ther they were exalted to the honorable relation of CHRIST's brethren, and the sons of God; and. their father loved them with an affection far exceeding that of the most tender hearted parent upon earth.

The kindness of this message sent by our dear Redeemer to his disciples, will appear above all praise, if we remember their late behaviour; they had every one of them forsaken him in his greatest extremity when he was scourged and mocked by the Roman soldiers, derided by his countrymen, and spitefully treated by all, they hid themselves in some place of safety, and preferred their own security to the deliverance of their Master: when he fainted under the burden of his cross, not one of them was there to assist him; Simon, a Cyrenian, was compelled by the Roman soldiers to ease him of this ponderous burden. But notwithstanding they had refused to assist their Master during his sufferings for the sins of the world, he gra ciously, he freely forgave them; he assured them of their pardon, and even called them by the endearing name of brethren notwithstanding their former slighting conduct.

We cannot help observing that there is something very remarkable in this part of the history: none of the apostles or male disciples were honour ed with the first visions of the angels, or with the immediate news of the resurrection of the Son of God, much less with the appearance of JESUS himself. The angels in the sepulchre kept themselves invisible all the time that Peter and John were observing the linen clothes and satisfying them selves that the body of their Master was not there; perhaps the male dis ciples in general were treated with this mark of disrespect, both because they had with shameful cowardice, forsaken their Master when he was be trayed into the hands of his enemies, & because their faith was so weak that they had absolutely despaired of his being the Messiah when they saw him ex pire on the cross: but how different was that conduct of the women! Lay ing aside the weakness and timidity natural to their sex, they shewed an un common magnanimity on this melancholy occasion; for in contradiction to the whole nation, who with one voice required Jesus to be crucified as deceiver, they proclaimed his innocence by tears, cries and lamentations, when they saw him led forth to suffer on mount Calvary; accompanied him to the cross, the most infamous of all punishments; kindly waited on him in his expiring moments, giving him all the consolation in their pow er, though at the same time the sight of his sufferings pierced them to the heart; and when he expired, and was carried off, they accompanied him to his grave, not despairing, though they found he had not delivered himself, & to appearance was conquered by death, the universal enemy of mankind. Perhaps these pious women entertained some faint hopes that he would still revive; or if they did not entertain expectations of that kind, they at least cherished a strong degree of love for their Lord, and deter mined to do him all possible honour.

It may be observed, that a faith so remarkably strong, a love so ardent, & a fortitude so unshaken, could not fail of recieving distinguishing tokens of the divine approbation; and they were accordingly honoured with the news of CHRIST's resurrection before the male disciples, had their eyes cheered with the first sight of their beloved Lord, after he arose from the chambers of the grave; so that they preached the joyful tidings of his resurrection to the apostles themselves. But there seems to have been other reasons why our great Redeemer shewed himself first to the women: the thoughts of the apostles were constantly fixed on a temporal kingdom, and they had wrested all his words into an agreement with that favourite notion; and whatever they could not construe as consonant to that opinion, they seem either to have disbelieved or disregarded.

Notwithstanding JESUS had foretold his own sufferings no less than seven different times, the apostles were astonished above measure when they saw him expire on the cross. Immortality and terrestial dominion were

3

seen at the sepulchre a vision of angels, who assured them that JESUS was risen from the dead. This new information astonished the disciples exceedingly; and as they had before sent Peter and John to examine into the truth of what Mary Magdalene had told them concerning the body's being removed out of the sepulchre so they now judged it highly proper to send some of their number to see the angels, and learn from them the joyful tidings of that great transaction of which the women had given them an account. That this was really the case, appears from what the disciples, in their journey to Emmaus, told their great Lord and Master; namely they, when the women came and told them that they had seen a vision of angels, certain of their number went to the sepulchre, and found it even as the women had said, but saw not JESUS.

