manifest, he refused his assent, and replied, "Except “I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and 66 66 put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe." (u) Such was the incredulity of this apostle, although Jesus had then been seen at five distinct times in the course of that one day. At the close of the feast of unleavened bread, that is, on the succeeding first day of the week, Jesus again appeared unto the eleven, Thomas being with them: he upbraided him for his unbelief, allowed him the tests he wished for, and extorted from him the confession, My Lord and my God!" (x) On this occasion, which was the sixth time of Jesus Christ's appearing, there does not seem to have been much conversation. The appearance was probably for the especial purpose of convincing Thomas. 66 After this, the feast being now over, the eleven travelled to Galilee, being encouraged, by promises both before and after the resurrection, to expect the sight of their Lord there. (y) The distance was more than eighty miles from Jerusalem to Tiberias, and more still to Bethsaida and Capernaum. Thither, however, they went, inspired by these hopes; and shortly after their arrival there, Jesus appeared again at the sea of Tiberias, or, as it was sometimes called, the sea of Galilee. (≈) Here were seven of the disciples, probably of the eleven, following their occupation of fishers; they had been "toiling all night, and caught (w) John, xx. 25. (x) John, xx. 26-29. Mark, xvi. 14. (2) John, vi. 1. xxi. 1. 66 nothing," when Jesus appeared, whom they knew not at first. In consequence of following his advice, they had a large and miraculous draught of fishes in their net; which was succeeded by a long, familiar, and interesting conversation, related pretty fully by the apostle John, (a) who was one of the disciples present. This was, as John terms it, the third time he had appeared to the body of the apostles; but it was his seventh appearance since his resurrection. Probably it was at this familiar interview by the sea of Tiberias, that Jesus told these seven disciples when and where they might expect to see him in a very public manner, agreeably to the promise made them before his death. (b) And hence probably they gave notice of it privately to as many disciples as might be thought proper; for even then, though he was to appear openly, yet it was not to a great variety, but "to chosen witnesses, (c) who ate and drank with him "after he rose from the dead." Pursuant to this previous notice, as it should seem, there was a most numerous and public meeting upon a mountain in Galilee, where Jesus made his eighth appearance. Matthew says expressly (d) Jesus had appointed the mountain. The number assembled there was between five and six hundred, called emphatically brethren, (e) denoting that they were all chosen witnesses, as Peter observed in the house of Cornelius. Here, as he found that "some" still doubted," he gave infallible (a) John, xxi. 12—23. (c) Acts, x. 40, 41. (e) 1 Cor. xv. 6. (b) Matt. xxviii. 7, 10. Mark, xvi. 17. (d) Matt. xxviii. 16, 17. proofs of his resurrection, and "spake much of the 66 things concerning the kingdom of God;" (f) being now about to take his final farewell of the greatest part of them on earth. It is worthy of observation, that the majority of the witnesses of this appearance were living, and appealed to as such, twenty years afterwards, when Paul wrote his first Epistle to the Corinthians. The ninth appearance of Christ recorded in the Scriptures was to James. This, Paul informs us, was after that to the five hundred. (g) Probably it took place in Galilee, as well as the two last mentioned; but the evangelists give us no particular information about it. Paul, however, refers to it as a fact well known; otherwise he would not have adduced it in proof of the resurrection, denied as it was by some, and little understood by many who believed the fact. 66 The tenth and last appearance of the risen Saviour was at Jerusalem, "to all the apostles," (h) that is, to the eleven remaining ones, Judas being "gone to his own place." It was about six weeks after the passover, and about forty days after the resurrection, when several of the disciples from Galilee repaired again to Jerusalem, in order to keep the approaching feast of weeks, called the Pentecost by the Grecian Jews. Being assembled together with the disciples at Jerusalem in one house, probably the same as that where Jesus had kept the passover and instituted his supper; and the same in which they met on the day of the re(ƒ) Acts, i. 3. (g) 1 Cor. xv. 7. (h) 1 Cor. xv. 7. 66. surrection, and on that day week, and where they worshipped till the day of Pentecost; (i) there they had the conversation with their Lord recorded in the first chapter of the Acts. (k) There he gave them commandments, and spake more " of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God." (1) There he delivered to them the commission to go forth into all the world to preach, and baptize (for baptism, it should be remembered, was not instituted as a Christian ordinance till after the resurrection), and gave them animating promises of his presence with them while their life continued, and with their successors in the ministry "to the end of the world." (m) There he commanded them not to depart into Galilee again, but to tarry at Jerusalem till they should "be baptized with the Holy "Ghost," which he assured them would be in the course of a few days. (n) This last interview would, doubtless, be very endearing, affecting, and instructive. And, as if to impress the circumstance with all its important lessons, and all its solemn tendencies, more deeply on their minds, he led them out towards Bethany or Mount Olivet, conversing as they went, according to his wonted manner. Often had he retired with his dear and beloved disciples to that secluded spot; and thither he now for the last time conducted them. There, near the place whence he commenced his triumphant ride into Jerusalem-where he had frequently con(i) Acts, i, 13. ii. 1. (k) Acts, i. 6—8. (1) Acts, i. 3. (m) Matt. xxviii. 18-20. Mark, xvi. 15—18, (n) Luke, xxiv. 49. Acts, i. 4, 5, 8. versed, expounded parables, and prayed with his disciples, where, in so much agony, he had recently prayed, and sweat as it were "drops of blood,"-where he was betrayed with a kiss, taken by his enemies, and forsaken by his disciples; there he once more assembled them, "lifted up his hands and blessed them :" and "while he blessed them," he was taken up gradually from them into heaven, "a cloud receiving "him out of their sight." (o) Thus, then, it appears, from apostolic testimony, that Jesus Christ not only rose from the dead, but rendered himself manifest to many after his resurrection, removing the doubts of the incredulous by "the most infallible proofs," and confirming the faith of the weak by the most consoling and cheering promises: promises which speedily after were amply fulfilled. (p) "Twice twenty days he sojourn'd here on earth, "And show'd himself alive to chosen witnesses By proofs so strong, that the most slow-assenting BLAIR. Such, in few words, is the history of our Lord's resurrection from the dead, and of his various appearances after that important event. I have drawn this account not from the writings of any one evangelist, but from a collection and comparison of their separate stories: for the relations of these four historians, though not discordant, do not each comprise all the circumstances. This, however, is by no means to be regretted. Such (0) Mark, xvi. 19. Luke, xxiv. 50-52. Acts, i. 9—12. (p) Acts, ii. |