terese auto].

This startling innovation,--which destroys the sense of our Saviour's words, and furnishes a sorry substitute which no one is able to explain[410],--is accepted by recent Editors and some Critics: yet is it clearly nothing else but a stupid correction of the text,--introduced by some one who did not understand the intention of the Divine Speaker.

Our Saviour is here discovering to us an exquisite circumstance,--revealing what until now had been a profound and tender secret: viz.

that Mary, convinced by many a sad token that the Day of His departure could not be very far distant, had some time before provided herself with this costly ointment, and 'kept it' by her,--intending to reserve it against the dark day when it would be needed for the 'embalming' of the lifeless body of her Lord.

And now it wants only a week to Easter.