the praise of God. How far Nicodemus was subject to this censure cannot be ascertained. We know not, if he did not make his open confession before the occasion, which gave rise to this observation of the Apostle, occured, since the only other mention which is made of him, previous to the burial of Jesus, is in an earlier part of the Gospel. When the Chief Priests and Pharisees were ready to condemn Jesus unheard, Nicodemus remonstrated with some boldness. They accused the multitude, on whom Jesus had produced so much impression, of ignorance of the Law. Nicodemus broadly hinted to them that they knew the Law no better themselves, asking them, if the Law condemned a man without hearing him first, and knowing what he did? "Art thou also of Galilee?" was the reply; to which they added, in their overbearing manner, "Search and look for out of Galilee ariseth no prophet." Whether this was meant for a contemptuous exposition to Nicodemus of his absurdity, or really implied suspicion, his situation would be one of perplexing distress, until he had relieved his mind by the avowal of his sentiments. Never was the struggle between flesh and spirit more severe than at this moment, when good men, on the pinnacle of rank and reputation in the kingdom of the world, were challenged by the voice of the kingdom of heaven, crying to them from the dust and despised of the earth, and inviting them to poverty, shame, and sorrow; when learning was arrayed against truth, and the venerated traditions of their fathers were rudely assailed by the preaching of Jesus; when the Law and the prophets were dropping, but had not yet dropped, their

veil before the Gospel. It was a crisis for the infirm heart of man; and we may give our own hearts most profitable exercise by putting them, through our imagination, into the detail of the conflict. We may thence learn distrust in ourselves, confidence in God, and charity towards others.

We cannot but feel curious to know how Nicodemus conducted himself at the trial of Jesus. Both he and Joseph of Arimathea were of the council. Were they present? Did they hear him make his final avowal-that he was the Son of God? How were they affected at a scene, the sight of which overthrew the firmness of the chief and boldest of the Apostles? That they consented not to the counsel and deed of their colleagues we know, and we should, in all probability, have known had they remonstrated. But remonstrance, in such a passionate and tumultuous assembly, would be unheard. They must have separated themselves from this congregation of wicked and violent men, and awaited the event in sorrowful retirement. The cruel death of their beloved Master; the dispersion of His flock, the extreme perplexity respecting His real nature, which this crisis would produce in their minds; the terrible judgment impending on their country for the shedding of this innocent blood; these would fill their hearts with heaviness, and turn them in fasting and prayer to God.

Once more Nicodemus presents himself before us. He assisted Joseph of Arimathea in paying the last rites to the body of Jesus. These two chief rulers of the nation joined in honouring a body which had hung, like a malefactor's, on the cross. Many,

indeed, will magnificently contribute to the burial of one whom, living, they contributed to neglect. But it is with the motive of sharing in the glory which now, at last, attends the merits of the deceased, and the principle of their respect is as base as that of their neglect. But the world was triumphing over the death of Jesus, as that of a convicted impostor. Dishonour and danger attended every honour paid to him. Nothing but the most pure affection, and unshaken faith in the mission of their calumniated Master, could have moved these two men to the work, or have sustained them in it. Although, therefore, the name of Nicodemus recur not again, we feel assured that he paid no empty honour, but that the hands which, amid the scoffs and threats of his countrymen, wrapt in spices the body of Jesus, and laid it in the tomb, were afterwards raised in adoration to Him as risen from the dead, and ascended in glory into heaven. He quits our sight as the burier of the Lord, as the arrayer, in his cerecloth, of Him whom Mary had previously anointed for burial. He is one of those who have the blessed privilege of always rising to our imagination when we turn our thoughts to this precious death and burial; and we think of him as one who buried his former corrupt nature, and understood, by experience, that birth of the Spirit which had formerly so perplexed him. We rejoice to reflect that this teacher, who had been offended at earthly things in Jesus, believed in heavenly things, and ceasing to ask, "how can these things be?" believed unto everlasting life. When his hour of death came, how vivid would be to him the sense of the immortality

of his decaying body. He had handled with his own hands the livid and lifeless body of his Master, who now, in His glorious and immortal body, was waiting to receive him into the mansions of everlasfing rest. With what faith must he have cried out, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit," who had seen His body both forsaken and reanimated by the Spirit. With what cheerful hope must he have bidden farewell to beloved friends, who had laid the Lord of Life in His tomb, and been familiar with the witnesses of His resurrection. And with what a crowd of solemn and glorious associations; with what a flow of faith and joy, to temper their weeping, must the Church have conveyed to the tomb the body of the burier of the Lord.

MARY AND MARTHA.

A. D. 33.

Two sisters and a brother composed a household which enjoyed a privilege such as never had fallen to human lot since the days of Abraham, when he entertained the three Angels. But even Abraham fell short of these his children. If he entertained the Word of God under human shape, it was but once, and then in the guise of a wayfaring stranger. But the house of this family gave frequent lodging to the same incarnate Word, as friends to a friend. If he was witness to the tremendous power of his heavenly guest in the fiery overthrow of wicked cities, these not only beheld, but received to their comfort, the highest exhibition of His miraculous power, the earnest of that almighty power which He shall put forth on the last day to raise the dead. A family thus privileged cannot but raise our curiosity and excite our interest. In the Lord's conversation with them in the flesh we behold the intercourse which He maintains in the Spirit with every household where He is received with sincere welcome, and we can comprehend, under one visible representation, those manifold and merciful relations by which He makes all its members one with Himself, and through Him with each other. The bodily comfort which He gave to them in the restoration of their