AS IS THE EARTHY, SUCH ARE THEY ALSO THAT ARE EARTHY AND AS IS THE HEAVENLY, SUCH ARE THEY ALSO THAT ARE HEAVENLY.-1 Cor. xv. 48. PETER AND JOHN VISIT THE SEPULCHRE, p. 490. Mt.xxviii. Mk.xvi. Lu.xxiv. 12. Jno. xx. 3. Peter and John hasten to the sepulchre. - xx. 4, 5. The beloved disciple reaches the sepulchre first, and stooping down, sees the linen in which the body of Jesus had been wrapped. - xxiv.12. - xx. 6, 7. Peter having arrived, enters in, and sees not only the linen clothes, but also the napkin that was about MARY OF MAGDALA SEETH TWO ANGELS, p. 491. Mt.xxviii. Mk.xvi. Lu.xxiv. — Jno.xx.11-.3. As Mary remains outside the sepulchre weeping, she happens to stoop, and sees within the sepulchre two angels in white sitting, the one at the head, the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain. say to her, Woman, why weepest thou?' She answers as she had reported to the two disciples, only now she speaks for herself alone, saying, 'They have taken away мY LORD, and I know not where they have laid him.' They Mt.xxviii. Mk. xvi. 9. Lu. xxiv. Jno. xx. — Jesus having arisen early on this first day of the week, appears first to Mary Magdalene, who at one time seemed likely to be the last to enjoy such a favour. -xx. 14. Mary at the tomb had been complaining that the body of her Lord was removed, when she turns and sees Jesus, but does not at once recognise him. Jesus asks, as did the angel, 'Why weepest thou puts the question, Whom seekest thou?' xx. 15. Lu.xxiv. Jno. xx. 16. Mt.xxviii. Mk.xvi.Mary at length recognises the well-known voice, and exclaims, 'Rabboni!" - xx. 17. Mary would willingly have grasped the dead body of Jesus, and carried it where she could find for it a resting place: how much more gladly may she be supposed to embrace a living Christ, now returned no more to be taken from her ? But Jesus corrects her and mistake, saying, Touch me not; for I am 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.' -xvi.10,.1. - xx. 18. Mary Magdalene comes to the disciples while they mourn and weep; she tells them she has seen the Lord, and delivers them the message she received from the risen Redeemer, respecting his speedy ascension, but they believe her not. - xx. 15. Mary having her mind still fixed upon the one idea, that the body of Jesus is removed, supposes him to be the gardener, and beseeches him that if he has taken him hence, he would tell her where he is laid, that she may take him away. Jesus saith unto her, Mary.' - xx. 16. No. 93.-(G. 1.)-On the morning of the first day of the week, Sunday, the seventeenth of Nisan, the party of Salome visit the sepulchre of Jesus. Particulars of what transpires both without and within the sepulchre. An angel descends. Mt. xxviii. 1. In the end of the sabbath. The Jewish day began at the rising, and ended at the setting of the sun; all the rest of the time, from the setting to the rising of the sun, they termed night; hence the same word in Hebrew, signifies both evening and night, Ge. i. 5; Mk. vi. 47, § 41, p. 318. St. Matthew has employed the word in this extensive sense here, pointing out the latter part of the Jewish night, that which immediately preceded the rising of the sun, and not that first part which we call the evening. The transaction mentioned here, evidently took place early on the morning of the third day after our Lord's crucifixion; answering to our Sunday morning, or first day of the next week. To see the sepulchre. The true import of the word apñoal is to take a view; and thus implies their going to see if all things were in the same condition as when they had seen the body laid in the sepulchre. Mk. xvi. 1. Sweet spices. Aromatics. Substances used in embalming. The idea of sweetness is not implied in the original. Many of the substances used for embalming were bitter; as, e.g., myrrh; and none of them, perhaps, could properly be called sweet. The word spices expresses all that is in the original. PRACTICAL REFLECTION. Mk. xvi. 1, 2. Let us be thankful that on the first | day of the week we are invited to come, not with spices to embalm the dead body of Jesus, but with the incense of prayer and praise to rejoice in the triumphs and ascension of our risen and blessed Redeemer. * Τῆ ἐπιφωσκουση, Mt. xxviii. l, or Αίαν πρωΐ, Mk. xvi. 2, or Ορθρου βαθέος, Lu. xxiv. 1, Σκοτίας ἔτι οὔσης, Jno. xx. 1, are descriptions, as nearly as possible, of the same point of time, on the first day of the week, the 4847 DEATH IS SWALLOWED UP IN VICTORY.