We may venture to affirm, that this second deputation from the apostles did not go alone; for as Mary Magdalene returned with Peter and John, who were sent to examine the truth of her information, so the women who brought an account of the vision of angels in all probability returned with those who were sent to be witnesses of the truth of their report; besides curiosity they had an errand thither. The angels had expressly ordered them to tell the news to Peter in particular; for which reason, when they understood that he was gone to the sepulchre, it is natural to think they would return with the disciples to seek him. About the time that the disciples & women set out for the sepulchre, Peter & John reached the city, but passing through a different street, did not meet their brethren in the way. Having a great desire to reach the sepulehre, the disciples soon left the women behind, and just as they arrived, Mary Magdalene, having seen the Lord, was coming away; but they did not meet her, because they entered the garden at one door, while she was coming out at another. When they came to the sepulchre, they saw the angels, and received from them

the news of their blessed master's resurrection for St. Luke tells us," they found it even as the women had said." Highly elated with their success, they departed and ran back to the city, with such expedition, that they gave an account of what they had seen in the hearing of the two disciples, before Mary Magdalene arrived. Nor will their speed appear at all incredi ble, if we consider that the nature of the tidings the apostles had to carry gave them wings, as it were, to make their brethren partakers of their joy at this surprising event.

The company of women who followed the disciples, happening in the mean time to meet Peter and John, went forward in quest of them: but they had not gone far from the sepulchre, before JESUS himself met them, and said, “All hail !” On which they approached their great Lord and Master, "held him by the feet and worshipped him." This favour of embracing his knees, Jesus had before refused to Mary Magdalene, because it was not then necessary; but he granted it to the women, because the angel's words having strongly impressed their minds with the notion of his resurrection, they might have taken his appearing, for an illusion of their own imagination, had he not permitted them to handle him, and convince themselves by the united reports of their senses: besides, if our Lord intended that Mary Magdalene should go away as fast as possible, and pubJish the news, he might hinder her from embracing his knees, to prevent her losing any time before she returned.

These pious women having tarried some time with JESUS on the road, did not arrive with the joyful tidings of their great Master's resurrection, till some time after Peter and John; and perhaps were overtaken by Mary Magdalene on the road, unless we suppose that she arrived a few minutes before them. But be that as it may, this is certain, that they arrived either at or near the same time; so that their accounts of this miraculous event tended to confirm each other's belief of it.

The relation of the women having filled the disciples with astonishment, they considered the account they had before given them, of their having seen a vision of angels, as an idle tale, and now they seem to have considered this as something worse; for the evangelist tells us," they believed not." Peter, indeed, to whom the angel sent the message, was disposed by his sanguine temper to give a little nore credit to their words than the rest; possibly because the messengers from the heavenly Canaan, had done him the honor of naming him in particular. Elated with the respect paid him in particular, he immediately repaired again to the sepulchre; hoping, in all probability, that his Master would appear to him or at least the angel who had so particularly distinguished him from the rest of his brethren.

When Peter arrived at the sepulchre he stooped down; and seeing the linen clothes lying in the same manner as before, he viewed their position, the form in which they were laid, and returned wondering greatly “in himself at that which was come to pass." In all probability, it was now that Peter was favoured with the sight of his Master. 1 Cor. xv. 5; for the evangelist tells us, that it happened on the day of our blessed Saviour's resurrection.

NOT long after the women's first return to the disciples with the hews that they had seen a vision of angels, who told them, that JESUS was risen from the dead, two of the brethren departed on their journey to a village called Emmaus, about two miles distant from Jerusalem. The concern they were in on account of the death of their great and beloved Master, was sufficiently visible in their countenances; and as they pursued their journey talking with one another, and debating about the things that had lately happened amongst them, concerning the life and doctrine, the sufferings and death of the holy JESUS and of the report that was just spread amongst his disciples, of his being that very morning risen from the dead, Jesus himself overtook them, and joined their company.

Appearing like a stranger, they did not in the least suspect, that their fellow-traveller was no other than the great Redeemer of the sons of men. He soon entered into discourse with them, by inquiring what event had so closely engaged them in conversation and why they appeared so sor rowful and dejected, as if they had met with some heavy disappointment of sore affliction?

Cleophas, one of the disciples, being surprised at the question, replied, Is it possible, that you can be so great a stranger to the affairs of the world, as to have been at Jerusalem, & not have heard the surprising events that have happened there events that have astonished the whole city and are now the constant topic of conversation amongst all the inhabitants" JESUS answered, What surprising events do you mean? To which Cleophas replied, The transactions which have happened concerning JESUS of Nazareth, who appeared as a great prophet and teacher sent from God; and accordingly was highly venerated amongst the people, for the excellency of his doctrine, and the number, benefit, and greatness of his miracles. Our chief priests and elders, therefore, envying him as one who lessened their authority over the people, apprehended him, and found means to put him to death; but we firmly believed he would have proved himself the Messiah or great Deliverer: and this persuation we a long time supported, nor were we willing to abandon it, even when we saw him put to death: but it is now three days since these things were done, and therefore begin to fear we were mistaken concerning him.

