(Matthew xviii. 16-20)

Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them. And when they saw him, they worshipped him: but some doubted. And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, 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.

VIII--THE ASCENSION

(Luke xxiv. 50-53)

And he led them out as far as to Bethany, and he lifted up his hands, and blessed them. And it came to pa.s.s, while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven. And they worshipped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy. And were continually in the temple, praising and blessing G.o.d. Amen.

(Mark xvi. 19-20)

So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of G.o.d. And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.

(Acts i. 1-12)

The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen. To whom also he shewed himself alive after his pa.s.sion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of G.o.d: and, being a.s.sembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. For John truly baptized with water, but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence. When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.

But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight, And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven. Then returned they unto Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is from Jerusalem a sabbath day's journey.

IX--ST. PAUL'S ACCOUNT OF OUR LORD'S REAPPEARANCES

(I. Corinthians xv. 3-8)

For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: and that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve; after that he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep. After that, he was seen of James: then of all the apostles.

And last of all he was seen of me also as of one born out of due time.

Footnotes:

{1} It should be borne in mind that this pa.s.sage was written five or six years ago, before the commencement of the Franco-Prussian war, What would my brother have said had he been able to comprehend the events of 1870 and 1871?--W. B. O.

{2} This pamphlet was by Butler himself.

{3} See Biog. Britann.

{4} Middleton's Reflections answered by Benson. Hist. Christ, vol.

iii., p. 50.

{5} Lardner, part I., vol. ii., p. 135 et seq.

{6} Ibid., part I., vol. ii., p. 742.