bought, they spared also no exertion of their own; no wakefulness, no sacrifice of rest and sleep. And shall we slothfully linger in our beds when we might healthfully and profitably "arise, and be doing." 1 Chron. 22. 16. Shall we choose, as do many, the very first day of the week, here mentioned, for the indulgence of more than ordinary laziness? Rather let us, by diligence and self-denial in early rising, redeem as far as possible the time we may yet have given us. Rather let us, on the Lord's day above all others, be wakeful and watchful; seeking and delighting, early and late, to sound his praises, and to learn his will.

And now observe the holy resolution of these women in the work they had in hand. They were aware indeed that it would be no easy matter, to enter where the body of Christ was laid. "They said among themselves, Who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the sepulchre ?" "for it was very great." They had no prospect of obtaining entrance by any means they knew of. Yet none the less did they prepare the spices, and rise up early to the undertaking. "And when they looked, they saw that the stone was rolled away." An angel appearing in the form of a young man had made open the entrance they desired. And so for us also will the spirits, who "minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation," Heb. 1. 14, for us also, if we have faith and diligence, will they roll away the stone which is beyond our strength, and make ready our entrance to the place we look for.

Let us hence learn, in the discharge of any duty we have to do, never to be discouraged by apprehended obstacles, or hindered from making all such preparations, and endeavours, for its performance, as lie in our power. It is "the slothful man," as Solomon remarks, that "saith there is a lion in the way." Prov. 22. 13. When we fail in the most difficult of our duties, it is rather for lack of zeal and inclination, for lack of diligent exertion in the attempt, than from any thing insuperable in the impediments they present. Let us resolve, therefore, however hard our task, to have every thing on our part prepared; to be early at our work, and earnest in our prayers. Let us learn from these women a holy resolution; a faith like that of Noah, who, "being warned of God of things not seen as yet," "prepared an ark to the saving of his house; like that of Abraham, who, being called to a place which he should afterwards receive for an inheritance, "went out, not knowing whither he went." Heb. 11. 7, 8. Then shall we find removed the obstacle we most feared, the stone we most apprehended, "rolled away." Then shall we be saved, where we least durst hope for help. Then shall we condemn the world; that is, prove by our success the wickedness of worldly fear and worldly sloth. Then shall we become heirs "of the righteousness which is by faith;" and shall enter, as we scarce could venture to expect, the "city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God." Heb. 11. 7, 10.

Christ appeareth to Mary Magdalene, and to the eleven.

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.

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; 14 Afterward he appeared unto they shall lay hands on the sick, the eleven as they sat at meat,and and they shall recover.

LECTURE 174.

How we must help to make others believe.

Jesus, after rising from the dead, vouchsafed to be seen by the same faithful women, whose fitness to be witnesses had been proved in their attendance at the sepulchre and at the cross. "He appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven devils." Wherein we see the condescension of our Lord to one, who had been so fearfully taken captive by Satan at his will. See 2 Tim. 2. 26. So that we ought never, by too strict exclusion from our society of those who have greatly sinned, to refuse, as it were, room for repentance; and to run risk of rejecting those, whom God has through Christ accepted. For most plainly may we here discern the efficacy of that contrition and faith, which was blest with this preference in the manifestation of Christ. And most thankfully may we conclude for ourselves, that however fully we have been possessed by evil spirits, whether by pride or passion, falsehood, intemperance, covetousness, or uncharitableness, we may none the less, if only Christ have cast them out, if only we have become faithful and devout, behold hereafter our Lord in glory.

The first use Mary made of this high privilege, was to go and tell them that had been with him, as they mourned and wept." This should teach us to be willing to communicate to others, especially to such as are in distress, the glad tidings of salvation. That" the poor have the gospel preached to them," Matt. 11. 5, was a sign of Christ's coming, and it is a good work which He hath left for Christians to maintain. We should all of us desire to have

a hand in it according to our ability. We should all gladly help to promote Christian knowledge, at home, and abroad. We should all have compassion" on the ignorant, and on them that are out of the way," Heb. 5. 2; affording to the heathen in foreign lands, and to the poor and profligate in our own, all help of instruction in righteousness.

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The apostles at the first "believed not." Neither afterwards believed they the two other disciples to whom Christ appeared as they went into the country." And so often it will be with those whom we help to instruct, either by our example and advice, or by our encouragement and assistance of those who teach and preach. Many times they believe not. Many times they persevere in refusing to believe. But none the less must we repeat our testimony, and renew, with patience, our work of love. For let us consider how momentous is the interest at stake; how awful the gospel alternative. "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned." Eternal condemnation is on the one hand; on the other is salvation unto everlasting life. And whatever may be the condition of those who never shall hear these tidings, they are such surely as it must greatly concern all to hear, and must greatly concern all who hear to believe. Let us labour, and spend, and persevere, to make them known to all we can. And let us hope that these will make them known to others. Let us hope, that by convincing and converting those nearest to ourselves, our words and works may go forth into the world, and help to "preach the gospel to every creature."

