Memories of Bethany

rner's

rances are now met wi

oken. She now once more hears those well-remembered tones which were

dness ceases to vibrate. And it is befitting too that Jesus should utter it. He alone is qualified to do so. The words spoken t

ad at the moment troops of other bereaved ones in view; myriads on myriads of aching, bleeding spirits who could not, like the Bethany mourner, rush into His visible presence for consolation and peace. He expands, therefore, for their sakes the sublime and exalted solace wh

tion! Truly these two brief verses are as apples of gold in pictures of silver. "Jesus, the Resurrection and the

o, as its captive; and that guardian angels were to proclaim words which would now have been all enigma and strangeness, "The Lord is risen!" With us it is different. The mighty deed has been completed. "Christ has died; yea, rather has risen again!" The resurrection and revival of Lazarus was a marvellous act, but it was only the rekindling

ur eternal life or eternal death was suspended on the reply! If death succeeds in chaining down the illustrious Victim, our hopes of everlasting life are gone for ever. In vain can these dreary portals be ever again unbarred for the children of fallen humanity. He has gone there as their surety-Saviour. If his suretyship be accepted-if He meet and fulfil all the requirements of an o

els are seated in the vacant tomb to verify with their gladdening assurance His own Bethany oracle, "The Lord

ther, as Jesus Himself here bids us, around His own tomb, and to gaze on His own resurrection scene! It was the m

d life for His people-life (the forfeited gift of life) now repurchased. That mighty victor rose not for Himself, but as the representative and earnest of countless multitudes,

woe-worn humanity, "He that liveth and believeth on Me shall never die." "In Me, death is no longer death; it is only a parenthes

Lord. He has purchased all, paid all, procured all! Look into that vacant tomb; see si

se exulting thousands "the path of life." He tells them to dread neither for themselves or others that lonesome tomb. The curse is extracted from it; the envenomed sting is plucked away. In passing through its lonesome chambers they may exult