-1 Cor. xv. 54. [VOL. II. AND AS WE HAVE BORNE THE IMAGE OF THE EARTHY, WE SHALL ALSO BEAR THE IMAGE OF THE HEAVENLY.-1 Cor. xv. 49. THE HEARING EAR, AND THE SEEING EYE, THE LORD HATH MADE EVEN BOTH OF THEM.-Prov. xx. 12. MATT. xxviii. 2—4. 2 dAnd, behold, there- was a-great earthquake: for theangel of-the-Lord descended from heaven, and-came and-rolled-back the stone from the door, and sat upon 3 it. His countenance idea was like lightning, and his 4 raiment white as snow: and for fear of-him the keepers did-shake, and became as dead-men. MARK. Conversation of the women by the way.-MARK xvi. 3, 4. And they-said among themselves, Who shall-roll-us-away the stone 3 from the door of the sepulchre ? And when-they-looked, they-saw 4 that the stone was-rolled-away: for it-was very great. SCRIPTURE ILLUSTRATIONS. Mt. xxviii. 2. the angel of the Lord, &c.—1 Ti. iii. 16, And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels,' &c. 3. like lightning- Ps. civ. 4, 'Who maketh his angels spirits; his ministers a flaming fire: '-Da. x. 6, His face as the appearance of lightning,' raiment white as snow-so had Jesus appeared in the transfiguration, Mk. ix. 3, § 51, p. 53-Celestial beings are usually represented as clothed in white, NOTES. Mt. xxviii. 2. And, behold, there was a great earthquake. ""There had been," as in the margin.' [Mr. Alford says, This must not be taken as pluperfect, which would be altogether inconsistent with the text. καὶ ἰδοὺ ἐγένετο must mean that the women were witnesses of the earthquake, and that which happened. σouds was not properly an earthquake, but was the sudden opening of the tomb by the descending angel, as the yap shews. The rolling away was not done naturally, but by a shock, which Guós. It must not be supposed that the resurrection of the Lord took place at this time, as sometimes. imagined and represented in paintings. It had taken place before-nyipon, are the words of the angel. It was not for Him, to whom (see Jno. xx. 19, 26, § 95, p. 498.) the stone was no hindrance, but for the women and the disciples, it was rolled away.'-See footnote, first par.] 3. Like lightning. Corruscations of glory continually flaming from his face.'-A. C. His raiment white as snow. He was clothed in garments emblematical of the glad tidings which he came to announce. 4. The keepers... became as dead men. God can, by one and the same means, comfort his servants, and terrify his enemies. The resurrection of Christ is a subject of terror to the servants of sin, and a subject of consolation to the sons of God; because it is a proof of the resurrection of both, the one to shame and everlasting contempt-the other to eternal glory. Mk. xvi. 3. Who shall roll us away the stone. seems to have been the only difficulty they apprehended. So they knew nothing of the priests' having sealed the stone, and placed a guard of soldiers there. PRACTICAL REFLECTIONS. This Let us earnestly endeavour to awaken men to an early preparation for that day of the Lord. 3, 4 ver. How the wicked shall tremble when the Lord ariseth to shake terribly the earth! sixteenth of the Jewish Nisan, and the seventh of the Julian April, two parties of women, disciples of our Lord and natives of Galilee, who had concerted among themselves, so early as the evening of the Friday before, to meet at the holy sepulchre, and complete the embalment of the dead body of Christ-the one the party of Salome, and the other the party of Joanna-set out accordingly, but from different quarters, and perhaps at somewhat different times, to proceed thither. About the same time, or soon after their departure, and while they were all upon the road, the angels descend from heaven, the earthquake ensues, the stone is removed from the entrance of the tomb, and our Saviour rises from the dead, Mt. xxviii. 