167 
as Matthew the publican (tax-gatherer), and much nearer 
(how much nearer ! ) than Judas, the disciple who had charge 
of the money. Now it is painful to those who have been 
necessarily brought into contact with scientific study, to be 
told that all men of science are infidels. 
I freely grant that the tendency of this peculiar training 
of the mental faculties (if I may judge from more than fifty 
years' experience) is to produce, or to fostei’, exactly that 
state of mind in which we find this disciple ; but I could wish 
(in order to illustrate the observations I shall make) that it 
were in my power to bring before your view the celebrated 
painting by Rubens, of the appearance of the risen Christ to 
his sceptical follower ; and to bid you mark the wonderfully 
beautiful expression which this painter (not painter merely, 
but poet, Troirirrig) has succeeded iu throwing into the face of 
the Saviour. I had this privilege recently ; and its remem- 
brance mingles with my meditations as I write. But you 
will allow me to turn to the Scripture, for it is, after all, by the 
toords of the truth of the Gospel, and not by sensible repre- 
sentation, that our faith is to be established. I find that the 
reproof of our Lord to Thomas is of the mildest and most 
loving character, and wholly different from the stern denun- 
ciation which wilful and obdurate hardness of heart drew from 
His blessed lips. 
In the next place I remark that Christ does not meet the 
demand of Thomas as if it were unreasonable ; but, on the 
contrary, offers to him at once the fullest demonstration of the 
fact of His resurrection, and of the identity of His Person. We 
see how the foreseeing wisdom of God could provide thus for 
the instruction of believers in all generations. The proof of 
ocular inspection is very strong, but there is more than this, 
for the Master says. Reach hither thy hand and thrust it into 
my side , — into the great gash from which all the remaining 
blood in that blessed body must surely have escaped. No 
question then of the certainty of death having taken place. 
This privilege of ascertaining by actual touch the reality of 
that wondrous risen life was not accorded to the unquestion- 
ing, unreasoning faith of Mary; neither did her confession 
rise to a loftier altitude than that of Rabboni, “ My teacher, at 
whose feet I have so long sat.” As regards Thomas, on the 
other hand, it has been well remarked, that his “is the 
highest confession of faith which had yet been made,” and 
this drawn, be it observed, from the ranks of the Rationalists 
— c O Kvpiog pov kcu 6 Oeog gov — somewhat feebly rendered, 
“ My Lord and my God ! ” 
