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Isaac's being brought to be sacrificed. Heb. xi, 19. Jonah's being three days and three nights in the whale's belly. Matt. xii, 40.

Our Saviour died on Good Friday, the day of preparation, about three o'clock in the afternoon; he was buried that evening; and was in the grave on Saturday, (the Jewish Sabbath;) Matt. xxviii, 1; Mark xvi, 1, 2; Luke xxiii, 56. On Saturday night the Chief Priests obtained of Pilate a guard to watch the body till the third day should be past. Matt. xxvii, 63--66. On the first day of the week, (our Sunday) early in the morning, he rose again.

The Jewish Sabbath commemorated the redemption of Israel from Egyptian bondage. The Christian Sabbath commemorates the redemption of the soul from the worse bondage of Satan. It is called the Lord's Day. Rev. i, 10.

What do you mean by Christ's rising from the dead?

His soul and his body which had been separated by death, were re-united, and he rose with the same body with which he died.

What are the proofs of his resurrection?

Men and angels testified it.

The soldiers appointed to watch the sepulchre. Matt. xxviii, 11.

Matt. xxviii, 6, 9, 10, 17;

Mark xvi, 6, 10, 13;

Luke xxiv, 4-6; iv, 33; xiii, 33;

15--35; John xx, 12, 14, 19, 26; Acts i, 3-9; Rom. i, 4; 1 Cor. xv, 5-8; 2 Tim. ii, 8. He conversed with his disciples, and ate and drank with them, &c. He continued on earth forty days after his resurrection. Acts i, 3.

The facts of which the evidence of the resurrection consists, are attested by a succession of witnesses, and may be comprised under,

Appearances of the angels.

To the Roman soldiers. Matt. xxviii, 3.

To the other Mary and Salome.

Mark xvi, 5.

To Joanna and those with her. Luke xxiv, 4, 11.

To Mary Magdalen. John xx, 11, 12.

Appearances of Christ to the women. To the other Mary and Salome. Matt. xxviii, 9. To Mary Magdalene. John xx, 15.

Appearances of Christ to the disciples and apostles.

He must have appeared often during the forty days he was upon earth, but few of the visits are mentioned. To the eleven in Galilee. Matt. xxviii, 16.

To the two disciples in journeying to Emmaus. Mark xvi, 12; Luke xxiv, 13, &c.

To the eleven when they sat at meat. Mark xvi, 14.

To Simon. Luke xxiv, 34.

To Thomas. John xx, 27.

To the disciples at the sea of Tiberias. John xxi, 1, &c.
To Paul. Acts ix, 5.

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Last of all he was seen of me (Paul) also. 1 Cor. xv, 8.

When does our Church commemorate the resurrection?
On Easter Sunday.

What are the uses of the resurrection?

1. To prove our Saviour's divinity.

Declared to be the Son of God with power, by the resurrection from the dead. Rom. i, 4.

Sometimes he is said to be raised by his own power, John ii, 19--21; x, 15-18. Sometimes by the power of God, Acts ii, 32; Gal. i, 1; Eph. i, 19; Phil. ii, 9.

2. To assure us of the sufficiency of his sacrifice. Raised again for our justification. Rom. iv, 25.

Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, &c. Acts ii, 31--33. 3. As a pledge of our own resurrection.

He that raised up Christ from the dead, shall also quicken your mortal bodies. Rom. viii, 11.

Christ is become the first-fruits of them that slept. 1 Cor. xv, 20. Them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. 1 Thess. iv, 14.

4. To lead us to die to sin.

Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but

alive unto God, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Rom, vi, 11. That he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again. 2 Cor. v, 15.

If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above. Col. iii, 1.

5. As the grand proof of the truth of the Gospel.

If Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain. 1 Cor. xv, 14.

And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain. 1 Cor. xv, 17. 6. As a pattern of our resurrection.

Death made no change in the person or character of Christ; he was the same after he rose, as he was before

he was put to death.

His kindness to his friends, and his pity to his enemies, were the same; and death will make no change in us.

If we have been planted in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: i. e. if we die with his image in our souls, we shall rise again in his likeness. Rom. vi, 5. Where the tree falleth, there it shall be. Eccles. xi, 3.

He which is filthy, let him be filthy still; and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still. Rev. xxii, 11.

The Apostles laid down

dation of their preaching.

the resurrection as the foun

Acts i, 21, 22; ii, 31, 32; iii, 15; iv, 2, 33; x, 40; xiii, 31; xvii, 18, 32; xxiv, 15, 21.

Where did our Saviour go, when he left the earth, after his resurrection?

He ascended into heaven.

