he hesitancy and backwardness, the incredulity and niggardliness of
faith, of Thomas have done as much to confirm the minds of succeeding
believers as the forward and impulsive confidence of Peter. Then, as
now, this critical intellect, when combined with a sound heart, wrought
two great boons for the Church. The doubts which such men entertain
continually provoke fresh evidence, as here this second appearance of
Christ to the Eleven seems due to the doubt of Thomas. So far as one can
gather it was solely to remove this doubt our Lord appeared. And,
besides, a second boon which attends honest and godly doubt is the
attachment to the Church of men who have passed through severe mental
conflict, and therefore hold the faith they have reached with an
intelligence and a tenacity unknown to other men.

These two things were simply brought about in Thomas' instance. The
disciples were again assembled on the following Sunday, probably in the
same place, consecrated for ever in their memories as the place where
their risen Lord had appeared. It is doubtful whether they were more
expectant of a fresh appearance of their Lord this day than they had
been any day throughout the week, but certainly every reader feels that
it is not without significance that after a blank and uneventful week
the first day should again be singled out to have this honour put upon
it. Some sanction is felt to be given to those meetings of His followers
which ever since have been assembled on the first day of the week; and
the experience of thousands can testify that this day seems still the
favourite with our Lord for manifesting Himself to His people, and for
renewing the joy which a week's work has somewhat dimmed. Silently and
suddenly as before, without warning, without opening of doors, Jesus
stood in their midst. But there was no terror now--exclamations only of
delight and adoration. And perhaps it was not in human nature to resist
casting a look of triumphant interrogation at Thomas, a look of inquiry
to see what he would make of this. Surprise, unutterable surprise,
undiminished by all he had been led to expect, must have been written on
Thomas' wide-gazing eyes and riveted look. But this surprise was
displaced by shame, this eager gaze cast down, when he found that his
Lord had heard his obstinate ultimatum and had been witness of his
sullen unbelief. As Jesus repeats almost in the same words the hard,
rude, bare, material test which he had pro