YALE UNIVERSITY LIBRARY THE LIBRARY OF THE DIVINITY SCHOOL :::::: IPAUL'S VISITS -8~H- III! ;!;!;! LTO — «PETER. f j i»)e]9 after iljpee years I uSer)t up fo J er-usaleir; ie> sey&j Tfefep, arja . abode i»i!l) J}rrr) ftfleefr)., days. — fectJctiiarjs i :J§.: iii! By HIRAM C A: M F> . SpGGEsfrBD BY A CONVERSATION WITH D. L., MOODY IN THE-,Mt. Hermon Woods in 1883. > f < \ PRINTED BV THE STAFTOKD PRINTING £cC, ' ) Kew Haven, Conn., 18S7. THIS SUBJEpT WAS SUGGESTED BY A FEW REMARKS MADE IN THE WOODS AT MT. HERMON BY MR. D. L. MOODY IN THE PRES ENCE OF TWO OR THREE GENTLEMEN, THE COMPILER, HIRAM CAMP, BEING ONE OF THE NUMBER. PAUL'S VISIT TO PETER. PAUL S EARLY HISTORY; HIS MIRACULOUS CONVERSION AND CALL TO THE APOSTLESHIP OF THE GENTILES; HIS PREACHING IN THE SYNAGOGUES; HIS TRAVELS IN ARABIA, AND RETURN TO DAMASCUS; HIS VISIT AFTER THREE YEARS TO JERUSALEM FOR FIFTEEN DAYS TO SEE PETER. In Acts xxvi: 4-5, in his defense before Agrippa, Paul says of his early life : " My manner of life from my youth, which was at the first among mine own nation at Jerusalem, know all the Jews, which knew me from the beginning, if they would testify, that after the most straitest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee." And again, verses 9-15, "I Verily thought with myself, that I ought to do many things ^contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth, which thing I 'also did in Jerusalem; and many of the saints did I shut up in prison, having received authority from the chief priests; and when they were put to death, I gave my voice against them. And I punished them oft in every synagogue, and compelled them to blaspheme; and being exceedingly mad against them, I persecuted them even unto strange cities. Whereupon as I went to Damascus with authority and com mission from the chief priests, at midday, O king, I saw in the way a lightfrom heaven, above the brightness of the sun, shining round about me, and them which journeyed with me. And when we were all fallen to the earth, I heard a voice speaking unto me, and saying in the Hebrew tongue, ' Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me ? It is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.' And I said, ' Who art thou, Lord?' .And he said, 'I am Jesus, whom thou persecutest.' And," — supposing him to give further details in his own words, (see Acts ix: 6-20) — "I trembling and astonished said, 'Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?' And the Lord said unto me, 'Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.' And the men which journeyed with me stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man. And I arose from the earth; and when my eyes were opened, I saw no man: but they led me by the hand, and brought me into Damascus. And I was three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink. And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and to him said the Lord in a vision, ' Ananias,' and he said, ' Behold, ' I am here, Lord.' And the Lord said unto him, ' Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and inquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus; for, behold, he prayeth, and hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hand on him, that he might receive his sight.' Then Ananias an swered, ' Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem: And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name.' But the Lord said unto him, ¦ Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel: For I will show him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake. And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on me said, ' Brother Saul, the Lord even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou" earnest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight and be filled with the Holy Ghost.' And immediately there fell from my eyes as it had been scales: and I received sight 5 forthwith, and arose, and was baptised. And when I had re ceived meat, I was strengthened. Then was I certain days with the disciples which were at Damascus. And straight way I preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God." In Galatians i: n-12, Paul certifies that the Gospel he preached was not after man, and that he neither received it of man, nor was taught it. It was a revelation from Jesus Christ. In Galatians i: 17-18, he tells us that he did not go to Jerusalem to consult with them which were the Apostles be fore him, but that he went into Arabia, and returned again to Damascus, and after three years he went up to Jerusalem to see Peter for two weeks. In verse 22 he says that he was unknown by face to the churches of Judea, and they had heard only, "that he that persecuted us in times past, now preacheth the faith which he destroyed." Now we may picture to ourselves a most interesting meet ing of these apostles in Jerusalem. Doubtless they would recount to each other the scenes and marvelous manifesta tions of God's spirit and power connected with their labors and the great multitudes who had believed and turned to God. Paul would, perhaps, refer to his own conversion, its suddenness, and possibly draw an argument in proof, or at least in favor of sudden conversions, reciting to Peter what he after wards said before King Agrippa. He would speak ot the great light that shone round about him,- greater than the brightness of the sun, so that he was without sight until the Lord sent Ananias with power to heal and restore him by the laying on of his hands.