly Father pities every wandering sinner, and yearns for his return. They immediately return to God. Godly sorrow for sin is in the heart of the penitent, but it must be manifest in his conduct, otherwise there is no evidence of conversion. He must return to God and to His service, and bring forth good fruits. THE SINGULAR WOMAN. "She hath done what she could."-Mark xiv. 8. FEMALES were the best, and warmest friends of Jesus; they listened most readily to His instructions; they ministered most willingly to His necessities; they wept for Him when He was in the hands of His enemies; they stood near His cross when He was dying; they noted the place of His burial; and they were the first at the sepulchre, to anoint His body with spices. No wonder that Jesus honoured them with special marks of His favour, that He appeared to them first after His resurrection, and that He immortalized the conduct of that female who poured her box of precious ointment on His feet, by promising that wherever His gospel should be preached, her good work should be held in remembrance. Who was this female? What did she do to Jesus? What was the measure of her kindness? And what is the commendation implied? Who was this female? Jesus was in Bethany, in the house of Simon the leper, who seems to have made a feast to entertain Him, and some of His friends. Martha, and Mary, and Lazarus, and the disciples of Jesus, seem to have been present, and, at a fit opportunity, Mary, in the presence of the company, conferred the highest THE SINGULAR WOMAN. 137 honour she could upon her Saviour. That this woman was Mary, the sister of Martha, and Lazarus, is almost certain, if we compare the account given by Mark, with the account given by John. Besides, the whole transaction is just like her who sat at Jesus' feet, and heard His word. Doubtless, then, this female was Mary, the devoted disciple of Jesus, who loved much, because she had been forgiven much. What did she do to Jesus? She had a box of ointment, or perfume, very costly, and such as was highly valued in eastern countries, which she brake, and poured it on the head and the feet of Christ, and she did this as an evidence of her strong faith in Him, her great love to Him, and her gratitude for His pardoning mercy. How many grudge to make the smallest sacrifice for Christ and His cause, yet this woman sacrificed her perfume, which was valued at about Ten Pounds sterling! And she made this sacrifice, without dreading the opposition, and the indignation, and the murmuring of some present. How great her self-denial! What a costly sacrifice! Yet it was willingly made to honour her Saviour, and give evidence of her love. What was the measure of her kindness? She did "what she could." It was a small thing for Simon, who was probably a rich man, to entertain Christ, and His friends, but it was a great thing for a poor woman like Mary, to make so |