The Resurrection of Christ
You shall have the testimony of the holy angels by the Scriptures, to the resurrection of the Son of God. And first, in Mark 16: 3-7, the words are these:
“And they said among themselves, Who shall roll away the stone?” They had a good mind to see their Lord; but they could not, as they thought, get away the stone which covered the mouth of the sepulchre. “And when they had looked,” that is, towards the sepulchre, “they saw the stone rolled away, for it was great; and entering into the sepulchre, they saw a young man,” that is, an angel, “sitting on the right side, clothed with a long white garment; and they were affrighted. And he saith unto them, Be not afraid,” you have no cause for it; “you seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified; he is not here, he is risen: behold the place where they laid him.” What scripture can be plainer spoken than this? Here is an angel of the Lord ready to satisfy the disciples of Jesus that he was risen from the dead. And lest they should think it was not the right Jesus he spoke of, Yes, saith he, it is the same Jesus that you mean; you seek Jesus of Nazareth, do you not? Why, “he is risen, he is not here.” But do you speak seriously and in good earnest? Yea, surely; if you will not believe me, “behold the place where they laid him.” This scripture is very clear to our purpose.
But again, in Matt. 28: 3-7, there is an angel as before bearing witness of the resurrection of Jesus. “His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow. And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men. And the angel answered and said unto them,” the women who came to seek Jesus, “Fear you not; but let them that seek to keep the Lord in his grave fear if they will, for you have no ground of fear who seek the Jesus that was crucified: he is not here, he is risen; he cannot be here, in body, and risen too: if you will not believe me, come, see where the Lord lay. And go quickly and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead; and behold, he goeth before you into Galilee, there shall you see him.” But shall we be sure of it? “Yea,” saith the angel; “lo, it is I that have told you.” See how plainly this scripture also doth testify of Christ’s resurrection. “Here,” saith the angel, “you seek a Saviour, and none will content you but he, even the same that was crucified: well, you shall have him, but he is not here.” Why, where is he then? “He is risen from the dead.” But are you sure it is the same that we look for? “Yea, it is the same that was crucified.” But where shall we find him? Why, “he goeth before you into Galilee, where he used to be in his lifetime, before he was crucified. And that you might be sure of it there to find him, know that he is an angel of God that has told you.”