* * Note. — This great light, we believe, was to arrest his attention, and to make a deep impression on .his mind. It was doubtless the voice of Him who spoke to him that filled him with fear and trembling. We remember that when Moses saw the burning bush, it excited his curiosity; it was not until God spoke to him that he hid his face and was afraid, (Exodus iii: 1-6.) So on the mount, when he heard the voice of God, he The fact that a special mission had been assigned Paul as the apostle oi the Gentiles, would more readily open up to his mind the truth that God is no respecter of persons; that the same Lord is rich unto all that call upon him; that he was not a God of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles. Paul says the gospel of the uncircumcision was committed unto him as the gospel of the circumcision was unto Peter; for "he that wrought effectually in Peter to the apostleship of the circumcision, the same was mighty in me towards the Gentiles," (Gal. ii: 8.) Peter declares that it was a new idea that Christ had come to redeem any except the Jews. But new light had broken in upon him. He was taught in that vision, of a great sheet let down from heaven, "wherein were all manner of four-footed beasts, of the earth and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air." The explanation of that vision was that God is no respecter of persons; but that, in every nation, he that feareth him and worketh righteousness, is accepted of him. This was manifested in the descent of the Holy Spirit at the house of Cornelius, who was captain of the Italian Band, or Governor's Guards. We expect that Peter will. rehearse to Paul this vision, and how he was called down to Csesarea to the house of Cor nelius, (Acts x.) He tells him that he was stopping at Joppa with one Simon, a tanner, whose house was by the seaside. He does not say whether his wife was now living. — His house was at Capernaum ten years before, when Jesus healed his mother-in-law ot a fever, — He says that he went said that he did exceedingly fear and quake, (Exodus xix, 9-20, Heb. xii: 18-21.) So with Elijah in his vision. God was not in the great wind, or the earthquake, or the great fire, but after these came a still small voice. "And it was so when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle, and went out and stood in the entering in of the cave," (1 Kings xix: 9-12.) When God spoke to Job, he ceased his contention, declared himself vile, and would not answer, and laid his hand upon his mouth, (Job xl: 3-5, xiii: 1-6.) up on the housetop to pray, about the sixth hour, and he be came very hungry. He does not tell the cause of his great hunger this noon, but we are inclined to think that he had been out that forenoon in missionary work in Joppa, and had eaten nothing that day, There seemed to be great delay in getting his dinner. Possibly the servants had been to the circus that morning, or had been shopping and let the fire go out. We are not told the cause, but evidently there was great delay, as we notice from Peter's calling the servants of Cornelius in to lodge for the night. He merely says he be came very hungry, and while they made ready, ' I fell into a trance and saw heaven opened, and a great vessel descending unto me, as if it had been a great sheet knit at the four corners, and let down to the earth, wherein were all manner of four-footed beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creep ing things, and fowls of the air. And there came a voice to me, 'Rise, Peter, kill and eat' But I said, ' Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean.' And the voice spoke unto me again the second time, 'What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common.' This was done thrice; and the vessel was received up again into heaven. Now, while I doubted in myself what this vision which I had seen should mean, and while I thought upon it, the Spirit said unto me, 'Behold, three men seek thee. Arise, therefore, and get thee down, and go with them, doubting nothing, for I have sent them. Then I went down to the men which were sent from Cornelius, who had made inquiry for Simon's house, and stood before the gate and called, and asked whether Simon, which was surnamed Peter, were lodged there. I said, 'Behold, I am he whom ye seek : what is the cause wherefore ye are come ? ' And they said, ' Cornelius, the centurion, a just man and one that feareth God, and of good report among all the