The Weekly Washington telegraph., 1871-09-20

"a little while, and ye shall not see
Me, and again little while, and ye
shall see Me-" aye shall be sorrow>
ful, but your sorrow shall be turned
nto Joy" Does it seem strange to us
that the disciples did not. expect the
resurrection of their Lord, after all
that He had said to them about it.?
and DO we tometimes wonder at their
doubts aud fears while He was yet
with them? Yet surely we should
much rather be astonished at our own
misgivings, at our own weakness of
faith, for we have the benefit Of their
experience, the benefit of their doubts,
and we have the certain knowledge of
those three great facts which had not
then transpired-the Resurrection, the
Ascension, and the Descen of the
Holy Spirit. We have an ever ac>
cumulating cloud of witnessed to the
truth of Christianity, and yet how
timid are we still, how feeble is our
faith
Yes, if we would justly estimate the
faith of these first Christians, we must
place ourselves in their position, and
not judge them from our own. They
had indeed been doubling disciples,
slow Of heart to believe, for not only
had Christianity not yet received its
growing proofs, but there were strong
national predjuices to overcome; they
were expecting a Saviour who w)ull
restore the outward glory Of Israel,
and how could the events which they
had witnessed b. rec)ncilel with such
expectation? No wonder if hope with
them were well night extinguished;
lie lies dead in the. silent grave, and,
as yet, the Spirit was not given to them,
bringing back to their remembrance,
with new light ami understanding, the
words which jesa. had spoken. No;
it was -hll night in the soul Of the dis,
ciples; day was dawning on the earth,
not vet had it dlWncl ia the hearts of
these sal ones.
"The Sabbath was past What a
Sabbath had that been in Jerusalem.
IL that doomed city were assembled
the enemies of Christ; they had plot
ted together, they had planned and
carried out their murierous scheme,
and now on the quiet Sabbath, how
did that deed Of blood appear to their
consciences? Could they calmly SUR
veg the events of the proceeding day?
What dill Plate think and feel, who
had given up Jesus to be cruciied,
knowing that lie hal done nothing
amiss? What were the feelings Of
the derilings rules aud the sc1ting
soldiers? What were the feeling of those
who sub)rned witnesses, and OF those
who were sub)rneR What the feel
ings of the multitude who hal criel,
"Away with this man, release unto US
Barrasbas," All, surely on that day
many heart was tortured with re-
morse, if not broken with godly sor-
row.
"The Sabbath was past and that
Sabbath had doubtless been a day of
Satanic triumph. The work of dark
ness seemed complete when the Savi-
our was laid in the silent tomb. But
the day now was dawning, whose light
would scatter the hosts of darkness,
and shake the the Kingdom Of the
| prince OF TINS world.
"The Sabbath was past" and the
first great event, after it was past, was
witnessed by no human eye; only the
angels were permitted to be spectators
of that solemn, that glorious event.
"Seen of angels believed on in the
world, received up into glory" The
disciples saw the ascension of their
Lord, but His resurrection they might
not see. OF this fact they must be
first informed through the hearing of
the ear, through the ministry of angels.
The angels were the blessed messengers
TO announce to the disciples the glori>
Gus fact of which they were soon to
have Others evidence. This was day
! r.I.I..:, la,,-,,,. tbo ouUclip phOirs