The word disciple means a learner, one who is receiving instruction.  Our Lord had twelve disciples whom he was training in a special way for a special work.  He was divinely educating them.  He was opening their minds and hearts as he opened Lydia’s heart so that she attended the things spoken of by Paul.  He was imparting to them by parables, by miracles, and by private interpretations, and still above all by the examples he set, the means of acquiring this spiritual, 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.