stood to lose everything-the women's reports notwithstanding. They could easily see how the spirit of Jesus had gone to the Father, but how could they recognise that His dead body, killed so ignominiously, had regained life in a few hours? There were, they knew, an empty grave, the testimony of "angels," the confident reports of the women, backed during the day by Peter's, whose temperament however they understood, and this was clearly something; but, not enough they thought, for they had grave doubts still, and must at least wait awhile and see.

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A striking incident occurred later on, in the afternoon. Two men, one named Cleopas, were going to a village called Emmaus-an up-hill journey all the way-some six or seven miles from the City, and about two hours' walk. They were believers in the Messiahship of Jesus, in the popular sense, but were very low-spirited and downcast, about the Crucifixion, though they were talking on the way very earnestly. We gather from the narrative they knew about the death and burial, and had heard some vague rumours, of what the women, and perhaps the two Apostles had seen and heard during the early morning; but their information was scanty and indefinite, and their rapid conversation was marked by a sorrowful tone, as if their hopes of this Messiahship of Jesus had been utterly blighted. They may have been speculating about the probabilities and improbabilities of the resurrection rumours. Suddenly, another traveller obtruded himself and asked what they were discussing so earnestly? They "did not know him;" probably, under the circumstances, did not closely scrutinise him-we are told "their eyes were holden." Such a question, put by a man coming from the City and the Passover, surprised them, because "these things " that they were talking of were the 'things," just then talked of everywhere, by everybody, and some of them had been talked of for the last two or three days. "These things!" said the stranger. "What things ? ' Why, of course, the wonderful miracles, the death, burial, and certain stories about the "rising again "of Jesus of Nazareth," whom many people had taken for the promised Messiah. They were so sad and depressed about it, because they had never expected His death, and least of all such a death. Did he not know that the Rulers and roughs of the City had badgered Pilate into crucifying this Jesus? that He had been buried? and that now, though soldiers were set to guard the grave, the body was missing, and was said to have risen again? that some Galilean women, in fact, had seen the sepulchre empty, and had also seen two angels at the grave, who told them "Jesus was alive"? This seems to have been all these men, up to this time, knew, for as yet they did not know that the women themselves had seen Jesus. The stranger listened quietly and then rebuked them, because they who professed to believe in the Messiah, were themselves full of doubt and despair about Him. Like the rest, they were mere "fools" as to the Sacred Books or they would not talk so ignorantly about the Messiah If they would read carefully their own Scriptures, and not regard false glosses they would not be so dull at seeing or feeling,-so "slow of heart." A fair knowledge of the Prophets would cure their queries, doubts, and disputations as to all that had happened and would happen to this Jesus of Nazareth. They would tell them that Jesus had to suffer these

things. Then, he went through these Books, place by place, "from end to end," "opening to them the Scriptures; " opening their mental eyes by showing exactly what the Prophets had really taught. This was so beautifully and graphically done, that "they were delighted, till their hearts burned within them," all the way to Emmaus. Here at the village the stranger would have left them-" made" in fact to go further; but they pressed him to supper, that they might hear and learn more. At table, he broke the bread, and handed it round, in a way that seemed quite familiar to these two men. Shortly, as they sat there, the stranger's form and features altered. They thought now, they had seen the face before; and then, they knew Him perfectly, for His countenance, manner, movements, spirit, voice, all revealed to them that Jesus sat at table. How they rejoiced and wondered; but, then "He vanished" (Luke xxiv. 13-31).

In the evening on this same Sunday, probably after sunset, for spies were abroad, and doors had to be kept closed, apparently locked, the "ten" Apostles, Thomas being absent, had met at a house in the City, to discuss the situation. At this private conference, Cleopas and his colleague, having hastened back from Emmaus, made their appearance. On their way, they appear to have heard about Peter's interview with Jesus during the day, but they came to tell all they had heard and seen them. selves. Their account caused amazement, and the more when considered in connection with the stories of the women and of Peter, who had all seen Jesus. For a time no doubt all hearts were cheered, and hopes raised, as they listened to the glowing narrative of these two unexpected witnesses. They lapsed very soon, however, into their old despondency. It was so unlikely a dead body should, of itself, rise to life again, that they suspected some illusion. So that suspicions of illusions are not peculiar to M. Renan. His notion, after all, is merely a plagiarism, with this difference, that M. Renan sticks to his borrowed suspicions in spite of testimony which is beyond suspicion. The Apostles were so oppressed and borne down with the thought that everything had turned out contrary to their expectations that they had really given all up, and could not rally themselves. The hour to separate had come, and they had all seated themselves at supper before parting for the night. In a moment, without noise or preliminary, Jesus entered the room, and "stood in the midst of them!" They knew Him at once. The door had been kept securely closed, but how He came, and whence, no one could tell. His usual benignity, His womanly gentleness, His beaming face, more than ever etherialised, and nearly denuded of visible material grossness, were all there, and left no room to doubt as to His identity. There He "stood," peaceful and placid The assumption that He passed through the solid walls, or the solid door, is quite gratuitous. What we know is, that suddenly, unexpectedly, He "stood in their midst" on this Sunday night of His Resurrection Day, and then took His seat, and ate, and spoke, and reasoned with them. Five times now on this first day He had appeared to His disciples (never so often after); but He knew their sadness, and sorrow, and distraction, and came to relieve them. His visits had been to Mary, to the "other women," to Peter, to the Emmaus men, and then

