282 The NEW and COMPLETE LIFE of our BLESSED LORD time to exprefs their joy and aflonifhment to their benevolent Redeemer; for he va- niíhed out of their fight immediately. No fooner did they perceive that their Mailer was departed, than they faid one to another, How flow and flupid were we before, not to know him on the road, while he explained to us the Scriptures ; when, befides the affability of his dif- courfe, and the flrength and clearnefs of his arguments, we perceived fuch an au- thority in what he faid, and fuch a power- ful efficacy attending his words, and ftriking our hearts with affeEtion h we could not but have known, if we had not been remarkably ftupid, to have been the very fame that ufed to accompany his teaching, and was peculiar to our dear Matter, who fpake as never man fpoke. After this furprifing event, they did not think proper to flay any longer in Em- maus, but returned that very night to Je- rufalem, and found the apoftles, with feveral other difciples, difcourfing about the refurreHion of their Matter ; and on their entering the room, the difciples ac- èofled them, faying, The Lord is rifen in- deed, and bath appeared unto Simon. The reports of the women were little credited, fuppofing they were occafioned more by imagination than reality ; but when a perfon of Simon's capacity and gravity declared he had feen the Lord, they began to think that he was really rifen from the dead. Their belief of this was greatly confirmed by thearrival of the two difciples from Emmaus, who declared to their brethren, how Jesus had appeared to them on the road, and how they dif- covered him to be their Mailer, by his breaking ofbread, when he fat down to fupper with them. During this converfation of the difciples from Emmaus, defcribing the manner of the appearing of Jesus to them, and offering arguments to convince thofe who doubted the truth of it, their great Mailer himfelf put an end to the debate, by flooding in the midit of them, ayí4 faid, Peace be untoyou. :The difciples were greatly terrified at thig.'appearance of our bleffed Saviour, fuppofing they had Peen a fpirit ; for as they had fecured the doors of the houle where they were affembled for fear of the Jews, and Jesus having opened the locks, by his miraculous power, without the knowledge of any in the houle, it was natural for them to think that a fpiritual fubfiance only could enter. The circum- fiance therefore of the doors being fhnr, is very happily mentioned by St. John becaufe it fuggefls a reafon why the dif- ciples took their Mailer for a fpirit, not- withflanding many of themwere convinced that he was really rifen from the dead, and were that moment converfing about the event. However, to difpel their fears and doubts, Jesus came forward, fpake to them in the molt endearing accent, 'hew- ed them his hands and his feet, and de- fired them to handle him, in order to convince themfelves by the united report of their different fenfes, that it was he himfelf, and no fpellre or apparition: Why are ye troubled, laid the benevolent Redeemer ofmankind, andwhy do thoughts arife in your hearts? Behold my hands and myfeet, that it is Imyfelf: handle me, and fee; for afpirit hathnot flp and bones, as ye fee me have, Luke xxiv. 38,39 By thefe infallible proofs, the difciples were fufficiently convinced of the truth of their Lord's refurre&ion, and they re- ceived him with rapture and exultation : but their joy and wonder had fo great an effeft on their minds, that fome of them, fenfible of the great commotion they were in, fufpended their belief, till they had confidered the matter more calmly.: Jesus therefore, knowing their thoughts, called for meat, and ate with them, in order to prove more fullythe truth ofhis refurreaion fromthedead, andthe realityofhis prefence with them at this time. When JEsus had giventhisfurther oculardemonflrationofhis having
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