Now of this upper room the doors are said to be shut, and the reason, by way of adjunct, is for fear of the Jews; they were shut up as men environed and beleaguered with enemies; and here a question is raised, whether Christ could enter, the doors being shut? the text is plain, that he came in suddenly, and because of his sudden presence (the doors being shut) they were terrified, 1and affrighted, and supposed that they had seen a spirit. The ancients speaking of it, tell us, that he entered while the doors were shut, and yet he was no phantasm, but he had a true body consisting of flesh and bones. Now,2 how such a body consisting of crass parts should enter into the room, and no place at all open, is a great question; but 'tis generally answered, that it was by miracle. As by miracle he walked on the sea, Mat. 10.25. and as by miracle he vanished out of their sight, Luke. 24.31. so by miracle he came in, the doors being shut. I know it is against the nature of a body, that one should pass through another, both bodies remaining entire; and it is an axiom in Philosophy, that penetration of bodies is merely impossible; yet for my part, I shall not dispute the power of the Almighty; this answer is enough for me to all the objections either of Papist or Lutherans, that the creature might yield to the Creator, and the Creator needed not to pass through the Creature; Christ came in when the doors were shut, either causing the doors to give place, the Disciples not knowing how; or else altering the very substance ⟨p. 433⟩of the doors, that his body might pass through them without destruction, I know not but he that thickened the waters to carry his body, might also attenuate the doors to make way for his Body.
Now of this upper room the doors are said to be shut, and the reason, by way of adjunct, is for fear of the Jews; they were shut up as men invironed and beleaguered with enemies; and here a question is raised, whether Christ could enter, the doors being shut? the text is plain, that he came in suddenly, and because of his sudden presence (the doors being shut) they were terrifyed, 1and afrighted, and supposed that they had seen a spirit. The ancients speaking of it, tell us, that he entered while the doors were shut, and yet he was no phantasme, but he had a true body consisting of flesh and bones. Now,2 how such a body consisting of crass parts should enter into the room, and no place at all open, is a great question; but 'tis generally answered, that it was by miracle. As by miracle he walked on the sea, Mat. 10.25. and as by miracle he vanished out of their sight, Luke. 24.31. so by miracle he came in, the doors being shut. I know it is against the nature of a body, that one should pass through another, both bodies remaining entire; and it is an axiome in Phylosophy, that penetration of bodyes is meerly impossible; yet for my part, I shall not dispute the power of the Allmighty; this answer is enough for me to all the objections either of Papist or Lutherans, that the creature might yield to the Creator, and the Creator needed not to pass through the Creature; Christ came in when the doors were shut, either causing the doors to give place, the Disciples not knowing how; or else altering the very substance ⟨p. 433⟩of the doors, that his body might pass through them without destru•tion, I know not but he that thickened the waters to carry his body, might also attenuate the doors to make way for his Body.
- 1Luke 24.37. Aug. Serm. 59.
- 2Aug. in Serm. Pasch. Just quest 17. Qui intravit per ostia clausa non erat phantasma, &c. Christ.Aug. in Serm. Pasch. Just quest 17. Qui intravit per ostia clausa non erat phantasma, &c. Cryst.
