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' have laid him.' We will now examine the other evangelists with respect to this passage relative to the angel, or angels, and Jesus. Mark's account of what was said by the angel, agrees so nearly, that it seems copied from Matthew's, but the effect it had upon the women, he describes very differently-' And they went out quickly, ' and fled from the fepulchre; for they trembled, ' and were amazed: neither said they any thing

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to any man; for they were afraid. (Here the appearance of Jesus might be useful, to encourage them; accordingly we find) Now when 'Jesus was risen, early the first day of the week; 'he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of ' whom he cast seven devils (of incontinence I apprehend) and the went and told them that had been with him, as they mourned and wept (their great hopes, and high expactations, it

seems, were at an end) and they when they 'heard that he was alive, and had been seen of ' her, believed not.' Here we find only one Mary mentioned, and nothing is faid of her holding Jesus by the feet; worshipping him; or the mefsage sent to the difciples; but we find she was not believed when she told them she had feen Jesus alive. We will now examine Luke's account of this matter. (And here we find as I before observed) two angels; one or both of whom, say to the two Marys and other women- Why seek

ye the living among the dead? He is not here, 'but * but is risen : remember how he spake unto you ' when he was yet in Galilee, saying-The Sorn ' of Man must be delivered into the hands of 'finful men, and be crucified, and the third day ' rife again.' This speech differs from that recorded by Matthew and Mark: and as there were two angels and feveral women; we might endeavour to account for the variations, by fuppofing the angels varied in their speeches, and the women in their accounts of them: did we not find subjoined to the said speech-And they ' remembered his words, and returned from the

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sepulchre, and told all these things unto the eleven, and all the rest.' In the next verse Luke enumerates the women-' It was Mary

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Magdalene, and Joanna, and Mary the mother ' of James, and other women that were with 'them, which told these things unto the apostles.' He adds And their words seemed to them

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as idle tales, and they believed them not.' What could occafion this disbelief in the apostles? That which they were here told, as spoken by the angel, correfponded exactly with what Jesus himself had told them previous to his death. Vide Matthew ch. xvi, v. 21. It is observable that though the four evangelists disagree in their particulars of the refurrection, they are unanimous in afferting the apostles disbelief of it. Luke proceeds- Then arose Peter and ran unto the sepulchre, and stooping down he beheld the linen * clothes laid by themselves, and departed, ' wondering in himself at that which was come to ' pass.' If St. Luke, had perfect understanding of all things, from the very first; as he himself. afferts in the introduction to his gospel; how happened he to omit Peter's companion; his competitor in the race, upon this occasion? It is likewise obfervable that Luke fays-Peter went to the sepulchre, upon being informed by the women, that they had seen two angels there, who told them that Jesus was risen from the dead. John says-Peter and himself went to the fepulchre upon being informed by Mary Magdalene that the body of Jesus was taken from thence, and that she knew not where they had laid him. We will now resume St. John's account which, we left where Mary Magdalene, after the departure of Peter and John, discovered the two angels in the fepulchre And they say unto her-Woman, ' why weepest thou? She faith unto them; because they have taken away my Lord, and I * know not where they have laid him.' Here the long speech of Matthew and Mark's angel, and Luke's angels; is by John reduced to a single question; and indeed the angels or their question was of little consequence here, as we findWhen she had thus said, she turned herself 'back, and saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus. Jesus saith unto her, Wo'man why weepest thou? Whom seekest thou ? • She

'She supposing him to be the gardener, (strange and unaccountable ignorance in Mary, who had ' so constantly attended him, or as it is called' ministered unto him) faith unto him; Sir, if 'thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou ' haft laid him, and I will take him away. Jesus faith unto her, Mary; she turned herself, and faith unto him, Rabboni, which is to say, 'Master. Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not, for • I am not yet afcended to my Father: but go ' to my brethren, and say unto them; I afcend

unto my Father, and your Father: and to my 'God, and your God. Mary Magdalene came ' and told the disciples, that she had seen the

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Lord, and that he had spoken these things unto 'her.' Here we find, John says little of the angels; but in lieu thereof, he gives us a long conversation between Jesus and Mary Magdalene, the favourite and distinguished female convert. But this conversation differs very much in place, speech, and action, from that recorded by Matthew, as having passed between Jesus, and the two Mary's. There it is faid they came and held him by the feet, and worshipped him. Here, Mary difcovering that the person she had taken for the gardener, was really Jesus; no doubt advanced to embrace him: upon which he faid-Touch me not. And the reason he affigned-' For I am not yet ascended to my Father,' I do not understand; unless there were two or more afcenfions: ascensions: he suffered the eleven, and Thomas Chapter Verse

in particular, to touch and examine his hands, his feet, and his fide; previous to his public afcension. St. Matthew, in continuance says-Now xxviii. 11

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"when they (the Mary's) were going, behold

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fome of the watch came into the city, and shewed unto the chief priests all the things that ' were done. And when they were assembled 'with the elders, and had taken council, they gave large money unto the foldiers saying; Say ye his disciples came by night, and stole him away while we slept; and if this come to

'the governor's ears, we will perfuade him and • secure you. So they took the money and did

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as they were taught.' Matthew was particularly fortunate in his information relative to this business: neither Mark, Luke, or John say any thing about it. They were equally ignorant, or at least were equally filent, as to the obtaining and setting this watch; and the fright they were in, when upon duty they saw the angel of the Lord defcend from Heaven, roll back the stone from the door of the fepulchre, and fit down upon it. Matthew, after saying they took the money and did as they were taught, adds-' And this saying ' is commonly reported among the Jews until 'this day.' And it may now be said, until this day; nor is it, considering every circumstance, at all to be wondered at. Matthew's information, as to what followed the refurrection, fell very

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