nations of the Jews, was warned from God by an holy angel to send for thee into his house, and to hear words of thee.' Then called I them in and lodged them. And on the morrow I went away with them, and certain brethren from Joppa accompanied us. And the morrow after we entered into Csesarea. And Cornelius .waited for us, and had called together his kins men and near friends. And as we was coming in Cornelius met us, and fell down at my feet and worshipped me. But I took him up, saying, 'Stand up ; I myself also am a man.' And as he talked with me I went in and found many that were come together. And I said unto them, ' Ye know how that it is an un lawful thing for a man that is a Jew to keep company, or come unto one of another nation ; but God hath shewed me that I should not call any man common or unclean. Therefore came I unto you without gainsaying, as soon as I was sent for : I ask therefore for what intent ye have sent for me ? ' And Cornelius said, ' Four days ago I was fasting until this hour ; and at the ninth hour I prayed in my house, and be hold, a man stood before me in bright clothing. And when I looked on him I was afraid, and said, What is it Lord. And he said, Cornelius, thy prayer is heard, and thine alms are had in remembrance in the sight of God. Send therefore to Joppa, and call hither Simon, whose surname is Peter ; he ' is lodged in the house of one Simon, a tanner, by the sea side : who, when he cometh, shall speak unto thee. Imme diately, therefore, I sent to thee ; and thou hast well done that thou art come. How, therefore, are we all here present before God to hear all things that are commanded thee of God.' Then I opened my mouth and said, ' Of a ruth I per ceive that God is no respecter of persons : but in every na tion he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is ac cepted with him. The word which God sent unto the chil- dred of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ : (he is Lord of all). That word, I say, ye know which was published throughout Judea, and began from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached. How God annointed Jesus of Naza- 9 reth with the Holy Ghost and with power : who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil, for God was with him. And we are witnesses of all things which he did both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem ; whom they slew and hanged on a tree. Him, God, raised up on the third day, and shewed him openly ; not to all the peo ple, but unto witnesses, chosen before of God, even to us, who did eat and drink with him after he rose from the dead. And he commanded us to preach unto the people and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the judge of quick and dead. To him give all the prophets wit ness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.' While I yet spake these words the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. And they of the circum cision which believed were astonished, as many as came with me, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered I, ' Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which received the Holy Ghost as well as we ? ' And I command ed them to be baptized in the name of the Lord." As we have said, this meeting of these apostles must have been of great interest to them ; and as Peter had been one of the first disciples and one who, to a great degree, had the confidence of the Master, we might expect that he would take Paul around to at least the places where Jesus had spent the last days of his life with his diciples, and thus made of great in terest and importance in connection with man's redemption. Peter said at the house of Cornelius, " We are witnesses of all things which He did, both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem." They probably did not have the time to visit those places in the land of the Jews where Jesus healed the sick, and cast out devils, or to see those he had raised from the dead, though it would have been intensely interesting to have IO called at the house of the widow of Nain, or at the house of Jairus, or that house where Jesus so often visited in Bethany, or to have met the woman who touched the hem of his gar ment and was at once healed, and heard her words of grati tude and joy. We think it most likely that Peter will propose to visit, first, that upper chamber where the Master ate the last pass- over with his disciples. And as they walk on towards it, we may expect that Peter will relate how, on the morning of that day, they, knowing that it was customary for Jesus to eat the passover, two of them asked him, "Where wilt thou that we prepare to eat the passover?" "And he answered us, 'Go ye into' the city and there shall meet you a man bearing a pitcher of water; follow him where he goeth in, and say to the good man of the house, the Master saith where is the guest chamber where I shall eat the passover with my dis ciples ? And he shall show you a large