no more than our bodies could have been delivered from the darkness of the grave, had he himself remained under the chains of death. We should have wandered about the earth without a supreme felicity, though without a smarting punishment. But by his glory we have a certain evidence, that we are not only freed from the dominion of death, but made heirs of life, and have a pledge in our hands that we shall enjoy it. If we have a union with him by faith, and a communion with him in the power of his death, there is no doubt but we shall have a communion with him in the felicities of his heavenly glory: and to such a confirmation of our faith and hope was an entrance into his glory necessary.-CHARNOCK. And he went in to tarry with them. -When they came to Emmaus, he went into the same house, through their earnest request, and sat down with them to table. At this repast he blessed and distributed the bread, according to his former manner, perhaps with the solemnity of the Sacramental Supper; and immediately the dimness, which had been cast over their eyes, was removed, and they recognized the person of their beloved master. But, the end of his appearance being answered, he instantly withdrew from their sight. As they reviewed this singular occurrence, they wondered at their own stupidity, remarking that they might have known him from the extraordinary energy of his words, and the effect produced in their minds. They said one to another, "Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the Scriptures?" Their doubts were all removed; they felt a rational conviction of their Lord's resurrection, and perceived that every thing had happened in perfect consistence with God's declarations. That same evening they returned to Jerusalem, where they found the Apostles assembled toge ther, and exulting in the thought that their Lord was risen indeed, and had shown himself to Peter. The different accounts were then compared; and yet, decisive as these testimonies were, some at least in the company withheld their assent; or, perhaps, allowing the accounts, concluded that his spirit only had been seen, and that his body, if revived, was carried up to heaven. How gracious and condescending was the Saviour to these weak, doubting, and incredulous disciples! To satisfy their scruples, and prove incontestably that his reanimated body yet remained upon earth, he manifested himself again that very hour.-ROBINSON. HYMN. Light of the world, shine on our souls; Thy grace to us afford; And, while we meet to learn thy truth, Be thou our teacher, Lord. As once Thou didst thy word expound, Its riches, sweetness, power, and depth, Its holiness discern ; 39 Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have. 45 Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures, 46 And said unto them, "Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: 47 And that repentance and ' remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48 And 'ye are witnesses of these things. 49 ¶And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high. 40 And when he had thus spoken, he shewed them his hands and his feet. 50 And he led them out 41 And while they yet be- "as far as to Bethany, and he lifted up his hands, and blessed | said, "Peace be unto you.” O Saviour, them. g Mark xvi. 14. John xx. 19. 1 Cor. xv. 5.-h Mark vi. 49.-i John xx. 20, 27.-k Gen. xlv. 26.- John xxi. 5.-m Acts x. 41.-n Mat. xvi. 21: & xvii. 22; & xx. 18. Mark viii. 31. ch. ix. 22; & xviii 31. ver. 6.- Acts xvi. 14.-p ver. 26. Ps. xxii. Is. 1. 6; & liii. 2, &c. Acts xvii.3.-q Dan. ix. 24. Acts xiii. 38, 46. 1 John ii. 12.-r Gen. xii. 3. Ps. xxii. 27. Is. xlix. 6, 22. Jer. xxxi. 34. Hos. ii. 23. Mic. iv. 2. Mal. i. 11.-s John xv. 27. Acts i. 8, 22; & ii. 32; & iii. 15.- Is. xlvi. 3. Joel ii. 28. John xiv. 16, 26; & xv. 26; & xvi. 7. Acts i.4; & ii. 1, &c.-u Acts i. 12.- 2 Kings ii. 11. Mark xvi. 19. John xx. 17. Acts i. 9. Eph. iv. 8.-y Mat. xxviii. 9, 17.- Acts 46; & v. 42. how thou camest in hither, I wonder, I inquire not: I know not what a glorified body can do; I know there is nothing that thou canst not do. Had not thine entrance been recorded for strange and supernatural, why was thy standing in the midst noted before thy passage into the room? Why were the doors said to be shut while thou camest in? Why were thy disciples amazed to see thee ere they heard thee? Doubtless, they that once before took thee for a spirit when thou didst walk upon the waters, could not but be astonished to see thee, while the doors were barred, without any noise of thy entrance to stand in the midst : well might they think, thou couldst not thus be there, if thou wert not the God of spirits. There might seem more scruple of thy reality than of thy power; and therefore, after thy wonted greeting, thou showedst them thy hands and thy feet, stamped with the impressions of thy late sufferings. Thy respiration shall argue the truth of thy life. Thou breathest on them as a man, thou givest them thy Spirit as a God; and as God and man thou sendest them on the great errand of thy gospel.-HALL. READER. Jesus himself stood in the midst of them, &c.