CHAPTER XXVII.

THE RESURRECTION.

WE call the first day in the week Sunday, because our heathen ancestors so called it in honor of the sun; we call it also the Lord's day, because it was the day of our Lord's resurrection; and sometimes the sabbath, in imitation of the Jews, because it is our day of rest from the busy pursuits of life, dedicated to the public worship of God, and to various other uses in accordance with the spirit of the gospel of Jesus Christ, and fitted to refresh and gladden our minds.

Early in the morning of this day, before it was light, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joses, Joanna, and Salome, went to the sepulchre, taking with them sweet spices to anoint the Savior's body. As they drew near they said one to another, Who will roll away the stone for us?' But, looking up, they saw that the stone was rolled away. Mary Magdalene waited only to see that the body was not there, and then ran to Peter and John,

and said, 'They have taken away the Lord out of the sepulchre, and we know not where they have laid him.' They ran in all haste to the sepulchre. In the mean time, a vision of angels had informed the other women that Jesus had risen from the dead, and they went away. Peter and John soon came to the sepulchre, and went in, and saw the grave clothes lying, and that Jesus was indeed not there. Yet it did not occur to them that he had risen, they believed that it was as Mary Magdalene had said, that some persons had taken away the Lord. The facts were these, that there had been an earthquake, and the angel of the Lord had descended from heaven, and rolled away the stone from the entrance: his countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow, and for fear of him the soldiers who guarded the tomb trembled and became as dead men. While they were in this stupor Jesus appears to have arisen and departed from the tomb. When they recovered, they went into the city and told the Chief Priests what had happened. They bribed the soldiers to be silent as to the truth, and to say, His disciples came by night, and stole him away while we

slept,' promising, at the same time, to secure them from the consequences of such a confessed neglect of duty and discipline. Having determined to destroy Jesus and his doctrine, they could not be convinced of his mission by any miracle; nor could they be turned aside from their purpose by the necessity for using any fraud or falsehood: they plunged deeper and deeper into crime.

When Peter and John had convinced themselves that Jesus was not there, they went home again; but Mary Magdalene stood weeping outside the sepulchre, and as she wept she looked in and saw two angels in white garments, sitting one at the head, and the other at the feet where Jesus had lain. They said, Woman, why art thou weeping?' She answered, 'Because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him.' She then turned back, and saw Jesus standing; but did not, through her tears, see that it was he. The Lord said, Woman, why art thou weeping? Whom art thou seeking?' She thought he was the gardener, and said to him, Sir, if thou hast borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take

him away.' Jesus said, Mary!' She turned and looked full at him, and said, 'Rabboni!' that is, Teacher! and appears to have fallen at his feet, clinging to him in the eagerness of her joy; for Jesus said, ' Touch me not; for I have not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father and your Father, and to my God and your God.' And she went and told these things to his disciples.

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CHAPTER XXVIII.

FURTHER MANIFESTATIONS OF CHRIST.

Two or the disciples who had heard of the sepulchre being found empty, but not of the appearance of Jesus to Mary Magdalene, went on the same day to Emmaus, a village a few miles from Jerusalem. As they were going, Jesus joined them, but they did not know him. He remarked their sadness, and drew from them an account of what had happened, as they believed it. Having heard their tale, he called their attention to the scriptures in which the sufferings, death, and resurrection of Christ were foretold, and reproached them for not seeing that all had happened as it was foretold. They seem to have been greatly interested in his discourse, for when they came to Emmaus they pressed him earnestly, as the evening was coming on, to go in and rest with them, and take some refreshment. He consented: and as they were at table, he took bread, blessed it, and having broken it, gave it to them. Here were the very words, tones, and manner of