2-4; Mk. xvi. 9; at the time when the daily sacrifice, accompanied by the offering of the wave sheaf, was just beginning in the temple. the The party of Salome, being the earlier of the two, in about an hour after their departure, and consequently avarsilavтos Tou ýλíov, Mk. xvi. 2, with sunrise or soon after it, arrive first at the tomb; and perceiving as they drew near that the stone had been removed from the mouth, and that the entrance was beset by a number of strangers, they conclude that the grave has been opened, and the body taken away. Mary Magdalene, as the youngest of the party, is sent back immediately to report this intelligence to Peter and John. See on Jno. xx. 1, 2, p. 489. The other two women (after promising, perhaps, to wait there for her return, accompanied by Peter and John) proceed to the sepulchre, to be satisfied what was matter. Upon this the particulars ensue, both outside and inside of the tomb, followed immediately by their departure, which are related, Mt. xxviii. 5-8, and Mk. xvi. 5-8. Though they might have promised to wait for the return of their companion, yet the vision which they saw in the tomb, and the message which they received for the apostles, are abundant reasons why they should not stay, but make the best of their way back.'-Greswell, Vol. III. Diss. xliii. pp. 312, ..3. The mission of the angels must have had for its object one of two purposes, or both either to minister to the resurrection of our Lord himself, or to facilitate the access of the women to the sepulchre, as the first link necessary to the integrity of the chain of the evidence by which the fact of the resurrection was about to be confirmed; or, what is equally possible, to do both. On either of these suppositions the descent of the angel would nearly coincide with the time of the setting out of the women; for our Lord rose soon after the dawn of day, and they set out at the dawn of day. Much more, if it was designed for the latter of the abovementioned purposes. To that end two things would be requisite, each of them effected by the presence or the agency of the angels; one to intimidate the guard, the other to remove the stone. The guard would have resisted the admission of the women, though the stone had created no difficulty; and yet the stone by itself was greater than they could remove.'-Ibid., p. 269. Having accomplished these purposes, the angel sat down on the stone at the entrance of the cave; and was found there, still seated, when the women arrived, Mt. xxviii. 2. The guard, too, must have continued in their original position; being so far overcome by their fear itself, as to have lost the power of motion: nor did they recover themselves, or venture to quit their situation, until the women were departed again, and the angel also had ceased to be visible without the tomb, ver. 1-4. Now the appearance of the angel was as likely to intimidate the women as the soldiers; the former being VOL. II. I WILL REJOICE IN THY SALVATION.-Psa. ix. 14. [485 THERE IS GOLD, AND A MULTITUDE OF RUBIES: BUT THE LIPS OF KNOWLEDGE ARE A PRECIOUS JEWEL.-Prov. xx. 15 NOW IS CHRIST RISEN FROM THE DEAD, AND BECOME THE FIRSTFRUITS OF THEM THAT SLEPT.-1 Cor. xv. 20. 'He is risen.'-MATT. xxviii. 5, 6. 5 And the angel answered and-said unto-the women, Fear not ye: for 6 I-know that ye-seek Jesus, which was-crucified. He-is not here: for he-is-risen, as he-said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. 7 Within the tomb.-MARK xvi. 5, 6. And entering into the sepulchre, they-saw a-young-man sitting on 5 the right-side, clothed-in a-long-white-garment; and they-wereaffrighted. And he saith unto-them, Be-not-affrighted: ye-seek 6 Jesus of Nazareth, which was-crucified: he-is-risen; he-is not here: behold the place where they-laid him. The women depart from the tomb. MATT. xxviii. 7, 8. b quickly, and-tell his disciples MARK XVI. 7,8. But go-your-way, tell his disciples and Peter d SCRIPTURE ILLUSTRATIONS. Mt. xxviii. 5. Fear not ye, &c.-Contrast herewith the case of the keepers, ver. 4-and still more that of those who, in procuring their appointment, had said, ch. xxvii. 64, § 92, p. 478, lest his disciples, &c., so the last error shall be worse than the first.-And who, in conspiring against Jesus, had said, Jno. xi. 48, § 58, If we let him thus alone,.... the Romans shall come and take away both our place and nation.' 6. He is not here, &c.