609. MAR 14:6. MARY’S MEMORIAL
Mar_14:6. Mary’s Memorial
By Rev. W. Moorhouse, Of Huddersfield.
"And Jesus said, Let her alone; why trouble ye her? she hath wrought a good work on me."’97Mar_14:6.
We presume not to say, that this text is the most pertinent of all others upon the present occasion; yet, it is hoped, it will appear, in the sequel, not so foreign to the subject of our missionary meeting as some might imagine. The design in bringing it forward, is to urge the force of an amiable example of love and zeal in the weaker sex, and to animate all our hearts in the work before us. Oh, that I might be so happy as to advance any thing upon the subject, which might give this sermon a right to the title of Mary’s memorial!
With a view, in some small degree, to accomplish this end, there are four things included in the text to which we must attend.
I. The probable motives.
II. A few obvious circumstances which attended this good work.
III. The object upon whom it terminated.
IV. The testimony of the impartial, infallible, Judge.’97"She hath wrought a good work on me."
I. The probable motives of the good work.
I call them probable, not because they are altogether doubtful, but because they are not expressed; and we should always speak cautiously where there is not sufficient authority to be positive. However, let it be remembered by all, that there is one thing, which, in every age, in every nation, in every individual, is essential to a good work in the sense of our text.
1. A new heart. That Mary was blessed with this best of blessings we have sufficient reason to conclude from what Jesus said of her in another place, "One thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her," Luk_10:42.
2. The second probable motive of the good work spoken of in the text is love. Love, that native of the celestial world, which is like the impulsive cause of all mechanical motion. Love, that tender exotic, so little known in this dark, disordered world, moved all the powers of Mary’s expanded soul in this good work. The strength and effects of this passion are incredible! What is too hard for love to do, or endure, for the beloved object! Without love, what is zeal but wildfire! devotion, only splendid hypocrisy! My dear hearers, it is owing to a deficiency in this, that the heathen world has been so long and so shamefully neglected by those called Christians.
3. Gratitude was a motive, not less probable in Mary’s good work than the foregoing. If any were to ask, what gratitude is? my answer should be, it is a pleasing sensation of the mind, excited by the soul being pressed with an inexpressible sense of high obligation to an object, for favors received. Mary knew Christ’97for what end he was come into this lower world: she knew what he had done, and what he would do for her. How shall she show her thankful sense of benefits and blessings so great, so undeserved? Like Abigail laying her present at David’s feet, she brings forth the best she had in this world; and, with her whole heart, bestowed it upon him whom her soul loved, and to whom she had such transcendent obligations.
II. We now come to take notice of a few obvious circumstances which attended this good work.
1. It was public. Have any of you, my friends, been ashamed of being active in promoting the missionary business? Be ashamed of your shame; and, from this day, cast away your cowardice, and consider it as a peculiar honor to appear the zealous supporters of such a cause.
2. It was liberal, nay, profuse. The passage tells us, the ointment was very costly. I trust you will excuse me for not giving you a particular description of all the articles which constituted the odoriferous composition. Let us, for the present, be content with Judas’ estimate: he said "it might have been sold for more than three hundred pence," Mar_14:5. The usual way of calculating the value of different coins, gives the Roman penny at rather more than seven-pence halfpenny, sterling; according to this calculation, the ointment was worth near ten pounds: perhaps a great part of her living; as much, or more, for her. to give, than if some rich Jew had given ten thousand guineas.
3. It was performed in due time. Had Mary brought her box when Christ had got into heaven, though it had been ten times the value, it would not have availed’97she would have lost all. Many good works lose nine-tenths of their value by being too late. The apostolic rule is, "That they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works," Tit_3:8. Critics frequently render it, "to go before in good works." We have but too few; but here is one instance:’97Mary goes before, or is in due time in her labor of love.
