Unbelief  is  the  great  obstacle  in  the  way  of  the  Lord's  gracious  de-
signs. When  he  gave  the  command,  "  Take  ye  away  the  stone,"  un-
belief interfered.  Martha  had  once  said,  "  I  know  that  even  now^
whatsoever  thou  wilt  ask  of  God,  God  will  give  it  thee."  Yet  now  she
hesitates  to  consent  to  the  removal  of  the  stone.  How  gently  the
Lord  expostulates  with  her  !  "  Said  I  not  unto  thee,  that  if  thou
wouldest  believe,  thou  shouldest  see  the  glory  of  God  ?"  He  warns
her  against  shutting  herself  out  of  the  blessedness  he  was  preparing
for  her.  The  Lord  loves  to  show  us  his  glory  in  delivering  ;  but  he
cannot  do  it  if  we  will  not  confide  in  him.  Martha  listened  to  her
Lord's  expostulation.     She  consented  to  the  removal  of  the  stone.
What  a  moment  that  was  when  Jesus,  with  uphfted  eyes,  stood  be-
fore the  open  tomb  !  All  was  still  within  the  cave,  for  death  was
there  ; — and  surely  all  was  still  without,  while  the  Son  of  God  prayed
to  his  Father  in  heaven.  The  first  sentence  bespoke  his  faith.
