SERMON X.

THE RISEN SAVIOUR'S INTERVIEW WITH

MARY MAGDALENE.

(SECOND SERMON ON THE TEXT.)

JOHN XX. 14-17.

WHEN SHE HAD THUS SAID, SHE TURNED HERSELF BACK, AND SAW JESUS STANDING, AND KNEW NOT THAT IT WAS JESUS. JESUS SAITH UNTO HER, WOMAN, WHY WEEPEST THOU ? WHOM SEEKEST THOU? SHE, SUPPOSING HIM TO BE THE GARDENER, SAITH UNTO HIM, SIR, IF THOU HAVE BORNE HIM HENCE, TELL ME WHERE THOU HAST LAID HIM, AND I WILL TAKE HIM AWAY. JESUS SAITH UNTO HER, MARY! SHE TURNED HERSELF, AND SAITH UNTO HIM, RABBONI; WHICH IS TO SAY, MASTER! JESUS SAITH UNTO HER, 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, TO MY GOD AND YOUR GOD.

IN that natural and touching Old Testament record, which has received attestations

of its truth and beauty, in the tears of childhood, and the admiration of age, among all ranks and classes of Bible readers, we find Joseph making himself strange to his brethren, until a conviction of their sin against him should be fastened upon their minds, and their hearts should be prepared to return the love which he had never ceased to bear them. When that moment came, he delayed the discovery no longer; but said unto them, "I am Joseph. Come near, I pray you; I am Joseph, your brother, whom ye sold into Egypt." Even thus did the Lord Jesus Christ, that brother, born as an unfailing refuge for the adversity of lost men, in their destitution and misery, conceal Himself for a little while, from the affectionate solicitude of Mary at the sepulchre. He made Himself at first strange to her. He saw her tears, and heard her importunities. He witnessed the eagerness of her love, and the depth of her sorrow for his loss and then the unsearchable riches of

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his goodness to her were no longer to be concealed. He turned and said unto her,

Mary!" Having already considered the previous part of the interview, between the Lord and her of Magdala, I beg your attention to its conclusion; beseeching God the Holy Ghost, to open all our hearts, that we may hear the voice of Jesus, speaking individually to each of us, and know it to be the voice of a Saviour and a Friend. I would observe then,

IV. THE CONSTANCY WITH WHICH MARY PERSISTED IN SEEKING HER SAVIOUR, UNDER ALL DIFFICULTIES. Heretofore the Lord had addressed her, under a form, which she knew not, and with the voice of a stranger, "Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou?" The former question had been also asked her by angels ; and she had answered them, out of the fulness of her love to Christ,-" Because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid Him."

No

sooner however does she hear another voice repeat the question, than she turns round, in hope of tidings, for which her heart yearned. Not all the beauty and glory of those heavenly beings could turn away her mind from the one great object of its interest-from the endeared subject which engrossed it. She now, in entire mistake of her Lord's person, seeks more immediately and importunately from Him those tidings which she dared not ask from the

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angels. Sir, if thou have borne Him hence, tell me where thou hast laid Him, and I will take him away." Her conduct, in this regard is a striking exemplification of spiritual love. When the soul hath been truly enlightened to know any thing of the Redeemer's preciousness-when it has been taught how entirely its many and mighty wants demand the almightiness of his power and the freeness of his love; and learns withal, the glorious fitness of his work and nature, as the lost sinner's Saviour, it turns away from every other voice, from every

other comforter, and seeks its rest in Him alone and thus, graciously impelled towards Him, cannot have that rest, until it find Himself. But, that happy discovery once made, it cries to itself, both to awaken its gratitude, and to express the consciousness of its peace, "Return unto thy rest; for the Lord hath dealt bountifully with thee." If any of you are thus awakened, and taught ;—if any of you are thus looking for the Lord, and finding that, (come in what form it may, however beautiful, however dazzling, however attractive,) the comfort which the creature can supply, will not satisfy your hearts, simply because their holy hungering and thirsting can only be filled with all the fulness of God, as it dwells essentially in Emmanuel, be of good courage. Wait on the Lord in faith and hope and be assured that He will soon lift up the light of his countenance upon you, dispel the darkness under which you have laboured and mourned, and give you peace in Himself, as your sanctuary and portion.