priests to God his Father, to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.-Rev. i. 5, 6.

WORDS, &c. TO BE EXPLAINED IN LESSON XXV.

They come to the sepulchre and find not the Lord's body-two angels declare that he is risen-Peter visits the sepulchre-two disciples meet and converse with him—and he is known by them in the breaking of bread-the two disciples announce it to the eleven-Jesus suddenly stands in the midst of them-he shews them his hands and his feet, and eats before them-the gospel of repentance to be preached in all nations, beginning at Jerusalem-He leads them to Bethany, blesses them, and is carried up into heaven-the apostles return with joy to Jerusalem.

FROM LUKE XXIV.

Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and some others with them. And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulchre. And having gone in, they found not the body of the Lord Jesus. And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them in shining garments; and, as they were

* The women. + Other women. + Two angels.

afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said to them, Why seek ye the living* among the dead? He is not here, but is risen; remember how he spoke unto you when he was yet in Galilee, saying, The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again. And they remembered his words, and returning from the sepulchre, reported all these things to the eleven, and to all the rest. It was Mary Magdalene, and Joanna, and Mary the mother of James, and other women that were with them, who told these things to the apostles. And their words seemed to them as idle tales, and they believed them not but Peter rising up, ran to the sepulchre ; and stooping down, he saw the linen clothes lying by themselves and departed, wondering in himself at that which was come to pass.

And, behold two of them were going that same day to a village called Emmaus,† distant from Jerusalem about sixty furlongs. And they conversed together of all these things which had happened. And it came to pass, that, while they were conversing together and reasoning, Jesus himself, drawing near, went with them. But their eyes were held, so that they did not know him. And he said to them, What subjects are these about which ye converse with one another, as ye walk, and are sad? And the one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answering said to him. Art thou only a stranger in Jerusalem and hast not known

* In a place where the dead are commonly laid, that is, a sepulchre.

A village seven miles from Jerusalem. The discourse of these two disciples naturally turned on the wonderful reports of the morning; and our Saviour's object in joining them seems to have been to remove their prejudices, and to reconcile them to a belief in his resurrection.

the things which are come to pass there in these days? And he said to them, What things? And they said to him, Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people: and how our chief priests and rulers delivered him to be condemned to death, and have crucified him. But we hoped that it had been he* that should have redeemed Israel and besides all this, to-day is the third day since these things were done. Moreover, some women also of our company astonished us. Having been early at the sepulchre, and not finding his body, they came, saying, that they had also seen a vision of angels, who said that he was alive. And some of those who were with us went to the sepulchre, and found it even so as the women had said; but him they saw not.

Then said he to them, O foolish and slow of understanding to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory? And beginning from Moses, and all the prophets he expounded unto them the things in all the scriptures concerning himself.

And they drew nigh unto the village whither they were going: and he made us though he would have gone further. But they constrained him, saying, Remain with us; for it is toward

* From the whole of this account given by Cleopas, it appears that he and the disciples generally were deeply sorrowful for the tragic events that had happened, doubting and fearing, yet not perhaps without some faint hope of the resurrection of their crucified Lord. Christ in his reply reproves them for their backwardness to reflect and depend on the testimonies given by the Spirit of God, through the prophets, concerning these things, shewing that his death and sufferings for the sins of the people, was the way to his glory.

G

evening, and the day is far spent.

And he went in to remain with them. And it came to pass, as he sat at meat with them, that he took bread, and blessed and broke, and gave to them. And their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight. And they said one to another, Was not our hearts burning within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures? And rising up the same hour, they returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven gathered together, and those that were with them, saying, The Lord is risen indeed, and hath appeared to Simon. And they told the things which had happened in the way, and how he was known by them in the breaking of bread.

*

And while they were speaking these things, Jesus himself stood in the midst of them, and saith to them, Peace be unto you. But they being terrified and affrighted, supposed that they saw a spirit. And he said to them, Why are ye troubled? and why do thoughts arise in your hearts? Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself; handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me to have. And having thus spoken, he shewed them his hands and his feet. And while they yet believed not for joy, and wondered, he said to them, Have ye here any food? And they gave him a piece of a broiled fish, and of an honeycomb. And he took, and did eat before them.

*They were impatient to communicate the news to the apostles, and the rest, and therefore returned to Jerusalem in haste. On their arrival they learned that Simon Peter had already seen the Lord. Probably his appearance first to Peter, was to console that apostle in his deep affliction for having denied his Master.

Not that he needed food, but for the confirmation of their faith.

And he said to them, These are the words which I spoke to you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the law of Moses,* and in the prophets, and in the Psalms concerning me. Then he opened their mind, that they might understand the Scriptures. And he said to them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved the Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. And ye are witnesses of these things. And, behold, I send the promiset of my Father upon you: but remain ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.

And he led them out as far as to Bethany§ and lifting up his hands he blessed them. And it came to pass, while he was blessing them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven. And they, having worshipped him, returned to Jerusalem with great joy and were continually in the temple praising and blessing God. Amen.

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* Christ here refers to the three parts into which the Jews divided the whole of the Scriptures.

The promise of the Holy Spirit, "I will pour my Spi. rit upon thy seed, and my blessing upon thine offspring." Isaiah xliv. 3. "And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions." Joel

ii. 28.

By the miraculous effusion of the Holy Spirit.

Not quite as far as the village of that name, but to the district about it, more precisely to that part called 'Mount Olivet.'

Waiting confidently for the fulfilment of their Divine Master's promise.