January 27

“But Mary kejjt all these things, and pondered them in her heart* Luke ii. 19.

IJSs^^HERE was an exercise, on the part of this blessed woman, of three powers of her being: her memory — she kept all these tilings; her affections — sho kept them in her heart; her intellect — she pondered them; so that memory, affection, and understanding were all exercised about the things which she bad heard. Beloved, remember what you have heard of your Lord Jesus, and what He has done for you; make your heart the golden pot of manna to preserve the memorial of the heavenly bread whereon you have fed in days gone by. Let your memory treasure up everything about Christ which you have either felt, or known, or believed, and then let your fond affections hold Him fast forevermore. Love the person of your Lord.’ Bring forth the alabaster box of your heart, even though it be broken, and let all the precious ointment of your affection come streaming on His pierced feet. Let your intellect be exercised concerning the Lord Jesus. Meditate upon what you read: stop not at the surface; dive into the depths. Be not as the swallow which toucheth the brook with her wing, but as the fish which penetrates the lowest wave. Abide with your Lord: let Him not be to you as a wayfaring man, that tarrieth for a night, but constrain Him, saying, “Abide with us, for the day is far spent.” Hold Him, and do not let Him go. The word “ponder” means to weigh. Make ready the balances of judgment. Oh, but where are the scales that can weigh the Lord Christ? “He taketh up the isles as a very little thing” — who shall take Him up? “He weigheth the mountains in scales” — in what scales shall we weigh Him f Be it so, if your understanding cannot coraprcbend, lei your affections apprehend; and if your spirit cannot coranass the Lord Jesus in thft trrasD of understanding, let it euiorace Him in the arms of attcciiou.