JI. 'l'mNK OF CALVARY. There the conflict was renewed. The first victory, which had been altogether oue of the soul, of feeling, must be yet again proved in a conflict whose main element should be bodily, physical suffering. Shame, weariness, pa.in, death-agony, all tested the reality of the triumph that had been gained in Gethsemane. And here too we can see the representative character of our Redeemer's work. We have often thought that we had won a right state of mind and feeling; but we have gone forth to actual life and relations, and found that our soul-victory failed to stand the actual testing& of life. We may say," Jesus died on Calvary for me; a Sacrifice and Propitiation for my sins." We may also say," That death on Calvary was mine. I could not make my soul-victory stand the test of the worries and pains and trials of life. Jesus took up the matter for me, and on Calvary I see myself in him ; my burden on him; my fight fought by him; and hie victory is victory for me,-it is my victory." III. THINK OP TEE REBUBBEOTION. It may be said, "But Jesus died." It may seem as if bis conflict ended in defeat. At Calvary we have no decided sign of victory. The disciples went away in hopelessness and tears. Can a word be spoken that shall relieve the darkness? We may find it in our text. Look at the burial-place, and hear the angel say, "He is not here: for he is risen." And we may say, "That resur- rection was mine. It is the seal of my triumph. I stand now in all the joy and strength of a victor. In Christ my foot is on self and sin and death. I can enter into the 'power of his resurrection.'" Me we then to expect freedom from temptation, deliverance from all the outward ills of life? Nay, not so. If I had said so, you would have smiled, as you remembered what cares worried, burdens pressed, and sins still humbled you. It is this-life, toil, suffering, look and are whC>lly different things when we realize Christ in us, we in Christ, and his victories involving ours in them. The resurrection of our Lord is the Divine acknowledgment of man's soul-victory over sin -evil consequences; and over sin-evil power. '!'hose who are united by faith to the Lord Jesus Christ enter daily into his triumph; it is repeated in them e.,,crain and again; and day by day they are "more than conquerors through him that loved them." We often dwell on ee.lve.tion from penalty. We should often realize that victory over sin and over self which is won for us by Christ. Too often we a.re satisfied with say- ing that we may have strength from Christ to wrestle with evil if we ask for it. But we ought to go on to say that we have the victory in having the risen and living Christ. Every form of evil Christ has met for us and beaten ; that is, I, in Christ, have met and beaten. Sickness is a beaten foe; pa.in, loss, disappointment, suffering, a.re beaten foes ; death itself is e. beaten foe. And God has openly acknowledged man's soul-victory in raising hie Son Jesus Christ from the dead.-R. T. Ver. 9.-Swrprise--wors'hip. Canon Liddon, in an impressive sermon on this text, asks, "How did these women receive Jesus when thus (suddenly) he met them? The fear and great joy with which they had come out of the sepulchre must surely now have been intensified: fear,-for here, beyond all question, was he who was so lately a tenant of the tomb, who had traversed the unseen world, the world of the dead; and great joy,-for here was indisputable proof of the truth of the angel's message, • He is risen.' He was here himself, the same figure, the same form, the same gracious countenance, lately marred and bruised, now lighted up with an unearthly radiance, the pierced bands, the pierced feet. What did they do? They came and held him by the feet, and worshipped him. There a.re three features in this action of these humble and deeply religious women that a.re especially deserving of our attention. 1. Their forgetfulness of themselves. 2. Their reverence. 3. Their tenacity of purpose ; " this is taken as being suggested by their a.et of holding him by the feet. Attention may also be fixed on the fact that the women were taken by surprise, and that revealed much concerning them. J. THJ1:m ACT UNDEB BUBPBISE SHOWED THAT THEIB FEELINGS TOWARDS CHRIST WERE GENUINE. Men are constantly found out by being "taken e.t unawe.res." But a man who is thoroughly genuine never minds being " taken at une.waree." These women were sincere. In e.n instant genuine feeling worthily responded to the Christ- revele.tion. II. THEIB AOT UNDBB BUllPBISE SllOWED THEIB E:lilOTIONAL CRABACTEBISTICS. Notice 66• THE GOSPEL ACCOTIDING TO ST. MATTHEW, [dlf, xxvm.1-21h
rarticularly what they did under impulse. It WM what women would do under Bitch circumstances, not what men would do. Women get round to Jesus by the hear• rather than by the head; but he acoepts the worship of emotion as freely as the worship of intellect. Let woman serve Christ woman's way, III. THEm ACT UNDER SURPRISE NEEDED DIVINE OORRECTION, It was daugerously impulsive; it was unspiritnal; it was a satisfaction in matariol presence; it lacked thought.-R. T.