l, this divine,
this heavenly education that would carry them through life by his
help, and make them the very pillars and grounds of the truth when
they should behold His face no more on earth. This heavenly training,
then, or the training of man's mind and heart for a heavenly life on
earth and for the ineffable enjoyment of that life above, is the one
thing needful. A deep consciousness of this is what led Mary to sit at
the Lord's feet and hear his words. The want of this left Martha to be
careful and troubled about many things--things of time and sense. A
desire for this high attainment caused David to sing so sweetly these
beautiful words: "One thing have I desired of the Lord, and that will
I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days
of my life." By dwelling in the house of the Lord David meant with the
Lord's people: and as the Lord is always in his house with his people,
dwelling in his house is dwelling with him. All, in every age, who
sincerely desire to know the Lord, to do his will, and enjoy his
presence, desire to dwell in his house, which is the church of the
living God. They desire, like Mary, to sit at his feet and hear his
words. They sit at his feet and hear his words when in deep humility
of soul they hear his Gospel preached, or sung, or prayed; or when
they read it themselves.

Can I not prevail on some here to-night to accept Mary's happy choice,
to choose that good part which shall not be taken away from them?

SUNDAY, March 4. Meeting at Nesselrodt's. John 13 is read. Stay all
night at James Fitzwater's, and come home next day.

FRIDAY, March 16. Jacob Ritchey in the Gap is taken with a very severe
attack of cramp colic. I relieve him speedily and effectually by means
of active treatment. I found him in a state of almost indescribable
distress from the acute pains he had. I decided very quickly, after a
brief examination, that the cause of his trouble lay in a spasmodic
contraction of the muscles of the bowels. The powerfully antispasmodic
action of lobelia and steaming caused the nerves to let go their
abnormal grip, and he was well.

SATURDAY, March 31. Council meeting at Shaver's meetinghouse below
Woodstock in Shenandoah County, Virginia. Brother George Shaver is
established in the ministry, and Brother Neyhiser advanced.

FRIDAY, April 13. Council meeting in the Brush meetinghouse. Jacob
Miller, son of Daniel Miller, is elected to the ministry of the Word.