''He lifted up His hands and blessed them. And it came to pass^ while He blessed them, He was parted from them.'* In one word, He left them when in the very act of blessing.
We cannot for a' moment doubt that there was a meaning in this circumstance. It was intended to remind the disciples of all that Jesus had brought with Hith when He came into the world. It was intended to assure them of what He would yet do, after He left the world. He came on earth to bless and not to curse, and blessing He departed. — He came in love and not in anger, and in love He went away. — He came not as a condemning judge, but as a compassionate Friend, and as a Friend He re- turned to His Father. — ^He had been a Saviour full of blessings to His little flock while He had been with them. He would be a Saviour full of blessings to them. He would have them know, even after He was taken away.
For ever let our souls lean on the gracious heart of Christ, if we know an3rthiiig of true religion. We shall never find a heart more tender, more loving, more patient, more compassionate, and more kind. To talk of the Virgin Mary as being more compaasionate than Christ ia a proof of miserable ignorance. To flee to the saints for comfort, when we may flee to Christ, is an act of mingled stupidity and blasphemy, and a robbery of Christ's crown. Gh*acioTis was our Lord Jesus while He lived among His weak disciples, — ^gracious in the very season of His agony on the cross, — gracious when He rose again and gathered His scattered sheep around Him, — gracious in the man- ner of His departure from this world. It was a departure in the very act of blessing ! Ghracious, we may be assured,
Kk