640 Jesus appears to Five hundred Brethren in Galilee : Sect. 201. which will infinitely more than repay, not only their Labours, but their m Sufferings too! Ver. 18. Happy Peter ! who having worn out his better Years in the Service of

Chrift, couragiously stretched out his aged Arms, to be bound and borne away to Tortures and Death, and Med the last flow Ebb of his Blood as

a Martyr for him, who had loved him and given himself for him. And V. 20,-23. not less happy the beloved Disciple, so willing to hazard his Life in the

fame Cause; tho' he was not in Fact called to lay it down as a Martyr. Our gracious Lord, who sees every Purpose, and every Affection, as it rises in the Heart, favourably accepts of the willing Mind, and will, thro' the Riches of his Grace, entitle them to the Reward of equal Sufferings, who have waited with a like Readiness, tho' they have not been called out to the Severity of the like Trial.

SECT. CCII.
Christ appears to the whole Body of the Disciples, at the

appointed Mountain in Galilee ; and afterwards meets the
Apostles several Times at Jerusalem, and discourses with
them concerning the Affairs of his Kingdom. Mat. XXVIII.
16, to the End. Mark XVI. 15, 18. Luke XXIV.
44,-49. Acts I. -2, 3. !
MAT. XXVIII. 16.

. MAT. XXVIII. 16. Sect. 202. "THEN, quickly after the late Interview that THEN the Eleven DifI n i Jesus had with his Disciples at Terusalem, ..ciples. went away into Matth. the Eleven. Disciples went into Galilee, to a cer- where Jesus had appointed

Galilee, into a Mountain XXVI!I.16.

tain Mountain not far from the Sea of Tiberias, them."
where Jesus had appointed to meet them. « And
“ he appeared to them, and to above Five hun-
"i dred Brethren at once, who came together
“ from all parts of the Country on that impor-
" tant Occasion.” And they Teeing him, bow- 17 And wlien they saw
ed down and worshipped him ; and tho’ fome of but some doubted

Ć him, they worshipped him:
the Company had doubted at first, yet they were
afterwards fully convinced (a). " And the

“ greater (a) Tho' some of the Company had doubted at first, &c.] There is no Room to think, that this refers to some of the Apostles, when Christ had so lately satisfied the most incredulous among them; nor is it casy to imagine, how any of the rest of this Company could continue to doubt of the Truth of Christ's Řefurrection, when they actually saw him, and that in the

Presence

And after that, is seen of James, and then of all the Apostles. 641

“ greater Part of them continued alive, as Wit-Sect. 202.

nesses of the Truth of his Resurrection for se-
“ veral Years after (6); tho' others of them died Ms

4. XXVIII. 17.
“ in a thort Time, and went to their glorified
" and triumphant Lord in Heaven.” See 1 Cor.
xv. 6. Thus did he manifest himself in Galilee
to a considerable Number of his Disciples at once;
“ and afier that, he appeared to James (c), and
" then, (as we shall see hereafter,) to all the

Apostles.” See 1 Cor. xv. 7.

But tho' he shewed himself thus openly to his
Disciples, “ he did not publickly appear at any
“ Time to all the People; nor indeed did he
" Thew himself in any other Instance, to so large
“ an Assembly even of his own Disciples: But
“ in the several Appearances he made, he chiefly
“ conversed with the Apostles, and confined his

Visits to those Witnesses, that were chosen be-
“ fore by God to attest the Truth of his Resur-
“ rection; who had frequent Opportunities of a
« free Conversation with him, and, as we have
“ seen before, (Luke xxiv. 30, 42, 43. and John-
" xxi. 12, 13.) did eat and drink with him after

" he rose from the Dead.” See Acts x. 41. Acts I.-2. [And thro’ And at these Times of his conversing with Ats I.-2. the them (d), he more particularly opened to them

what Presence of so many others; a Circumstance, incomparably more convincing to each, than if he had appeared to any one of them alone. I therefore chuse to render and paraphrase the Words, ob de risadav, as above. Those learned Criticks, Albert, (Obferv. pag. 163, 164.) and Bos, (Excrcit. pag. 13.) have produced many Instances, in which o1 is put for tives. And all the Difficulty is removed, if we allow a small Change in the Tense, and take the Rendering of the Pruffian Teftament, Even they who had before doubted; or, which is

CO

... mendering of the Prusian Teftament. E. we allow a ima

al Yeah.' Some had bouement, Even they who mall Change in the

Epiple

dred then.com Resurrection in

(6) Several Years after.] It is generally granted, that the First Epistle to the Corinthians was written at least Twenty Years after Christ's Resurrection; and Paul there tells us, that the greater Part of these Five hundred then continued alive. And by the Way, it was a wise and gracious Dispensation of Divine Providence to continue their Lives so long, as each of them, wherever Providence led them, would be an authentick Witness of that important Fact, the Resurrection of our Lord, the great Fundamental of the Christian Faith.