Mark xvi, 19; Luke xxiv, 51; Acts i, 9; Eph. iv, 8-10.

Whom the heaven must receive, until the times of restitution of all things. Acts iii, 21,

He promised to send the Spirit as the fruit of his ascension. John xvi, 7.

It was accordingly sent on the day of Pentecost. Acts ii, 3, 4.

The ascension of our Lord was predicted by the Psalmist.

Lift up your heads, O ye gates, &c.-and the King of glory shall come in. Ps. xxiv, 9, 10.

Thou hast ascended on high. Ps. lxviii, 18.

What is his station in heaven?

He sitteth at the right hand of God the Father Almighty.

God also hath highly exalted him, &c. Phil. ii, 9.

God is a Spirit, and has no parts: but he describes himself as having them in condescension to our capacities. "The right hand of God" means a place of power. Matt. xxvi, 64; Mark xiv, 62; Luke xxii, 69.

A place of honour and happiness.

Ps. cx, 1; John xvii, 4, 5; Eph. i, 20, 21; 1 Pet. iii, 22.

Sometimes Christ is described as sitting, to signify his continuance in his high station.

He was received into heaven, and sat down, &c. Mark xvi, 19.

This Jesus hath God raised up, &c. The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand. Acts ii, 32-34..

He sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high. Heb. i, 3. Who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens. Heb. viii, 1.

Sometimes he is represented as standing, to show, that he is ever making intercession for us.

Stephen saw Jesus standing on the right hand of God. Acts vii, 55. The place of his abode is heaven; a place of eternal blessedness.

We have a great High Priest that is passed into the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God. Heb. iv, 14.

What is his office in heaven?

He appears before the Father as our Mediator, Intercessor, and Advocate. He pleads his merits, and takes care of all the interests of his Church.

John xiv, 6.

viii, 34.

1. He is there to intercede for us. No man cometh unto the Father but by me. Who also maketh intercession for us. Rom. He ever liveth to make intercession for them. Now to appear in the presence of God for us. If any man sin, we have an Advocate with the the righteous. 1 John ii, 1. 2. To supply our wants.

Heb. vii, 25.
Heb. ix, 24.

Father, Jesus Christ

And if I be lifted up, I will draw all men unto me.

John xii, 32.

My God shall supply all your need, according to his riches in glory

by Christ Jesus. Phil. iv, 19.

That we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. Heb. iv, 16.

3. To prepare a place for us.

If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again. John xiv, 3. 4. To turn us from iniquity. Acts iii, 26.

5. To give repentance and forgiveness of sins.

Him hath God exalted to give repentance and remission of sins. Acts v, 31.

But although he is thus removed out of our sight, he is nevertheless present wherever two or three are met together in his name: and he has declared that he is with his people alway, even unto the end of the world.

What glorious gifts has our Lord received for men by his resurrection and ascension, and how freely does he dispense them even to the chief of sinners! By virtue of this his exaltation, he sends down his Holy Spirit, to convince of sin, to lead to repentance, to assure of forgiveness, to enable us to grow in grace, to keep us from

falling, and to prepare us for eternal glory. Through him we receive a gracious answer to our prayers, and obtain all things that be needful both for our souls and bodies. If our souls be impressed with a due sense of gratitude to our blessed Redeemer, for these his inestimable gifts, purchased at so great a price, we shall indeed die unto sin, crucifying the flesh, with its affections and lusts, and being raised from our spiritual death, shall henceforth live a life of righteousness and holiness, by faith on the Son of God.

Collect, Sunday before Easter.-Grant that we may both follow the example of his patience, and also be made partakers of his resurrection.

Ascension Day. -Grant that as we do believe thy only begotten Son to have ascended into the heavens, so we may also in heart and mind thither ascend.

On the Creed. No. 5.

ON THE LAST JUDGMENT.

What is the last articie of the Creed respecting our Saviour? From thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.

We have already considered the office of Christ in heaven as the Mediator: he will fill that office till all his enemies be subdued, (Heb. x, 12, 13.) and his people all gathered in; then cometh the end, (1 Cor. xv, 24--28.) when he shall come to judgment, and sitting on his great white throne, surrounded by his holy angels, shall dispense rewards and punishments to all men, according as their deeds have been good or evil, admitting the righteous into the kingdom of his Father, and taking vengeance on them that have not known God, nor obeyed his gospel. The time when this awful event will take place is unknown, even to the angels, (Matt. xxiv, 36.) but

It is certain. In this life God's people have very many sorrows and troubles, while the wicked are in prosperity, and say in the pride of their heart, "How doth God know?" Reason therefore intimates, and Scripture confirms the truth, that another state of exis

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