great enough to swallow her up, yet her love was greater, and did swallow up her grief. But the sun also had a veil upon his face, and taught us to draw a curtain before the passion, which would be the most artificial expression of its greatness; whilst by silence and wonder we confess it great beyond our expression, or, which is all one, great as the burden and baseness of our sins; and with this veil drawn before the face of Jesus, let us suppose him at the gates of paradise, calling with his last words, in a loud voice, to have them opened, that the King of glory might come in. THE PRAYER. I. O holy Jesus, who for our sakes didst suffer incomparable anguish and pains, commensurate to thy love and our miseries, which were infinite, that thou mightest purchase for us blessings upon earth, and an inheritance in heaven; dispose us by love, thankfulness, humility, and obedience, to receive all the benefit of thy passion; granting unto us and thy whole church remission of all our sins, integrity of mind, health of body, competent maintenance, peace in our days, a temperate air, fruitfulness of the earth, unity and integrity of faith, extirpation of heresies, reconcilement of schisms, destruction of all wicked counsels intended against us; and bind the hands of rapine and sacrilege, that they may not destroy the vintage, and root up the vine itself. Multiply thy blessings upon us, sweetest Jesus; increase in us true religion, sincere and actual devotion in our prayers, patience in troubles, and whatsoever is necessary to our soul's health, or conducing to thy glory. Amen. II. O dearest Saviour, I adore thy mercies, and thy incomparable love, expressed in thy so voluntary susception and affectionate suf fering such horrid and sad tortures, which cannot be remembered without a sad compassion: the waters of bitterness entered into thy soul, and the storms of death and thy Father's anger broke thee all in pieces. And what shall I do, who by my sins have so tormented my dearest Lord? What contrition can be great enough, what tears sufficiently expressive, what hatred and detestation of my crimes can be equal and commensurate to those sad accidents which they have produced? Pity me, O Lord, pity me, dearest God; turn those thy merciful eyes towards me, O most merciful Redeemer: for my sins are great, like unto thy passion, full of sorrow and shame, and a burden too great for me to bear. Lord, who hast done so much for me, now only speak the word, and thy servant shall be whole. Let thy wounds heal me, thy virtues amend me, thy death quicken me; that I in this life, suffering the cross of a sad and salutary repentance, in the union and merits of thy cross and passion, may die with thee, and rest with thee, and rise again with thee, and live with thee for ever, in the possession of thy glories, O dearest Saviour Jesus. Amen. SECTION XVI. Of the Resurrection and Ascension of Jesus. 1. WHILE it was yet early in the morning, upon the first day of the week, Mary Magdalen and Mary, the mother of James and Salome, brought sweet spices to the sepulchre, that they might again embalm the holy body; (for the rites of embalming among the Hebrews used to last forty days;') and their love was not satisfied with what Joseph had done. They therefore hastened to the grave; and after they had expended their money, and bought the spices, then begin to consider, who shall remove the stone: but yet they still go on, and their love answers the objection, not knowing how it should be done, but yet resolving to go through all the difficulties; but never remember to take care to pass the guards of soldiers. But when they came to the sepulchre, they found the guard affrighted and removed, and the stone rolled away for there had a little before their arrival been a great earthquake, and an angel descending from heaven rolled away the stone, and sat upon it;' and for 1 Gen. 1.; Tacit. Annal. lib. xxi. 2 Aurora lucis rutilat, Coelum laudibus intonat, Hymn. Paschal. fear of him the guards about the tomb became astonished with fear, and were like dead men: and some of them ran to the high-priests, and told them what had happened. But they now, resolving to make their iniquity safe and unquestionable by a new crime, hire the soldiers to tell an incredible and a weak fable, that his disciples came by night and stole him away against which accident the wit of man could give no more security than themselves had made. The women entered into the sepulchre, and missing the body of Jesus, Mary Magdalen ran to the eleven apostles, complaining that the body of our Lord was not to be found. Then Peter and John ran as fast as they could to see for the unexpectedness of the relation, the wonder of the story, and the sadness of the person, moved some affections in them, which were kindled by the first principles and sparks of faith, but were not made actual and definite, because the faith was not raised to a flame: they looked into the sepulchre, and finding not the body there, they returned. By this time Mary Magdalen was come back, and the women who stayed, weeping for their Lord's body, saw two angels sitting in white, the one at the head, and the other at the feet; at which unexpected sight they trembled, and bowed themselves: but an angel bid them not to fear; telling them, that Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified, was also risen, and was not there; and called to mind what Jesus had told them in Galilee concerning his crucifixion, and resurrection the third day. 2. And Mary Magdalen turned herself back, and saw Jesus; but supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, 'Sir, if thou hast borne him bence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away. But Jesus said unto her, Mary.' Then she knew his voice, and with ecstasy of joy and wonder was ready to have crushed his feet with her embraces. But he commanded her not to touch him, but go to his brethren, and say, 'I ascend unto my Father and to your Father, to my God and your God.' Mary departed with satisfaction beyond the joys of a victory or a full vintage, and told these things to the apostles; but the narration seemed to them as talk of abused and fantastic persons. About the same time Jesus also appeared unto Simon Peter. Towards the declining of the day, two of his disciples going to Emmaus, sad, and discoursing of the late occurrences, Jesus puts himself into their company, and upbraids their incredulity, and expounds the Scriptures, that Christ ought to suffer, and rise again the third day; and in the breaking of bread disappeared; and so was known to them by vanishing away, whom present they knew not. And instantly they hasted to Jerusalem, and told the apostles what had happened. 3. And while they were there, that is, the same day, at evening, when the apostles were assembled, all save Thomas, secretly, for fear of the Jews, the doors being shut, Jesus came and stood in the midst of them. They were exceedingly troubled, supposing it had been a spirit.' But Jesus confuted them by the philosophy of their senses; by 'feeling his flesh and bones, which spirits have not:' for he gave them his benediction, 'showing them his hands and his feet.' At which sight they rejoiced with exceeding joy, and began to be restored to their indefinite hopes of some future felicity, by the return of their Lord to life: and |