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Easter Day.

THE VISION AT THE HOLY SEPULCHRE.

xxviii.

"In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn Matt. toward the first day of the week, came Mary 1-8. Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre.

And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it.

His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow:

And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men.

And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for 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.

180 THE VISION AT THE HOLY SEPULCHRE.

And go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead; and, behold, he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him; lo, I have told you.

And they departed quickly from the sepulchre with fear and great joy; and did run to bring his disciples word."

See also St. Mark xvi. 1—8.

Luke xxiv. 1—9.

John xx. 1-10.

LECTURE VIII.

THE SIGNS OF OUR LORD'S PRESENCE.

ST. MATT. xxviii. 5, 6.

"And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for 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."

AT the dawn of this day, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to the holy sepulchre, and were greeted with the joyous welcome, "Fear not ye." Some indeed had been there who had good reason for alarm. For, as we read, "behold, there was a great earthquake;" and "the

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lightning, and his raiment white as snow: and for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men." They were not allowed to profane by their gaze that hallowed ground. But it was not thus with the faithful Marys. They had come to seek for "Jesus, Which was crucified," and therefore they had no cause for fear. It was true that He was not there; He had risen: but the voice of the angel invited them to come in, and see the place where He had been.

If our object be the same as theirs, we may now venture to stand with them as at the entrance of the holy sepulchre, and meditate on the signs of the presence of our Lord. It is not a day for many words, or a continued narrative, or close reasoning; it is too bright and joyous, too full of thankfulness and love. We will rather think, wonder, and be grateful. We will keep on saying to ourselves

again and again, "This is the day which the Lord hath made, we will rejoice and be glad in it1." There shall be no more of doubt or sorrow, but only great joy mingled with holy fear. We will be as little children, holding up to the light the treasure that we have found, and feasting our eyes upon its dazzling brightness. And as little children also, we will listen to the gladdening welcome, which the voice of the angel offers to ourselves.

There is no need, in order to do this, to follow the steps of the holy women to the actual tomb of Christ. We cannot with them see the great stone that has been rolled away from the door, and the bright light shining within, and the holy angels in their snow-white raiment, who encompass it around. But there is a vision of spiritual blessedness which greets us every where on the morning of Easter day. If we seek Jesus which was crucified, the world in which we live becomes to us as

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