59. And when Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, 60. and laid it in his own new (n) tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock: and he rolled a great stone to the door of the sepulchre, and departed. 61. And there was Mary Magdalene, and the (o) other Mary, sitting over against the sepulchre. 62. Now the next day, that followed the day of the Preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees (p) came together unto Pilate, 63. saying, "Sir, we remember that that "deceiver said, while he was yet " alive, "After (q) three days "I will rise again." 64. "Com"mand therefore that the sepul"chre be made sure until the "third day, lest his disciples come

(n) v. 60. "New tomb, &c." So that though he made his grave (or died) with the wicked, (from being crucified with the two thieves), he was with the rich (or treated as a person of distinction) in his death. See Is. liii. 9.

(0) v. 61. "The other Mary." The wife of Cleophas, (John xix. 25.) and mother of St. James, (Mark xv. 40.)

(p) v. 62. "Came, &c." This is not mentioned by any of the other Evangelists: but it may be observed, that this Gospel was written chiefly for the use of the Jews; that the Jews from all quarters would be at Jerusalem at this time, because of the feast of the passover; and St. Matthew could not have stated this fact, had it not been notoriously true. In the next chapter, Matt. xxviii. 15. he says, the chief priests and elders told the soldiers to say, "his disciples came by night, and stole "him away whilst we slept;" " and this "saying is commonly reported among the "Jews unto this day." He refers, therefore, to a report which he says was aubsisting when he wrote his Gospel. How would his Gospel have been impeached had there been no such report? If there was, it confirms this account.

(9) 0.63. "After three days." That is, according to the Jewish mode of ex

pression, on the third day. See ante, 41. note on John xx. 26. According to Matt. xx. 19. our Saviour told the twelve disciples he should rise again the third day.

(r) v.7. "Ourpassover," "the true Pas"chal Lamb, 1 Mag. 304." When the angel of the Lord destroyed all the first-born in the land of Egypt, and the houses of the Israelites, being sprinkled with the blood of the Paschal Lamb, were passed over by the destroying angel, they were protected from what was bodily and temporary: how much more important the deliverance Christ gives! the destroying angel in the day of judgment shall pass over such as are sprinkled by Christ's blood, and save them from what is spiritual and everlasting! See ante, 108. note on Mark xiv. 1.

(s) "Therefore." As Christ is sacrificed for us, to purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works, we must do our part, by putting away all unrighteousness. On the day the passover was sacrificed, they carefully examined their houses, to put away all their leaven, and then they kept the feast of unleavened bread. See Exod. xii. 15. to 20. St. Paul alludes here to this practice.

*(t) "The feast," i. e. " of the passover "and unleavened bread."

Not with the (u) old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness: but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

Rom. vi. 9. (x)

CHRIST, being raised from the dead, dieth no more: death hath no more dominion over him.

10 For in that he died, he died unto (y) sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth (z) unto God.

11 Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto (a) sin: but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.

1 Cor. xv. 20.

CHRIST is risen from the dead : and become the (b) first-fruits of them that slept.

21 For since by (c) man came death: by (c) man came also the

resurrection of the dead.

22 For (d) as in Adam all die : even so in Christ shall all be made alive.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son: and to the Holy Ghost;

(u) v. 8. "Old leaven," i. e. figuratively, " impure tempers and habits."

(x) See post, note on Rom. vi. 3.

(y) v. 10. "Unto sin," i. e. " on account "of sin; to overcome it, to shew how "offensive it is to God."

(z) "Unto God," i. e. " to promote " godliness."

(a) v. 11. "Dead indeed unto sin," i. e. "as free from its control as if really " dead."

(6) v. 20. “First-fruits." By Lev. xxiii. 10, 11. the Israelites were ordered, " Bring " a sheaf of the first-fruits of your harvest " unto the priest, and he shall wave the " sheaf before the Lord, to be accepted for "you." So is Christ the first-fruits of the dead, and shall be accepted for all who trust in him.

(c) v. 21. " By man," i. e. "Adam;" (c) " by man,” i. e. "Jesus Christ,"

(d) v. 22. " As, &c." So that the influence of our Saviour's righteousness shall be as general as that of Adam's transgression: the one made all liable to death; the other shall give to all the opportunity of eternal life.

(e) v. 1. " If, &c." St. Paul had been considering them as identified with our Saviour; circumcised with him; dead with him; buried with him, and risen again with him. Col. ii. 11, 12, 13. 20.; and this means, if you are really to be considered as having risen with him, then seek, &c.

(g) v. 3. " Dead," i, e. "to sin and car"nal lusts." He uses the same argument, Rom. vi. 2. &c. "How shall we, that are " dead to sin, live any longer therein ? He "that is dead, is freed from sin."

