straining clearness as she saw, that He is the most
precious of all possessions, that to be like Him is the greatest of all
attainments; it is to see His character with clearness, and to be
persuaded that, if the world gives us opportunity of becoming like Him
and actually makes us like Him, it has done for us all that is vital and
permanently important.

As Mary answered the angels she heard a step behind or saw the tomb
darkened by a shadow, and on turning discerns dimly through her tears a
figure which naturally enough she supposes to be the gardener--not
because Jesus had assumed the clothes or lifted the tools of the
gardener, but because he was the likeliest person to be going about the
garden at that early hour. As the heart overburdened with grief is often
unconscious of the presence of Christ and refuses to be comforted
because it cannot see Him for its sorrow, so Mary through the veil of
her tears can see only a human form, and turns away again, unconscious
that He for whom she seeks is with her. As she turns, one word wipes the
tears from her eyes and penetrates her heart with sudden joy. The
utterance of her name was enough to tell her it was some one who knew
her that was there; but there was a responsive thrill and an awaking of
old memories and a vibration of her nature under the tone of that voice,
which told her whose alone it could be. The voice seemed a second time
to command a calm within her and turn her whole soul to Himself only.
Once before, that voice had banished from her nature the foul spirits
that had taken possession of her; she had "awaked from hell beneath the
smile of Christ," and now again the same voice brought her out of
darkness into light. From being the most disconsolate, Mary became at a
word the happiest creature in the world.

Mary's happiness is easily understood. No explanation is needed of the
peace and bliss she experienced when she heard herself owned as the
friend of the risen Lord, and called by her name in the familiar tone by
Him who stood now superior to all risk, assault, and evil. This perfect
joy is the reward of all in the measure of their faith. Christ rose, not
that He might bring ecstasy to Mary alone, but that He might fill all
things with His presence and His fulness, and that our joy also might be
full. Has He not called us also by name? Has He not given us at times a
consciousness that He understands our nature and what will satisfy it,
that He claims an in