ples should share their joy, that they ran to bring them word; but on their way, behold, Jesus met them. That very Saviour whom they had seen put to death by the cruel soldiers stood before them, and they heard his mild, compassionate voice saying "All Hail," which was an expression used in that country when friends met together. The women held him by the feet and worshiped him. We cannot wonder that they bowed down before him, and clasped his feet with gratitude and love, when they knew that he had died to save them. In the tenth verse you read that Jesus said to them, "Be not afraid." O he is the same Saviour! How tender and merciful, when he knew that they were weak and fearful, and that such a strange thing as talking with an angel, and with one just risen from the dead, would make them tremble and fear even though their hearts were glad, he said first "Be not afraid." After this he sent them, as the angel had done, to tell his brethren, meaning his disciples, that he would meet them in Galilee.

From all this account we learn that Jesus rose from the grave, and triumphed over death. If my young friends have felt some pleasure in tracing the history, and studying the character of Jesus Christ, as they have been turning the leaves of this little book, perhaps they feel some joy now, when we have passed through the dark scene of his sufferings and death, and have come to the triumphant period of his resurrection; but have you no further interest in this event? O yes, each one of you has a personal interest in the Saviour's resurrection. He rose from the grave by his own

power; as he told his disciples in the tenth chapter of John, “I have power to lay down my life, and I have power to take it again." He died for us, and rose also for us, promising, as we learn from different parts of the New Testament, to raise up our bodies as he raised his own. Your body, young and healthful as it now is, must one day moulder in the earth, and is it not a pleasant thought to you that the dust of your body will sleep in the care of that Saviour who once had a body like your own, and who raised himself from the grave, and has promised to raise you also? When Jesus shall call the dead from their graves, the bodies of those who loved and served him while on earth will be raised to enjoy a life which will never end. They will be made like Christ's glorious body, and be admitted to the happy place that he has prepared for them. Never again will they feel pain, never become feeble with age, never die again; and for the hope of such a glorious resurrection we should now offer praise and thanksgiving to him "who hath loved us, and given himself for us."

CHAPTER XXVIII.

OUR SAVIOUR'S GREAT COMMISSION.

MATT. xxviii. 18-20.

18. And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.

19. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

20. Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

IN the last chapter Jesus had appointed to meet his disciples in Galilee. To that place they went, and their beloved Saviour "came to them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth." The disciples must have known that Jesus was very powerful when they saw him control diseases, and make the winds obey his word; and now when they saw that he had come forth from the dead they had new evidence of his power; but it may be that they did not yet know how great his power was; and now, when he was about to leave them, he assured them that he had all power in heaven and in earth. Though his disciples would soon see him beside them no more, and would sometimes be unable to realize that his spirit was with them, still they need not fear the power of wicked men, or of any other beings, for Jesus was more powerful than they, and if they trusted in him he would guide them through all dangers and difficulties, and bring them at last to the enjoyment of heavenly rest. But they had yet much to do on earth, and in the nineteenth and twentieth verses he gives them their commission, or tells them what their employment must be.

Our Saviour had now fulfilled his mission on earth. He had shown his perfect example, had wrought his miracles, and preached his pure and holy doctrines. He had died to atone for our sins, and had risen from the grave to show his conquest over death, and now he was about to leave his gospel for his followers to preach in his

name. Here, in the two last verses above, he gives them a most solemn charge to teach—not the inhabitants of one town or country, not such as spoke their own language only—but "all nations;" baptizing them, as you recollect he was baptized by John, only adding, "In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost;" and teaching them to observe all things whatsoever he had commanded them. All those instructions which he gave in his " sermon on the mount," and all that he taught during his whole life, they were to give to others in his name; and he adds, "lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world." Though he should not be with them in body as he had been, his presence would be with them, and with all his people, even with those who should live in the last days of the world. He would know all their trials, and comfort their hearts, and strengthen them to do all that he required of them.

We do not understand that this command and promise were given only to the disciples whom Jesus then addressed, but to all whom he should call to preach his gospel in all ages of the world. The minister whom you hear on the Sabbath, and all who now preach the gospel in this or any other country believe this command to be addressed to them, and if they do not devote their lives to the employment of teaching the people from the Word of God, they will disobey him. Think of this, dear reader, when you are in the house of God, and do not let your thoughts wander about, nor let your eyes rest on your Sabbath school book to read it in meeting time, for that pious man who is addressing you is one whom Jesus has sent to

teach you the way to heaven. He has a message of warning or entreaty for you, sent by the friend of sinners; if you slight that message, you slight him who died that you might live. If your father sent a message to you by your brother, and you treated him with indifference, and would not listen to his words, would you not disobey and dishonor your father? So when you disregard the words of the minister, it is not against him, but against the great and holy God that you sin. Again, you sin against God if you are willing, for trifling excuses, to stay away from his public worship, where his ministers go to instruct us. Do not allow an indolent feeling, or the desire for a nice dress when you already have a decent one, keep you from attending meeting. I have one more anecdote to tell you of one of my little friends who is gone from earth; and I hope it will lead you to love the house of God while you enjoy health. Since I have been preparing this book for you, but a few weeks since, a little boy of my acquaintance who had been long pining away with disease, said to his mother on Saturday, "May I go to meeting to-morrow?" "My dear," said his mother, "you are too sick to go to meeting." "But I have not been in a great while," said the little boy; "I want to go very much;" and when his mother told him that he could not even have his clothes on, nor sit up a moment, he said he could be wrapped in his gown, and ride in his father's arms. Just as that earthly Sabbath closed, on which my little friend was so anxious to join the worshipers of God below, his spirit was taken, as we hope, to the eternal Sabbath of heaven, and