Victorian children’s writer Mrs. Favell Lee Mortimer (born Favell Lee Bevan) was a woman of deep piety--and of even more profound prejudices. Born a Quaker in London in 1802, she converted to Evangelicalism at age 25 and devoted her life to the proper religious development of children, a task that involved extolling the virtues of Protestantism and denouncing as corrupt or evil every other form of faith and practice.
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Sermons & Devotionals by Favell Lee Mortimer
Favell Lee Mortimer
Matthew 15:29-31. Christ heals the multitude on the mountain-top.
The miracle wrought upon the deaf and mute man brought a host of suppliants to the feet of Jesus. The mountain-top was his throne of mercy, and thence he rebuked the diseases of the imploring multitude. Could any occupation have more gratified his loving heart! Yes; there was one which would have be... Read More
Favell Lee Mortimer
Matthew 15:32 to end. Christ feeds five thousand with seven loaves.
For three days seated upon a mountain, surrounded by the afflicted and the ignorant, our blessed Lord had manifested his compassion for our fallen race. At the end of that period, he displayed his beneficence by feeding the multitude. He had refused to feed them when they came because of the loaves;... Read More
Favell Lee Mortimer
Matthew 16:1-4. Christ refuses to grant a sign to the Pharisees and Sadducees.
It is not certain what the sign from heaven was that the Pharisees and Sadducees desired to see; probably it was some display of Christ's glory, such as he afterwards gave to his most favored disciples upon the mount. But whatever the sign required might be, the motive that led these men to ask for ... Read More
Favell Lee Mortimer
Matthew 16:21 to end. Christ reproves Peter.
In our last reading, Peter was called "blessed," and was promised many privileges; now he is rebuked as "Satan." Yes, the meek and gentle Jesus uttered this severe rebuke, "Get you behind me, Satan." Thus we see that a true believer is liable to displease the Lord. Peter was a true believer; yet on ... Read More
Favell Lee Mortimer
Matthew 16:5-12. He warns his disciples against the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.
We often find that people did not understand our Savior when he spoke of spiritual things under the image of earthly ones. Thus, when he spoke of living water to the woman of Samaria, the woman did not understand him. Neither did his disciples now understand him when he spoke of leaven. He did not r... Read More
Favell Lee Mortimer
Matthew 17:1-4. The Transfiguration.
We lately read of Jesus conversing with his disciples respecting his sufferings. Now we read of his unveiling to them his glory. The prophet Isaiah foretold that his face should be more marred (or disfigured) than the face of any man. (Is. 52:14.) No doubt, therefore, he wore usually an aspect of ca... Read More
Favell Lee Mortimer
Matthew 17:10-13. Christ converses with his disciples respecting Elijah.
As the disciples descended the Mount of Transfiguration, they ventured to enter into conversation with their Lord. They knew so well the condescension of their Master, that they even proposed a difficult question on a subject that perplexed them. It was this—"Why say the Scribes that Elijah must fir... Read More
Favell Lee Mortimer
Matthew 17:19-21. Christ speaks to his disciples on the power of faith.
It was very right in the disciples to inquire why they could not cast out the evil spirit. Whenever we have been foiled in an attempt to overcome sin, we ought to inquire what is the reason of the failure, and we shall find that the cause was the unbelief of our hearts. Perhaps before the Lord came ... Read More
Favell Lee Mortimer
Matthew 17:24 to end. Christ pays tribute.
We now find our blessed Lord returned to his own city, Capernaum, and to the house where he generally lodged. The collectors of tribute-money called at that lowly abode, and seeing Peter near it, asked him whether his Master would pay the sum required of him. This tribute was not to be paid to Caesa... Read More
Favell Lee Mortimer
Matthew 17:5-9. The voice of God on the Mount.
In the Old Testament, we read of God speaking to Israel from the top of Mount Sinai. On that occasion there was blackness, and darkness, and tempest, and the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words; so terrible was the sight, that even Moses said, "I exceedingly fear and quake;" and so terrible w... Read More
Favell Lee Mortimer
Matthew 18:10-14. Christ declares how precious the little ones are in the Father's sight.
These verses form part of a most interesting conversation that our Lord held with his own disciple in his house at Capernaum. Some passages in that conversation are calculated to alarm the stoutest heart; but others are of the most soothing and endearing nature. How delightful it is to know that God... Read More
Favell Lee Mortimer
Matthew 18:15-17. Christ directs his disciples how to treat an offending brother.
What a privilege we possess in having these directions how to behave towards a fellow-Christian who has done us wrong! But how seldom are any of these rules observed! How much more apt we are, either to indulge in sullen spleen, or to break out in angry invectives, than mildly to remonstrate with an... Read More
Favell Lee Mortimer
Matthew 18:19, 20. Christ promises to hear the united prayers of his disciples.
Do the Scriptures contain a more encouraging promise than this? "Where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them." There are some promises which are addressed to the apostles in particular. It was to them that Christ said, "Whatever you shall bind on earth, shall... Read More
Favell Lee Mortimer
Matthew 18:21 to end. The parable of the unforgiving servant.
How odious that servant appears, who after having received such exceeding benefits from his Lord, went out, and acted with such rigor towards his fellow-servant! Yet that unfeeling servant affords but a faint picture of the unforgiving sinner. For what was the obligation that he had received, compar... Read More
Favell Lee Mortimer
Matthew 19:27 to end. Christ promises rewards to his faithful followers.
Had Peter spoken in pride when he said, "We have forsaken all," he would have received rebuke instead of encouragement. He had seen the rich young man go away grieved—he had heard the Lord's declaration respecting the danger of riches—and his mind reverted to the period when he had been called, and ... Read More
Favell Lee Mortimer
Matthew 20:1-16. The parable of the laborers in the vineyard.
Our Savior himself tells us what is the meaning of this parable. This is the explanation he gave—"The last shall be first, and the first last; for many are called, but few chosen." Those who are first in their own eyes, will be last in the great day of reckoning; and those who are last in their own ... Read More
Favell Lee Mortimer
Matthew 20:20-28.The request of the mother and sons of Zebedee.
Was it a right request that the sons of Zebedee made when they asked to sit at the right and left hand of their Lord in his glory? Was it right in their mother to plead that this honor might be conferred on her children? A desire to be first is natural to the human heart in its fallen state; but thi... Read More
Favell Lee Mortimer
Matthew 21:1-9. Christ approaches Jerusalem, riding on a donkey.
Had every scene in our Savior's life been like this, it would not have been written, "He came to his own, and his own received him not." But this day of triumph was in reality only a preparation for the day of slaughter. The Lord of glory chose that for once his name should be publicly exalted in hi... Read More
Favell Lee Mortimer
Matthew 21:10-13. Christ casts the buyers and sellers out of the temple.
When the Son of God entered Jerusalem, where should he go but to his Father's house? He went to the temple. In what a state did he find that sacred place! It shone bright in earthly splendor—it was undefiled by images of wood or stone—it was frequented by crowds of worshipers; but yet it was a den o... Read More
Favell Lee Mortimer
Matthew 21:23-32. The Elders question Christ concerning his authority.
We are now beginning to read the account of the last two days of our Lord's public ministry—the Tuesday and Wednesday before his death. There are very ample records of the conversations he held on those days. None who heard him, knew that he would so soon cease to speak on earth; but we know that th... Read More
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