Thus did the blessed Jesus contemplate, with a singular pleasure, the work of redemption he had just finished. The happy relation between God and man, which had been long cancelled by sin, was now renewed. The Almighty, who had disowned them on account of their rebellion, was again reconciled to them; he was become their God and Father: they were exalted to the honourable relation of Christ's brethren, and the Son of God; and the 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 the greatest extremity: when he was scourged and mocked by the Roman soldiers, derided by his countrymen, and spitefully entreated 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 his ponderous burden. But notwithstanding they had refused to assist their Master during his sufferings for the sins of the world, he graciously, he freely forgave them; he assured them of their pardon, and called them even by the endearing name of brethren.

There is something very remarkable in this part of the history. None of the apotles or male disciples, were honoured with the first vision 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 themselves that the body of their Master was not there. Perhaps the male

disciples in general were treated with this mark of disrespect, both because they had, with shameful cowardice, forsaken their Master when he was betrayed into the hands of his enemies, and because their faith was so weak that they had absolutely despaired of his being the Messiab when they saw him expire on the cross. But how different was the conduct of the women! Laying aside the weakness and timidity natural to their sex, they shewed an uncommon magnanimity on this melancholy occasion. For, in contradiction to the whole nation, who, with one voice, required Jesus to be crucified as a 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 waiting on him in his expiring moments, giving him all the consolation in their power, though, at the same time, the sight of his sufferings pierced them to the heart; and when he expired and his body was carried off, they accompanied him to his grave, not despairing, though they found he had not delivered himself, but 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 determined to do him all the honour in their power.

A faith so remarkably strong, a love so ardent, and a fortitude so unshaken, could not fail of receiving distinguished marks 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 rea

sons why our great Redeemer shewed him. self 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 argument with that favourite notion. And whatever they could not construe as consonant to that opinion, they seemed either to have disbelieved, or disregarded.

Hence, notwithstanding Jesus had foretold his own sufferings no less than seven different times, they were astonished above measure when they saw him expire on the cross. Immortality and terrestrial dominion were, according to their notion, the characteristics of the Messiah; for which reason, when they found, that, instead of establishing himself in the possession of universal empire, he had neither delivered himself, from an handful of enemies, nor even from death, they gave over all hopes of his being the Messiah, and as for his resurrection, they seemed not to have entertained the least notion of it, so that when the news of this great event was brought to them, they considered it as an idle tale.

Not so the women: they were more submissive to their Master's instructions, and consequently were much better prepared for seeing him after his resurrection than the apostles for though they did not expect that he would rise from the dead, yet they were not prejudiced against it. This cannot be said of the apostles: they not only absolutely rejected the matter, at first as a thing incredible, but even after they were acquainted with the accounts the soldiers had given of this great transaction; nay, after they had seen the blessed Jesus himself, some of them were so unreasonable as still to doubt. How much rather then would their incredulity have led them to suspect his appearing as an illusion, had he shewn himself to them! These reports led him to recollect the arguments proper for disposing then to believe; particularly the prophecies that had been so often delivered in their

own hearing concerning his resurrection. Hence the angels, when they told this event to the women, and desired them to carry the news of it to his disciples, put them in mind of the predictions Jesus himself had made, as a confirmation of it. Hence we also see the reason why Jesus, before he made himself known to the disciples at Emmaus, had prepared them for a discovery, by expounding to them on the road, the several prophecies concerning the Messiah, contained in the Old Testament.

The women on their arrival, told as many of the disciples as they could find, that they had 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 being removed out of the sepulchre, so they of their number to see the angels, and now judged it highly proper to send some learn from them the joyful tidings of that great transaction, of which the women had given them an account.

That it was really the case appears from what the disciples, in their journey to Emmaus, told their great Lord and Master; namely, that 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 him they saw not.

The second deputation from the apostles did not go alone; for as Mary Magdalene returued 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 and women set out from the sepulchre, Feter and John reached the city; but passing through a different street, did not meet their brethren.

The disciples having a great desire to reach the sepulchre, 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 incredible, 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 transaction.

In the mean time, the company of women who followed the disciples, happened to meet Peter and John. 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 Mas ter, "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, bad 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 publish the news, he might hinder her from embracing his knees, to prevent the losing any time.

This company of 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.

The disciples were now lost in astonishment at what the women had related; 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, that they believed not.

Peter, indeed, to whom the angels sent the message, was disposed, by his sanguine temper, to give a little more credit to their words than the rest: possibly because the messengers from the heavenly Canaan had done him the honour 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 the disciples.

As soon as 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 what had happened.

CHAP. XLIII.

Jesus appears on divers Occasions to different Disciples. Reproves and convinces Thomas of his Unbelief. Shews himself to a great number of his Followers in Galilee.

SOON after the women's first return to

the disciples with the news 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 bad lately happened among them, concerning the life and doctrine, and of the report that was just spread among his disciples of his being that very morning risen from the dead, Jesus himself overtook them, and joined company with them.

As he appeared 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 sorrowful and dejected as if they had met with some heavy disappointment?

One of them, whose name was Cleophas, 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, and not have heard the surprising events that have happened No. 17.

there? Events that have astonished the whole city, and are now the constant topic of conversation among all the inhabitants?" Jesus asked, 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 a teacher sent from God; and accordingly was highly venerated among 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 persuasion we 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.

This very morning, indeed, a thing) happened, 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 the city, and informed us, that they had been at the sepulchre, but were disappointed in not finding the body; and to increase our surprise they added, that they had seen a vision of angels, who told them that Jesus was risen from the dead.

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 by the counsel of Omnipotence for the Messiah to suffer in this manner, and that, after sustaining the greatest indignities, reproach, and contempt, from the malice and perverseness of mankind, and even undergoing an ignominious and cruel death, he should be exalted to a glorious and eternal kingdom? 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.

And 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 strapger 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 whither they were going, and Jesus seemed as if he would have passed on and travelled farther, they, desirous of his company, pressed him, in the strongest manner, to tarry with them that night, as it was then late.

To this request the great Redeemer of mankind consented; 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 beloved Master.

But they had then no time to express their joy and astonishment to their benevolent Redeemer; for he immediately vanished out of their sight.

As soon as they found their Master was departed, they said one to another, How slow and stupid were we before, not to know him upon the road, while he explained to us the scriptures; when, besides the affability of his discourse, and the strength and clearness of his argument, we perceived such an authority in what he said, and such a powerful efficacy attending his words, and striking our hearts with affection, that we could not but have known him, if we had not been remarkably stupid, to have been the very same that used to accompany his teaching, and was peculiar to it.

This surprising event would not admit them to stay any longer at Emmaus. They returned that very night to Jerusalem, and found the apostles 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."

They had given little credit to the reports of the women, 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. And their belief 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 breaking of bread.

While the disciples from Emmaus were thus describing the manner of the appearance of Jesus to them, and offering arguments to convince those who doubted the