adores him; and, in her silent gesture, says, as her sister had spoken, "Thou art the Christ, the Son of God!" Her humble prostration is seconded by a lamentable complaint," Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died!" This was Mary's moan: no request sounded from her to her Saviour.

O Saviour, while thou speakest to thy Father, thou liftest up thine eyes: now thou art to speak unto dead Lazarus, thou liftest up thy voice, "Lazarus, come forth!" How familiar a word is this! He doth not say, "Lazarus, revive!"-but, as if already living, "Lazarus, come forth!" Thou didst not only, O Saviour, raise the body of Lazarus, but the faith of the beholders. What strange salutations do we think there were betwixt Lazarus and Christ: betwixt Lazarus and his sisters! I leave them entertaining each other with discourses of reciprocal admiration, with praises and adoration of that God and Saviour that had fetched him into life! BISHOP HALL.

"He that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with grave-clothes." From this and other passages, it would appear that the mode of preparing the bodies of the dead for the sepulchre was nearly the same as still exists in western Asia. No coffins being used, the body itself is more elaborately wrapped and swathed, than is common or desirable where coffins are used. In this method the body is stretched out, and the arms laid straight by the sides, after which the whole body, from head to foot, is wrapped round tightly in many folds of linen or cotton cloth. The body, when thus enfolded and swathed, retains the profile of the human form; but, as in the Egyptian mummies, the legs are folded together: hence it is clearly impossible for a person thus treated to move his arms or legs, if restored to existence. But then, how could Lazarus, if thus "bound hand and foot with grave-clothes," come forth at the command of the Saviour?

Ancient sepulchres were commonly recesses excavated in the sides of caverns and it appears that the body of Lazarus lay in a recess of this description, the body being introduced with the head foremost, the feet turned towards the cavern: so that we may readily understand, that when that loud voice, which even Death heard, cried, "Lazarus, come forth!" the dead man worked himself out of the recess, and, sliding down, stood on his feet on the floor of the cavern. For, after he had "come forth," our Saviour, referring to the grave-clothes with which he was bound, said, "Loose him, and let him go." Our Lord directed that the bandages in which he was tightly swathed should be loosed, to enable him to walk, and leave the sepulchre. PICTORIAL BIBLE.

Such was the astonishing work wrought by the Son of God at Bethany; and in the resurrection of Lazarus thus corrupted, and thus raised by the powerful call of Jesus, we have a striking emblem, and a glorious earnest, of the resurrection of our bodies from the grave at the last day, when the same powerful mandate which spoke Lazarus again into being, shall collect the scattered particles of our bodies, and raise them to immortality.

Such an extraordinary power displayed before the face of a multitude, and near to Jerusalem, even overcame the prejudices of some of the most obstinate among them. Many believed that Jesus could be no other than the great Messiah, so long promised; though others, who still expected a temporal prince, and therefore unwilling to acknowledge him for their Saviour, were filled with indignation, particularly the chief priests and elders. "There gathered the chief priests and the Pharisees a council, and said, What do we? for this man doeth many miracles. If we let him thus alone, all men will believe on him; and the Romans shall come and take away both our place and nation."—John xi. 47, &c. Accordingly they came to a resolution to put him to death. This resolution was not, however, unanimous ; for Nicodemus, Joseph of Arimathea, and other disciples of our Saviour, then members of the council, urged the injustice of what they proposed to do, from the consideration of his miracles and innocence. But Caiphas, the high priest, from a principle of human policy, told them, that government often required certain acts of injustice to procure the safety of the state. “Ye know nothing at all, nor consider that it is expedient for us, that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not.”—John xi. 49-50. The council determined to put Jesus to death, and, in all probability, agreed to issue a proclamation, promising a reward to any person who would deliver him into their hands! DR. FLEETWOOD.

Such was the effect of this illustrious miracle that many of the Jews, who had come to visit Mary, and beheld what Jesus did, were so affected with this marvellous instance of his power, that they believed on him as the Messiah. But some of them obstinate and perverse, went away to the Pharisees, and told them what things Jesus had done, to prevent his growing influence among the people. The chief priests, therefore, and the Pharisees, united in their enmity to Christ, being alarmed at the information, convened the Sanhedrim, the great council of the Jewish nation. Where shall we find such restless, such causeless, such incorrigible malice, as was in the hearts of these rulers against our blessed Saviour?

DR. DODDRidge.

We have simply produced, in the order, and with the circumstances in which they are recorded, the three leading instances of our Lord's dominion over death during his pilgrimage: the encouraging inferences deducible from them, as a pledge of our own resurrection, will properly be considered in connection with the resurrection of Christ. You cannot but have remarked that the whole of these miracles were performed before multitudes of people, not interested in extending the fame of Jesus, some of whom were his implacable enemies! It cannot have escaped you, that these miracles bear the same characters of grandeur and of benevolence, which should distinguish miracles wrought in support of a Divine revelation; and they were adapted, nay, absolutely necessary, to prove the mission of the Messiah ! DR. COLLYER.

And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the LORD caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night, and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided.- Exod. xiv. 21.

And the priests that bare the ark of the covenant of the Lord stood firm on dry ground in the midst of Jordan, and all the Israelites passed over on dry ground, until all the people were passed over Jordan.-Josh. iii. 17.

But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work.―John v. 17.

SACRED NARRATIVE.

AND straightway Jesus constrained his disciples to get into a ship, and to go before him unto the other side, while he sent the multitudes away. And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone. But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves for the wind was contrary. And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea. And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit: and they cried out for fear. But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I: be not afraid. And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water. And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus. But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me! And immediately Jesus stretched forth

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