-Jesus is not to be sought for in the sepulchre-see again, Lu. xxiv. 5, 6, p. 488, infra-This one idea seems to have been impressed on the mind of Mary, that her Lord was not now to be found in the sepulchre-see her report to Peter, Jno. xx. 2, p. 489. the Lord-Not your Lord, but the Lord; thus acknowledging the crucified and risen Jesus to be his 7 Lord, no less than theirs-see He. i. 6-Thus is he 6. Be not affrighted, &c.-comp. with the words of NOTES. Mt. xxviii. 6. The place where the Lord lay. The place where a body was placed in a sepulchre was commonly a niche cut in the wall of the sepulchre. Mk. xvi. 5. A young man. An angel, having the appearance of a young man.-See Lu. xxiv. 4, p. 488. 7. His disciples. Tois μalŋrais a. Many recent com mentators understand, by this expression, Christ's PRACTICAL REFLECTIONS. regard for Peter, who had denied being Jesus' disciple, Mt. xxviii. 5, 6. The same angel who put the keepers in terror, removed out of the way of the women the obstacle to their entering the sepulchre, and met them with the comforting words, 'Fear not ye,' &c. Mk. xvi. 7. Let us admire our Lord's compassionate just as unprepared for it as the latter; and such was the effect which it produced at first upon them. The language of the angel, then, is very naturally, and yet very clearly, addressed first of all to their fears: Mh Poßriode vucis. Do not ye be afraid: a very distinct intimation that there were others present and others afraid as well as they; who, considering for what purpose they were there, had good reason to be afraid. But not so they, who had come with the pious and praiseworthy intent of doing honour to the crucified body of Jesus, Mt. xxviii. 5. Having thus shewn them that he was acquainted with their motive in visiting the tomb, he adds, in the next place (what was clearly to be expected in reference to such a purpose), that Jesus, whom they sought, was not to be found there; for he was risen. Next, in direct confirmation of the truth of this assertion, he appeals to the sensible testimony of the place where his body had been deposited; in which place they themselves had seen it laid, and which was now empty. Mt. xxviii. 6; Mk. xvi. 5, 6. Lastly, he promises a still clearer proof of its truth, by a personal manifestation of Jesus himself as soon as they returned into Galilee; whither he should precede them, as they had attended him from thence. Mt. xxviii. 7, 8; Mk. xvi. 7, 8. All these particulars are naturally connected together, agreeable to the circumstances of the case, and such altogether as might be expected, a priori, in an address to the first party of our Saviour's friends and disciples, who might have visited his tomb on the morning of the resurrection for any such purpose as is specified in the gospel narrative. It must strike every one who compares them together, that as the address in St. Matthew is characterized by a tone of encouragement, gentleness, and condescension, so the address in St. Luke is distinguished by a tone of severity and reproof. It begins with an expostulation (xxiv. 5, p. 488): Why seek ye the living, or rather the living one, among the dead? and the tone of this expostulation is maintained throughout; Nothing so severe as this is to be met with in St. Matthew: nor, in fact, have the two addresses anything common, except merely the particulars interposed between these two members, the repeated assurance that Jesus was not there, but risen; which, however, is so natural and appropriate, under any circumstances distinction besides, that it can prove nothing of the identity of the two occasions.'-Ibid., pp. 270, ..1. As St. Matthew makes everything take place without the tomb, so does St. Mark make everything take place within the tomb. Upon entering in, the women, says he, found a young man sitting on their right hand; that is, as the topography of the holy sepulchre probably would demonstrate, near the site of what had been the grave of Christ. This angel in St. Mark, if his account is supplementary to St. Matthew's, or, if it is equally true with that, whether supplementary to it or not, must clearly have been a second angel, or a different one from the angel discovered outside at first. Laying, then, the two accounts together, we possess in them both in conjunction the evidence of two angels being concerned in the present transaction; 486] THANKS BE TO GOD, WHICH GIVETH US THE VICTORY. in of VOL. II. FLESH AND BLOOD CANNOT INHERIT THE KINGDOM OF GOD; NEITHER DOTH CORRUPTION INHERIT INCORRUPTION.