entrance, but were extremely surprised to perceive that the body was gone.

Maria. Did they not then recollect what our Lord had said concerning his resurrection?

Aunt. They did not; nor did they fully believe it, when it was told them by the angels: for, while they were in the tomb, there appeared two angels in shining garments; and they were afraid. The angels said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead? Fear not: for we know that ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He is not here, for he is risen: remember how he spake to you, when he was yet in Galilee, saying, The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again. Come, see the place where the Lord lay; and go and tell his disciples, particularly Peter, that he is risen from the dead. They immediately left the sepulchre, and went in haste to find the disciples, their minds being filled with joy and wonder.

Maria. What an inexpressible pleasure this must be to the disciples!

Aunt. On the contrary, they believed them not: their words seemed as idle tales. But Peter and John ran to the sepulchre. John, arriving first, stooped down, and, looking in, saw the linen clothes lying. Peter, coming up, being more bold, went directly in besides the clothes, he saw the napkin that was about his head, lying in a separate place; John then went in, and saw the same things, upon which they concluded the body was removed, and so departed. Mary Magdalene, who had followed

them, not understanding that her Lord was risen, and still supposing he must have been removed, stood weeping by the sepulchre; and, looking into it, she saw two angels in bright apparel, sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, the one at the head, the other at the feet, like the cherubim at each end of the ark. The angels asked her, why she wept. She answered, Because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him. And when she had thus said, she turned back, and saw Jesus standing, who asked her the same question. She, supposing him to be the gardener, begged of him to tell her whither he had removed the body, that she might take care of it. Jesus, to recompense her for her solicitude concerning him, called her by name: upon which she immediately knew him, and in a transport of joy cried out, Rabboni! my Master! Jesus told her to go to his brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father and your Father, and to my God and your God. Mary, in obedience to the command, went and told the disciples, that she had seen the Lord, and that he had spoken these things unto her; but they believed her not.

Maria. To whom did our Lord appear next?

Aunt. To the other women who had been at the sepulchre with the spices, addressing them by the salutation then in use, All hail! upon which they fell down at his feet, and worshipped him. Jesus bade them fear nothing, but go and tell his brethren that they should see him in Galilee. The same day, as two of his disciples were walking to a village

called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, conversing about the transactions that had so lately taken place, Jesus himself overtook them.

Maria. How rejoiced they must be to see the Lord!

Aunt. Our Lord did not think proper immediately to make himself known, but began conversing with them, inquiring why they appeared so sorrowful, One of them, whose name was, Cleophas, replied, Art thou only a stranger in Jerusalem, and hast not known the things which have so lately taken place? He asked, What things? They answered, Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, a prophet mighty in word and deed before God and all the people; whom the chief priests and governors have delivered to death; but we trusted that it was He who should have redeemed Israel. Now this is the third day since these things were done; and, besides all this, we heard from some women of our own company, who were early at the sepulchre this morning, that they had seen a vision of angels, who informed them that he was alive: this was confirmed by, some of us who went to the sepulchre, and found all things as the women had said, but him they saw not. Our Lord then rebuked them for their unbelief, saying unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Ought not Christ to have suffered these things before he entered into his glory? Then, beginning at Moses, and going through the prophets, he explained the types and prophecies concerning himself. When they came to the village, our Lord made as though he would have gone farther, but they constrained him, saying,

Abide with us, for it is toward evening. He readily complied with their request: and as he sat at meat, he took bread and blessed it, and brake, and gave to them. Upon this, their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight, or ceased to be seen of them.

George. What did they think of his disappearing so suddenly?

Aunt. Their minds did not dwell upon that; but, in astonishment they said, Did not our hearts burn within us, while he opened to us the scriptures, and talked to us by the way? And they rose up that same hour to go to Jerusalem to communicate the joyful tidings. There they found the apostles, and others with them. They then told them that the Lord was indeed risen, and had appeared to Simon; and while they were relating how the Lord conversed with them by the way, and was made known to them in breaking of bread, Jesus himself stood in the. midst, and said unto them, Peace be unto you!

Maria. What joy this must cause !

Aunt. It seems at first to have occasioned very different sensations, for they were terrified and affrighted, supposing they had seen a spirit; but Jesus, to calm the tumult of their minds, assured them that it was he himself; bidding them look at his wounded hands and feet; giving them leave to handle him, saying, that a spirit had not flesh and bones. They were now so transported with joy and wonder, they could scarcely believe the truth of what they saw, till Jesus asked them whether they had any meat; upon which they gave him a piece

of a broiled fish, and of a honey-comb: and he did eat before them all. Then, as Mark relates, he reproved them for their unbelief in not giving credit to those who had already seen him, declaring that what they now saw he had told them before; that all things must be accomplished that had been written in the law and the prophets, and in the psalms: then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures.

You see, my dears, that whatever advantages you may have in the company and instruction of serious and pious friends, you may remain ignorant as to the spiritual meaning of things; for even the disciples, who had been taught by Jesus, could not receive his word in the spirituality of it, till he opened their understandings. Pray then to the Lord to open and enlarge the faculties of your minds, that you may understand the things concerning him; that your eyes may be opened, that you may see Jesus, as your Lord and your God.

Our blessed Lord then gave his apostles a commission to go and preach repentance and remission of sins in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. All this took place on the first day of the week, which, in honour of the resurrection, is kept as the sabbath by christians.

George. Did our Lord appear to them after this? Aunt. He did; but we cannot proceed any farther at present.