charged them that they should tell no man what was done."

Another instance occurs in the case of the widow's son of NAIN, and, if possible, under circumstances of still deeper interest. He had arrived at the flower of manhood; at that period when the qualities both of the person and the mind unfold their loveliest tints, and emit their sweetest fragrance. And what rendered the bereavement still more afflictive was, that he was the only son of his mother, and that mother-a widow. She had doubtless often rejoiced in reaping the fruits of her maternal anxieties and care, and had anticipated the full reward of her sufferings and labours in the growing advantages she would have in her child, of protection and endeared social intercourse. But her last coal is now quenched; the staff of her declining years îs broken; and her only earthly hope is extinguished. With a heart smitten with grief, and wrung with anguish, she follows the wreck of all her relative comforts to the grave. Her case interested the hearts of those who knew her, and, moved by sympathy, they joined the train of mourners; for "much people of the city was with her. And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and said unto her, Weep not. And he came and touched the bier: and they that bare him stood still. And he said, Young

man, I say unto thee, Arise. And he that was dead sat up, and began to speak. And he delivered him to his mother."

The resurrection of LAZARUS is still more remarkable. He was part of the interesting family at Bethany; and although beloved of the Saviour, he was suffered to languish of disease, and then die. His friends discharge the ordinary rites of sepulture, and return to their habitation, each mourning the loss of his companion, or benefactor. Jesus, who had seemed all this time to neglect the importunity of the sisters who had sent to inform him of the sickness of their brother, now makes his appearance; and while he sympathizes with them in their sorrows, prepares them for a surprising display of his power. They are slow to admit the consolation he imparts, supposing that the body had already undergone the process of putrefaction. He inquires as to the place of his interment, and is conducted to the spot, accompanied by many of the Jews. “It was a cave, and a stone lay upon it. Jesus said, Take ye away the stone. Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me. And when he had thus spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus come forth. And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with

grave-clothes; and his face was bound about with a napkin."

Among the prodigies by which the crucifixion of the Saviour was signalized, and the divinity of his mission confirmed, the Evangelist narrates that "the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, and came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many."

It is, however, in the DEATH of Jesus that we recognise the greatest achievement that has been made over the king of terrors. We have seen the law of mortality passed on the human race, on the commission of sin; that it was not only designed as a punishment for transgression, but was intended as a wise enactment to check the progress of iniquity, and prevent the accumulation of crime; that it was necessary to show the infinite demerit of moral evil, and the detestation in which it is held by a Being of spotless purity. Before that law, then, can be repealed, or rather before the sting of death can be removed, and the hope of a blessed immortality be secured, the righteous designs of the divine government must be fulfilled; a satisfaction must be made to infinite justice, answerable to its wise and equitable claims; and, while an atonement is offered for the guilt of sin, a remedy must be found for

the depravity and impotency of human nature. All these gracious purposes have been accomplished by our Lord Jesus Christ. He laid aside the robes of royalty, and descending from the regions of light and immortality, became an infant of days, and a sorrowing sojourner on earth. In the nature he assumed, he was subject to all the sinless infirmities of humanity; and, at length, he expired in the agonies of a cruel and ignominious death. That death had a sharpness peculiarly its own; for, in addition to the bitter pains of crucifixion, he was made a SINOFFERING; the guilt of sin was imputed to him as our Surety, and he bare the chastisement of our peace. This was the expedient which infinite wisdom devised, in order to meet the claims of divine justice, and vindicate the honours of the divine government, in the redemption of human kind. By giving himself a ransom for many, the Saviour has disarmed the monster of his sting, and laid a foundation for the future triumphs of his people. As the blood of the cross expiates for sin, so it provides the means of its subjugation and final destruction in the heart, and thus either removes the penalty, or turns the curse into a blessing.

"If sin be pardoned, I'm secure,

Death hath no sting beside;
The law gives sin its damning power,
But Christ my ransom died."

And yet, although death was virtually conquered by the sufferings of Christ, there was nothing in this event to satisfy the church that the triumph had been achieved. Still he was under the dominion of the last enemy, and detained, as a prisoner, in the new tomb which had been prepared for Joseph of Arimathæa. The important issue seemed to hang in doubtful suspense, and neither man nor angel dared to strike his harp. Silence reigned in heaven; while melancholy sat brooding on the countenances of his disciples on earth. Meanwhile the infernal legions, and their emissaries, the wicked Jews, too hastily judging of their success, shout victory. It was not till the Redeemer burst asunder the barriers of the grave, spoiling principalities and powers and making a show of them openly, that he was publicly recognized as having finished transgression, made an end of sin, and brought in everlasting righteousness. As long as the sepulchre imprisoned him, we had no evidence that our Surety had been accepted; or, that the payment of the debt which had been exacted, had satisfied the claims of infinite justice. His resurrection was his full discharge; it attested the divinity of his mission, and the completeness of his mediatorial work; it illustrated the nature, and established the certainty of a future state; and while it was the pattern, it was also the pledge and earnest of the resur