upper room; there make ready.' And we went and found as he had said, and wemade ready, (see Lukexxii:c)-i3). Now, as we took our own time to go, and as the man who went after the water, went freely when he pleased, we can see how God rules all things consist ently with our free-agency. As it was, we met just at the right point, otherwise, perhaps, we would not have found the place. We remember, too, a few days before when he had need of a colt, He said then to two of us, 'Go into the village over against you and ye shall find a colt tied; loose him and bring him, and if the. owners say aught, say ye, The Lord hath need of him, and they will send him.' And we found the colt as he had said; and as we were loosing him, the owners said unto us, 'What do ye, loosing the colt ?' And we said, 'The Lord hath need of him,' and they let him go. So when Philip brought Nathaniel to him, he said of him, 'Behold an Israelite, indeed, in whom is no guile.' (That is a good, honest son of Abraham.) Nathaniel said unto him, 'Whence knowest thou me?' Jesus said, 'Before that Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig tree, I saw thee.' Then II again the woman at the well testified, 'He told me all that ever I did. Is not this the Christ?' And at evening Jesus came with the rest of the disciples. And as we sat and did eat, Jesus said, (see Mark xiv: 18-20 and John xiii: 22-30). 'Verily, I say unto you, one of you which eateth with me shall betray me.' And we began to be sorrowful and to say unto him, one by one,'Is it I?' And he said, 'It is one that dippeth with me in the dish.' Then we looked one on an other doubting of whom he spake. And I beckoned to John, who lay on Jesus' breast, to ask him: And he said to him, 'Lord, who is it?' Jesus answered, 'He it is to whom I shall give a sop when I have dipped it' And when he had dipped the sop, he gave it to Judas Iscariot. Then said Jesus unto him, 'What thou doest, do quickly.' We did not understand what Jesus meant by that. Then Judas went out and it was night. Judas had been much displeased six days before at Bethany, on account of a box of ointment which the sister of Lazarus had broken 'and used to anoint the feet of Jesus, he claiming it to be a great waste, as it might have been sold for three hundred pence and given to the poor. This he said, not that he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief and had the bag, and bear what was put therein.* But Jesus said, ' Let her alone ; why trouble ye her ? She hath wrought a good work on me ; she has come aforehand to anoint my body to the burying.' And Judas went unto the chief priests and bargained with them to betray Jesus unto them for thirty pieces of silver, (about $15.00.) Then Jesus instituted the Lord's supper. And when we had sung an hymn, we went out into the mount of Olives. And Jesus said unto us, ' All ye shall be offended because of me this night : for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.' But I said unto him, 'Although all * There are many in these days that think and feel the same way that Judas did. It is such a waste to do anything for Christ's kingdom, they say. "It should be given to the poor." "It is a great waste of ointment." 12 shall be offended yet will not I.' And Jesus answered, 'Veri ly I say unto thee, that this day, even in this night before the .cock crow twice, thou shalt deny me thrice.' But I spake the more vehemently : saying that I would not deny him in any wise I trusted in my own strength, and I have learned since, that it is well for him that thinketh he standeth, to take heed lest he fall. And we came to a place which was named Getshemane, and he said to us, 'Sit ye hear while I shall pray.' — This is the place, Paul — and he took with him James, John and me and began to be sore amazed and to be very heavy, and saith unto us, ' My soul is exceedingly sorrowful unto death : tarry ye here and watch.' And he went a little fur ther. — It is just there, — and fell on his face and prayed, saying, ' O my Father, if it be possible let this cup pass from me : nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.' And so he went and prayed three times, saying the same words : and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground. And whilst he was in such great agony and wanted sympathy, we were so sleepy that we did not heed his injunc-' tion, to watch and pray, that we enter not into temptation. Then said Jesus, ' Arise, let us be going : behold he that be- trayeth me is at hand.' And while he thus spake, cometh Judas and with him a great company from the chief priests with swords and staves and lanterns and torches. And Judas cometh to Jesus and said, 'Hail Master,' and kissed him. And Jesus said unto him, ' Betrayest thou the son of man with a kiss ? ' Then said Jesus unto them, ' Whom seek ye ?' They said, ' Jesus of Nazareth.' He said nnto them, ' I am he,' and they went backward and fell to the ground. Then said he again, ' Whom seek ye ? ' And