4. Mary made her little temporalities answer the greatest and the noblest ends. It is said, Psa_115:16, that the Creator "hath given the earth to the children of men." For what purposes are we to suppose that property is given to all, or any of us? To ornament mortal, dying bodies? To feed the follies of fancy’97to foster the pride of the heart; or, to amuse the possessor with counting over his gold, and feasting his eyes by gazing upon it? Oh, no! God gives the good things of this world for the noblest ends; and those ends are specified both in the Old and New Testaments. "Honor the Lord with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase," Pro_3:9. This brings us to the general proposition.
III. The object upon whom this good work terminated. On this our text is very express: "She hath wrought a good work on me."
Too many religious and generous acts terminate in self; and the end they are intended to answer is, to gain a little of that airy bubble, "the honor that cometh of men." Remember Mary’s object’97it was to make Christ "a sweet-smelling savor;" and, as she is said to anoint him for his burial, it is probable that she intended it to signify that even in the grave his body should breathe a sweet odor, without seeing the least taint of corruption. Here learn the true and laudable object of all well-intended missions, viz., to make known to a perishing world the efficiency and glory of the sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ;’97the very same which Paul had in view when he went forth into the dark regions of the gentile nations, as will abundantly appear from the following passage: "For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake," 2Co_4:5.
Actions terminate on Jesus Christ, though mediately, when they are calculated to in crease his family; and, of course, the universal sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving ought daily to be presented unto him. The prophetic pen informs us, "Daily shall he be praised;" and if any ask, By whom? the same author tells us, "All nations shall call him blessed," Psa_22:15, Psa_22:17. This brings us to the last proposition.
IV. The testimony of the impartial and infallible Judge who speaks in our text. "She hath wrought a good work on me."
It gives me pleasure to say, the Judge is impartial and infallible; and that he is such, all must admit who believe revelation. An earthly judge may be impartial, but not infallible; nor does the latter unavoidably secure the former; but in Mary’s Judge, "the Judge of all the earth," both meet, and forever abide. He sees all motives, and will pronounce just judgment in all cases, temporal or spiritual, between man and man, or between man and God. This is well on various accounts, especially two, upon each of which I would beg leave a moment to dwell.
1. It is well, because there are so many bad actions in this world which at first sight appear good, by which men of great penetration have been deceived.
2. This necessity will appear still greater, by considering how many good actions have appeared the very reverse in the eyes of spectators.
The judgment formed upon Mary’s good work, by some of the company, may serve as one striking instance. Some may judge you sincere, but pity your weakness; others may ascribe it to your pride and vanity, declaring it all a whim’97enthusiastic zeal: a work for which you have no Divine authority, etc. Care not for any or all of these reflections. Your Judge liveth; and, we trust, as he is perfectly acquainted with your work, so he will, in due time, say of it, "Ye have wrought a good work for me."
Application
1. Suffer me, in the name of the Lord, to entreat all, Look well to your motives! You see it is love to Christ, more than the ointment, which makes the work good and honorable. Dread self-seeking as a deadly enemy, which will taint and spoil the whole,
2. Let all see that Christ puts a high value upon small matters done to him and his followers. When love and gratitude give energy to their abilities, a cup of cold water shall not lose its reward, Mar_9:41.
3. Again. We learn, from this passage, that carnal, ungodly men, think all is lost that is laid out for Christ’s honor and interest in the world.
4. Once more. We take it for granted, that most of those present are ready to say, the conversion of the heathen is a very desirable object.
Think, oh! think, how inconsistent, how awful, how dreadful, to appear anxious for the conversion of infidels, and yourselves in an unconverted state’97your own souls in danger of everlasting perdition! Suppose you saw a man exerting all his power to assist his neighbor, whose house was on fire; and, at the same moment, his own was in flames, and his family in the utmost hazard; and yet he takes no thought for them, nor makes any attempt for their relief. What would you think of him? You might commend his goodwill to his neighbor, but all would condemn his shameful negligence to his dearest relatives!
Autor: JABEZ BURNS