understand at the same time, that the hopes they had entertained of him were most sanguine, for they trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel; and, finally, they informed him of some peculiar phenomena that had been witnessed by certain women of their acquaintance at his sepulchre, where his body could not be seen, though they The saw a vision of angels, who said that he was alive. courteous and mild fellow traveller then began to speak and detain them with delightful converse; for he shewed them 'that Christ ought to suffer these things, and then to enter into his glory.' He spread before them the mysteries of the inspired page, and shewed how they were illustrated in the life and death of their best friend. Sooner than they - thought they arrived at their journey's end, where he made. as though he would have gone further; but they prevailed on him, by their great importunity, to go in and tarry with them-with them he took bread, blessed it, brake it, and gave unto them-then first their eyes were opened to behold him as the same Jesus who was crucified, and to discover in him the lovely features of their Lord who had done all things well-when, lo! he vanished out of their sight, and was seen no more.-. -After which, we may reasonably suppose to have taken place-a solemn silence; and then they used to each other the admirable expression we have selected as a text-"Did not our hearts burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?" Having, then, taken a slight glance at the whole account of this wonderful circumstance, in confining our attention more particularly to the words of the text, we shall view them as leading us to reflect on-the conversation of our Lord with his disciples-and the effects it produced upon their minds-"their hearts burned within them, while he talked with them by the way." Behold

(I.) The conversation of our Lord with his disciples.

And here the passage presents us with the kind familiarity which he displayed, and the lustre that he cast on the divine word the first remarkable thing in our Lord's conversation with the travellers to Emmaus, is

(1) The kind familiarity which he displayed-their own expression is, "He talketh with us by the way.' It is condescension in the Son of God, to notice the concerns and ac

cept the worship of his holy angels; how much more must it be so to sojourn with mankind to go where they go-and freely to tell them the secrets of his heart. The Savior was now, you remember, even on earth, a most dignified character he was now no longer to suffer and be cruelly entreated-he had now finished the work his Father had given him to do-and had shortly after to ascend to claim his high seat in glory. He now shewed himself to be the Christ, the Son of God, and confirmed the reality of his appointment and mission, by his bursting the bars of the tomb. He would not now be viewed by any as a common character, but as the most wonderful being that had ever appeared in the world— as such even his enemies must consider him. Yet all this did not make him forget his friends, or cause him to lose any thing of that social and condescending disposition he had ever before manifested; but almost as soon as he was risen, he goes to meet some of the members of his little family, and confirm them further in himself. "He talked with them by the way." "-Oh! what a heaven does Christ here by his example stamp upon Christian intercourse and sacred friendship.Behold he talks with his disciples, proving to them that "as ointment and perfume rejoice the heart, so doth the sweetness of a man's friend, by hearty counsel." And to this day we are permitted to converse with our God-"he talks with us by the way"-tells us our true character, and reveals his own excellence he appears as our wonderful counsellor! and to whatever place we journey, we should be concerned to have him talking with us by the way.-The next remarkable circumstance in this conversation of our Lord, mentioned in the text, is

(2) The lustre that he cast upon the divine word. "He talked with us by the way, and opened to us the scriptures." And well he might, for he told us before that "the Lord had given him the tongue of the learned; that he should know how to speak a word in season, to him that is weary." "He began," says the evangelist, "at Moses and all the prophets, and expounded to them in all the scriptures, the things concerning himself"-blessed interpreter-divine teacher. We have no reason to suppose that he forgot the first promise that was made of him, even in the garden of Eden, that he should bruise the head of the serpent: no doubt but the intended

sacrifice of Isaac, the patriarch's son-the erection of the brazen serpent on the pole-and the various sacrifices under the law, were all delightfully commented on by Jesus the Savior. He did justice to all the passages-he shewed their full import-he gave them an insight into the meaning of all the prophecies respecting his death and glory-he took up every part of scripture in its bearing upon himself, he shewed [that he] was all in all" even in the Old Testament; and thus by his teachings they discovered far more of the beauty, harmony, and fulfilment of the word of God. than they ever did before, or ever would have done without his instruction. And does he not now give his people to understand the doctrines of his word-does he not now daily open to us the scriptures-bas he not given to us his Holy Spirit in order to make us more wise in the mysteries of his kingdom, and are we not directed to seek for him in the field of divine truth as for hid treasure. Oh! how much is there respecting Christ in this holy book, and who is so able to make us know it as himself he opens our understanding that we may understand the scriptures-he ever teaches his ministers to open and allege that Christ must needs have suffered and risen again from the dead, and that this Jesus whom we preach unto you is Christ,"'as he taught his apostles "to testify the kingdom of God, persuading men concerning Jesus, both out of the law of Moses, and out of the prophets, fron morning till evening." Having then admired the conversation of our Lord with his disciples on the way to Emmaus, we notice

II-The effects it produce, in their minds.