-1 Cor. xv. 50. O DEATH, WHERE IS THY STING? O GRAVE, WHERE IS THY VICTORY?-1 Cor. xv. 55. (G. 2.) Upon the departure of the first company of women, the guard betake themselves into the city.-Matt. xxviii. 11—.5. [Ver. 10, 95, p. 501.] 11 Now when-they-were-going, behold, some of-the watch came into the city, and 12 shewed unto-the chief-priests all the-things that-were-done. And when-they-wereassembled with the elders, and had-taken counsel, they-gave large ikava money unto-the 13 soldiers, saying, Say-ye, His disciples came by-night, and-stole him away while-we SCRIPTURE ILLUSTRATIONS. Mk. xvi. 7. into Galilee-whither they went after long delay, first in Jerusalem, Jno. xx. 19-29, § 95, p. 498, and probably by the sea of Galilee, xxi. § 97, p. 505-before following Jesus, ver. 19, to the mountain appointed, Mt. xxviii. 16-20, § 96, p. 502-see NOTE, ib. there shall ye see him, &c.-Previous to his presenting himself on the mountain, he did not appear in glory, but as in disguise-and so to the two disciples going to Emmaus, Lu. xxiv. 15, .6, § 94, p. 493-and at the sea of Galilee, Juo. xxi. 4, § 97, p. 506-but on the mountain they saw him and worshipped him, Mt. xxviii. 17, § 96, p. 502. as he said unto you - Mt. xxvi. 32, [Mk. xiv. 28,] § 87, p. 406, After I am risen again, I will go before you into Galilee.' 8. neither said they any thing to any-It does not appear that the women spoke to either of the angels, for they were afraid.'-They were naturally thrown into a tumult of feeling, so that it was with fear and great joy they did run to bring his disciples word,' Mt. xxviii. 8, supra. Mt. xxviii. 11. shewed unto the chief priests, &c.The news of the resurrection, it would seem, reached the disciples and the priests about the sanie timeThe report of the women appeared to the disciples 'as idle tales,' Lu. xxiv. 11, p. 489, infra-It was less wonder that the priests did not believe, or that they acted as they did, Mt. xxviii. 12-.4, supra. 13. while we slept-Wishing perhaps to regard as a dream that which had happened at the resurrection, ver. 2-4, p. 485, supra. NOTES. Mt. xxviii. 7. He goeth before, &c. The poáys here is not to be understood as implying the journeying on the part of the Lord himself. It is cited from his own words, ch. xxvi. 32, § 87, p. 406; and there, as here, merely implies that he would be there when they arrived. It has a reference to the collecting of the flock which had been scattered by the smiting of the Shepherd.'- Alford.-See Jno. x. 4, [§ 55, p. 114]. Into Galilee. He had many disciples there whom he destined to be witnesses of his resurrection, and there he appeared to five hundred brethren at once, 1 Co. xv. 6, § 96, p. 502. 8. Fear and great joy. Fear, produced by the appearance of this glorious messenger of God; and great joy, occasioned by the glad tidings of the resurrection of their Lord and Master. At the mention of unexpected good news, fear and joy are generally intermingled. 11. Shewed unto the chief priests. To Annas and Caiaphas. 12. The elders. That is, the senators of the great sanhedrim or Jewish council of state; called in other parts of scripture, the elders of the people; they might now meet, as the sabbath was over. [And had taken counsel. We must account for their incredulity and obstinacy by considering that they were men given up by God to the blind and malevolent passions of their own bad hearts.'-R. Watson.] [13. Stole him away while we slept. This was a falsehood that confuted itself, and was the most effectual acknowledgment of the obstinacy and malice of those who invented it that can be imagined. Had all the soldiers been asleep, they could not have known anything which passed; if some were awake, why did they not alarm the others? Moreover, if they had slept, they would not have dared to mention it, as it was death for a Roman guard to be found off his watch, as appears from the following passage in Josephus, Bell. Jud. iii. 5, 7, where he says, 'the Roman laws punish with death not only such as quit their ranks, but also