Luke xxiv. 32. And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the Scriptures ?
THE divine authority of the Christian religion was chiefly to be proved by the resurrection of Christ. Hence our Lord gave his Disciples the most unques- tionable evidence of his resurrection during the space of forty days previous to his ascension to heaven. After several other manifestations of himself to dif- ferent Disciples on the day of his resurrection, he entered into conversation with two of them on their
way to Emmaus: under the appearance of a stranger, he then expounded to them all the most important parts of the Mosaic and prophetic writings, and shewed them, that there was no just reason for them to be so disconcerted by his death, or so incredulous about his resurrection, since their own Scriptures had so clearly declared that the Messiah should die and rise again. Arriving at Emmaus, he accepted their invitation to abide with them at the house whither they were going : and at supper, he took the bread, and implored the Divine blessing upon it, and brake it, and gave it to them, just as he had been wont to do in former times. Now their eyes were opened ; and in this unexpected guest they recognized their Lord and Master. It pleased him however, for wise and gracious reasons, to withdraw himself suddenly from them, and to leave them to make their own reflections upon all that had passed. Accordingly, no sooner had they recovered their surprise, than they addressed one another in the words of our text, " Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the Scriptures ?"
This kind of appearance, and this mode of com- municating instruction, were peculiar to the occasion, and must be looked for no more : Christ is personally gone into heaven, where he will abide till the time of the restitution of all things. But we must not there- fore imagine that all intercourse has ceased between himself and his people; for he will still, in a spiritual way, maintain communion with them, and give them such discoveries of himself, as shall cause their " hearts to burn within them."
In confirmation of this truth, we shall shew,
I. That communion with Christ is yet the privilege of his believing people —
Whilst we disclaim all idea of visions, and impulses, and wild enthusiastic conceits, we do affirm that Christ will yet " manifest himself unto his people, as he does not unto the world :"
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