as ever.

to these "ten" in this private room. First of all He had come to the weeping, sobbing Magdalene. We do not find that He ever once reappeared to His mother: perhaps He shrank from the probable issues of such a conference with one He so loved; and then He had finally severed His earthly relations at the Cross. Besides, His business was with those who had hitherto been His helpers, and who were to push on His work; and Mary was not one of these. His salutation, "Peace be unto you! -could not but soothe His distressed Apostles. The words meant, "No more doubt, disputation, sadness, tears: I am here; open your eyes and your hearts, and take hold of Me by your mental and spiritual consciousness; and then by an immovable faith." The men were alarmed at this suddenness, at the very reality, at the surroundings, and the more, because they had been justifying their own incredulity, in the face of all the evidence, including Peter's, and that just come in from Emmaus. They saw it was Jesus, but speculated whether it was not His "spirit.” Jesus "upbraided them with their unbelief,”—their "hardness of heart,” and desired to know the grounds of all this doubt, "fright," and "terror." "Why are ye troubled?" I am before you; not shrouded behind curtains, or out of reach; any reasonable test of identity is open to you! Then He showed His hands, His feet, and invited scrutiny as they sat there. Virtually He said, "Inspect Me; the indubitable marks are there; John saw Me on the Cross; saw the long iron nails; heard the last, 'loud cry'; saw the spear-thrust, and the last breath go! Is not that enough, when you see Me beside you with the marks of all the wounds of Friday last? If you still doubt Me, come closer and “touch Me; yea, handle me!" "It is I, myself," I assure you, "for a spirit hath not flesh and bones as ye see Me have!" Strange how quiet Peter kept through all this; but he had had lessons during the day, vivid lessons, and had learnt how to be prudent, and modest, and retiring, and less self-sufficient.

This visit hushed their doubts: quite cured all despair. Jesus, they saw, had conquered Death, and they accepted this great fact with all its consequences. Their joy was boundless, and their confidence immovable. For a short time the intercourse continued, and Jesus asked for food, and ate at their table "honeycomb" and "broiled fish." He was present, apparently, in His physical organism, and in His spiritual power, supping with them, and opening to them the Scriptures-Moses, the Psalms, and the Prophets-till their souls overflowed with gladness. Now, it began fairly to gleam upon these men how "His kingdom" was really "the kingdom of Heaven," and not the kingdom they had been dreaming of, and how salvation could come only through His Death and Resurrection. They saw something at last of the grand truths they had to preach, and saw that the Mission of Jesus was not to die out because He had died. His death was only a New Life to His work. He told them, indeed, their business was before them, and that they must do it; beginning not in far-off regions, out of the way of his murderers, but in the streets just outside that room, and in sight of Calvary; "beginning" in fact "at Jerusalem," and thence working from centre to circumference, till all men had heard the truth. Light would radiate thence from all points, and

drive back the blackness of darkness to the ends of the earth. The burden of their message to fallen man was to be, Salvation through the death of Jesus, and this to all races and peoples, in all lands, themselves being "witnesses." With solemn emphasis He said, "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be condemned' (N.V. Mark xvi. 16). Elsewhere He adds to sayings like this, in relation to final retribution, the sense-the words too-everlasting, undying, eternal. Whatever words like these may indicate, is not for the writer to determine now, nor here. The deliveries are recorded, and are of too tremendous import to trifle with or evade. We may observe, however, that the infinite, physical, deliberately inflicted torture, the literal undying worm, the material brimstone of a priestcraft of days gone by have no place nor sanction in the teachings of Jesus. Yet, there must be, there is an awful meaning in such words as we have quoted, or they would never have found utterance. Jesus could not have used them lightly, nor needlessly, and especially on this most serious occasion. Let those they concern look well to themselves, and not take refuge in glosses and evasions. At the very least they imply an everlasting deprivation—a voluntary selfdeprivation, too—of all that seems to make life worth having; and that is eternal punishment enough, a hell dreadful enough to induce all reasonable men to pause and ponder.

