those who accompanied our Lord from Capernaum, appear now to have been convinced that Jesus of Nazareth was he of whom Moses and the prophets did write; and their impression of this fact was so powerful, arising from the miracle which they had seen, that they spread the report of it throughout all Judea, and throughout all the region round about. So deep and general was the conviction produced by this effect of divine power, that John the Baptist heard of it in prison; and anxious to be released from his confinement, and to be again actively employed in the service of his Lord, he sends a message, somewhat peevishly, to remind Jesus indirectly of his present situation; and probably to suggest to him, that in making choice of his apostles, he who had been his forerunner had been overlooked. He would probably say to himself, "Might not He who has restored the dead to life rescue me, if he chose, from my present confinement? While I am suffered to remain in prison, others are the witnesses of his miracles, and are appointed to reap the harvest, the seed of which I have sown. Go and remind Jesus of my situation, by asking, whether he be indeed the Messiah promised to the fathers by the prophets." The answer returned by our Saviour to this question contained an enumeration of the various kinds of miracles which he performed in testimony of the validity of his claims, and the truth and divine authority of his doctrine.

25. In conclusion, I cannot but remark, that in the persons raised from the dead by our Lord, there was a compassionate regard shown to the operation of natural affection. Of the three persons restored to life during the exercise of his ministry, one was the only daughter of Jairus; the other, the only brother of Martha and Mary; and the third, the only son of a widow. From which circumstance we learn, that the disciples of Christ, when called to mourn the death of near relations and friends, may be assured of his sympathy. He is still touched with the feeling of our infirmities; and though his designs

in the established course of providence do not admit of a miraculous interposition for the purpose of restoring them to life, he will send strength and consolation into our hearts. Were he on earth, he would say to such of his followers as thus mourn, 66 Weep not." He would direct their hopes to that world of rest and blessedness, into which neither sorrow nor death can enter; and he would tell them, that with such an inheritance in view, the separations which the last enemy now makes among those who are dear to each other ought not to be lamented with extreme sorrow. There is not a sigh that rises from their hearts but is known and regarded by the compassionate Redeemer; and in having to do with this merciful High Priest, their very afflictions engage on their behalf his sympathy and aid. Though now exalted up on high, he still says to them, "Let not your hearts be troubled, neither be afraid. I have gone to prepare mansions for you and I will come again and receive you to myself, that where I am there ye may be also. Fear not, then, for I am the First and the Last, and the Living One, and behold I am alive for evermore, and have the keys of hell and of death. Be ye faithful unto death, and I will give you a crown of life."

CHAPTER III.

ON THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS.

1. SUCH is the importance of the resurrection of our Lord in determining the truth and divine authority of the Christian religion, that the whole cause may be considered as resting upon it. Its reality proves the truth of the Old Testament by the fulfilment of its prophecies, as well as the inspiration of Christ by the exact accomplishment of

the predictions which he had delivered. It was a satisfactory and complete attestation of the validity of his claims to a divine mission and character; as it was the seal of Heaven to every doctrine he had taught. It was the decided declaration of God's acceptance of that atoning sacrifice by which Jesus finished transgression, made an end of sin, made reconciliation for iniquity, and brought in everlasting righteousness; and, consequently, it was a proof of the justification and safety of all who receive him as their Saviour. It was the preliminary step to his possession of universal dominion and glory; as it is the pledge and earnest to all his followers of victory over death, and of a resurrection to everlasting life. To it both our Lord and his apostles appealed as the test of his divine mission, and as the great fact by which the truth of Christianity is determined. "If Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ.-If Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. Then they also who are fallen asleep in Christ are perished."

2. The resurrection of our Lord, then, may be considered as not only important to the truth of Christianity, but as indispensable to its divine authority. If Jesus had not foretold his own resurrection, and appealed to it as the test of his veracity, his followers would have regarded him as a prophet mighty in word and in deed, though he had never returned from the grave: but having laid claim to the character of the promised Messiah, and having rested the truth of his declaration on the fulfilment of his own predictions regarding his resurrection, his rising from the dead on the third day was essential to prove that he was the messenger of God: and as it was necessary to establish his character even as a prophet, so it was a sufficient attestation of his being the Son of God. Nothing short of this event could have proved any of his claims to be well

founded; but its actual occurrence is the seal of Heaven to the truth of them all.

3. I shall, in the first place, briefly notice the circumstances of the resurrection of our Lord, as stated by the evangelists. Secondly, the indirect or circumstantial evidence of the reality of this event. Thirdly, the positive testimony of the witnesses of the fact, and their competency as witnesses. Fourthly, the grounds we have for relying with perfect confidence on the truth of their testimony.

4. (I.) We are to notice the circumstances of the resurrection of our Lord. These are presented to our view in the artless narratives of four historians, whose testimony. is not the less valuable that they were Christians, and were sincerely convinced of the truth of what they relate.

5. Our Lord, after he had previously endured extreme sufferings, was condemned to the death of the cross. He expired six hours after he had been nailed to the tree; but as if to put the question of the reality of his death out of all doubt, one of the soldiers drove a spear into his side, and immediately blood and water flowed out of it,—

a physical demonstration that death had for some time taken place." As he was led out to be crucified, we are informed that a great company of his friends and acquaintance followed be wailing and lamenting him. Among the persons who stood by his cross, were his mother, and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene. These, with the exception of the mother of Jesus, whom the beloved disciple took to his own house, remained till the supernatural darkness was over, and till our Lord yielded up the spirit. After he had been laid in the tomb, and the great stone had been rolled to its door, the two Marys still waited at the sepulchre, and sat over against it. They, in concert with other pious women, agreed to embalm their Lord's body on the morning of the third day; and while, with that view, they made

whatever preparation they could during that evening, they rested on the Sabbath according to the commandment.

6. But the rulers of the Jews, unmindful of the sanctity of the day, were busily employed in waiting upon Pilate to obtain a guard to watch the sepulchre, lest, as they alleged, his disciples should come by night and steal away the body, and say unto the people, He is risen from the dead. "Pilate said unto them, Ye have a watch, go your way, make it as sure as ye can. So they went, and made the sepulchre sure, sealing the stone, and setting a watch." Every thing connected with the sepulchre was thus as secure as they could render it, and in this state it remained on the evening of the Sabbath. But on the following morning, rather before the dawn of day, or as it began to dawn, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it. His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow; and for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men. In the mean time "the Holy One of God arose, in a manner which no one of the evangelists offers to describe. The soldiers of the guard, recovering themselves somewhat, went into the city, and some of them proceeded to the chief priests and elders, and related what had taken place: they, when they had taken counsel together, gave large money unto the soldiers, saying, Say ye, His disciples came by night and stole him away while we slept and if this come to the governor's ears, we will suade him and secure you. So they took the did as they were taught."

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money, and

7. Ignorant of what had happened at the sepulchre, and not even knowing that a guard of Roman soldiers had been appointed to watch it, the two Marys, together with Salome the wife of Zebedee, set out at the earliest dawn to go to the sepulchre, intending to begin the preparations for embalming the body, according to the customs of their country. As they approached they said among themselves,