The signs which followed them that believe, in the age of the apostles, were miracles. In our own times the effectual evidence of faith is holiness of heart and life. And this also must be done in the same name by which the primitive believers cast out devils, spake with new tongues, took up without harm deadly serpents, and deadly drink, and laid hands upon the sick, and they recovered. It is in the name of Christ that we must work those marvels of grace and godliness, which are the best proof of our own faith, and the chief means of making others believe. Would that his holy name were less frequently pronounced in levity, and more often mentioned with reverence and love! Would that we might more often be heard to speak with the new tongues of truth and purity, what may minister grace unto the hearers!" Ephes. 4. 29. Would that we might learn to encounter without hurt" that old serpent called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world!" Rev. 12. 9. Would that we might watch, all of us, to take up without intemperance that drink which "maketh glad the heart of man," Ps. 104. 15, but which in excess is poison to the soul! Would that, by our medicine and alms, by our counsel, influence, and fervent prayers, we might help, not only the sick to recover, but them that are compassed with infirmity to be strong, and them that are sick at heart to be whole!

"

Christ is received up into heaven.

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.

LECTURE 175.

That we should in heart and mind ascend to heaven. The ascension of our Lord into heaven should teach us, ever in heart and mind thither to ascend. (See Collect, Ascension Day.) And for this purpose it is well that we should make the hope of heaven the subject of our very frequent reflections. It is scarce credible, if it were not that our own conscience so sadly confirms the report, that mankind should have continually before them so exceeding great and precious promises," 2 Pet. 1. 4, and yet so seldom think about the matter. We seem unable to bring home to our thoughts this truth in its proper force; to imagine with any liveliness of faith the prospect of our entering into a state of glory inconceivable. This prospect is as certain as God's word; if only we repent and obey the gospel. And this certainty has been graciously confirmed to us by the fact here recorded of our Lord's ascension. "So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven." In the form of man He spake to them, in the body wherewith He rose from the dead. In the same body, in the same form, " he was received up into heaven." He ceased to be seen by their wondering eyes. He was taken they knew not how, to a place they knew not where. Only they knew, and through them we know, that it was to heaven. And we know that where He is, there we, through his merits and mercy, may be also. See John 14. 3. And is it not most strange, that we think so seldom of our hope of being there?

Our Lord on being received into heaven sat, as St. Mark adds, "on the right hand of God." Herein we have fulfilled the many scriptures which express, by this figure of speech, his sovereign power, his dignity, his endless joy. "Hereafter," said He of Himself, "ye shall see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power." Matth. 26. 64. And again, that it expresses his dignity, we have this instance in the epistle to the Hebrews: "When he had by his power purged our sins," He "sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high." Heb. 1. 3. And of the joyfulness of that honourable place we have the testimony of the Psalmist in these words: "In thy presence is the fulness of joy;

and at thy right hand there is pleasure for evermore." Psalm 16. 11. Such are the terms to which the Spirit hath given utterance in holy writ, as expressing, what no terms can properly describe, where Christ our Lord now is! Such is the language by which God would have us to understand how high is his blessed Son, how much better than the angels;" Heb. 1. 4; how at the head of "all principality and power," Col. 2. 10; how all one with God Himself! Great should be our joy to think, that whilst there He sitteth, He ever maketh intercession for us! Heb. 7. 25. Great should be our thankfulness to know, that He is gone to prepare a place for us! See John 14. 2. Great should be our desire to go where He hath gone before! Great should be our love of Him, who at the first came thence for our redemption from sin, and thither was seen to return, for our greater encouragement in holiness!

The apostles fulfilled his commands by going forth, and preaching every where. And the Lord fulfilled his promise by "working with them, and confirming the word with signs following." And thus were the gentile nations induced to receive the gospel, by the miracles which its preachers were enabled to perform. And thus has it come to pass that we ourselves are Christians, have been brought up in the Christian faith; our fathers having received it, in succession, from those, who were convinced by the very miracles which the apostles wrought. Thus the signs, with which the Lord confirmed his word, are brought home in their result unto ourselves. And the preaching also of the apostles, which our fathers heard, has been made effectual, through their parental care, to our nurture in the knowledge of the gospel. Through many generations, and they oftentimes of weak or wicked men; through ages of gross ignorance, and periods of professed indifference to the doctrine of Christ crucified; there have been handed down to us, in their primitive simplicity, the pure elements of Christian faith, the unerring manuals of Christian practice. In the writings of the apostles we have all that is needful for man to know, whereby we may be saved. In the gospels, out of the many things which Christ said and did, we have recorded, enough to make us sure that He was the Christ, that should come to be the Saviour of the world. Let us be thankful for information so full, on topics of such supreme importance. Let us devoutly own, as we conclude each portion of the sacred book, how much we owe to God for the possession of it. Let us devoutly pray that we may understand it rightly, use it profitably, and meditate on it continually.

And, lastly, let us consider that the great use of such frequent communion with God, in the study of his will, is to make us more like to what He would have us be; to fit us for that place which He hath prepared for us to dwell in. "Here we have no continuing city;" Heb. 13. 14; as even Christ Himself in this his