The first appearance was to Mary Magdalene alonesee St. Mark xvi. 9, St. John xx. 1.

The second appearance was to her in company with several other women-St. Matthew xxviii. 9.

The third appearance was to Simon Peter-1 Corinthians xv. 5.

The fourth to the two disciples going to Emmaus— St. Luke xxiv. 13.

The fifth appearance was to the Apostles in the interview recorded in this day's Gospel-St. John xx 19.

The sixth to the Apostles a second time, when Thomas was also with them-St. John xx. 26.

The seventh was to St. Peter and several other disciples at the Sea of Tiberias-St. John xxi. 1.

The eighth and last appearance was to above five hundred brethren at once-1 Cor. xv. 6.

These are all the separate appearances of our Lord during the forty days between His Resurrection and His Ascension, let us look particularly at some of the chief ones.

And first, of His appearance to Mary Magdalene. She had gone to the sepulchre to weep-and as she wept she stooped down and looked into the sepulchre, and seeth two angels in white, the one at the head and the other at the feet where the body of Jesus had lain. The absence of the Lord's body greatly troubled her. To the angel who asked, Why weepest thou? she replied-Because they have taken away my Lord and I know not where they have laid Him. And when she had said this, she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing, but knew not that it was Jesus. Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? She, supposing Him to be the

gardener, saith unto him-Sir, if thou have borne him hence tell me where thou hast laid Him, and I will take Him away. Jesus saith unto her, Mary-she turned herself and now recognizes Him, and at once confesses Him.-She saith unto Him, Rabboni, which is to say, Master! Jesus saith unto her, Touch Me not, for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father and your Father, and to my God and your God.

Touch me not-be not too eager to detain me--I shall stay longer with you, long enough to satisfy you that I am risen-but go with an errand of comfort to my brethren-go and say that He to whom I am about to ascend is no less their Father than mine, no less their God than my God.

And is there not comfort for us in this? Christ, after He has overcome death still looks on men as His brethren -still calls them by that endearing name-declares that they and He have one common Parent, one and the same great object of worship-My Father and your Father, my God and your God!

The next appearance was to Simon Peter-and after that He shewed Himself to two disciples going to Emmaus-of which we have the account in St. Luke xxiv., St. Mark xvi. 12.

He appeared to them as they walked, in another form -He joined in 'their conversation-He expounded unto them in all the Scriptures the things concerning HimselfHe went in and tarried with them at their journey's end, and shared their evening meal-He gave every proof that He was a living person-yea, that very Person for whom

they mourned. Dull as they were at the first, and unable to recognize Him, the light at length flashed upon them— And when He took bread and blessed it and brake and gave to them—as they had seen Him do aforetime-their eyes were opened and they knew Him: and He vanished out of their sight.

It was not much later-it might have been immediately after this, that He shewed Himself to the Apostles gathered together in one room in Jerusalem. This is the account, in the Gospel for this morning

The same day at evening, being the fourth day of the week, when the doors being shut, where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. And when He had so said he shewed unto them His hands and His side. Then were the disciples glad when they saw the Lord.

I pass over what follows-most important as it is-as being beyond our subject to-day. But mark, in what we have heard, the proof again of the risen man. We have no shadow or spirit here, but a human form with all the properties of real substantial being, with a voice, and a face familiar to all those present, on which they look and are glad!

I said just now that He appeared to the Apostles-but all of the band were not together.-Thomas, one of the Twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into His side, I will not believe-St. John xx. 24, 25.

Well-that doubt of Thomas-the doubt of him who must have eye-witness, and hand-witness-must see with his eyes and touch with his hands the Lord's wounds, before he believes-who cannot take for truth a statement of such importance upon the word of others—who, by his very nature is a sceptic, slow of heart to believe -that doubt was not left unsatisfied.

After eight days, again, His disciples were within and Thomas with them. Then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst and said, Peace be unto you. Then saith He to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger and behold my hands and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side; and be not faithless but believing.

It is not told us whether Thomas availed himself of this permission, and actually touched with his finger the Lord's wounds. It is generally thought that he did not. He was satisfied without that. He saw Christ, and he felt the power of Christ. He heard Him speak, and speak words that shewed He knew what had passed, shewed that He forgave His disciple's doubts-and that was enough. There rose up in his heart, never to be quenched, the full assurance of faith. If he had been backward before-he outstripped his brother apostles now. If before, he had said, I will not believe-he is now the first, not only to confess that Christ is risen, but to acknowledge Him as risen to be a Prince and a Saviour. Thomas was the first-be it remembered, to address Jesus by His full title, the first to say, My Lord, and my God!

Let us often have those few strong words of his in our thoughts. Let us make them the test by which to try

our own selves-by which to ascertain if we be what we call ourselves-Christians. Let us remember, brethren, in these days of lip-homage, that it is the life and character marked with Christ's rule and governance, that stamps men for truly His.-Let us remember too, that mere admiration of Him as a Teacher come from God, will not do for us that we must adore, and worship as well as admire and imitate-in short, that our confession must not stop short of that of Thomas's-we must not consider ourselves of Christ's people, till we can say as He did of the Redeemer-My Lord, and my God!

Such are some of the chief appearances recorded of our risen Lord in the Gospel.-And many are the lessons which they bring with them.

First of all this great one-That our Redeemer liveth, -that the malice of His enemies has been of no power to keep Him down,-that He has burst all their bonds -bonds of sin, bonds of death, bonds of hell, and cast away their cords from Him, that He is alive, and alive for evermore.

This surely is the great lesson of all these appearances They enable us "perfectly and without all doubt to believe" in the resurrection of God's Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

And O, the comfort of this! For if Christ be indeed raised, then shall all who are in their graves be also raised. He is but the first fruits of that great harvest, which will one day be gathered into God's garner-Because He liveth we shall live also!

But this is not all.-Not only do these appearances assure us of our Lord's triumph over death, and confirm