It was not at all probable that his discourse should be without effect, or fail deeply to interest their minds, since it was the very theme on which they chose to dwell; and it was conducted in so wise and endearing a manner-it was such that according to their own confession, it made their hearts to burn within them, while he talked with them by the way-and surely I need not say this was not the glow of shame, lest they should be found in his company-No brethren, they would not have cared who of all the great men of the land had met them in company with this most intelligent stranger

they felt themselves highly honored by his company, even before they knew his name. Nor was this the heat of anger.

or of any bad passion excited by any thing that he deliveredhis communications were sweet, and soothing. Had they been so disposed, they could find nothing in them that was improper, untrue, or provoking;-he talked with them as a man talks with his friend-the communion was sweet, and the intercourse highly gratifying; hence, though their hearts burned within them, it was neither with shame, nor anger. But this, brethren, permit me to say, was the glow of fixed surprise of grateful feeling-of humble love, and-of holy animation of soul. Observe, it was the glow

(1) of fixed surprise.

They wondered much that he who appeared a stranger, not only to them, but also to the place where they were, should know so much about them-Jerusalem and Jesus; they were astonished at his wisdom-at his eloquence.--[ almost fancy that they exclaimed "Never man spake like this man."--With emotions of amazement, they perceived that his "word was quick and powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow; and that it is a discoverer of the thoughts and intents of the heart." With what prying eyes must they have looked upon him; and yet not so as to behold him who he was, because himself had prevented it; yet their hearts burned within them--sentiments of unutterable admiration were hid in their breasts whilst he opened to them the scriptures. Again--it was the glow

(2) of grateful feeling.

They must have discovered that they were greatly indebted to this benevolent stranger, who had so effectually enlightened their judgments, and alleviated their sorrows. Their hearts burned within them with the sensation of thankfulness they saw that he was a praise-worthy character, and, methinks, were devising some acknowledgments for his attention to them, little thinking that it was the Lord. Did your hearts ever glow in this way with a sense of your utter incapability of making any suitable returns to him that loved you, and revealed to you his will? For your fellowship with him, have you ever said-what shall I render to the Lord? Did you ever feel the high honor of being with Jesus-admitted into his presence, and being made partakers

of his grace? All your hearts, Christians, should glow with gratitude, and burn with love. Hence, we remark again, their hearts burned within them with the sensation

(3) of humble love.

Finding as they did, that his words "were found of them, and they did eat them," and they were to them the joy and the rejoicing of their hearts, they manifested a strong attachment to him whom they supposed to be a new friend. He engaged their affections, hence they desired more of his company, and said, when their fears were excited lest he should depart from them-"Abide with us, for it is toward evening." So do the hearts of the people of God burn within them to the present day, with like sensations, under similar enjoyments the flame of divine love is kindled in their souls the words of his mouth appear to them sweeter than the honey or the honeycomb,-his doctrine drops like the rain, and distils like the dew, and sensible that none teacheth like him, they admire and love him before all others. Oh! how excellent a thing it is thus to love the Savior. Let it be our happiness to sit at his feet; and with meekness receive the ingrafted word of truth, which is able to save the soul, so shall its admirable Author rise daily more and more in our esteem. Finally, it was the glow of (4) holy animation of sont.

Divine light broke in upon their minds, and dispersed their remaining unbelief-they were elevated above the world to the contemplation of their adorable Redeemer. He touched their finest feelings-he filled their souls with the sublime joys of his salvation-he inspired them with pure devotion, and fixedness of heart-and while he led them to the consideration of Him who endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, he prevented them from being weary and fainting in their minds. And oh! Christians what sweet moments-rich in blessing-have you enjoyed, when in converse with Immanuel. "Whether in the body, or out of the body," you have hardly been able to tell; drops of heaven have been bestowed upon you here below-the light of the Divine countenance has caused you to take your harp from the willows, and make every string speak to the praise of love divine. Did not your hearts burn within you? Were you not like Peer on