(0) After that, he appeared to James.] It is probable, this was James the Son of Alpheus, who was still living when the Apostle Paul wrote his First Epistle to the Corinthians, whereas the other James, the Son of Zebedee, had suffered Martyrdom fome Years before. (Aets xii. 2.) But the Circumstances of this Appearance are no where recorded, nor have we any credible Account, where, or when it happened ; only we learn from the Order in which it is placed by the Apostle Paul, that it was after Christ's Appearance to the Five hundred Brethren. See Note (6) on Luke xxiv. 34. pag. 622.

(d) And at these Times of his conversing with them.) As I have inserted what is said in the First Epistle to the Corinthians, of our Lord's Appearance to the Five hundred VOL, II. M m m m

Brethren,

OF

ed himself aline alfa

bewed bimself to

fallibire after he had suffered

642 He explains the Scriptures to them in bis Visits at Jerusalem; Sect. 202. what was the Nature of their Office; (andthro' the Holy Ghost [he gave] u the Holy Spirit, which was given not by Measure Commandments unto the A

postles whom he had chosen: Acts I. 2. to himself, and which he had lately breathed

into them, he gave Commandments and Instructions

to the Apostles whom he had chosen, how they were 3 to act : To whom also he gave abundant Evi- 3 To whom also he shew

dences of his Resurrection, and fewed himself to ed himself alive after his Pasbe alive after he had suffered Death, by many in- Proofs, being seen of them

fion, by many infallible fallible Tokens, being seen of them at Times for Forty Days, and speaking of the Space of Forty Days after his Resurrection, the Things pertaining to the and speaking to them of the Things which related

Kingdom of God. to the Kingdom of GOD.

. Luk.XXIV. And these his last Interviews with them were LUKE XXIV. 44. And 44.

chiefly at Jerusalem, to which by his Command (Jesus came, and spake unthey returned from the Mountain in Galilee ; and the Words which isoake un.

nd to them, saying, ] These are Jesus also came thither, and made them repeated to you, while I was yet with Visits: And on one of these Occasions, he spake you, that all Things must unto them, saying (e), These [are] the Words which be

be fulfilled, which were writ

ten in the Law of Moses, I spake to you, and these the Intimations that I often and in the Prophets, and ir gave you, while I was yet dwelling among you, that the Psalms concerning me, all the Things must be exactly fulfilled, which are [MAT. XXVIII. 18.-. written in the Scriptures concerning me, both in the Pentateuch which is called the Law of and in the Books of the succeeding Prophets, and in the Psalms and other Poetical Books of the Old Testament. .

And at the same Time be not only in Words 45. Then opened he their expounded to them the Sense of the Sacred Wrim the Sence of the sonrad Wr; Understanding, that they

!

might understand the Scripters, but also by a secret Operation on their in- tures, tellectual Faculties opened their Minds, that they

might understand the Scriptures in their Reference
u6 to him. And in a most convincing Manner _46 And said unto them,

he enlarged upon the important Subiect. and Thus it is written, and thus
Jaid to them, When you consider all thele Things,
you must certainly perceive, that thus it was

writ

Brethren, and to James; fo I have thought it proper to introduce in this and the next Scition, what relates to this Story in the Beginning of the Arts, (Chap. i.-2.-12.) which renders it more compleat, and finishes the Account which the Sacred Writers give us of the History of our Lord to the Time of his Afcenfion.

(e) On one of these Occasions he spake. &c.]. I use this indeterminate Form of Expression, because I see no Mark, by which we can particularly ascertain the Time when the following Discourse was delivered ; only I think it very plain, it must be after tbeir Return to Jerusalem, (see Luke xxiv. 49.) and consequently a very few Days before our Lora's Ascension. I have thrown all that the Three Evangelifts fay of thefe Discourses into one continued Discourse. tho' perhaps some of them might be delivered at different Times.

) Bazinis

and tells them, that all Power was committed to him. 643 it behoved Christ to fuffer, written, and thus it was necessary that the Mef-Şect. 202. and to rise from the Dead hah would suffer, and Mould rise again from the w the Third Day:

And Luk.XXIV. 19. And that Repentance Dead, as I have done, on the Third Day: and Remission of Sins should that, in Consequence of this, and on this great 47 be preached in his Name a- Foundation, Repentance and Forgiveness of "Sins mong all Nations, beginning hould be breached in his Name, and by his Auat Jerusalem.

thority, to all the Nations of the Earth, 'beginning
first at Yerusalem itself, tho' polluted with the

Blood of the Prince of Life of
Mat. XXVIII. —18. You know indeed, (added he,) how cruelly the Matth.
All Power is given unto me Tews have treated me, and how ungratefully they XXVIII.18.
in Heaven, and in Earth.

have rejected me; but their outragious Malice
has now done its utmost, and my Heavenly Fa-
ther has not only rescued me from their Hands,
but is exalting me to all that Height of Dignity
and Glory, which the Sacred Oracles have so pa-
thetically described :. For all Authority is now
given unto me, both in Heaven, and on Earth;
and in Accomplishment of what was promised to
the Messiah, I am raised to a Kingdom, which
comprehends both the upper, and lower Worlds,

and entitles me to the Homage of Angels, as well LUKE XXIV. 48. And as of Men. And yet, tho' I could so easily Luk.XXIV. ye are Witnesses of these command the Ministry of those

command the Ministry of those more glorious 48. Things.

