VERSES 42-47.

42 And now when the even was come, because it was the preparation, that is, the day before the sabbath.

43 Joseph of Arimathea, an honourable counsellor, which also waited for the kingdom of God, came, and went in boldly unto Pilate, and craved the body of Jesus.

44 And Pilate marvelled if he were already dead and calling unto him the centurion, he asked

him whether he had been any while dead.

45 And when he knew it of the centurion, he gave the body to Joseph.

46 And he bought fine linen, and took him down, and wrapped him in the linen, and laid him in a sepulchre which was hewn out of a rock, and rolled a stone unto the door of the sepulchre.

47 And Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses beheld where he was laid.

We learn here that Joseph's former timidity had given place to firm faith, and he had become one who was waiting for the kingdom of heaven. With great respect he buries the body of Jesus in his own sepulchre. Mary Magdalene and another Mary, who had gazed at a distance on the crucifixion, now beholding where he was laid.

CHAPTER XVI. VERSES 1-8.

AND when the sabbath was past,

Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had brought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him.

2 And very early in the morn ing the first day of the week, they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun.

3 And they said among themselves, Who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the sepulchre?

4 And when they looked, they saw that the stone was rolled away, for it was very great.

5 And entering into the sepulchre they saw a young man sitting

The two Marys were early at the sepulchre, and finding all obstacles of access to it removed, they entered. An angel allays their fears, and assures them that Jesus of Nazareth,

who was crucified, has risen; and inviting them to behold the place where he was laid, sends them on a message to the disciples to meet Jesus,

VERSES 9-14.

9 Now when Jesus was risen early the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven devils.

10 And she went and told them that had been with him, as they mourned and wept.

11 And they, when they had heard that he was alive, and had been seen of her, believed not.

12 After that he appeared in

another form unto two of them, as they walked, and went into the country.

13 And they went and told it unto the residue: neither believed they them.

14 Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen.

Our Lord first appears to Mary Magdalene. Her faith staggered not, and she could believe in his power to rise from the dead, as she had believed in his power to forgive her sins. Let sinners pay deep attention to this fact, and take the assurance it affords of Christ's tender love, and his desire to banish fear even from those whose offences have

been the greatest. She communicates Christ's resurrection to others who had been with him, but they believed her not, and to the report of two more to whom he had appeared they were equally incredulous. At length Christ shews himself to the eleven, and upbraids them with their unbelief and hardness of heart in not believing those who had seen him, requiring plainly that the testimony of credible witnesses is not to be thus rejected. Let us therefore not draw upon ourselves this reproof. Eighteen hundred years has not lessened the evidence our Lord then considered sufficient, time indeed has only added strength to this fact, the foundation on which our faith rests-for if Christ be not risen, then is our faith vain, we are yet in our sins.

VERSES 15-20.

15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.

16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned,

17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;

18 They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.

19 So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God.

20 And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.

Our Lord then commands them to preach the Gospel to every creature; a command still existing, and to exist till all be accomplished according to his word; and till-as he then ascended into heaven-he is seen again coming in power in the clouds of heaven.