which, if it had been rightly understood, might have encouraged Joseph when he gave him this honourable burial, and have consoled the women who beheld where he was laid. It had been declared, (Psalm xvi. 9,) "Thou shalt not leave my soul in hell, neither shalt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption." This was not sufficiently understood to comfort the mourners then. But it may comfort mourners now. For though, in one respect, the promise which concerned the Holy One, does not extend to his disciples :-" our vile body" must perish--ashes must return to ashes, and dust to dust; still may our heart be glad, our flesh also shall rest in hope." The spirits of the just are blessed, though "left" for a while in the place appointed them and their bodies shall be raised at the last, and made like unto Christ's glorious body, to live for ever in that presence where "is fulness of joy."

LECTURE CXIII.

THE RESURRECTION.

THE APOSTLES COMMISSIONED TO PREACH THE GOSPEL.

MARK XVI. 1–20.

1. And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him.

2. And very early in the morning, the first day of the week, they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun. 3. And they said among themselves, Who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the sepulchre?

4. And when they looked, they saw that the stone was rolled away: for it was very great.

5. And entering into the sepulchre, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a long white garment; and they were affrighted.

6. And he saith unto them, Be not affrighted; Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him.

7. But go your way, tell his disciples and Peter that he goeth before you into Galilee: there shall ye see him, as he said unto you.

8. And they went out quickly, and fled from the sepulchre ; for they trembled and were amazed: neither said they any thing to any man; for they were afraid.'

'Their consternation, the mixture of hope and fear in their minds, prevented their relating to any whom they met in their way to the disciples, what they had seen and heard.

Thus quickly were the doubts dispersed of these faithful women, who had expected to find the entrance of the sepulchre shut against them. The stone was rolled away.

If we do as they did, and act the part of zealous love, though in the midst of natural fears and infirmities, we shall often find that God has done his part before we were aware, and smoothed away those difficulties which we expected to embarrass our path of duty and hinder our success.

It did not, however, at once strike them that this was the work of God. Their hearts were hardened, and "as yet they knew not the Scriptures that he must rise from the dead." They did not congratulate one another, saying, Thus is the prophecy fulfilled; God" has not left his soul in hell, nor suffered his Holy One to see corruption." The first impression was, that their enemies had "taken away their Lord, and they knew not where they had laid him." But the heavenly ministers who watched over the scene, suggested to their minds the truth, though it could not immediately clear up their doubts or dispel all their fears. He is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him. But go your way, tell his disciples and Peter that he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him, as he said unto you.

Tell his disciples and Peter. And was not Peter a disciple? Perhaps he scarcely dared consider himself as such, after his sad apostacy. He had denied all knowledge of his Lord: and would his Lord acknowledge him? Yes: he is "touched

2 See Acts ii. 31.

3 See John xx. 2.

with our infirmities;" he has pardoned the weakness of his repentant servant; he has still a commission to entrust him with, and will enable him to show, by a life of faithfulness, that the grace bestowed on him had not been bestowed in vain.

When the others hastened away, musing, no doubt, on the strange things they had seen and heard, Mary Magdalene, it appears, remained "at the sepulchre weeping." Thus she became the first to behold the person of her risen Lord. So the narrative proceeds to tell us.

9. Now when Jesus was risen early the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven devils.

10. And she went and told them that had been with him, as they mourned and wept.

11. And they, when they had heard that he was alive, and had been seen of her, believed not.

12. After that he appeared in another form unto two of them, as they walked, and went into the country.

13. And they went and told it unto the residue: neither believed they them.

14. Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen.

15. And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.

16. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

17. And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;

18. They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any

deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.

19. So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God.

20. And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.

Thus briefly are the events related, being more fully told elsewhere, which established the Christian faith through the agency of the apostles. They went forth, and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. The book of "Acts" describes this; where we read, for example, (viii. 5-8,) Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them. And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did. For unclean spirits, crying with loud voice, came out of many which were possessed with them; and many taken with palsies, and that were lame, were healed. And there was great joy in that city."

Such were the signs which followed them that believed. By degrees, this miraculous power was withdrawn from the preachers of the gospel. He who conferred it, knew when it ceased to be needful; knew when the ordinary evidence on which we credit things which we have not seen, became so strong and sufficient, that men in every land might be justly required to "repent, and believe the gospel."

But although this outward proof of Christ's su