(h) "Your life is hid, &c." "You are "to look forward to some other time " for happiness: you are not to expect it

Christ, who is our life, shall (i) appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory. 5. Mortify therefore your members (lk) which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is (1) idolatry: 6. for which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience: 7. in the (m) which ye also walked sometime, when (n) ye lived in them.

The Gospel. John xx. 1.

THE (0) first day of the week (p) cometh (q) Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre. 2. Then she runneth, and cometh to Simon Peter, and to the (r)

"now. What is properly to be called ""your life," is at present hid with Christ " in God."

(i) v. 4. " Shall appear." Looking forward probably to the period so often referred to as "the coming," or " day of the

"Lord."

(k) v. 5. " Members which are upon "the earth," i. e. "Your earthly carnal " members."

(1) " Idolatry." As bad as idolatry; money being the object of his worship. In Eph. v. 5. the same idea occurs: " nor "covetous man, who is an idolater."

(m) v. 7. "The which," i. e. "the sins " he had been enumerating : ἐν δις.”

(n) "When ye lived in them," i. e. "when what was thought your life was in "them," in opposition to their present state, when they were to be considered as dead to fleshly lusts; and their life, according to verse 3. was to be considered as "hid in Christ."

(0) v. 1. "The first day of the week," i.e. " the day after the Jewish Sabbath; "what answers to our Sunday."

(p) "Cometh," or " goeth:" according

and saith unto them, "They have " taken away the (s) Lord out of "the sepulchre, and we know not "where they have laid him." 3. Peter therefore went forth, and that other disciple, and came to the sepulchre. 4. So they ran both together: and the other disciple did outrun Peter, and came first to the sepulchre. 5. And he stooping down, and looking in, saw the linen clothes lying; yet went he not in. 6. Then cometh Simon Peter following him, and went into the sepulchre, and seeth the linen clothes lie; 7. and the napkin that was about his head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself. 8. Then went in also that other disciple which came first to the sepulchre, and he saw and believed. 9. For as yet they (t) knew

to Mark xvi. 2. " they came unto the se" pulchre at the rising of the sun."

(q) " Mary Magdalen." According to St. Matthew and St. Mark, Mary the mother of James the less went with her; and according to St. Mark and St. Luke, they went with spices to anoint the body. Matt. xxviii. 1.- Mark xvi. 1. - Luke xxiv. 1. They did not, therefore, expect that he was about to rise again. Mary Magdalen's attention to our Saviour, even after his crucifixion, was most natural: he had cast out from her seven devils, Luke viii. 2. — Mark xvi. 9. and had raised her brother Lazarus from the dead, John xi. 1 to 44.

(r) v. 2. "The other disciple, &c." i. e. "St. John the Evangelist :" so that St. John is here relating what he himself personally knew.

(s) " The Lord," Τὸν Κύριον. See ante, 29. note on Rom. xiii. 14.

(t) v. 9. " Knew not, &c." Our Saviour had told the Scribes and Pharisees, " as "Jonas was three days and three nights " in the whale's belly, so shall the Son of "man be three days and three nights in "the heart of the earth. Matt. xii, 40."

not the Scripture, "that he must "rise again from the dead." 10. Then the disciples went away again unto their own home.

Monday in Easter Week.

For the Epistle. Acts x. 34. PETER (u) opened his mouth,

And at another time he said unto the Jews, (John ii. 19.) "Destroy this temple, and " in three days I will raise it up," speaking to them of the temple of his body. He also told his disciples (Matt. xx. 19.) that the Son of Man should be crucified, and " the third day he should rise again." It may be collected, however, from John ii. 22. that what he meant by " destroying "this temple, &c." was not understood till he was risen from the dead. And however plain the intimation is in Matt. xx. 19. St. Luke tells us in the parallel passage, (Luke xviii. 34.) " they understood none " of these things; and this saying was hid " from them; neither knew they" (i. e. comprehended) " the things that were spoken." See post, 143. note on Luke xxiv. 45.

(κ) ν. 34. “ Peter, &c." The occasion of this address was as follows: Cornelius, a centurion, a Gentile of Cesarea, a devout man, had been directed in a vision to send for Peter, and had this intimation, " He shall tell thee what thou oughtest to " do." When the messengers from Cornelius arrived, Peter had just seen a vision, in which he was told that he was to consider nothing "as common or unclean which God had cleansed." He at once drew this inference from the vision, that he was not to disregard even a Gentile, who had God's approbation; and he therefore accompanied the messengers. Cornelius met him, with his kinsmen and friends; and after mentioning the vision he (Cornelius) had had, he said, "Now, " therefore, are we all here present before "God, to hear all things that are com"manded thee of God." This address was Peter's answer.