-Those disciples, whose flight scattered them upon their Master's apprehension, are now, at night, like a dispersed covey, met together by their mutual call: their assembly is secret; when the light was shut in, when the doors were shut up. Still were they fearful, still were the Jews malicious. The assured tidings of their Master's resurrection and life hath filled their hearts with joy and wonder. While their thoughts and speech are taken up with so happy a subject, his miraculous and sudden presence bids their senses be witnesses of his reviving and their happiness. "When the doors were shut, where the disciples were as--Whensoever I think of my blessed sembled, for fear of the Jews, came Jesus, and stood in the midst, and Thus it is written, and thus it be hoved Christ to suffer, &c. See Commentary on vrs. 26, 27. While he blessed them he was parted from them and carried up into Heaven. Saviour, the Sun of righteousness, I apprehend, or rather by the eye of faith, I behold him in the highest heavens, there shining in glory and splendour infinitely greater than any mortal eye can bear, invested with supreme majesty, honour, and authority over the whole creation. I behold him there surrounded with an innumerable company of holy angels, as so many fixed stars, and of glorified saints, as planets, enlightened by him: all his satellites or servants waiting upon him, ready upon all occasions to reflect and convey his benign influences or favour to his people upon earth. I see him yonder, by his own light, I behold him displaying his bright beams, and diffusing his light round about, over his whole church, both that which is triumphant in heaven, and that which is militant here on earth; that all the members of it may see all things belonging to their peace. I behold him continually sending down his quickening Spirit upon those that are baptized into, and believe in, his holy name, to regenerate them, to be a standing principle of a new and divine life in them. I behold him there manifesting himself and causing his face to shine upon those who look up to him, so as to refresh and cheer their spirits, to make them brisk and lively, and able to run "with patience the race that is set before them." I behold him there continually issuing forth his Holy Spirit, to actuate and influence the administration of his word and sacraments; that all who duly receive them may thereby grow in grace, and be fruitful in every good word and work. I behold the Sun of righteousness shining with so much power and efficacy upon his church, that all the good works that are done in it, though imperfect in themselves, do notwithstanding appear through him as good and righteous in the sight of God himself, and are accordingly rewarded by him. In short, as the sun was made to govern the day, so I behold the Sun of righteousness as governing his church, and ordering all things both within and without it, so as to make them work together for the good of those who love God, till he hath brought them all to himself, to live with them in the highest heavens, where they shall also, by his means, "shine forth as the sun" in the kingdon of their Father for ever; Matt. xiii. 43. Could we keep these and such like thoughts of our blessed Saviour always fresh in our minds, could we be always thus looking upon him, as the Sun of righteousness shining continually upon us and his whole church, what holy, what heavenly, what comfortable lives should we then lead! We should then despise the pomps and vanities of this wicked world as nothing, as less than nothing, in comparison of this most glorious sun and his righteousness. We should then, with St. Paul, "count all things but loss in comparison of the knowledge of Jesus Christ our Lord," and should "count them but dung, that we may win Christ, and be found in him; not having our own righteousness which is of the law, but that which is of God by faith;" Phil. iii. 8, 9. We should 1 then leave gazing upon the trifles of the lower world, and should be always looking up to the Sun of righteousness, so as to be enlightened by him, Psalm xxxiv. 5, with such a light as will discover to us the glories of the other world together with the way that leads to it. We should then abhor and detest the works of darkness, and walk as the children of light, and accordingly shine as lights in the world. And then we should have the light of God's countenance shining continually upon us, and enlightening, enlivening, and refreshing our whole souls, and purifying both our hearts and lives, so as to make us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light; in that everlasting light which comes from the Sun of righteousness, who liveth and reigneth with the Father and the Holy Ghost, one God, blessed for ever.-BEVERIDGE. § CCXXV. CHAP. I. 1-18. ACCORDING TO In the beginning "was the Word, and the Word was 'with God, and the Word was God. HYMN. 'Tis the Saviour! seraphs, raise THE GOSPEL Lift, ye saints, lift up your eyes; Heaven unfolds its portals wide: Praise Him, all ye heavenly choirs, ST. JOH N. 2 The same was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made by The divinity, humanity, and office of him; and without him was not Jesus Christ. any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men. 5 And "the light shineth in |
