SECTION XLVIII.

JESUS APPEARS TO HIS DISCIPLES.

LUKE XXIV. 13.

AND behold, two of them went that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was from Jerusalem about threescore furlongs. And they talked together of all these things which had happened. And it came to pass that, while they communed together, and reasoned, Jesus himself drew near and went with them. But their eyes were holden, that they should not know him. And he said nnto them, What manner of communications are these that ye have one to another, as ye walk, and are sad? And the one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answering, said unto him, Art thou only a stranger in Jerusalem, and hast not known the things which are come to pass there in these days? he said unto them, What things? And they said unto him, Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, which was a prophet, mighty in deed and word before God and all the people; and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered him to be condemned to death, and have crucified him. But we trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel; and besides all this to-day is the third day since these things were done. Yea, and certain women also of our company made us astonished, which were early at the sepulchre; and when they found not his body, they came, saying, that they had also seen

And

a vision of angels, which said that he was alive. And certain of them which were with us, went to the sepulchre, and found it even so as the women had said; but him they saw not. Then he said unto them, Oh fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory? And beginning at Moses, and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself. And they drew nigh unto the village whither they went; and he made as though he would have gone further. But they constrained him, saying, Abide with us, for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent. And he went in to tarry with them. And it came to pass, as he sat at meat with them, he took bread, and blessed it, and brake, and gave to them. And their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight. 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? And they rose up the same hour, and returned to Jerusalem; and found the eleven gathered together, and them that were with them, saying, The Lord is risen indeed, and hath appeared to Simon. And they told what things were done in the way, and how he was known of them in breaking of bread.-And as they thus spake, he himself stood in the midst of them; and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.

REFLECTIONS.

"Did not our heart burn within us by the way?" May we not all look back upon hours in our own lives which an

swer to this description of the disciples' feelings? There are times when our hearts hold converse with a Being whom they do not comprehend, when a feeling of solemn thought comes over them, and they seem in the presence of something indescribably holy. It was thus with the disciples, as they trod, with their unknown master, the path to Emmaus. It is at such times that the Spirit of God is holding converse with our spirits. Let us not silence its whisperings by permitting the loud voice of the world to make them unheard; but in solitude, commune with our own hearts," and with our Maker; "and be still." We shall find the thoughtlessness of our natures corrected by the exercise. We shall find virtuous principle acquiring strength, and the force of headlong impulse weakened. The things which before were hard to our minds in the dispensations of Providence, will become easy to understand, and doubt will give place to adoring faith and love; as the sadness and ignorance which hung over the minds of the disciples, gave way as the Saviour instructed them from the Scriptures, in the prophecies relating to himself.

HYMN.

Hath not thy heart within thee burned
At evening's calm and holy hour,
As if its inmost depths discerned

The presence of a loftier power?

Hast thou not heard, 'mid forest glades,
While ancient rivers murmured by,
A voice from forth the eternal shades,

That spake a present Deity?

And as, upon the sacred page,

Thine eye in rapt attention turned

O'er records of a holier age,

Hath not thy heart within thee burned?

It was the voice of God, that spake
In silence to thy silent heart;

And bade each worthier thought awake,
And every dream of earth depart.

Voice of our God, Oh yet be near!
In low, sweet accents whisper peace :
Direct us on our pathway here,

Then bid in heaven our wanderings cease.

SECTION XLIX.

CHRIST'S CHARGE TO PETER.

JOHN XXI. 1. and 15.

AFTER these things Jesus showed himself again to the disciples at the sea of Tiberias. And on this wise showed he himself. There were together Simon Peter, and. Thomas called Didymus, and Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two other of his disples. Simon Peter saith unto them, I go a fishing. They say unto him, We also go with thee. They went forth, and entered into a ship immediately, and that night they caught nothing. But when the morning was now come, Jesus stood on the shore; but the disciples knew not that it was Jesus. Then Jesus saith unto them, Children, have ye any meat? They answered him, No. And he said unto them, cast the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find. They cast therefore, and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes. Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved saith unto Peter, It is the Lord.

So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord, thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs. He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord, thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep. He saith unto him the third time, Simon son of Jonas, lovest thou me ? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep. Verily, verily, I say unto thee, when thou wast young, thou girdedst thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest; but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not. This spake he, signifying by what death he should glorify God. And when he had spoken this, he saith unto him, Follow me. Then Peter, turning about, seeth the disciple whom Jesus loved, following; (which also leaned on his breast at supper, and said, Lord, which is he that betrayeth thee?) Peter seeing him, saith to Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man do? Jesus saith unto him; If I will that he tarry till I what is that to thee? Follow thou me.

come,

REFLECTIONS.

There was oc

"Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me ?" casion for the question; for Peter, though at first loudest in his professions, had violated them all, by the denial of his master. But may not we apply to ourselves the interrogation