they say, ' Jesus of Nazareth.' He said unto them, ' I said unto you, I am he : if therefore ye seek me, let these go their way., We took this as an intimation that we might go. When we which were about saw what would follow, we asked him, ' Lord shall we smite with the sword ? ' Then I havino- a sword ; smote the high priest's servant and cut off his ear. But Jesus i3 said to me, ' Put up thy sword. The cup which my Father hath given me, shall I not drink it ? ' And he touched his ear and healed it. Then took they Jesus to the high priest's palace : and I followed afar off, and John followed with them and went in. He was known to the high priest, but I stood at the door without. Then John came out and spoke to her that kept the door, and brought me in ': and the damsel that kept the door said to me, ' Art not thou also one of this man's dis ciples ? ' And I said I was not. And they had kindled a fire in the hall and had sat down there, and I sat down with them. And after a little while another maid beheld me, and looking earnestly on me, said, ' This man was also with him ; ' and I said, ' Woman, I know him not' And they mocked Jesus, and smote him, blindfolded him and struck him on the face, and said unto him, ' Prophesy, who is it that smote thee,' and they spit upon him ! And I sat there with his enemies, and was silent when all this abusive conduct towards my Master was going on. I had not moral courage enough to bear that ridicule and abuse, and as I had commenced to lie about my being one of his diciples, I continued with oaths and cursings, even when the kinsman of the high priest's servant, whose ear I cut off, came and looked me right in the face and said, ' Did I not see thee in the garden with him ? ' But the cock crew : and Jesus turned and looked at me, and I remembered what he had said to me, and I went out and wept bitterly. And in the morning they led Jesus to the hall of judgment ; and when he was accused of the chief priests and elders, he answered nothing,, Now at that feast, the governor was wont to release unto the people, a prisoner whom they would. And at that time thev had a notable prisoner called Barabbas. Pilate asked them, ' Whom will ye that I release unto you ? ' And they said, ' Barabbas; ' and he said, ' What then shall I do with Jesus which is called Christ ? ' And they said, ' Let him be cruci fied.' And when Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing but rather a tumult was made, he took water and washed his 14 hands before the multitude, saying, ' I am innocent of the blood of this just person : see ye to it.' Then answered all the Pharisees and said, ' His blood be upon us, and on our children.' Then released he Barabbas unto them : and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified- Then the soldiers stripped him and put on him a scarlet robe," (They call it a robe, but most likely it was one of Herod's old red gowns). " And they put a crown of thorns on his head and a reed in his hand, and mocked him and spit upon him, and took the reed and smote him on the head. Then they took off the robe and put his own clothes on him, and led him away to crucify him, And they compelled a certain Simon, a Cyrenian, to bear his cross. And there followed him a great company of people, and of women, which be wailed and lamented him. But Jesus turning unto them said, ' Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for me, but weep for your selves and your children.' And when they were come to Cal vary, they nailed him to the cross in a terribly rough, unfeel ing manner. And he prayed for them, ' Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.' And they parted his rai ment and cast lots for the coat.* And the soldiers mocked him and continued their abuse, from the sixth to the ninth hour. And when all things were fulfilled he said, 'It is finished;' and crying out with a loud voice, he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost. And, be hold, the vail of the temple was rent; and the graves opened : and many of the bodies of the saints which slept arose, and came out of their graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many. The Jews, in order that the bodies should not remain upon the cross on the Sab bath day (for that Sabbath was an high day), besought Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away. Then came the soldiers and brake the legs of the first, and of the other that was crucified with him. But when they * Some one has remarked that Jesus made his will. He gave his clothes ' to the soldiers, his mother to John, and his peace to his disciples. is came to Jesus, and saw that he was dead already, they brake not his legs, but one of the soldiers with a spear, pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water. After such a wound as that made in the side of Jesus, no one has attempted to claim that he was not dead ; they could not say that he had fainted, and so his death and resurrection were not facts ; but they did say that his diciples came by night while the Roman soldiers slept, and stole him away, Oh this is the blood that speaketh better things than the blood of Abel. While the blood of Abel cried for vengeance, this blood speaks of mercy. It was shed here on Calvery. It is soaked into the soil of this our earth, ever to remain while the world stands. While Jesus has gone away to heaven here the blood remains. You can see there the, place where the cross stood, and also where the crosses of the thieves were on each side. The blood which the Jews at their first passover sprinkled on the door posts of their dwellings, was a type of this. The destroying angel as he passed over Egypt, passed by and did not destroy where the blood had been applied to the habitations of Israel* Then came Joseph of Anmathea, a disciple of Jesus, yet secretly, for fear of the Jews, and went in boldly unto Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus. And Pilate marvelled if he were already dead. And when he knew, he commanded the body to be given him ; and he went and bought fine linen. And there came also Nicodemus, who came to Jesus by night : and he brought spices about an hundred pounds weight, and they took the body down, and wrapped it in the linen cloth with the spices, and laid it in Joseph's new tomb that he had hewn out in the rock, and rolled a great stone to the door of the sepulchre, and departed. Come, Paul, and see where they laid him ; .here is the great stone that was rolled to the door * " For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh; how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God ?" Heb. 9: 13. i6 of the sepulchre. How kind it was in Joseph, to thus give up his own tomb. At that time it was not likely that he expected Jesus to rise again, so he gave up his own tomb, without hope of its being returned to him* If it had not been for Joseph's tomb, and the Jews had had their own way, they would doubtless have flung the body of Jesus with the thieves in some place together ; but as all things belong to God, and he rules over all, so when he needs a tomb for his dear Son, He is sure to find a Joseph. So when Jesus was a babe in Bethlehem, and Joseph and Mary were poor, and it became necessary that the young child should go at once down to Egypt, to protect him from Herod, the wise men from the East came, and opening their treas ures, presented him with gold, and frankincense, and myrrh, the means necessary for the journey. But now that he was laid in Joseph's tomb the hopes of of all us were gone. These were the darkest days I ever had. My Master was dead; my conscience was lashing me for my sins; my hopes were all blasted; I felt like hiding away in shame and sorrow. But in the early morn of the first day of the week, I heard the voice of Mary Magdalene calling tor John and me at our lodging place, saying, 'They have taken away the Lord out of the sepulchre, and I know not where they have laid him.' John and I ran down. John arrives first and looks into the sepulchre. When I came I went in and beheld the linen clothes folded, and the napkin laid by itself. Then John went in and he saw and believed. Then we returned to our home. Soon Mary comes running in, saying that she has seen an angel, who told her that he was risen, and to go quickly and tell his disciples and Peter, that he goeth before them into * We expect in that great day, when the dead arc raised and come up be fore God for judgment and Joseph appears there, that perhaps Jesus will say" Here comes my friend Joseph, what shall I do for Joseph? When my head fell on my breast on the cross, then came Joseph and took my body and laid it in his new tomb. What shall I do for Joseph ?" Rev. A. Bonar, D. D. 17 Galilee, and that they should see him there. I asked, "What was that you said, Mary? His disciples and Peter? Are you sure he said Peter? Was it not his disciples, and not Peter?' 'No,' Mary said: 'He said, Tell his disciples and Peter.' This gave me some hope that, if my Master was risen, he would forgive me; yet we could not believe in the truth of what Mary said; we thought there must be some mistake about it. We failed to remember what Jesus had told us; but the chief priests and the Pharisees remembered what he had said, and had a watch kept lest, as they said, ' his disciples should come by night and steal him away, and then claim that he was risen.' But as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, there was a great earthquake; for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it. His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow. And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men. And they came into the city, and told the chief priests these things. And they took counsel, and gave large money unto the soldiers, saying, ' Say ye, His disciples came by night and stole him away while we slept. And if this comes to the governor's ears, we will persuade him, and secure you.' The