A thing indeed happened this very morning, which extremely surprises us and we are very solicitous with regard to the event. Some women who had entertained the same hopes and expectations as we, going early in the morning to pay their last duties to their Master, by embalming his body, returned with great haste to haste to the city, and informed us, that they had been at the sepulchre, but were disappointed in finding the body; and to in crease our surprise, they who told them that Jesus was sent they had sech a vision of angels, risen from the dead. This relation appeared at first to us as an idle tale, altogether incredible; but two of the company going immediately after to the sepulchre, found evey thing exactly as the women had reported; they saw the angels, but heard not any thing of the body-so that we are still in doubt and perplexity with regard to this wonderful event, and what the end of these things will be. Jesus. replied, why are ye so very averse to believe all that the prophets have with one voice predicted concerning the Messiah? Is it not clearly, and very expressly foretold, in all the prophetic writings, that it was appointed

Kk

by the council of Omnipotence greatest indignities, reproach, and contempt from the malice and perverseness of mankind, and even undergoing an ignominious and cruel death, to be exalted to a glorious and eternal kingdom-And having said this, he began at the writings of Moses, and explained to them in order, all the principal passages, both in the books of that great legislator and the writings of the other prophets, relating to his own sufferings, death, and glorious resurrection, as predicted of them. This he did, with such surprising plainness, clearness, and strength, that the two disciples not yet suspecting who he was, were as much amazed to find a stranger so well acquainted with all that JESUS did and suffered, as they at first wondered at his appearing to be totally ignorant of these transactions. They were also astonished to hear him interpret and apply the Scriptures to their present purpose, with such readiness and convincing clearness of argument, as carried with it a strange and unusual authority and efficacy. When therefore they came to the village whether they were going, and Jesus seemed as if he would have passed on and travelled further, they, desirous of his company, pressed him, in the strongest man ner, to tarry with them that night, as it was then late in the evening.

The great Redeemer of mankind consented to this request, and when they were sat down to supper, he took bread, and gave thanks to God, and brake it, and gave it to them in the same manner he used to do while he conversed with them upon earth before his death. This engaged their attention, and looking steadfastly on him, they perceived it was their great and heloved Master; but they had then no time to express their joy and as tonishment to their benevolent Redeemer; for he vanished out of their sight immediately.

No sooner did they perceive that their Master was departed, than they said one to another, How slow and stupid were we before, not to know him on the road while he explained to us the Scriptures when besides the affability of his discourse, and the strength and clearness of his arguments, we perceived such an authority in what he said, and such a powerful efficacy attending his words, and striking our hearts with affection, as we could not but have known, if we had not been remarkably stupid, to have been the very same that used to accompany his teaching, and was peculiar to our dear Master, who spake as never man spoke.

After this surprising event, they did not think proper to stay any longer in Emmaus but returned that very night to Jerusalem and found the apos tles with several other disciples discoursing about the resurrection, of their Master; and on their entering the room, the disciples accosted them, saying, "The Lord is risen indeed, and hath appeared unto Simon."

The reports of the women were little credited, supposing they were occasioned more by imagination than reality, but when a person of Simon's capacity and gravity declared he had seen the Lord, they began to think that he was really risen from the dead. Their belief of this was greatly confirmed by the arrival of the two disciples from Emmaus, who declared to their brethren, how JESUS had appeared to them on the road. and how they discovered him to be their Master, by his breaking of bread, when he sat down to supper with them.

During this conversation of the disciples from Emmaus, describing the manner of the appearing of Jesus to them, and offering arguments to convince those who doubted the truth of it, their great Master himself put an end to the debate, by standing in the midst of them, and said, Peace be unto you."

The disciples were greatly terrified at this appearance of our blessed Saviour, supposing they had seen a spirit; for as they had secured the doors of the house where they were assembled for fear of the Jews, and JESUS having opened the locks, by his miraculous power, without the