the same she passes to them. Lift up, therefore, these gates on high: raise them to such subjects only as are heavenly and eternal, and then the King of glory will enter, and make you a partaker of His majesty and greatness.
FRIDAY.
Christ's Ascension.— I.
I. Forty days having elapsed since the resurrection of Christ, during which time He has comforted, instructed, and confirmed His Apostles, He " at length appeared to the eleven as they were at table." (Mark xvi. 14.) He led them to Mount Olivet, in order that He might commence His triumph, where His passion had begun. Observe with what tenderness and love He does all this; and learn that no other path than the path of suffering leads to glory,
II. Christ said to them, " But stay you in the City, till you be endued with power from on high." (Luke xxiv. 49.) If the Redeemer did not wish His Apostles to be too forward in preaching and in doing works for the universal good of mankind, but wished them first to receive power from on high, how proper is it that those who have not been trained up in Christ's school as they were, should first prepare themselves in private, by prayer and the practice of virtue, for the works of the ministry, and for appearing before their neighbors. Every feeling of zeal is not to be trusted. True zeal is the last consequence of the pure love of God, and embraces within itself the emanations of every virtue. Unless your zeal be of this character, it is a dangerous principle of action.