chief priests having succeeded with the governor in the mat ter of condemning Jesus to be crucified after he had pro nounced him innocent, and also in obtaining from hi'm leave to break the legs of the crucified ones, could now be depend ed upon to carry out this lie, and pay the soldiers for con fessing themselves unfaithful to their trusts. So they took the money and did as they were taught. Two of the company who had waited on Jesus, went out to Emmaus, which is northwest of Jerusalem, about seven or eight miles. And they talked together of all these things. And while they communed together and reasoned, Jesus himself drew near and went with them; but they did hot know him. And he asked them, 'What manner of communi cations are these that ye have one with another, as ye walk 18 and are sad?' And the one of them whose name was Cleopas, answering, said unto him, 'Art thou only a stranger in Jeru salem, and hast not known the things which are come to pass there in these days?' And he said unto them, 'What things?' And they said unto him, 'Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, which was a prophet mighty in deed, and word, before God and all the people; and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered him to be condemned to death, and have crucified him. But we trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel; and besides all this, to-day is the third day since these things were done. Yea, and certain women also of our own comp.any made us astonished, which were early at the sepulchre. And when they found not his body, they came, saying that they had also seen a vision of angels which said that he was alive.' Then he said unto them, ' O fools and slow of heart, to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory?' And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself. And they drew nigh unto the village whither they went. And he made as though he would have gone further, but they con strained him, saying, 'Abide with us (at their home?) for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent. And he went in to tarry with them. And it came to pass as he sat at meat with them, he took bread, and blessed it and break, and gave to them. And their eyes were opened, and they knew him: and he vanished out of their sight. And they arose the same hour and returned to Jerusalem, and found the dis ciples gathered together, and them that were with them. And they told them what things were done in the way, and how he was known of them in breaking of bread.* * The question is often asked, ' Who were these persons that went to Emmaus?' We have the name of one of them, Cleopas: as to the other we are not positive; but when we take into account what Cleopas said, 'that we trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel,' it would appear that hope was gone, that he had been slain three days be- 19 And as they explained to the disciples Jesus himself stood with them and said 'Peace be unto you.' But they were terrified, and afrighted, andsupposed they had seen a spirit. And he said un to them, ' Why are ye troubled ? Behold my hands and feet, that it is I myself : handle me and see: for a spirit hath not flesh and bones as ye see me have.' And when he had thus spoken, he showed them his hands and his feet. And he asked them 'Have ye here any meat ?' And they gave him a piece of broiled fish and honey-comb. And he took it and ate before them. And he spoke to them of the fulfilment of the proph ecies, which were written in the law of Moses, and the Proph ets, and in the Psalms concerning him. And he opened their understanding that they might understand the Scriptures. And eight days after, he met them again. After this Jesus showed himself again to the disciples at the sea of Tiberias; and on this wise, showed he himself. I and six other disci ples were together. I said unto them, ' I go a fishing.' They say unto me, 'We also go with thee.' We entered into a ship, and that night we caught nothing; but in the morning Jesus stood on the shore. We were away from the landing three or four hundred feet, and we did not know him. And he asked us, ' Children, have ye any meat ?' We said ' No,' and he said unto us, ' Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find.' We sup posed he saw some intimations of fish. We cast the net as he said, and now we were not able to draw it, for the multitude fore, and now they were returning to their home at Emmaus. We find in John xix: 25, that Mary, the wife of Cleophas, was standing with Jesus' mother and Mary Magdalene by the cross at the time of the crucifixion. We notice that the name Cleopas in the journey to Emmaus is Cleophas in John xix: 25, but there is good authority of- Bible scholars for omitting the "h" which would make the names the same. And now, we see that as Cleopas is walking out home slowly. It would be quite strange that he should go out home seven or eight miles, leaving his wife behind. The manner and urgency of the invitation which they gave Jesus to tarry with them further strengthens our belief. It also appears that the wife of Cleopas was the sister of Jesus' mother, and had been with her in her heart-rending trials. 