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your affections on things above; knowing assuredly, that if you are not thus risen with him, you cannot be raised by him to everlasting life.

3. And they said among themselves, Who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the sepulchre ?

They thought it would be impossible for them: so we think there are difficulties in the way of our salvation, never to be overcome. But the next verse hath both re

proof and comfort for us.

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

It was moved by an unseen power. What cannot the same power do for us? There is a stubborn will, which must be overcome. Lord, help here. All the hindrance is on our part. It is a blessed time, when we see the great stone of unbelief, a worldly heart, and strong corruptions, rolled away, and know of a truth, that God has helped, and is helping with us.

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.

What is this conduct of the women to us? Can we say one by one, that we seek the crucified Jesus, as our life, hope, and whole salvation; and that we desire to find him, as risen to us, and for us, in our own resurrection to a new life of faith and obedience?

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.

All is told us in the scripture, and hearing is the foundation of our faith, as seeing was of the faith of these women. Christ says, "Blessed are they that have not seen,

VOL. II.

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and

yet have believed."-John xx. 29. Make this blessing your own, and then you will see Christ in his glory.

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

Who were they that followed Christ to his death when the apostles forsook him? Who were they that were first at the sepulchre? Women, as unlearned as any Christians now. But they had love to Christ in their hearts; and that is of more worth than all the learning in the world; that is, God's learning, the effect of his teaching and influence; what he can teach one as well as another; and if a poor man, or woman, comes short of it, it is because that person despises it. Cannot a poor person read the Bible? Or if not, cannot he pray? Cannot he attend constantly on the word preached? And what can any do without prayer? Try what it will do for you. Give up your vain excuses. You may seek after Christ, and find him to your comfort, and if you please, have your hearts filled with his love.

SECTION LVI.

Chap. xvi. ver. 9—18.

SEVERAL APPEARANCES OF CHRIST.

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

Christ's first appearance was to one who had been a grea' sinner. This is not mentioned without a good reason. What encouragement is here to repentance !

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.

The incredulity of the disciples affords a proof that the resurrection of Christ was not received on slight evidence.-Edit.

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 to the residue: neither believed they them.

Unbelief was not the solitary sin of Thomas, it is the common sin of our fallen nature.—Edit.

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.

Though their slowness of belief was a fault in them, it has resulted in a benefit to us. We learn also from hence, that they were not willing, and easy to be imposed upon, in the matter of Christ's resurrection.

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

Preach the gospel, to the Jews first, and then to the rest of the world. Do you know what the gospel is? And are you ready to give an answer to every man who asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you? The gospel is remission of sins, peace with God, and a right to eternal life, not for the sake of anything we are, or can do, but only for Christ's sake; and through this faith, a will and power to please God in all holy obedience. O that this blessed gospel was in all our hearts!

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

God's mercy in Christ, the necessity of repentance to

bring him to it, and of holiness to secure it to him. Believing, is believing all these, and not only one or two of them. Whoever makes an open profession of religion, and of his faith, by being baptized into it, and lives worthily of it, shall be saved. He shall be a happy man, in the favour of God here, and shall have the eternal enjoyment of him, hereafter. How plainly do they contradict scripture, and what a desperate hazard do they run, who refuse to be baptized! The man who believes not the necessity of repentance, and of faith in Christ, for pardon, newness of life, and salvation, shall be damned. Consider who says this! What kind of hearts are those which are fast shut up in unbelief, against these terrible threatenings?

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.

These signs followed the apostles, and many others, till the gospel was planted in the world. We do not need these signs. All is laid before us in the scriptures, for our conviction and belief, and God thinks this evidence sufficient. The command now given to us is, Let them hear Moses and the prophets, Christ and his apostles: if they hear not them, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.

SECTION LVII.

Chap. xvi. ver. 19-20.

CHRIST'S ASCENSION.

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

All power was given him, to govern, bless, and preserve all true believers, and take them to himself in heaven; and also to destroy his enemies.

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

St. Paul, it is probable, preached in England; others followed him into our country: and the Bible has always preached to us. We have our choice, whether we will receive the preaching of the apostles, or perish, by rejecting it. Though the apostles are not present in person, their words are with us, and the Lord Jesus Christ, in the power of the Holy Spirit, to work with them, and to make them effectual to our salvation. God grant that this may be our prayer, and then he will confirm the word to us, by that great miracle of our conversion to him. Amen,

St. Mark concludes his gospel as the other Evangelists do, with the account of our Lord's resurrection, and some proofs of it. Our faith is built on the miracles of Christ; the greatest of which is, his resurrection from the dead. By his resurrection, he was chiefly declared to be the Son of God with power; and the principal thing in the office of the apostles, in proof of the divine mission of Christ, was to bear witness of it. Now to what end were the gospels written, and Christ's miracles recorded? St. John tells us plainly," That we might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing we might have life through his name."-John xx. 31. Has our reading and hearing the Holy Scriptures brought us to this knowledge and desire? Are we come to this point, that without Christ there is no life in us? Do we know that we are dead in trespasses and sins, and that we can have life from him only by believing? Are we indeed believers? Do we believe that Christ died for our sins, and conquered death for us by rising from the dead? Do we live in this hope, and make it our great business in the world to prepare for

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