descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it. His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men.

And many bodies of the saints which slept arose, and came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto

many.

And the women said among themselves, at the rising of the sun, Who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the sepulchre? (for it was very great ;) And when they looked, they saw that the stone was rolled away.

Then one runneth, and cometh to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and saith unto them, They have taken away the Lord out of the sepulchre, and we know not where they have laid him.

And the others, entering into the sepulchre, saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a long white garment; and they were affrighted. But the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: Be not affrighted; for I know that ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified: He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come near, see the place where the Lord lay, behold the place where they laid him. And go your way, quickly, tell his disciples and Peter that he is risen from the dead ; and, behold, that he goeth before you into Galilee : there shall ye see him, as he said unto you, lo, I have told you.

And they went out quickly from the tomb, with fear, and fled from the tomb; for they trembled, and

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were amazed; neither said they any thing to any man; for they were afraid :

And with great joy they did run to tell his disciples.

Peter therefore went forth, and that other disciple, and came to the sepulchre. So they ran both together and the other disciple did outrun Peter, and came first to the sepulchre. And he, stooping down, and looking in, saw the linen clothes lying; yet went he not in. Then cometh Simon Peter following him, and went into the sepulchre, and seeth the linen clothes lie, and the napkin that was about his head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself. Then went in also that other disciple, which came first to the sepulchre, and he saw and believed. For as yet they knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead. Then the disciples went away again unto their own home, wondering at that which was come

to pass.

But Mary stood without, at the sepulchre, weeping.

And as she wept, she stooped down and looked into the sepulchre, and seeth two angels in white, sitting the one at the head, and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain. And they say unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? She saith unto them, Because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him. And when she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing.

Thus when Jesus was risen, early the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, (out of whom he had cast seven devils), and she knew not that it was Jesus. Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, sup

posing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away. Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master. Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father but go to my brethren, : and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father and your Father, and to my God and your God.

Mary Magdalene came and told that she had seen the Lord, and that he had spoken these things unto her. And as they went to tell his disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, All hail. And they came and held him him by the feet, and worshipped him. Then said Jesus unto them, Be not afraid go tell my brethren that they go into Galilee, and there shall they see me.

Now when they were going, behold, some of the watch came into the city, and shewed unto the chief priests all the things that were done. And when they were assembled with the elders, and had taken counsel, they gave large money unto the soldiers, saying, Say ye, His disciples came by night, and stole him away while we slept. And if this come to the governor's ears, we will persuade him, and secure you. So they took the money, and did as they were taught and this saying is commonly reported among the Jews until this day.

THANKSGIVING.

Christ our passover is sacrificed for us; therefore let us keep the feast: for He hath overcome death and become the first-fruits of them that slept. For since by man came

Relate the circumstances that attended the death of Christ. What effect did the supernatural appearances produce upon the centurion and those who were watching with him? What prophecy was fulfilled by the mode in which the soldiers ascertained that Christ was really dead?

Who took charge of the burial of Christ?

What part did Nicodemus take in it?

Where was Christ buried?

What did the women from Galilee observe, and what did they do?

What pains did the Jews take to secure that no one should steal the body of Christ away out of the sepulchre? What happened while Mary Magdalene, and the other Mary, and Salome, were on their way from their own homes to the sepulchre on Easter-Sunday morning? What did they see when they came to the tomb?

What did the one who separated from the others do, and what the two who remained?

What did the angel say to them?

What did Peter and John do when they heard the report of Mary Magdalene, who had run to them?

What did the two angels say to Mary Magdalene, who remained at the tomb when the rest had gone away? Relate the interview between her and Jesus when He first appeared after his resurrection.

What happened when Mary Magdalene had told her companions of her having seen the Lord, and while they were on the way to tell the rest of the disciples?

What did the watch do in the meanwhile?

What lie did the chief priests and elders bribe the soldiers to tell?

T

SECTION XXVIII.

From the Arrival, at the Sepulchre, of the Second Party of Women, and the Appearance to them of two Angels announcing the Resurrection of Christ, to the final Blessing of Christ, and His Ascension into Heaven.

PRAYER.

Grant, O Lord, that as we are baptized into the death of thy blessed Son our Saviour Jesus Christ; so by continual mortifying our corrupt affections, we may be buried with him; and that through the grave, and gate of death, we may pass to our joyful resurrection, for His merits, who died, and was buried, and rose again for us, thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them. And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulchre. And they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus.

And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in shining garments: And, as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee, saying, The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and