(x) v. 36. "The children of Israel." It was to the Jews first that the Gospel was preached, because they had long been the only worshippers of the one true God; it was to their nation that the later prophecies were delivered; and it was in their sacred books that all the prophecies were

and said, "Of a truth I perceive " that God is no respecter of per"sons: 35. but in every nation he "that feareth him, and worketh " righteousness, is accepted with "him. 36. The word which God "sent unto the (r) children of " Israel, preaching (y) peace by "Jesus Christ; (he is Lord (z)

preserved. They are accordingly called (Matt. viii. 12. ante, 64.) "the children of "the kingdom." Our Saviour told the woman of Canaan, "I am not sent but " unto the lost sheep of the house of "Israel. Matt. xv. 24." It was in the wilderness of Judea (the Jews' country) that John the Baptist began his preaching, Matt. iii. 1. And when our Saviour sent forth the twelve apostles to preach the gospel, he commanded them, "Go not " into the way of the Gentiles, &c." " but go rather to the lost sheep of the house " of Israel. Matt. x. 5, 6." See ante, 91. note on Matt. xv. 24.

(y) " Peace." "The chastisement of " our peace," (that is, the punishment by which we obtained pardon from God,) " was upon him, Isaiah liii. 5." He "made " reconciliation for iniquity, Dan. ix. 24." and the spirit of his religion is universal benevolence, " on earth peace, good-will "towards man, Luke ii. 14."

(z) "Lord of all," πάνλων Κύριος, one of many instances, in which the highest titles are ascribed to Christ. In Rom. ix. 5. St. Paul calls him, "God blessed for ever." He it is who (according to Rev. xvii. 14. and xix. 16.) is "King of kings, and "Lord of lords;" and in Rev. i. 17. he assumes to himself these characteristics: "I am the first and the last; I am he " that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I " am alive for evermore, Amen: and have "the keys of hell and of death." " To him" (in the language of Rev. i. 6.) " be glory " and dominion for ever and ever, Amen." According to 1 Pet. iii. 22. " He is gone " into heaven, and is on the right hand of "God; angels and authorities and powers "being made subject unto him." And, according to Philipp. ii. 9. "God hath " given him a name which is above every "name, that at the name of Jesus every "knee should bow; and that every tongue "should confess that Jesus Christ is "Lord, to the glory of God the Father."

" of all ;) 37. that word, I say, ye "know, which was published " throughout all Judea, and began " from Galilee, after the (a) bap" tism which (b) John preached : " 38. how God anointed Jesus of "Nazareth with the (c) Holy "Ghost and with power; who " went about doing (d) good, and "(e) healing all that were op"pressed of the devil: for God " was with him. 39. And we are "(g) 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. " 40. Him God raised up the third "day, and shewed him openly; "41. not to all the people, but " unto witnesses chosen before of "God, even to us, who did eat "and drink with him after he "rose from the dead. 42. And "he commanded us to preach " unto the (h) people, and to tes"tify that it is he which was or"dained of God to be the Judge " of quick and dead. 43. To him "give all the prophets witness,

(a) v. 37. " Baptism," i. e. "unto repent"ance." " I indeed baptise you with water " unto repentance. Matt.iii. 11."

(6) " John," i. e. " the Baptist." (c) v. 38. "The Holy Ghost," or "a holy " influence." No article or preposition. Middl.

(d) "Doing good." The character of our Saviour's life and miracles was according to the spirit of his religion; promoting the happiness, and diminishing the miseries of man.

(e) "Healing, &c." a decisive proof that God was with him. See ante, 93, 94. note on Luke xi. 17.

(g) v. 39. "Witnesses." St. Peter relies upon what is a strong argument with us, that the apostles acted, not upon hearsay or report, but upon what they themselves saw; it was in their presence that our Saviour's miracles were performed;

"that through his name whoso"ever believeth in him shall re"ceive remission of sins."

The Gospel. Luke xxiv. 13.

BEHOLD (k) two of his disciples went that (1) same day to a village called Emmaus, which was from Jerusalem about threescore furlongs. 14. And they talked together of all these (m) things which had happened. 15. And it came to pass, that, while they communed together and reasoned, Jesus himself drew near, and went with them. 16. But their (n) eyes were holden, that they should not know him. 17. And he said unto them, "What manner of communica" tions are these that ye have one " to another, as ye walk, and are "sad?" 18. And the one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answering said unto them, " Art thou "only a stranger in Jerusalem, " and hast not known the things " which are come to pass there in "these days?" 19. And he said unto them, "What things?" And

(k) v. 13. "Two." Cleophas was one. See post, verse 18. James, perhaps, another. See 1 Cor. xv. 7. post,

(1) "That same day," i. e. "the day of "the resurrection; corresponding with our " Easter Day."

(m) v. 14. "All these things," i. e. "the "crucifixion, &c."

(n) v. 16. "Their eyes were holden." Saint Mark (Mark xvi. 12.) says "he ap"peared in another form."