withered branches, but living and fruitful branches of that living vine. Being such, we shall join in that joyful ascription of praise, "Unto Him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in His own blood, and hath made us kings and priests unto God and His Father; to Him be glory and dominion for ever and ever, Amen,"1

Behold He cometh with clouds, and every eye shall see Him." We shall see Him who lay in the manger, who was despised and rejected of men; who endured the agony of Gethsemane, and the shame and death of the cross; we shall see Him coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.

Whom having not seen may we be taught to love; and in Him, though now we see Him not, to rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory.2

1 Rev. i. 5, 6. 21 Peter i. 8.

THIRD SERIES.

XI.

Che Resurrection and Ascension.

LUKE xxiv. 36-53.-" And as they thus spake, Jesus himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. But they were terrified and affrighted, and supposed that they had seen a spirit. And he said unto them, Why are ye troubled, and why do thoughts arise in your hearts? 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. And when he had thus spoken, he shewed them his hands and his feet. And while they yet believed not for joy, and wondered, he said unto them, Have ye here any meat? And they gave him a piece of a broiled fish, and of an honeycomb. And he took it, and did eat before them. And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the

psalms concerning me. Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the Scriptures. And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. And ye are witnesses of all these things. 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. And he led them out as far as to Bethany: and he lifted up his hands and blessed them. And it came to pass while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven. And they worshipped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy: And were continually in the temple, praising and blessing God. Amen."

AMIDST all the terrible sorrow, and deep anguish and dismay, with which the crucifixion and death of our blessed Lord had filled His followers, we read of some faithful women who followed those who bore Him to the tomb, and saw how His body was laid; and who prepared spices and ointments, with which they might anoint Him, on the day after the Sabbath. With what feelings must they have approached the sepulchre in the dusk of that early morning; doubtful how they should get the stone rolled away; whether they should be able to reach

that sacred body. What sadness, and what love must have been in their hearts. They thought they were about to perform the last sad task of love; they little thought that they should have the privilege of being the first to know that He had risen from the dead. Suddenly there bursts on them the fact, that the stone is rolled away; they see it already rolled back. Then they behold the angels; those angels who apparently had been permitted to wait on our Lord in the tomb, and when He arose and laid aside the garments of the grave. There had been a mighty earthquake, and an angel of terrible majesty had descended from heaven and rolled back the stone. Then there is the appearance of our Lord Himself; and the message to His disciples, telling them He is risen from the dead, which they cannot believe, but count it idle tales; and some run to the tomb to see if it can be true, and find it empty. What amazement, and confusion, what perplexity, and joy, and hope, and fear, would be contending in the hearts of the disciples on that wonderful day, as one told another the things they had witnessed, or the reports they had heard. Two of them we are told, were going together to Emmaus, and talked of these things by the way; sad of heart, for they had trusted it had been He which should have redeemed Israel, and He had been