creatures of his power: "Certain women which had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary, called Magdalene, out of whom went seven devils, and Joanna, the wife of Chuza, Herod's steward, snd Susanna, and many others, ministered unto him of their substance." He was the Lord of angels, but he was made a little lower than they; yea, he received assistance from them-"There appeared unto him an angel from heaven, strengthening him."

-What a contrast is here! His Apostles, who had been so much honoured by him, forsook him: and even Peter, James, and John, who had been admitted to the Transfiguration, and now were selected to be with him in the garden, slumbered and slept. And though, when he came to them, and found them in this condition, he pitied them, and said, The Spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak: yet he felt it deeply felt it; and said, "What! could ye not watch with me one hour?". But if earth disowns him, Heaven does not. If men abandon him, angels cry with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb!" He was seen of angels." One of them announced his approaching conception; another proclaimed his birth: a multitude of them carolled his advent. In his temptation in the Wilderness, "behold, angels came and ministered unto him." An angel rolled away the stone from the door of the sepulchre, and said to the women, "Fear not ye, for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified he is not here;" "Come, see the place where the Lord lay." And here "an angel appeared unto him from heaven, strengthening him."

He could have asked the Father, and he would have given him twelve legions of angels, and rescued him-What are we saying? One of these would have been sufficient-the least of them could have looked all his adversaries into nothing-But how then could the Scriptures be fulfilled, that thus it

must be? And how could he have put away sin by the sacrifice of himself? Or how could he have sympathised with us, if he had never suffered? The angel, therefore, only strengthened him. Reminding him of the joy that was set before him: telling him of the result of his passion-the effect of it in the glory of God, and the salvation of the world: spreading before him the promises-perhaps reading to him the prophecy of Isaiah, "When thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed; he shall prolong his days; and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand: he shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied". Raising him up from the cold ground; supporting his fainting head; wiping away the bloody sweat from his dear face-So that he appeared fresh, and fair, and glorious in his visage; and made those who came to apprehend him go backward, and fall to the earth, when he only presented himself, and said, "I am he."

In all things he has the pre-eminence; and how willing are his people to acknowledge it! But while he is the first-born among many brethren, all of them are predestinated to be conformed to him. Angels, therefore, who attended him, attend them also. "Are they not all ministering sprits, sent forth to minister unto them that are the heirs of salvation?" Their attendance is no less real than formerly, though it is no longer visible, according to the principle of the Economy under which we live, and which is, to walk by faith, and not by sight. They delight to do the will of their Lord and ours. These blessed beings have no envy, no pride. They are enemies to his enemies; but they are friends to his friends. They rejoice when a sinner repenteth: and carry the dying saint into Abraham's bosom.

APRIL 30.-" 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."

Mark xvi. 7.

THESE are the words of the angel who had descended from heaven to attend his rising Lord. They were addressed to Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome. These women had honoured the Saviour; and he honoured them. They were the first to receive the announcement of his resurrection, and the first to report it.

But observe, they were to carry the news, not to the chief priests, and Scribes, and Pharisees; not to Pilate; not to Herod. It was just to leave these men in the darkness they loved. They rebelled against the light; and no evidence would have convinced those who had already seen his miracles, and believed not. But his disciples, though timid, and weak, and imperfect, were sincere. They had forsaken all to follow him. Their very doubting arose from the greatness of their love; and sorrow had now filled their hearts. They would, therefore, welcome the intelligence, and be influenced by it, as his followers and witnesses.

-But why is Peter distinctively mentioned? Because he was the chief of the Apostles? So far from it, the distinction reminds us of his humiliation. He had fallen by his iniquity; and after the most solemn warnings and professions, he had denied his Master, with oaths and curses. But the look in the judgment-hall had broken his heart, and made him go out, and weep bitterly. He was now on the verge of despair, and ready to say-perhaps was even now saying-Ah! he will disown me-and righteously-for ever! The angel's naming him, therefore, on this occasion, was as much as to say, The Saviour has not cast thee off; he has not forgotten to be gracious; he does not break a bruised reed, nor

quench the smoking flax, but will send forth judgment unto victory-while it conveyed an intimation to his brethren, that they were to follow his example, and endeavour to restore such an one in the spirit of meekness, considering themselves, lest they also were tempted.

The message, more than announcing his resurrection, added, that he would go before them into Galilee. In vain we ask, how he passed thither. He had the power to appear, and disappear; and to transport himself from place to place, as he pleased, in a moment of time. But what led him down so many miles from Jerusalem? Was it to intimate his forsaking that guilty city? Woe unto you when I depart from you!-Or was it to call them off from the strife and cruelty of their enemies? It was comparatively a place of security and concealment. Or was it, that their journeying down separately, or with each other, might bring them to recollection, and recover them from their late cowardice and unbelief?-Was it to tell them to withdraw, in order to be in the way of intercourse with him? It was a despised place-would he teach them to rise above local and vulgar prejudices; and to call nothing common or unclean? or unclean? It is certain that he had been much in Galilee himself; and had many followers there. And this accounts for the largeness of the assembly: for the Apostles would naturally inform his friends there of this expected interview. Hence he was now seen of above five hundred brethren at once; many of whom were living, when Paul wrote to the Corinthians, though some had fallen asleep.

His promise, that they should see him there, would prove a test of their faith and affection. If they valued the sight of him, and believed his word, they would certainly repair thither. Accordingly they did repair thither; and there was he!-Let us apply this to ourselves. There are means and ordi

nances which he has established. In these he has engaged to be found of those that seek him. If we rely on his truth, and desire communion with him, we shall gladly avail ourselves of them. And shall we can we be disappointed-if we do? Has he ever said to the seed of Jacob, Seek ye me in vain? He has often been better than his word; but who ever found him worse? Let us go, therefore, to his Throne, and to his House, with full and lively expectation-In all places where I record my Name, I will come unto thee, and I will bless thee; for where two or three are gathered together in my Name, there am I in the midst of them. There shall we see him, as he has said unto us.

He is also gone before us into heaven. Let us arise, and depart hence, and seek him there— There shall we see him in all his glory, according to his promise-Where I am, there shall also my servants be. Oh! to join him there! To be for ever with the Lord!

"O glorious hour! O bless'd abode !
"I shall be near, and like my God:
"And flesh and sin no more control
"The sacred pleasures of my soul."

MAY 1.-" And I will give her her vineyards from thence." Hosea ii. 15.

OBSERVE the author of these favours-I will do it, says God. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from him: and his people will readily acknowledge that all they enjoy is not only from his agency, but his grace.

Observe also the richness of the supplies-I