tending this essay to so great a length, did I not indulge an impression that the subject is peculiarly interesting to a pious aged person about to leave his friends on earth, and pass away to the scenes of eternity. You may, therefore, reflect upon what has been stated on the social principles; examine each text singly, and then take the whole together, weigh the evidence, and in the fear of God form your own conclusion. Certain I am, that a persuasion that we shall know each other in heaven, and there spend an eternity in holy love and friendship, will produce a cheerful and becoming effect upon our tempers and conduct to each other while here, and reconcile us to part in death with those we most tenderly love, while we rejoice in hope, that

Far, far beyond these mortal shores,
A bright inheritance is ours:
Where saints in light our coming wait,.
To share their holy blissful state.
If ready drest for heav'n we shine,
Thine are the robes, the crown is thine:
May endless years their course prolong,
While thine, the praise, is all our song.

Doddridge.

A WALK TO THE VILLAGE OF EMMAUS.

O lead me to that happy path,
Where I my Lord may meet;
Tho' hosts of foes begird it round,
Tho' briars wound my feet.

Cheer'd with thy converse, I can trace

The desert with delight;

Thro' all the gloom one smile of thine
Can dissipate the night.

EMMAUS was a small village about seven and a half miles north of Jerusalem. It is said to have been once very populous, but was burnt since the death of Herod the great by Varus, the Roman governor. Here were fountains and hot baths, supposed to possess medicinal virtues. Josephus informs us, that Vespasian, after the siege of Jerusalem, left eight hundred soldiers in Judea, to whom he gave this village. Its chief celebrity in Scripture is attributed to its being the place to which two of our Saviour's disciples walked on the day of his resurrection, which is admirably recorded in the last chapter of Luke. The narrative contains such instructive information, that I cannot forbear drawing from it a few lessons, which may

be adapted to the feelings and desires of aged Christians. The travellers were two, the name of one only being mentioned. This is Cleophas. He is said to be the brother of Joseph, the reputed father of Jesus, likewise that he was the husband of Mary, the sister of the blessed Virgin, and was the father of Simon, James the Less, and of Jude and Joses. The name of the other disciple is not recorded, but is supposed to have been Luke himself; as probably, like John, on certain occasions, he modestly concealed his own name. On the first day of the week, as our Lord arose early in the morning, these two men were walking in company to the village of Emmaus; whether on business, to see their friends, or to avoid the clamour of the enemies of Jesus, is not certain. However, as it is said, that in after times a church was built on the very spot where the house of Cleophas had stood in this village, I readily conclude that he and his companion were now walking home to his own dwelling.

While on the road, the conversation of these two men turned upon the resurrection of Jesus from the dead, which they expected, according to his own prediction, would have been this very day, thereby to prove the reality of his character as the Son of God. And notwithstanding what Peter, John, and the women had said, that they early in the morning visited the sepulchre, found the stone rolled away, and the body gone; yet these men were slow of heart to believe the certainty of the fact.

At this time Jesus, in character of a stranger, joined their company, and interrogated them on the subject of their conversation, which appeared to produce their dejections. Immediately they recited to him the things which had taken place in Jerusalem concerning Jesus of Nazareth; at the same time expressing their surprise that he should be unacquainted with the case. To show their own interest in it, they said unto him, But we trusted that it had been he that should have redeemed Israel; and besides all this, to-day is the third day since these things were done. What an instance is this of the unbelief and impatience of the best of men, to wait for God's time to fulfil his own promise and confer his favours! This was indeed on the third day. It must have been in the afternoon, and surely they might have exercised their patience until the day had been ended. Jesus, the supposed stranger, takes up the subject, and beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, he expounded to them that Messiah was to suffer death, rise again, and thus to enter into his glory; and this, they afterwards confessed, produced peculiar emotions in their heart! The conversation continued until they drew nigh unto the village, and the shadows of the evening now began to cover them. Jesus still supporting the character of a stranger, with very great propriety made as though he would pursue his journey; but the two men having already enjoyed so much satisfaction from his company, from principles of kindness and hospitality, they gave him a pressing invitation to abide with them for the night, no doubt expecting

to derive still greater benefit from his conversation. Jesus accepted the invitation; and supper being prepared, he took his seat at the table. In his usual expressive manner, he took bread and blessed it, and gave it unto them. Immediately their eyes were opened, and they knew their Lord! But Jesus, amidst their surprise, vanished away. The two disciples, after reciting to each other the warmth of their hearts, while enjoying the benefits of his instruction by the way, and opening their understanding on those Scriptures which speak of the sufferings, death, resurrection, and future glory of the Messiah: they arose the very same hour, and returned to Jerusalem. Finding the eleven disciples convened together, these two men told them what things happened in their walk to Emmaus, and how the Lord was made known to them in breaking of bread; all which excited expressions of great joy.

I call this a peculiarly interesting chapter, for out of it may be drawn the most valuable information to prove the resurrection of Christ; the connexion between the Old and the New Testaments; the manner of the ascension of Jesus to heaven; with many other important subjects, which cannot fail to establish your faith, increase your joy, and encourage your hope of a glorious immortality; and certainly it cannot be read too often by a Christian, whether young or aged.

We need no conviction that the actual scenes recited in this chapter, in the nature of things, can