Creatures, it suits best with the Scheme of my
Gospel to make use of you ; who shall accordingly
be Witnesses of all these Things, by publishing the
certain Knowledge that you have of the impor-
tant Truths of my Death and Resurrection ();
and who are therefore to look upon it as the great

Business Beginning at Jerusalem.] As for the Grammatical Construction of the Greek Word apšausvov, it would be foreign from the Design of these Notes, to enter into it farther, than to refer the learned Reader to Elsner, (Obferv. Vol. i. pag. 288.) and Raphelius, ( Annot. ex Herod. pag. 276, 277.) and to the Original of Luke xxiii. 5. xxiv. 27. and Acts x. 37.)

It was both graciously and wisely appointed by our Lord, that the Gospel should begin to be preached at Jerusalem; graciously, as it encouraged the Repentance of the grea eft Sinners, when they saw that even the Murtherers of Christ were not exempted from the Offers of Gospel Mercy; and wisely, as hereby Christianity was more abundantly attested, the Facts being published just on the Spot where they happened ; and as the vast Concourse of People of various Nations, present there at the Feast of Pentecoft, would contribute greatly to its more speedy Spread.

(g) You mall be Witnesses of these Things.] That this was the grand Business of the Apofiles, is evident, and the ingenious Author of Miscellanea Sacra, (Elay iii. pag. 17,-23.) has taken great Pains to Thew, how the Title of Witnesses, and the Office of teftifying, is in the Sacred Writings appropriated to the Apostles. Yet after all, tho' it was indeed ellential to the Apoftolick Office, that they who bore it, should be able to testify the Facts as of their own personal Knowledge ; yet it is certain, that a great many others, who were not M m m m 2

Apostles,

644 He bids them tarry at Jerusalem, till they receive the Spirit; Sect. 202. Business of your Lives, to spread the Notices and

w Evidences of these Facts. And that you may 49 And behold, I send Luk.XXIV,

IV. be fully qualified for fo high an Office, bebold, the Promise of my Father 49.

s upon you : but tarry ye in I am shortly to send upon you the great Promise of the City of Jerufalem.' una my Father, relating to the miraculous Effusion til ye be endued with Power of the Holy Spirit upon you. (Compare Joel ii. 28. from on high. and Acts ii. 16, 17.) And as the Divine Wisdom sees fit to honour this Place, sinful as it is, with the first View of this surprizing Appearance, I charge you not to go from hence, before you have received those Gifts and Graces you shall be furnished with for the Discharge of your Ministry; but do you continue here in the City of Jerusalem, till you are invested with this Power from on high (b); whereby you will be enabled to bear your Testimony, 'in' so advantagious and convincing a Manner, that no Falsehood or So

phistry will be able finally to stand before you. Mark XVI. And further he said to them, When you shall thus MARK XVI, 15. And 15. be furnished, go forth into all Parts of the World, he said unto them, Go ye and preach the Gospel to every human Creature un- preach the Gospel to every

into all the World, and
der Heaven, to whom Providence may lead you, Creature.
16 whether Jew or Gentile. And take care, that 16 He that believeth, and

you deliver it with becoming Seriousness; and is baptized, shall be saved:
let them see to it, that they receive it with pro-
portionable Regard; for it is a Matter of infinite
Importance. And accordingly I now solemnly de-
clare, that he who sincerely believes your Testi-
mony, and in Token of that cordial Faith is
baptized in my Name, and continues to main-
tain a Temper and Conduct suitable to that En-

gagement,

but

Apostles, were able to testify the same ; and it was their Duty, and no doubt their Care, to do it, as Providence gave them an Opportunity : And Apostles had many other Duties incumbent upon them, for the Edification of the Church, and in order to the Performance of them were furnished with extraordinary Gifts and Powers , for which they would have had little Occasion, had it been their only Business to testify these Faets.

(b) Continue in the City of Jerusalem, till you are invested &c.] This Passage utterly overthrows Mr. Whiston's Assertion, that all this Discourse was delivered on the Night Chrift rose from the Dead; and that the Ascension related by Luke in the Conclusion of this Chapter, is not that at the End of Forty Days, when he quitted this Earth to return to it no more, but a previous Afcenfion, which was made on the Resurrection Day. For nothing can be more certain, than that the Apostles did quit Yerusalem between Christ's Refurre&tion and the Descent of the Spirit, and went into Galilee by Christ's Appointment, wbich was signified to them by the Angel, and by himself too..

(i) When