Before Jesus left this room, He told the Apostles of the near coming of the "Comforter," who would clothe them with spiritual power, and in their great work counsel and sustain them. Again we have the beautiful words: "Peace be unto you!" for now He was about to depart. But another word of comfort yet. They knew from what He had taught before, how the Holy Spirit sometimes came like a wild wind-storm; but oftener in faint, cool breaths, like soft, gentle breezes-unseen, and not seldom unexplainable as to their origin, path, and termination. Emblematical of all this, "He breathed on them," with the words, "Receive ye the Holy Ghost!" Without fuss or ceremony, without genuflections or millinery, that was his adieu: the scene closed, and Jesus vanished. Ever after this conference, in life and in death, these men held fast to Jesus with a new, a divine enthusiasm.

Only ten Apostles, however, were at this private interview, and the question of identity was therefore not wholly settled. It will be remembered that when Lazarus was sick, the propriety and prudence of Jesus returning to him was warmly disputed, and that Thomas was the chief man who resisted the return. Very strong pressure was used before he gave way, and indeed he only yielded at length in a fit of desperation and temper, because he thought he saw (not unreasonably) certain death in returning. This high-spirited, generally clear-headed, always strongwilled Thomas, not being at this meeting of the "ten" was almost sure to have something to say, as to the facts, opinions, and reports discussed there; and he would be prone to scrutinise severely any inferences drawn from the reports. Clearly it is often disagreeable, but nevertheless, sometimes well, to have in assemblies, as in the case of a Government opposition, even at the risk of a little carping, persons given to look at questions all round, especially while those who see but one phase of a question, are so

plentiful; nor is it reasonable to be angry, even when such men are wrong, as Thomas was in this case. When these men are really and obviously wrong, they generally mean right, and any attempt to punish their wrong always means a still worse wrong. False notions often get put right, and truth is seldom hurt by fair discussion. It was just so in the case of Thomas. He was not exasperated nor put down, even when every man was against him. Every one of them knew he was unreasonable, but they let him have his way and his say, without any attempt to clammour him into silence, or to put odium upon him. Thomas was a cautious man; critical and inquisitive, rather than cynically or sardonically sceptical. His mind reposed on the five senses; and on those unlocalised sensations which physiologists vaguely call the muscular sense, such as the undefinable sense of weight, resistance, weariness, unrest. Open to the logic of facts, Thomas could not rest on hearsay. The evidence was sufficient for his brethren, but they had seen, heard, examined, under the protection of the organs of sensation, and he would not be at a disadvantage. Something of obstinacy perhaps about this, but he claimed to be on an equality with his brethren. He might have chosen to be present at the Conference, but did not so choose; it may be, his caution led him to fear the City police, for he was no man to run headlong into danger. Had he been there, he would have been satisfied, because he could not have stumbled at the miracle of the Resurrection, having seen abundance of unmistakable miracles already. After all, his hesitation was more of the heart than the head, seeing the evidence was sufficient now in all reason. Probably his difficulty arose out of an impression he was unwilling to be rid of that this Messiah was not the kind of Messiah he had expected, or He could never have been killed. Of course that was gloomy reasoning. During the week he had freely told his brethren all about his position in the matter. Their senses might satisfy their reason, but his reason craved the aid of his own senses. Indeed, he said he should require more than they had required, and accept or demand an open examination and scrutiny as to the nail-marks and spear-wound, and should use his eyes, fingers, and hands to find out whether the nail prints and chest wound were real. So fixed was he on that point that he went to the stupid length of declaring, not that he could not, but that he would not, otherwise believe. His colleagues could hardly fail to see the absurdity of all this, but they patiently passed it, though prospectively it made the execu tion of their great Commission impossible, because in less than six weeks after, and through all the coming ages, any such scrutiny as he proposed would be impossible.

In a week from the last Conference, i.e., on the next Sunday night, another Conference was held in the same room. Meanwhile, some Temple rumours were spreading, and another was being set afloat to the effect that the "guard" of the tomb, having during the Saturday night fallen asleep, the disciples of Jesus, during that time, had stolen the body. In fact, the "guard" were so terrified, at what took place, that the greater part of them fled to the City and reported what had happened to the officials. In the dilemma, the officials bribed them to stick to this lying explanation of the missing body. The Rulers gave the soldiers an