him, wagging their heads, and saying, Ah, thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, save thyself, and come down from the cross. Likewise also the chief priests, mocking, said among themselves, with the scribes, He saved others; himself he

the temple of his body to be crucified and he did build it up again in three days; for he raised his dead

body from the grave on the third day.

32 No testimony will satisfy the unbelieving heart.

And they

now from the cross, that we may see and believe. that were crucified with him reviled him. And when the sixth hour was come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour. And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? which is, being interpreted, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? And some of them that stood by, when they heard it, said, Behold, he calleth Elias. And one ran and filled a spunge full of vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave him to drink, saying, Let alone; let us see whether Elias will come to take him down. 37 And Jesus cried with a loud voice, and gave up the ghost. 38 And the vail of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom. And when the centurion, which stood over against him, saw that he so cried out, and gave up the ghost, he said, Truly this man was the Son of God. There were also women looking on afar off; among whom was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the less and of Joses, and Salome; (who also, when he was in Galilee, followed him, and ministered unto him;) and many other women which came up with him unto Jerusalem. And now, when the even was come, (because it was the preparation, that is, the day before the sabbath,) 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. And Pilate marvelled if he were already dead and calling unto him the centurion, he asked him whether he had been any while dead. 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

37 There was no gradual decay of the powers of life. Jesus resigned his life voluntarily.

38 So the veil of partition between Christ Jesus. Jew and Gentile was removed by

46 Thus was fulfilled that most marvellous prophecy of Isaiah; He made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death." The apparent contradiction was now removed. (See the note upon Is. liii. 9.)

a sepulchre which was hewn out of a rock, and rolled a stone unto the door of the sepulchre. And Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of Joses, beheld where he was laid.

sun.

2

CHAPTER XVI.

FEB. 16, JUNE 16, Oct. 13.

Seek

AND when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and 2 Blessed haste! It is never too anoint him. And very early early to seek the Saviour. in the morning, the first day him early, ye shall find him late, of the week, they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the And they said among themselves, Who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the sepulchre? (And when they looked, they saw that the stone was rolled away :) for it was very great. And, entering into the sepulchre, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a long white garment; and they were affrighted. And he saith unto them, Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified he is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him. But go your way, tell his disciples and Peter that he goeth before you into Galilee: there shall ye see him, as he said unto you. 8 And they went out quickly, and fled from the sepulchre; for they trembled and were amazed: neither said they any thing to any man; for they were afraid. Now, when Jesus was risen early the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of

12

9

8 They delayed not to bear the wondrous intelligence first to the disciples.

9 This his first appearance was

She

graciously vouchsafed to Mary Magdalen, to confirm her faith. gladly told the apostles; they scarcely believed for joy.

12 These were Cleopas and his companion, on their way to Emmaus.

whom he had cast seven devils. And she went and told them that had been with him, as they mourned and wept. And they, when they had heard that he was alive, and had been seen of her, believed not. After that he appeared in another form unto two of them, as they walked, and went into the country. And they went and told it unto the residue: neither believed they them. 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. And he said unto them, Go ye into all

the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth, and is baptized, shall be saved; but he that believeth

not shall be damned. 17 And

17 This miraculous power was necessary to enforce the authority of the first teachers.

these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; 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. And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.

19 O blessed Jesus! who still sittest at the right hand of God, intercede for us! Let the prayers which we of this congregation have been now offering up, be by Thee presented to the throne of grace. Be with us; working with us, and confirming the word, by the token of thy holy Spirit bearing witness with our spirit" that we are thine!

The ascension of our blessed Lord is not only a full earnest that He accomplished the work of our redemption ; but, till the consummation of all things, it is a glorious link between the visible and the invisible world. You feel that you are walking the same road which He trod in his human nature, and you humbly hope that it will conduct you the same way which He hath taken in his divine nature. "I go"-these are his own emphatic words to his Church-" I go to prepare a place for you: that where I am, there, ye may be also."

The Gospel according to St. Luke.

CHAPTER I.

FEB. 18, OCT. 15, JUNE 17.

FORASMUCH as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a declaration of those things which are most surely believed among us, even as they delivered them unto us*, which from the beginning were eye-witnesses, and ministers of the word; it seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write unto thee in order, most excellent Theophilus, that thou mightest know the certainty of those things wherein thou hast been instructed.

There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia: and his wife

*St. Luke, not having been one of the twelve apostles, was the more anxious that his record should have satisfactory testimony from others.

was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth:

6

God of his grace counts those righteous in Christ, who by faith

walk in his commandments and ordinances. What an encouragement

this to strive after holiness!

And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless. And they had no child, because that Elizabeth was barren; and they both were now well stricken in years. And it came to pass, that, while he executed the priest's office before God in the order of his course, according to the custom of the priest's office, his lot was to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord. And the whole multitude of the people were praying without at the time of incense. And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense. And when Zacharias saw him he was troubled, and fear fell upon him. But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elizabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John. And thou shalt have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth. For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother's womb. 16 And 16 Turn we also now, at the preachmany of the children of Is- ing of the word, to the same Jesus, rael shall he turn to the Lord the Lord our God.

13

13 The prayer of himself and all the faithful was unceasingly offered, that their Messiah should appear.

their God. And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord. And Zacharias said unto the angel, Whereby shall I know this? for I am an old man, and my wife well stricken in years. And the angel, answering, said unto him, I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God; and am sent to speak unto thee, and to shew thee these glad tidings. And, behold, thou shalt be dumb, and not able to speak, until the day that these things shall be performed, because thou believest not my words, which shall be fulfilled in their season. And the people waited for Zacharias, and marvelled that he tarried so long in the temple. And when he came out he could not speak unto them and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple; for he beckoned unto them, and remained speechless. And it came to pass, that, as soon as the days of his ministration were accomplished, he departed to his own house. "And 24 When God vouchsafes any spe

after those days his wife Eli- cial blessing, a thankful heart seeks sabeth conceived, and hid to pour out its gratitude. She sought herself five months, saying, for a more holy communing with God. Thus hath the Lord dealt with me in the days wherein he looked on me, to take away my reproach among men.

35

And

in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, to a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary. And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women. And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be. And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: and he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end. Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man? And the angel answered 35 Thus, though the Holy One took and said unto her, The Holy upon him the nature of man, the sin Ghost shall come upon thee, of Adam passed not on Him. and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall the Son of God. 36 And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren. For with God nothing shall be impossible. And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her. Ver. 39. And Mary arose in those days, and went into the hill country with haste, into city of Juda; and entered into the house of Zacharias, and saluted Elisabeth. And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost and she spake out with a loud voice, and said, Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy

be born of thee shall be called

36 This fact rendered Mary's faith in the annunciation by Gabriel more ready *.

* As Elizabeth's conception was evidently miraculous, Mary received the wondrous tidings respecting herself without fear either of presumption or credulity. Thus it ever is. God requires faith in the "great mystery of godliness," but He first vouchsafes ample testimony to its truth.