such as are guilty of small neglects of duty;' and had this neglect of duty been discovered, the Jewish rulers would certainly have done their utmost to bring them to condign punishinent. If there had been also the least shadow of probability in the accusation, they would assuredly have prosecuted the apostles with the most unrelenting vengeance. For, their credit and authority were very deeply concerned; so that this single omission. was a full demonstration, that they did not believe PRACTICAL REFLECTIONS. in Judæa, before they saw him in Galilee-but it appears to have been there that he was seen by them collectively. It is to the disciples in unity that he promises to reveal himself. So all the manifestations of his grace now, to us individually or in companies, are preparatory to our meeting him in glory, when in holiness and love we are gathered into oneness.] Mt. xxviii. 8. Let us not only do, but do with alacrity, whatever God has directed us to perform. which is a critical circumstance; for it will prove that, with respect to this fact at least, St. Matthew and St. Mark, instead of being at variance, are exactly consistent with St. Luke and St. John; and by the distinct angel, whose presence they each of them specify individually, both together equivalent to the two which appear simultaneously in St. Luke and St. John, they are tantamount to either.'-Ibid., p. 278. VOL. II.] THROUGH OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST.-1 Cor. xv. 57. [487 THE STING OF DEATH IS SIN; AND THE STRENGTH OF SIN IS THE LAW.-1 Cor. xv. 56. WORLDLY WISDOM IS APT TO DISPLAY THE MOST ARRANT FOLLY IN ITS MANNER OF OPPOSING THE TRUTH. MATT. XXviii. 14, .5. 14 slept. And if this come-to the governor's-ears, we will-persuade him, and secure 15 appears inσoμev you. So they took the money, and-did as they-were-taught: and this saying is-commonly-reported depnuo on among the-Jews until this day. [Ver. 16, p. 502] (G. 3.) The party of Joanna, the wife of Chuza, visit the sepulchre of Jesus. Particulars which then transpired.-Luke xxiv. 1-9, 11. [Ch. xxiii. 56, 92, p. 477.] 1 Now upon-the first day of the week, very-early in-the-morning oppov Balcos, theycame unto the sepulchre, bringing the-spices which they-had-prepared, and certain 2 others with them. And they-found the stone rolled-away from the sepulchre. 3, And 4 they-entered-in, and-found not the body of-the Lord Jesus. And it-came-to-pass, as they were-much-perplexed diaπopeio@ai thereabout, behold, two men stood-by them in shining 5 garments and as-they-were afraid, and bowed-down their faces to the earth, they-said 6 unto them, Why seek-ye the living among the dead? He-is not here, but is-risen: SCRIPTURE ILLUSTRATIONS. Mt. xxviii. 15. they took the money, &c. Some of the watch,' ver. 11-It does not appear that all the watch were thus bribed; those who had not gone to the priests would not have the same motive to conceal the truth. Lu. xxiv. 1. they came unto the sepulchre, &c.-This company of women, spoken of by Luke, as bringing with them the spices, &c., they had prepared, must be distinguished from those who had previously come to see the sepulchre, as noticed by Matthew, xxviii. 1-6, p. 484. 2. they found the stone, &c.-so the two Marys and Salome, Mk. xvi. 4, p. 485, supra-By these the two angels had been already seen; the first outside the NOTES. one word of the report which they so industriously circulated. It was also improbable in the extreme, that the intimidated apostles should attempt such an action, which would have been excessively rash even in the most experienced soldiers; it was still more improbable that they should succeed; and if they had, reproach, torture, and death were the whole recompense, which they could possibly have expected. The Jewish rulers were determined not to confess the truth; therefore not knowing what to say, they were reduced to the distressing necessity of circulating one of the most senseless lies that ever was fabricated.] Mt. xxviii. 15. This saying is... reported. This account of the disappearance of the body of Jesus from the sepulchre is commonly given. Until this day. The time when Matthew wrote this gospel, i.e., about twelve or thirteen years after the resurrection.