declared that they were ready to encounter persecution, and torture, and death itself in testimony of the truth of this sublime and all important fact. They said; "We are eye-witnesses of his resurrection, and here is our proof in the miracles which we perform by virtue of his authority and power. It is not in our own name, but in his that we heal the sick, and cast out devils, and raise the dead."

With such evidence then, presented to their very senses, what excuse can be alleged for their unbelief? No excuse can be offered: they hardened their hearts and shut out conviction from their mind: and in them was fulfilled the declaration of the patriarch Abraham in the parable, "If they believe not Moses and the Prophets, neither will they believe though one rose from the dead."

And now, dear brethren, let me add, in conclusion, a few practical reflections to all that I have advanced.-If God has

graciously secured to us so important a record of all that Jesus began both to do and teach whilst upon earth; how zealously should we study both his discourses and his actions, and endeavour, by strength from on high, to copy the one, and to believe and obey the other! There is no knowledge to be compared in point either of interest or of importance with the knowledge of Jesus. "This is life eternal," (I quote his own declaration) "to know the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent." "Yea, doubtless," exclaims the Apostle Paul, "and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung that I may win Christ, and be found in him, not having mine own righteousness which is of the law, but that which is through faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith, that I may know him, and the power of his resurrection,

and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death."

Of the actions and the sayings of other men we may remain ignorant, and suffer no loss. But with the actions of Jesus we have all intimately and everlastingly to do. What he did, he did for us men and for our salvation. For us he fulfilled the law-working out for us a robe of spotless righteousness, in which, as believers, we may stand accepted in the presence of a holy God, and sit down at the marriage supper of the Lamb. In his whole conduct also he has "set us an example that we should walk in his steps." With his doings, then, we should make ourselves familiar, as with the copy which we should aspire to imitate, and as the standard we should strive to reach.But in order to do this effectually and to any saving purpose we must seek to have the same mind in us which was also in Christ Jesus. Unless his Spirit be in us we are distinctly assured that we are none of his.

And then as to all that our Redeemer said and taught, how important that we should give it a hearty and an unreserved reception. The words which he spake, they are spirit, and they are life. Never man spake like this man. But it is not enough to admire and commend them. They must be treasured up in our memories and in our hearts-they must influence our conversation in the world -they must purify and prepare us for communion with him in heaven.

"Now

are ye clean," says he to his disciples, "through the word which I have spoken unto you." " 'Sanctify them through thy truth thy word is truth."

Forget not at the same time the sufferings of Christ and the glory which followed. Oh what sufferings were those which this evangelist so touchingly records in his gospel narrative! Think of his passion in the garden-think of his soul sorrowful even unto death-think of his unutterable grief, forcing great drops

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of blood from his agonized brow-think of his "strong crying and tears unto him that was able to deliver him from death, and was heard in that he feared,”—and remember that in all that he suffered, he suffered for you the "just for the unjust, that he might bring you unto God."

Remember, also, that for you he shewed himself alive after his passion-having been put to death in the flesh, he was quickened by the Spirit-having been crucified through weakness, he now liveth by the power of God. And what a ground of unspeakable consolation have you here! "Fear not," says he, "I am the First and the Last I am He that liveth and was dead; and behold I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death."-Every infallible proof of your Lord's resurrection is assuredly a pledge of your own. For what is your connection with Jesus, provided only you are united to him by a living faith? Your connection with him is the most intimate that can be conceived-it is that of branches incor