When just as he had finifh'd, they drew nigh 536
Unto their journey's end, but he effay'd
Farther to go, but they constrained him
To enter in with them; for being fed
With heav'nly food, the doctrine of his lips,
They wish'd to entertain their unknown friend,
And profit more from his difcourfes fweet.
(The love of God receiv'd expands the heart.)
He knew their earneftnefs, and with them went;
Sat down with them at meat; but when he took 545
The bread, and bless'd, and brake, and gave to them,
Their eyes were open'd, and they knew their Lord;
But inftantly he vanish'd from their fight.
Then to Jerufalem they bent their course,
To carry tidings to their brethren there;
Whom they affembled found, in fecret met,
Saying with joy, the Lord is ris'n indeed,
And hath appear'd to Simon verily.
The two difcipies then in turn declar'd,
How they had feen, and heard him in the way;
And how he was made known in breaking bread.
As thus they fpake, behold the Savior stood
Among them visibly at once confefs'd;
And thus addrefs'd them, Peace be unto you.
Nothing could equal their amaze and fear; 560 Joy was with wonder, love with trembling mix'd, At this event fo fudden, new, and strange. For 'twas the first appearance he had made To them collectively; the manner such As moft was calculated to surprise.
A fpirit they fuppofed him to be,
Because he enter'd when the door was fhut;
And unperceived by their fenfes came :
But foon he spake again and calm'd their minds;
Why are ye troubled? Why do thoughts arife 570
Within your trembling hearts? 'Tis I myself.
Behold my hands and feet, the marks they bear!
Be fatisfy'd; come handle me; and fee;
A fpirit hath not flesh and bones; I have:
As to your fenfes must be evident.
When thus he spoke, he fhew'd his hands and feet.
And while they yet believed not for joy,
But were through fear and wonder quite amaz'd、
He fpake yet more familiarly, and said,
My children, have ye any meat at hand?
Some broiled fish and honeycomb they gave
Which he receiving, ate it in their fight:
Not that he needed food; they needed faith.
While he was eating he reminded them
Of what he had convers'd with them before.
Thefe are the words (faid he) I spake to you,
That all the prophecies must be fulfill'd,
Which Mofes and the facred Prophets wrote,
And which the Pfalms declare concerning me.
Then he their understanding open'd fo,
That they might understand the scriptures plain.
Thus it is written, thus it Chrift behov'd
To fuffer, and to rife on the third day;
And that repentance and forgiveness both
Should in his name be preach'd through all the world.
At first beginning at Jerufalem :
And ye are witneffes of all these things.
My Father hath fent me, and I fend you :
With my authority you fhall be cloth'd.
Then did he gently breathe on them, and said,
Receive the Holy Ghost, that gift divine.
Whofe fins foever ye remit, they are
Remitted unto them, they are releas'd;
And whofoever ye retain, fhall be
Retained unto them, they shall be bound.
Behold, my Father's promife I will fend!
The Holy Ghost, my messenger divine,
Shall reft on you, with you for ever dwell;
Shall fill your fouls with wisdom, love, and pow'r ; Wait for his coming in Jerufalem;
And then to ev'ry nation preach my word.
This faid, he left them to that evening week, That they at leifure might confider well,
What things had past, what they had seen and heard;
That they might recollect his words, and read 615
The Scriptures, and the prophecies compare
With their accomplishments; and be confirm'd
In thefe effentials of the Chriftian fcheme;
That Jesus Christ the true Meffiah is.
That once he dy'd for all, and rofe again,
And that falvation comes through him alone.
Thus have I briefly trac'd the history
Of that good day on which our Savior rofe,
A day renown'd above all other days;
For then the fun of righteousness came forth,
To blefs the world, and give the nations light.
Hail, Prince of Peace! in fpite of all thy foes
Thou art alive, and livest ever more.
And by thy rifing from the grave fulfill'd
The facred oracles, which thus exprefs'd,
Thy glorious refurrection from the dead
Before my face Jehovah have I fet,
From him I never did nor can depart ;
I never shall be removed; he's my strength;
He always is my aid, at my right hand;
Therefore my heart is glad, my glory fhouts
With joyfulness, my flesh shall rest in hope;
Because thou wilt not leave my foul in hell,
Nor let thine Holy One corruption fee.
The path of life, which leads to thine abode,
My ravish'd eyes with great delight shall view:
Fullness of joy is in thy presence known,
At thy right hand are pleasures evermore.
The refurrection of our Lord declar'd
He was the Son of God with pow'r divine;
And fhew'd that he was no imposter vile,
But was the One of whom the Prophets wrote.
It fhew'd his fabors, toils, and fuff'rings o'er,
And his humiliation at an end ; ́
And that he had obtain❜d a full discharge
From all the mighty load that on him lay;
That he had gain'd the vict❜ry over death ;
Conquer'd the grave, and triumph'd over hell;
Open'd the road to everlasting life.
For though through weakness he was crucify'd, 655
He liveth now by God's almighty pow'r ;
Though once he dy'd to fin, he lives to God.
And death fhall never more dominion boast
O'er fuch a captive, now for ever free.
Thefe grand events fulfill'd our Savior's words,
(As well as many ancient prophecies)
And as a prophet thus his character
Establish'd firmly; for he often faid,
The Son of man must be deliver'd up
To wicked hands; him they fhall crucify;
But on the third day he fhall rife again.
These fayings were not understood at first,
But fully justify'd by the event,
Were afterwards remember'd, and declar'd By lawful witneffes, who heard them spoke, But were afraid to ask their meaning then. The prophet Jonah, fwallow'd by the whale, And by the fame caft up on the third day, A figure of Chrift's refurrection ftands; "And was the only fign he would vouchafe Unto that generation most perverfe; Who did his noblest miracles reject, - Imputing them to Satan's influence; Nor would the plaineft prophecies believe, Yet clamor❜d frequently for figns from heav'n ; 630 And were as conftantly by him deny'd,
And to the prophet Jonah ftill referr❜d.
Doubtless these things employ'd the ferious thots
Of the difciples all the following week,
And were the conftant theme of their discourse,
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