believe the evidence of their own senses". Nor, when all the others had been overpowered with the weight of evidence, would Thomas yield assent, till, by feeling the very wounds which had been made in the hands and side of Christ, he had a testimony which he could no longer doubt0.]
But all this tends exceedingly to confirm our faith — [Had the Disciples yielded an easy assent, their report had been the less worthy of credit: but when they were so incredulous, as to bring on themselves a severe rebuke from Christ for " their unbelief and hardness of heartp," their tes- timony may be relied upon ; because they asserted nothing which they had not ascertained to be true by evidence the most solid and incontrovertible. In this view their word may be implicitly received : but when, in addition to all this, their testimony was confirmed by the visible descent of the Holy Ghost, and by miracles without number, and, lastly, by their willingness at all times to seal it with their blood, there can be no room to entertain a doubt respecting it ; nor can any tes- timony whatever be worthy of the smallest credit, if theirs be not considered as beyond the reach of doubt.]
Assuming then the doctrine of Christ's resurrection as proved, let us contemplate,
1. The benefits dependent on it —
[Every part of our salvation depends on this, even more
than on his death itself q O learn to see this, as the
Apostles, when fully instructed, saw it ! and rejoice in seeing every thing secured to you both for time and eternity r — ■ ]
2. The duties arising from it —
[Your great duty is, to be conformed to his resurrection; dying to sin, as he died for it, and living to God, even as he
does All the affections of your soul must follow him8;
and the renovation of your life correspond in all things with the
pattern which his resurrection exhibits to your view
Remember however to look to him for strength ; for " without him you can do nothing," but " through his strength you can do all things " ]
n Luke xxiv. 36 — 41. ° John xx. 24—27. p Mark xvi. 14. i Rom. viii. 34. " rather;'" and Rom. iv. 25. and v. 10. r Col. hi. 3, 4. s Col. hi. 1, 2.
214 JOHN, XX. 21—23. [l7ol.