they all might be damned who believe not the truth, but take pleasure in unrighteousness." The barren fig tree had its four years, and Thomas has his eight days; woe to him had he still been recusant and refused to be present at the second meeting of the Apostles. "If any man will do, he shall know ;" but it is equally true, that if any man will not do, he shall not know. Unbelief, if nourished in pride and haughtiness, becomes every day more unbelieving. Little by little the mind drifts into dreary regions of unrelenting ice, from which there is no access to a throne of grace, and where the soul is shut up in darkness and despair.

This vicious and irreclaimable hostility to truth must never be confounded with a defection in faith. To this default a child of God is liable; and from it he shall be delivered, though it is really an ordeal far more perilous than the fiery furnace which tried the fidelity of the three Hebrews. The Christian's confidence may be sorely shaken, but his love will abide the test, and finally triumph. Like Peter he may be recreant, but like Peter he can say, "Lord thou knowest all things"-all my weakness and perfidiousness-but "thou knowest that I love thee." With Thomas, he may seem utterly apostate; but to him, as to our Apostle, the name of Jesus will be precious still; his heart will still leap in kindness towards those who are Christ's; he will seek their society; he will return to their fellowship and communion, and to those means of grace by which "his soul shall be delivered from death, his feet from falling, and his eyes from tears."

Studying the Saviour's treatment of Thomas, the first thing which strikes us is, that he causes his pride and faithlessness and guilt to punish him. And thus it ever is in the economy of the gospel. "Thy own wickedness shall correct thee, thy backslidings shall reprove thee. Know therefore, that it is an evil thing and bitter, that thou hast forsaken the Lord thy God."

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No tongue can describe, no imagination can conceive, the joy of the other Apostles. "Now when Jesus was risen early the first day of the week, he appeared first of all to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven devils. And she went and told them that had been with him, as they mourned and wept." How changed is all now. Then were the disciples glad when they saw the Lord." "Now ye have sorrow, but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you." "The Lord is risen indeed." "The voice of rejoicing and salvation is in the tabernacles of the righteous. The right arm of the Lord doeth valiantly ; the right hand of the Lord is exalted. The right arm of the Lord doeth valiantly." From what profound gloom did not their minds emerge; how are their souls transported, and their hearts running over with the fulness of this great blessedness. He whom they adored, but whom they had seen gashed with cruel wounds, expiring on the cross and laid in the cold grave-he is alive again. He who had left them orphans in a heartless world which hated him and hated them he has returned to comfort and protect them. Their faith, their hopes are not in vain. He has tri

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umphed over death and hell, and lives, and will for ever live, their almighty Redeemer "able to save to the uttermost." Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who, according to his abundant mercy, hath begotten us again to a lively hope, by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead."

But while the hearts of these Apostles are thus burning within them; while their souls thus rise from the dust with their risen Lord and stand erect; while they feel themselves new creatures, breathing a new atmosphere, living in a new world; while, for them, the heavens cry to the earth, and the earth answers back to the heavens, and the firmament glows with golden lights and living sapphires, and all the trees clap their hands, and hill and valley and sea and dry land break forth into singing, where is Thomas? How is it with him? Thomas is a stranger to these consolations and raptures; not a single ray visits his dark soul; for him all is shrouded in midnight gloom; his bosom is torn by cruel doubts and suspicions. He has forfeited the first "Peace be unto you" which distils from the lips of the risen Saviourthe first great joy he breathes into the hearts of the disciples, baptizing them in happiness and love. His sin is his punishment; and as I said thus it ever is. Before Christ blesses his people, he humbles and chastens them by their own iniquities. Peter must go out and weep bitterly, before Jesus will comfort him. Thomas must grope in darkness and experience all the wretchedness of unbelief, before Jesus will appear to him. "I will go and return to my place till they acknowledge their offense

and seek my face. In their affliction they will seek me early." "I have surely heard" (Jesus has been knocking at the door, and is now listening,) "I have surely heard Ephraim bemoaning himself thus, Thou hast chastened me, and I was chastened. Turn thou unto me and I shall be turned, for thou art my Lord and my God"-language this of a soul relenting and seeking the Lord, which is most applicable to the case in hand, for it is the very exclamation in our text. "And Thomas

said unto him, My Lord and my God."

The second trait in the conduct of Jesus towards Thomas is, his great kindness.

I can not pass this topic without noticing and commending as a model to all, the spirit of Christ manifested in the behaviour of the other Apostles toward this erring brother. He had discredited their testimony; are they incensed and ready to revenge this insult? He has dishonored their Saviour; do they cast him out, and upbraid him, saying, Aha!. it is the just punishment of thy sin that the Redeemer hath not appeared to thee as to us? No, they pity him, they bear with him, they expostulate with him. I see them visiting him in his sad condition; I behold them seeking to dispel his gloomy thoughts; I hear them renewing their assurances-Thomas, believe it, we did see him, we were not deceived it was he-the same Jesus we love, and you love. Oh, Thomas, you remember how he used to look, and smile, and speak to us-what love there was in the depths of those eyes-what sweetness in that voice; just so he looked, and smiled, and spake; only if possi

ble with more sweetness and tenderness. You know that, like you, we once refused to believe, and at first we were affrighted; but when he stretched out his hands and we saw the print of the nails, when we heard his own voice say "Peace!" when we looked into those clear shining eyes, all doubt was gone. It was he, it was he. The Lord is risen indeed. Would you had been there; but be not cast down, he will appear again, and you, too, will see him soon.

Such forbearance and tenderness and affection, when did they ever fail to win the most intractable spirit? Nor are they in vain now. The Apostles "have gained their brother." Thomas is touched, his heart yields. "You meet again on the first day of the week❞—“We do"-"I will not fail to be with you."

. Of the former assembly it is said, "the doors were shut for fear of the Jews;" at this second meeting, it is again said, "the doors being shut," but we hear nothing now of any fear of the Jews. No; he is risen, and all their fears are quelled. "And after eight days, again his disciples were within, and Thomas was with them." Thomas is with them-still doubting his thoughts alternating between hope and fear; but no sooner does Jesus see this refractory member in the fold, than he appears. "Then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you." And this benediction uttered, he turns at once to the delinquent, and, fixing his eyes upon him, pronounces his name, "Thomas."

What thoughts, my brethren, what emotions now