The rule of faith, or, An exposition of the Apostles Creed so handled as…

The fourth Apparition was to Simon Peter alone, Luke 24. 34. Note that the words uttered in that verse were spoken by the Apostles and those that were with them, not by the Disciples that came from Emmaus.

The fourth Apparition was to Simon Peter alone, Luke 24. 34. Note that the words vttered in that verse were spoken by the Apostles and those that were with them, not by the Disciples that came from Emaus.

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: