gence to the rest of the brethren. They found them assembled in a house with the doors shut, and scarcely had they communicated the intelligence, when Jesus himself appeared in the midst. To convince them that he was not a spirit, he showed them the prints of the nails in his hands and feet, the wound of the lance in his side, and allowed them to handle his body. Whilst they were still fluctuating between joy and doubt, he expounded to them the prophecies in which all these events were predicted; he then renewed his former commission, and power to preach and confirm his gospel, and left them for that night with his usual blessing, full of joy and wonder, to collect and compare the several transactions of that glorious day.

Thomas, called Didymus, one of the eleven apostles, was absent at this juncture; when the others informed him of what had happened, he refused to believe them, declaring that he could only be satisfied by thrusting his fingers into the print of the nails, and his hand into the wounded side. Eight days after, Jesus appeared again to them, when Thomas was present, and invited him to take the full demonstration he had required. Thomas, full of joy and humility, acknowledged Jesus as his Lord and his God, upon which he was dismissed, with this gentle reproof, "Thomas,

because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed."

CHAPTER XIX.

THE ASCENSION INTO HEAVEN.

AFTER Some days, the disciples departed into Jerusalem, and went into Galilee, as Jesus had directed them. Here he appeared to them all assembled, and after his usual salutation of "Peace be unto you," added, "All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you; and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen."

Soon afterwards, seven of the disciples went fishing: they toiled all night in vain, but in the morning Jesus appeared, and, as usual, manifested himself by a beneficial miracle. They dragged their loaded net to the shore, after which, Jesus sat down to breakfast with

them. During the meal, he thrice asked Simon Peter, whether he loved him more than the rest, and being answered in the affirmative, commanded him to feed his flock; and then added that he would hereafter glorify the faith by his martyrdom. At the same time our Lord predicted that the apostle John would survive all the rest, and live to witness the destruction of Jerusalem; a prophecy which was, at the time, misunderstood by the other apostles.

During the forty days that Christ remained on earth after his resurrection, he frequently appeared to different parties of the disciples, and at one time, to five hundred of the brethren together, discoursing with them familiarly of his spiritual kingdom, dispelling their doubts, allaying their fears, and comforting their hearts, with the glorious prospect of an eternal life, to crown their painful and arduous course. When he had concluded these instructions, he bade them return to Jerusalem, where he would meet them before his ascension, commanding them to remain there, until they had received the promised Comforter, by whom they would be endowed with power from above, suitable to their high commission. These words again led them to hope that Christ was about to establish a temporal kingdom, but our Lord checked their