-See the date, Vol. I. p. xxvi. Lu. xxiv. 1. Very early in the morning. popov Sabéos. 'Deep dawn,' i.e., just beginning to dawn. 4. In shining garments. Shining like lightning.' 5. The living. Tov vra. Simply 'the living;'Him who liveth.'-Alford. PRACTICAL REFLECTIONS. Mt. xxviii. 11-.5. Priestly pride submits to the meanest arts. Lu. xxiv. 4. That which causes perplexity may, when properly understood, be the occasion of joy unspeakable; as was the cause of our Lord's removal from the tomb. [5, 6 ver. If the women were reproved for seeking the living among the dead, when the resurrection of Christ was so little known, how much more to be blamed are those who, professing to believe in a risen and ascended Saviour, still visit the tomb, or have recourse to even more imbecile means for bringing them near to the once crucified Jesus! He is not here, but is risen: '] This 'According to St. Luke, the party of Joanna got their spices ready on the day of the preparation, as soon as they returned from the garden, after the burial, but before the sabbath, and rested, as he expresses it, subsequently during the sabbath, according to the commandment; whereas it is expressly affirmed by St. Mark, xvi. 1, [p. 484,] that the party of Salome did not get theirs ready until after the sabbath; that is, a night and a day later: Διαγενομένου τοῦ σαββάτου . . . . ηγόρασαν ἀρώματα, ἵνα ἐλθοῦσαι ἀλείψωσιν αὐτόν. must be sufficient to prove that the two parties were so far distinct, and acted independently of each other... 'If we contrast the account of the visit in St. Matthew with the account of the visit in St. Luke, when the women arrived at the tomb, according to the former, they found the stone removed from the entrance, an angel sitting upon it, and the watch still present about the sepulchre, but in a state of great alarm and consternation; according to the latter, they found the stone removed indeed, but no one visible, either in or about the tomb, and the entrance in particular entirely unoccupied and free. If the visits were one and the same, these different accounts would not be consistent; but if the visits themselves were distinct, both of them may be true..... 'If we compare St. Mark's account with St. Luke's, according to the former, upon entering the tomb, and before they had time to examine whether the body was still to be seen or not, the women perceived an angel in a sitting posture, and on their right: according to St. Luke, upon entering the tomb they saw no one present; and before the appearance of any angel they had time to examine and to discover that the body was missing, and to feel all the effects of the surprise and the perplexity produced by the discovery: and after this, when the angels appeared to them, they appeared both together, or at once, and not in a sitting, but in a standing position.... If we compare St. Matthew and St. Mark, in conjunction with St. Luke, then, though there had been no other appearance of discrepancy between them, yet the language ascribed to the angels respectively in each, is so different, as to prove that the visions themselves, and the occasions out of which they arose, must have been distinct..... There was this difference in the situation of the parties addressed, which might produce a corresponding difference in the terms of the address, that the first party having seen the angel before they had any the least evidence of the resurrection, were bereft of their presence of mind from the first; they had neither time nor capacity for summoning their recollection to their aid, and remembering the predictions of Christ; but the second party having entered the tomb without seeing any one, and examined the interier without finding anything there, had leisure and opportunity to have reasoned, from existing appearances, to the fact of the resurrection of Christ-confirming the conclusion by the recollection of his own assurances-before they were alarmed by the sudden manifestation of the angels: which yet it is evident they did not do; and for this dulness, or this unbelief, they might incur a specific rebuke.'-loid., pp. 265-73. 488] THE FOLLY OF FOOLS IS DECEIT.-Prov. xiv. 8. [VOL. II. THE WAYS OF MAN ARE BEFORE THE EYES OF THE LORD, AND HE PONDERETH ALL HIS GOINGS.-Prov. v. 21. |