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In old times, on Easter morning, people used not to salute each other as usual, saying, "Good morning," or 66 How do you do ğ" but their first words were, "CHRIST is risen!" "CHRIST is risen indeed!" So in the Church now, after Confession and Absolution,—for, until we have confessed our sins, we are not deemed fit ever to rejoice and offer praise,then, instead of the usual hymn, we sing, "CHRIST Our Passover is sacrificed for us: therefore let us keep the feast."

This day was always considered the highest of all festivals, and was celebrated with the

greatest solemnity. It is called the "day of days," the "queen of feasts," the "feast of feasts," the "day which the LORD hath made" (Ps. cxviii. 24); for David referred to this day, and therefore this Psalm is always read in Church. In olden times carols were sung, as at Christmas.

On this day the Church requires ALL her children, of sufficient age, to receive the Holy Sacrament of the Body and Blood of our LORD.

It was a day in early times famous for works of mercy and charity. Emperors and kings used to release all prisoners, except those guilty of the most heinous crimes; Clergy and people of all ranks strove to give alms liberally; so that beggars, for whom CHRIST died and rose again as much as for them, might, as well as they, rejoice on the glorious Festival.

But we left the holy women occupied last evening, as soon as the Sabbath was ended, in purchasing and preparing sweet spices, in order to anoint and embalm the dead Body of their LORD; and this morning, before the sun had risen, at the very first gleam of light, they came to the sepulchre to fulfil this pious duty.

On their way thither, they were wondering how they should gain entrance; for an enormous stone had been rolled to the door by the Jews, and a guard of soldiers placed there, in order that the disciples might not steal away the Body by night.

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Who," they said among themselves, shall roll us away the stone from the door of the sepulchre ?" But when they arrived, they found the stone was rolled away, the soldiers were gone, and an angel was there whose "countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow." And he said to the women, "Fear not; for I know that ye seek JESUS. He is not here; for He is risen !"

It was indeed so: there had been an earthquake when this angel came down and rolled away the stone, and sate upon it. The soldiers fell down like dead men with terror, and, as soon as they were able, fled away to the city.

The angel desired the women to tell the disciples that the LORD had risen; and on

hearing the account, Peter and John hurried with the utmost speed to the sepulchre, and entering, found that it was indeed empty, the grave-clothes folded, and lying in a place by themselves.

As they were much perplexed, "behold, two men stood by them in shining garments," and said, "Why seek ye the living among the dead? He is not here; HE IS RISEN!"

So they returned to their own home, but Mary Magdalene remained by the sepulchre, weeping. And as she turned, she saw JESUS, the MASTER, her risen LORD and SAVIOUR, standing at her side.

And the same day, at evening, when the disciples were at prayer, they found JESUS standing among them. He said to them, Peace be with you," and blessed them.

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And later still, that same evening, two disciples took a melancholy walk to Emmaus, sad and out of spirits, for they “had trusted that it had been HE which should have redeemed Israel;" and now that He was dead and in the grave, they had lost all hope. To them JESUS appeared, and talked with them, and took bread, and blessed, and brake, and gave it to them, and in that Feast was "made known to them."

And they hurried back to Jerusalem, to the believers there; hurried to them, assembled

there, and called out joyously, "The LORD is risen indeed!"

And so ended the first LORD's day.

NOTE. The more strongly to impress upon us the immense importance to us of this great day, the Church has appointed two more days, Monday and Tuesday, for public worship. The Second Lessons chosen for these days give us further testimony and proof of the Resurrection; and the great Feast of the Holy Communion is evidently intended to be celebrated daily for eight days. As you will see, the proper preface is for Easterday and seven days after; and this is the same at Christmas, Ascension, and Whitsuntide.

S. MARK.

APRIL 25.

"Nearer, my GOD, to Thee,
Nearer to Thee!

E'en though it be a cross
That raiseth me,
So by my woes to be

Nearer, my GOD, to Thee,
Nearer to Thee."

TO-DAY we celebrate the festival of S. Mark, the writer of the Gospel which bears his name. Perhaps I shall do well to tell you what that term means.

The word Gospel used to be written GOD's Spell-GOD's Word; and it means God's or good (for the meaning of the word God is goodness)--GOD's or good tidings. The word Evangel, in the Greek language, has the same meaning.

So the history of the birth, life, death, resurrection, and ascension of CHRIST (such

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