changed, in that It had become "a spiritual Body," and was no longer subject to the ordinary laws of nature.

32 And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while He talked with us by the way, and while He opened to us the scriptures?

Well, indeed, might their hearts have burned, for the very Sun of Righteousness was Himself, irradiating and cheering them; well, indeed, might they burn and glow, for He Who was with them, was He, Who baptizes "with fire," as well as "with the HOLY GHOST" He, on Whom all frozen hearts may rest and gather warmth.

33 And they rose up the same hour, and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven gathered together, and them that were with them,

34 Saying, The LORD is risen indeed, and hath appeared to Simon.

35 And they told what things were done in the way, and how He was known of them in breaking of bread. That is, in the LORD's Supper; by that their eyes were opened. See verse 30.

36 And as they thus spake, JESUS Himself stood in the midst of them,

Suddenly and silently, as it would appear, certainly without any opening of the door. See S. John xx. 19.

and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.

37 But they were terrified and affrighted, and supposed that they had seen a spirit.

38 And He said unto them, Why are ye troubled ? and why do thoughts arise in your hearts?

Such "thoughts" or questionings, this means, as that I am only a Spirit.

39 Behold My hands and My feet, that it is I My

self: handle Me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see Me have.

40 And when He had thus spoken, He showed them His hands and His feet.

Hence we learn that the spiritual Body, though it may be as subtle as air, may yet be touched and handled; such will be our bodies after the resurrection.

41 And while they yet believed not for joy, and wondered,

For, as we say, they knew not how to believe.

He said unto them, Have ye here any meat?

42 And they gave Him a piece of a broiled fish, and of an honeycomb.

43 And He took it, and did eat before them.

This, He did, not as needing food, but out of the abundance of His merciful considerateness, that He might confirm their faith in the reality of His risen Body.

44 And He said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you,

"While I was yet with you," in that very same mortal flesh, in which ye now are: for the most holy One was as true Man, as He was true GOD.

that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning Me.

45 Then opened He their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures,

Yea, most blessed Redeemer, Thou art He, who bearest the key to Thine own truth; open Thou mine eyes, that I may see the wondrous things of Thy law, I am a stranger upon earth, for my home is with my FATHER in Heaven, where Thou art, Oh, hide not Thy commandment from me.

46 And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved CHRIST to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day:

47 And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name

"In His Name," that is, by His authority and commission, by those whom He sends, who are in His "stead,"1 His Bishops and Priests.

among all nations,

For "from the rising of the sun, even unto the going down of the same, My name shall be great among the Gentiles.” (Mal. i. 11.) beginning at Jerusalem.

For "the law shall go forth of Zion, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem." (Micah iv. 2; Isa. ii. 3.)

48 And ye are witnesses of these things.

49 And, behold, I send the promise of My FATHER upon you:

"I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground: I will pour My Spirit upon Thy seed." (Isa. xliv. 3.) "I will pour out My Spirit upon all flesh." (Joel ii. 28.) "A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you." (Ezek. xxxvi. 26.) It should be remembered that our LORD promised this same gift of the Spirit as from Himself. See S. John xv. 26.

but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.

That is, "power to go into all the world," alluding especially to the "gift of divers languages, and also boldness, with fervent zeal, constantly to preach the Gospel."

50 And He led them out as far as to Bethany,

That is, to the district, not to the village, of Bethany, in which the Mount of Olives was situated.

1 2 Cor. v. 20.

The word "Bethany" means the "House of Obedience:" LORD JESU, Thou didst lead Thy Apostles to Bethany; lead us, we beseech Thee, along the path of obedience, and then Thou wilt lead us to a glorious ascension to Thy heavenly throne, where with the FATHER and the HOLY GHOST, Thou livest and reignest for ever and ever.

and He lifted up His hands, and blessed them.

51 And it came to pass, while He blessed them, He was parted from them, and carried up into heaven.

"And now, O LORD, Thou art ascended up on high, Thou hast led captivity captive," and "hast gone up with a merry noise, and with the sound of the trump." This earth was unfit to support the immortal life which began in Thee after Thy Resurrection, and therefore Thou didst leave it. Thy Divine Nature never left the heavens, but Thy human nature, by virtue of its union with the Word, being Divine, rose above all principalities, and powers, and seated itself upon the throne of GOD. Thus we worship Thee, thus we adore Thee, thither we raise our eyes, Thou supreme object of our adoration and love. It was expedient for us that Thou shouldst go, that on Thee we should exercise our faith, our love, our charity. It was expedient for us that Thou shouldst go, that Thou shouldst make a way for us into heaven, as Thou wentest "to prepare a place for us," and as Thou hadst long before promised by Thy prophet, "The Breaker is come up before them; they have broken up, and have passed through the gate, and are gone out by it; and their King shall pass before them, and the LORD on the head of them." (Micah ii. 13.) Thou wentest up, that where Thou art, there we might be also. It was expedient that Thou shouldst ascend into heaven, that as the high priest under the old law, entered the sanctuary to mediate with GOD for the people, so Thou didst enter into heaven, "there to appear in the presence of GOD for us;" the very presence of Thy humanity there being a sort of appeal for us, seeing that if Thy FATHER hath so exalted human nature in Thee, He will have mercy on those for whose sakes Thou didst in Thine infinite mercy assume it.

52 And they worshipped Him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy:

Rejoicing for Him, because He had entered in His human na

ture into His own glorious blessedness: rejoicing for themselves, for they knew that He had gone "to prepare a place" for them.

53 And were continually in the temple, praising and blessing GOD. Amen.

Continually, that is, either at the regular hours of prayer: or, very often.

"Blessed are they that dwell in Thy house, they will be always praising Thee.”

THANKS BE GIVEN TO THEE, O GOD.

LONDON: PRINTED BY J. MASTERS AND SON, ALDERSGATE ST.