The last Apparition was to the Apostles and others at Jerusalem in the absence of Thomas, Joh. 20. 19, &c. The doubt is here, how Christ could get in, the doors being shut? Some think he might by his power cause the doors to give way to him as their Creator, and suddenly shut again: or else that he that could thicken the water to make it carry him when he walked on the Sea, could rarefy and make thin and soft the substance of the door to let him go through it: but what need these guesses? That he went in the doors being shut we believe; how he went in we know not: nor will this help the Papists in their business of Transubstantiation; for that he went through the doors is no more said in the Text, than that the doors gave place. Besides, if their opinion were true, that his body could penetrate through a door, to what end did he appear to his Disciples? Or how can he confute their opinion that he was not a spirit? Further, if it were granted, yet they could only prove that two bodies might be in one place, but not that one body could be in many places, at one time. In this Apparition there are some other things to be noted: As first, about the time of it, it is said it was the same day at evening, out of which I gather that the evening did belong ⟨p. 463⟩to that day now spent, which proves that the day was reckoned from morning to morning, and so must we reckon our Sabbath. Secondly, in this Apparition the words of our Saviour to the Disciples are to be noted. And his words are words of salutation, and words of commission. In the salutation, he wisheth, or rather commandeth peace to come upon them: they should have much trouble in the world, but in Christ they should have peace. And withal they might thence gather, that as any men do more further and dispatch the work of Christ, so they shall more abound in inward peace, and quiet of heart and conscience, and if we have peace within, we should not greatly care what troubles or difficulties we meet withal without. The words of commission, declare both the authority of their office in preaching to Jews and Gentiles, and the confirmation of the success of their ministry, both by sign, and by promise. The dignity of their office is great, for as God sent Christ, so Christ sends them on embassage to the world: They do no other work, than what God laid upon his own Son:
The last Apparition was to the Apostles and others at Ierusalem in the absence of Thomas, Ioh. 20. 19, &c. The doubt is here, how Christ could get in, the doores being shut? Some thinke he might by his power cause the doores to giue way to him as their Creator, and suddenly shut againe: or else that he that could thicken the water to make it carry him when he walked on the Sea, could rarisie and make thin and soft the substance of the doore to let him goe thorow it: but what need these guesses? That he went in the doores being shut we beleeue; how he went in we know not: nor will this helpe the Papists in their businesse of Transubstantiation; for that he went thorow the doores is no more said in the Text, than that the doores gaue place. Besides, if their opinion were true, that his bodie could penetrate thorow a doore, to what end did he appeare to his Disciples? Or how can he confute their opinion that hee was not a spirit? Further, if it were granted, yet they could only proue that two bodies might be in one place, but not that one body could be in many places, at one time. In this Apparition there are some other things to be noted: As first, about the time of it, it is said it was the same day at euening, out of which I gather that the euening did belong ⟨p. 463⟩to that day now spent, which proues that the day was reckoned from morning to morning, and so must we reckon our Sabbath. Secondly, in this Apparition the words of our Sauiour to the Disciples are to be noted. And his words are words of salutation, and words of commission. In the salutation, hee wisheth, or rather commandeth peace to come vpon them: they should haue much trouble in the world, but in Christ they should haue peace. And withall they might thence gather, that as any men doe more further and dispatch the worke of Christ, so they shall more abound in inward peace, and quiet of heart and conscience, and if we haue peace within, we should not greatly care what troubles or difficulties we meet withall without. The words of commission, declare both the authoritie of their office in preaching to Iewes and Gentiles, and the confirmation of the successe of their ministerie, both by signe, and by promise. The dignitie of their office is great, for as God sent Christ, so Christ sends them on embassage to the world: They doe no other worke, than what God laid vpon his owne Sonne:
