intereft, that we may be rendered capable of infinite happiness to all eternity. How properly might the time, previous to the commencement of the church-service, be employed in meditation, and in bringing our minds into that devout frame, by which alone we can properly perform this great duty; and the time afterwards, in endeavoring to remedy any failures, wanderings, or omiffions, which we may have been guilty of in the course of it!

Although the apoftles, upon the grounds before-mentioned, were permitted to alter the day on which the fabbath was to be kept, they gave no authority to Chris tians to curtail its length, or to dedicate any part of it to business or pleasure: in that respect it continued exactly as dictated to Moses by God himself from Mount Sinai.

66

66

1. The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene, early, when it was yet "dark, unto the fepulchre, and feeth the "stone taken away from the fepulchre. 4Q

66

"2. Then

"2. Then fhe runneth, and cometh to "Simon-Peter, and to the other disciple "whom Jefus loved, and faith unto them, They have taken away the Lord out of "the fepulchre, and we know not where they have laid him.”

66

66

Although St. John mentions Mary Magdalene only, upon this occafion, (probably because she was the principal person, being the first to whom our Lord fhewed himself,) yet there can be no doubt but fhe had companions with her: we cannot fuppofe fhe would have gone by herself upon fuch an errand, and at fuch an hour too; and fo we are told by the other evangelifts, who mention the names of fome other women with her, as alfo that their design was to anoint his body with fpices they had before prepared for that purpose, as the last fad office of respectful regard they could fhew him. On their arrival at the fepulchre, they found the ftone rolled away from its mouth: a circumflance which (St. Mark tells us) re

lieved them from much perplexity, as they knew not how they fhould obtain admittance for the performance of their pious duties. For the better understanding of this paffage, we must turn to St. Matthew, chap. xxvii. where we fhall find that the chief priests and elders applied to Pilate for a guard to fecure the body of Christ, under pretence of the danger of its being stolen away by his difciples, who might then spread a report that he was arisen from the dead, as when alive he had foretold. Pilate granting them a guard, they went to the fepulchre, and made every thing as fecure as poffible, fealing the ftone which (St. Mark tells us) was rolled to the mouth of it, and placing a guard over it. These measures of precaution which they now took, served afterwards as the strongest proofs against themfelves; as they effectually barred every door to any artifice being employed by his disciples, had they been inclined to it. In pursuance of the ftory, St. Matthew (chap. xxviii, ver. 2. 3. 4.) tells us, that, before 4Q 2

the

the women as above related arrived at the fepulchre, "there was a great earthquake:

66

for the angel of the Lord defcended " from Heaven, and came and rolled back "the stone from the door, and fat upon "it. His countenance was like lightning, " and his raiment white as fnow: and for "fear of him the keepers did shake, and "became as dead men ;" and, (in the 12th and three following verfes) he adds: "Now, "when they were going," (that is, the disciples,) "behold, fome of the watch came "into the city, and shewed unto the chief priests all the things that were done. "And when they were affembled with "the elders, and had taken counsel, they

gave large money unto the foldiers, fay

"ing, Say ye, His difciples came by night, "and ftole him away while we flept. "And if this come to the governor's ears, "we will perfuade him, and fecure you. "So they took the money, and did as they "were taught and this faying is commonly reported among the Jews until this day,"

The

The circumftance of the foldiers being eye-witnesses of all the miraculous events which attended the refurrection of our Lord, placed the truth of it on a much more fatisfactory ground, than if his difciples and friends had been the only evidences of it: nay, it is beyond a doubt, that even the priests and elders themselves were fully convinced by the relation of the foldiers; as, otherwife, they would have brought them to trial, and have caused the utmost severity of the law to be inflicted on them for their neglect and raising such a falsehood, instead of giving them money. And, here, we may observe how naturally one crime leads to another: they had shed innocent blood, and are now guilty of the baseness of fuborning false witneffes to conceal the proofs of it. Their conduct upon this occafion, appears still more deteftable than upon any former; because the very a&t itself proves their conviction that Jefus Christ, whom they had flain, was, in truth, the promised Meffiah. We may also ob