the scene of the last e.dieu, of the Ascension (ver. 50). In the earlier history of Israel (2 Kings ii.) there we.s e. de.y when the sons of the prophets, referring to Elijah, said to Elisha, "Knowest thou that the Lord will take away thy master from thy head to-day?" And his answer was," Yea, I know it; hold ye your peace." There were no eone of prophets thus speaking to the eleven. But whispers, no doubt, in their hearts raised shadows of some coming event. Something like the old amazement and fear (Mark x. 32) would he felt as, in silence, they followed their Leader. He is to be taken from their head; but better far than the mantle thrown on Elisha. from the vanishing prophet is to be their portion. Observe Christ as he is revealed in the concluding verses of the Gospel; observe those whom he is to leave behinc!. L OBSERVE CHRIST AS BE IS BEnE REVEALED. See: 1. The action of the Lord towards them. "He lifted up his hands" (ver. 50). Before he suffered he had lifted up his eyes to heaven, and the voice of intercession had been raised for them (John xvii.). As the high-priestly prayer closed, the voice had passed from the tones of earnest but humble pleading into those of the Sovereign expressing his will: "I will that they also whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am." Now the Priest, about to ascend to his throne, extends those hands in which is the print of the nails. It is the first time in which we are introduced to this attitude in the Gospels. The uplifted hands are the sign of the accepted sacrifice ever potent to cleanse. They are the sign of the righteousness ever ample to clothe. They are the sign of the protection ever sufficient to overshadow his Church. The uplifted hands constituted the last recollection of the Christ whom the disciples he.d seen; they mark the abiding trnth of the Christ whom the eye sees not. And, as the hands are lifted, the lips are opened to bless. What were the words of the blessing? Perhaps the benediction (Numb. iv. 24) which the sons of Aaron were commanded to pronounce was included in it. But who can measure all that it comprehended-all the wealth of grace and truth with which it was charged? Let us say rather, with which it is charged for the Church until the end of the age. "Lo, I am with you al way, blessing and keeping, my face shining on you, my will gracious to you, the light of my countenance lifted on you, my peace possessing you." 2. The asanding Lord. "While blessing" (ver. 51). While the accents of bis tender- ness are flowing over the soul, lo I he moves from the soil on which he and his have been standing. Upward, ever upward, he is borne; they gaze in wonder as the form in which they have beheld him is sublimated and passes whither their adoring vision can no longer follow. The apostle who was" born out of due time" completes, as far as thought of mortal can, the account of the evangelist (Eph. i. 20-23), when he describes the ascent "far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name tbat is named, not only in this world, but in that which is to come;" all things put under the feet of the glorified Man, "Head over all things to the Church, which i:1 his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all." He is "parted from them;" but only to be more nearly and entirely with them; only to bear with him the humanity through which Highest God is in touch with the whole life of man; only that, in the unchangeable Priesthood, he may ever live to make intercession; only to make good the word as to the promise of the Father. When ten more days have passed, the gates which had opened that the King of glory might enter, ~hall open again, and the Paraclete, Christ's other self, shall descend from the heaven into which he has gone, to fill the little company with his presence. And in that day they shall know that he is in the Father, and they in him, and he in them. IL OBSERVE THE DISCIPLES, 1. The new worship. They had followed him, and had ea.lied him Master. His appearances during the forty days had prepared them for something higher still Now, in deepest reverence, they kneel before the Lord. Thomas learns the whole reality of his answer, " My Lord and my God." Mary learns that which is higher and holier than the touch with which, on the resurrection-morning, she had sought to detain him. John learns the word which afterwards he wrote," This is the true God, and the Eternal Lile." Peter learns that which moves him to interpret the consciousness of faith," Whom having noi seen ye love.• Then first sounds the muHic which burst forth, in later years, in the sublimest hymn of the Church : 11 We praise thee, 0 God; we acknowledge thee to be the Lord. . . . Thou art the King of glory, 0 Christ." And this.worship is _the ~rue life of the ~hu_rch. It_is the ~utcom11 of the faith in the Resurrectlon, "Christ cbed, yea rathor, 1s men again, aud Ill eveD 286 THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. LUKE. [orr, xx1v. 1-o3.
at the right hand of God, nrnking intercession for us." Wanting this, there may bo suoh an apostr_ophe as that with which Renan concludes his 'Life of Jesus;' but worship full and adoring t~ere cannot be. It is ~his worship which is the spring of all energy, the pledge of all VIctory, the bond of union between heaven and earth. "Salvation to our G-od who sitteth on the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever." 2. Tl,e new /oy •. ".'1:hc~- rct~med to Jerusalem" (ver. 25). But what a difference I They had left 1t _d1s_pmted,_ weighed do_wn by many thoughts. Now "they come again rejoicing, bnngm~ their sheaves with them." "Parted from them I " Might they not feel as sheep without a Shepherd? Nay; for they know that their Shepherd is with them. Their hope had been sealed and confirmed, and they are flushed with "a great joy." Should not this joy thrill the Church? Enthusiasm is essential to its vitality. To ~ strong, it 1:1ust be sanguine, triumphant. Times of worshipful faith are always times of great Joy. "We triumph in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, in whom we received the reconciliation." 3. The new life. "They were continually in the temple" (ver. 53). But the temple had a new meaning to them. Rite and offering, house of prayer and songs of praise, were all clothed with a new character. It was their Father's house, and he had given a new song to their lips. Continually are they " praising and biessing God." This is the life; for they are sitting in the heavenly places, and partaking of the heavenly things. "Day by day we magnify thee." Beautiful as the first days of summer is this picture of the waiting Church. Would that the impression of this life of praise and blessing were more evident in the Church, witnessing, working, and still waiting. May the Church be " found unto praise, and honour, and glory, at the appearing of Jesus Christ" I