understand them. At this we need not wonder. Free, full, and undeserved forgiveness to the very uttermost is not the manner of man. But it is the manner of Christ.
Where is the sinner, however great his sins, who need be afraid of beginning to apply to such a Saviour as this P In the hand of Jesus there is mercy enough and to spare. — ^Where is the backslider, however far he may have fallen, who need be afraid of returning ? " Fury is not iu Christ." (Isai. xxvii. 4.) He is willing to raise and restore the very worst. — ^Where is the saint who ought not to love such a Saviour, and to pay Him willingly a holy obedience ? There is forgiveness with Him, that He may be feared. (Psalm cxxx. 4.) — ^Where is the professing Christian who ought not to be forgiving towards his brethren P The disciples of a Saviour whose words were so fiill of peace, ought to be peaceable, gentle, and easy to be entreated. (Coloss. iii. 13.)
We should observe, for another thing, in this passage, our LortFs marvellous condescension to the infirmity of His disciples. We read that when His disciples were terrified at His appearance, and could not believe that it was Himself, He said, '' Behold my hands and feet : handle me and see."
Our Lord might fairly have commanded His disciples to believe that He had risen. He might justly have said, *' Where is your faith P Why do ye not believe my re- surrection, when ye see me with your own eyes P " But He does not do so. He stoops even lower than this. He appeals to the bodily senses of the eleven. He bids them touch Him with their own hands, and satisfy themselves that He was a material being, and not a spirit or ghost.