and in Acts ii. 16, 17), and commanded them to wait in Jerusalem until they received it. He now gave them their commission distinctly and fully, declaring the happy consequences to those who would believe the gospel they should preach-the misery of all who would disregard it. He gave them the form of baptism, adding that with it they must teach universal obedience to all the charges and directions he had given, and in doing so, he would be with them always, and all his servants to the end of time -to prosper their labours, and help them in their difficulties. Amen to this great promise, writes the Evangelist. And at the introduction of his gospel, and to accelerate its establishment in the world, he would give the power of working miracles, so that those who felt themselves inwardly incited to it, and exercised faith in him, to enable them, would show the sign of his being with them, by casting out devils in his name, and by speaking languages which they never learnt. Even the bite of a venomous serpent, or the drinking of a deadly poison, which in those days was often given secretly, Ishould not hurt them. They should have the gift of healing also.

He ascends to heaven.-Mark

xvi, 19, 20;

Luke xxiv.

Being assembled with them on the fortieth

day after his resurrection, he renewed his com50-53; John xx. mand to wait in Jerusalem for the bestowment 30, 31; xxi. 25;

Acts i. 4-12. of the Father's promise, which he (Jesus) said he would send upon them, and of which they had heard before in his parting discourses. He then took them out of the city, and led them as far as the boundaries of the

district of Bethany. They inquired if he would now restore the kingdom to Israel. He gave a check to their curiosity on this subject, knowing that when they received the Holy Spirit they would fully understand the nature of the kingdom he was going to establish, not in Israel only, but in the whole earth. The Holy Spirit would qualify them to be his witnesses in the chief city of Judah, where their learned men resided, and throughout its towns and country places, in prejudiced Samaria, and to the confines of the known world. Lifting up his hands, he extended them over his disciples in blessing. Whilst in this act, the last that was visible to them, he was borne up by surrounding angels, to whom it was a joyful task. The luminous cloud, ever an attendant on Deity, appeared, and, unfolding its golden vapours, received the human form of him who by weakness conquered the strong adversary, and by death bestows eternal life. And he sat on the right hand of God. Now the words of the Psalmist received their fulfilment in their primary sense, "Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in. Who is this King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle. Lift up your heads, O ye gates; even lift them up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in. Who is this King of glory? The Lord of hosts, he is the King of glory" (Ps. xxiv. 7-10). And in another, "God is gone up with a shout, the Lord with the sound of a trumpet" (Ps. xlvii. 5). And in another, "The chariots of God are twenty thousand, even thou

sands of angels: the Lord is among them, as in Sinai, in the holy place. Thou hast ascended on high, thou hast led captivity captive: thou hast received gifts for men; yea, for the rebellious also, that the Lord God might dwell among them" (Ps. lxviii. 17, 18). As they continued looking up after their ascended Lord, two angels from amongst the throng that encompassed him stood by the disciples, and intimated it was vain for them to attempt any longer to gaze into the celestial regions; but said, he that was taken from them into heaven would return in the same manner as they had beheld him enter there. For, "When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory" (Matt. xxv. 31). "And then shall they see the Son of man coming in the clouds, with great power and glory" (Mark xiii. 26). Until that time of the restitution of all things, the heavens must receive him (Acts iii. 21). Although now invisible, the disciples worshipped him, knowing he was ever present with them. His glorious ascension increased all the feelings which had before made them render to him humblest adoration.

It was from one of the hills of the range of the Mount of Olives the ascension took place, and these hills were partly in Bethany.

The apostles went forth and preached everywhere of all they had seen and heard. The Lord made good his promise; for he put forth his power with their labours, and confirmed what they said by the signs of which he had told them.

CHAPTER XV.

CONCLUSION.

ALTHOUGH So much has been recorded of what Jesus did, no account in writing has been preserved of a great deal more of his works in the presence of his disciples. In reading the New Testament, we find multitudes have been cured, and instructions communicated in numerous places, of which there is only a passing notice. If all his acts and words had been fully related, the books, we are informed, would have been too many for the world to contain: they would have defeated the object for which they were written, by deterring men from their perusal on account of their number and massiveness. So much has been written with the loving design of enabling the sinner to confide in the all-sufficient Saviour; and that, by so doing, he might have the happiness of possessing eternal life through his precious name.

The apostle says, "the world by wisdom knew not God." It had existed four thousand years before the advent, and all nations had mistaken his character; not only the rude, but the civilized. The few who had attained the largest share of learning those times possessed,

and the most excellent of their race, did not discover his attributes. Nations made progress in the arts, in arms, in various accomplishments; and some formed rich and beautiful languages-fine compositions. Greece was remarkable for elegance of taste: its style of sculpture and architecture is used for models to the present day. Rome was so complete in strategy and in government as to conquer and rule the known world; but all worshipped idols-hideous in appearance, and hideous in character: their worshippers attached their own ideas to them; they imagined them capricious, cruel, degraded, wicked, and became like them. All were miserable.

Israel was highly favoured of Jehovah in having successive revelations of himself. Many of them knew much of his perfections; but when Jesus came he exhibited them fully. In him was such perfect holiness that his bitterest enemies could find no transgression-love so great that he gave his life a sacrifice for others-wisdom that all the artifices of learned and subtle adversaries could not perplex-power that could control the elements of nature and alter their course-benevolence that never ceased doing good to all around him-compassion that wept over the miseries of his greatest foes-action that knew no rest from labour. He was the truth in every sense, and patience that could not be wearied until the object was accomplished. He knew the thoughts of all hearts. Whoever carefully reads the life of Jesus must learn the character of God; for he was "the brightness of his (the Father's) glory, and the express image of his person."