20 of fishes. John said to me, ' It is the Lord.' As soon as I heard it was the Lord, I put on my fisher's coat, for I had nothing on but my under-clothing, and cast myself into the sea. I could not wait to help drag in the fish, and if the others had done as I did, they would no doubt have lost all their fish. Jesus had come there before, and had all things ready for our breakfast. The fire was in good condition; and Jesus said unto us, ' Bring of the fish which ye have now caught.' I went alone and drew the net in (as my clothes were wet) with one hundred and fifty-three great fishes, plenty for present use and enough to sell, and at least pay for the use of the boats. Jesus said to us, ' Come and dine;' and he came and took bread and gave us, and fish likewise. This is now the third time that Jesus showed himself to his disciples, after that he was risen from the dead. So when we had dined Jesus said unto me, ' Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these ?' (I think he waited and did not ask this question before, lest he should spoil my dinner.) I said unto him, ' Yea, Lord : thou knowest that I love thee.' He saith unto me, ' Feed my lambs.' I noticed how the ques tion was put; Simon, son of Jonas (no Peter here). Jesus would have me understand who I was ; nothing but Simon, son of Jonas. Then again, ' Lovest thou me more than these ?' I thought that I would be careful how I replied. I remembered how I had said ' Though all men should be offended, yet I never will be offended.' I had learned that I could not trust myself; yet I was sure I loved my Master. And so Jesus asked me the second and third time, ' Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me ?' The same number of times that I had de nied him. I had been expecting that Jesus would speak to me, and felt uneasy about it ; and when he asked the same question three times in succession, I began to fear lest there was something down in my heart that would yet crop out, that would be my ruin. I had grieved greatly over the de nial of my Master: but Jesus did not ask me how sorry I was, or how bad I had felt, but, ' Lovest thou me ?' If I did indeed 21 love my Master, then I should be prepared to feed his lambs and sheep. I said, ' Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee !' Jesus saith unto me, ' Feed my sheep.' I now could breathe easier; I felt that the Master had forgiven me, and had given me my commission : ' Feed my sheep.' Now, Paul, I want to take you over to Bethany, to the place where our Lord ascended to heaven. It is out to the south east about two miles. This is the place where Mary and Mar tha and Lazarus lived ; a place where Jesus often went : for Jesus loved this family. Bethany, or the mount of Olives, was fixed upon long since as the place of Christ's ascension.* He led us out on purpose that we might receive his bless ing, and see him ascend. You see what a farewell he gave us. He lifted up his hands and blessed us all, and charged us to go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. ' He that believeth,' he said, ' and is baptized, shall be saved : but he that believeth not shall be damned. Lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.' That is 'I, the Amen, the faithful and true Witness' And when he had spoken these things, while we beheld, he was taken up ; and a cloud received him out of our sight. And while we looked steadfastly towards heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by us in white apparel, which also said, ' Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heav en ? This same Jesus which is taken up from you into heav en, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.' And we worshipped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy. So here we have the testimony of the angels whom he sent back to us, that we must not forget that he will surely come again and receive us to himself, that where he is, we may be also, to behold his glory, to see him as he is and to be like him. He is coming back. It is only a question of time. We don't worship a dead saviour. He has gone up on high, has "His feet shall stand in that day, upon the mount of Olives. '' Zeeh. 14: 4. 22 led captivity captive, and taken his seat at the right hand of God. Stephen saw him there standing as the first martyr, He is in all other places represented as sitting, but here as standing to receive this faithful servant after he had finished his testi mony for his Master. And now that he has ascended up on high, he has according to his promise sent back the Holy Ghost to guide his children in the ways of truth and righteous ness until he comes again. And he says, ' Behold, I come quickly and my reward is with me to give to every man ac cording to his works.' "