ss evidence and irresponsible testimony. He
knew the critical nature of the situation, the unique importance of the
matter presented to his faith. With him there was no frivolous or
thoughtless underrating of difficulties. He did not absolutely deny the
possibility of Christ's resurrection, but he went very near doing so,
and showed that practically he considered it either impossible or
unlikely in the extreme. But in the end he believes. And the ease with
which he passes from doubt to faith proves his honesty and
sound-heartedness. As soon as evidence which to him is convincing is
produced, he proclaims his faith.

His confession, too, is fuller than that of the other disciples. The
week of painful questioning had brought clearly before his mind the
whole significance of the Resurrection, so that he does not hesitate to
own Jesus as his God. When a man of profound spiritual feeling and of
good understanding has doubts and hesitations from the very intensity
and subtlety of his scrutiny of what appears to him of transcendent
importance; when he sees difficulties unseen by men who are too little
interested in the matter to recognise them even though they stare them
in the face,--when such a man, with the care and anxiety that befit the
subject, considers for himself the claims of Christ, and as the result
yields himself to the Lord, he sees more in Christ than other men do,
and is likely to be steadier in his allegiance than if he had slurred
over apparent obstacles instead of removing them, and stifled objections
in place of answering them. It was not the mere seeing of Christ risen
which prompted the full confession of Thomas. But slowly during that
week of suspense he had been taking in the full significance of the
Resurrection, coming at the close of such a life as he knew the Lord had
lived. The very idea that such a thing was believed by the rest forced
his mind back upon the exceptional character of Jesus, His wonderful
works, the intimations He had given of His connection with God. The
sight of Him risen came as the keystone of the arch, which being wanting
all had fallen to the ground, but being inserted clenched the whole, and
could now bear any weight. The truths about His person which Thomas had
begun to explain away return upon his mind with resistless force, and
each in clear, certain verity. He saw now that his Lord had performed
all His word, had proved Himself supreme over all that affected men. He
saw H