MARY Magdalen, who has been generally confounded with Mary the sister of Martha and Lazarus, but very improperly, was probably that sinner mentioned by St. Luke, chap. vii. 36, 37, &c. whose name he does not tell us. There are some circumstances sufficient to convince us, that she is the same whom he calls Mary Magdalen in chap. viii. 2. and from whom he says Jesus drove out seven devils. Jesus having healed the widow's son of Nain, entered into the city, and there was invited to eat by a Pharisee named Simon. While he was at table, a woman of a scandalous life came into the house, having an alabaster box full of perfumed oil, and standing upright behind Jesus, and at his feet, for he was lying at table on a couch after the manner of the ancients, she poured her perfume on his feet, kissed them, watered them with her tears, and wiped them with her hair. The Pharisee observing this, said within himself, If this man were a prophet, he would know who this woman is that touches him, that she is one of a wicked life. Then Jesus, who knew the bottom of his heart, illustrated her case by a parable; and concluded with answering the woman, that her sins were forgiven her. In the following chapter, St. Luke tells us, that Jesus, in company with his apostles, preached the gospel from city to city: and that there were several women whom he had delivered from evil spirits, and had cured of their infirmities, among whom was Mary called Magdalen, out of whom went seven devils. This,
it must be owned, is no positive proof that the sinner mentioned before was Mary Magdalen; however, it is all we have in support of this opinion: An opinion which has been ably controverted by others. Mary Magdalen had her surname, it is thought, from the town of Magdalia in Galilee. Lightfoot believes that this Mary is the same with Mary the sister of Lazarus. Magdalen is mentioned by the evangelists among the women that followed our Saviour, to minister to him according to the custom of the Jews. St. Luke viii. 2. and St. Mark xvi. 9. observe, that this woman had been delivered by Jesus Christ from seven devils. This some understand in the literal sense; but others take it figuratively, for the crimes and wickedness of her past life (supposing her to be the sinner first above mentioned), from which Christ had rescued her. Others maintain, that she had always lived in virginity; and consequently they make her a different person from the sinner mentioned by St. Luke: and by the seven devils of which she was possessed, they understand no other than a real possession, which is not inconsistent with a holy life. This indeed is the most probable opinion, and that which has been best supported. In particular, the author of a "Letter to Jonas Hanway" on the subject of Magdalen House, published in 1758, has shown by a variety of learned remarks, and quotations both from the Scriptures and from the best commentators, that Mary Magdalen was not the sinner spoken of by St. Luke, but on the contrary that she "was a woman of distinction, and very easy in her worldly circumstances. For a while, she had laboured under some bodily indisposition, which our Lord miraculously healed, and for which benefit she was ever after very thankful. So far as we know, her conduct was always regular and free from censure; and we may reasonably believe, that after her acquaintance with our Saviour it was edifying and exemplary. I conceive of her (continues our author) as a woman of a fine understanding, and known virtue and discretion, with a dignity of behaviour becoming her age, her wisdom, and her high station: by all which, she was a credit to him whom she followed as her master and benefactor. She showed our Lord great respect in his life, at his death, and after it, and she was one of those to whom he first showed himself after his resurrection."
Mary Magdalen followed Christ in the last journey that he made from Galilee to Jerusalem, and was at the foot of the cross with the holy virgin (John xix. 25. Mark xv. 47.). After which she returned to Jerusalem to buy and prepare the perfumes, that she might embalm him after the sabbath was over, which was then about to begin. All the sabbath day she remained in the city; and the next day early in the morning she went to the sepulchre, along with Mary the mother of James and Salome (Mark xvi. 1, 2. Luke xxiv. 1, 2.). On the way, they inquired of one another, who should take away the stone from the mouth of the sepulchre, and were sensible of a great earthquake. This was the token of our Saviour's resurrection. Being come to his tomb, they saw two angels, who informed them that Jesus was risen. Upon this Mary Magdalen runs immediately to Jerusalem, and acquaints the apostles with this good news, returning herself
Mary. herself to the sepulchre. Peter and John came also, and were witnesses that the body was no longer there. They returned: but Mary stayed, and stooping forward to examine the inside of the tomb, she there saw two angels sitting, one at the head and the other at the foot of the tomb; and immediately afterwards, upon turning about, she beheld the Lord himself. She would have cast herself at his feet to kiss them. But Jesus said to her, "Touch me not, for I am not yet ascended to my Father." As if he had said, "You shall have leisure to see me hereafter; go now to my brethren, my apostles, and tell them I am going to ascend to my God and to their God, to my Father and to their Father." Thus had Mary the happiness of first seeing our Saviour after his resurrection. (See Matth. xxxviii. 5. &c. Mark xvi. 6. &c. John xx. 11, 17.)
She returned then to Jerusalem, and told the apostles that she had seen the Lord, that she had spoken to him, and told them what he had said to her. But at first they did not believe her, till her report was confirmed by many other testimonies.—This is what the gospel informs us concerning Mary Magdalen, different from Mary the sister of Martha, though she has been often called by this name. For, as to the pretended History of Mary Magdalen, which is said to have been written in Hebrew by Marcella servant of Martha; this can only relate to Mary sister of Martha, and besides is a mere piece of imposture.