SEK M. and wavering in his Belief. This may be XV. gathered from the firft Account he gives

us of his Conduct and Behaviour, when our Lord was preparing to go up to Jer rufalem, to raife Lazarus from the Dead. For when Thomas faw that he would not be diffuaded from returning, for this Purpose, into Judea again, notwithstanding he had but lately escaped from thence to avoid the being toned, ch. x. 39, 40. and ch. xi. 8. he proposes to the Apoftles, fince they could not over-rule him, that they fhould all ga and die with him, ch. xi. 16. Now this, it is true, argued a greal deal of Affection and Love, not to think of leaving his Mafter, when Danger threatened, but readily to offer to take Part with him in his Suffer. ings, though running, as he thought into certain Deftruction. And it would be fome thing, if every Follower of Chrift, if every one that profeffed himself a Chriftian, would imitate him thus far: If they would not only be faithful in their Duties to our Saviour, when 'tis confiftent with their Intereft, Reputation, and Eafe; but also hold faft, and perfevere in their Fidelity, when they are likely to be Sufferers or Lofers by it. But yet with this Affection, Thomas was far

from

from coming up to the Character of a per-sERM. fect Difciple: With all his Affection he XV. wanted Faith: Not that his Unbelief was owing to a Deficiency or Slowness of Understanding, which yet, in his Excuse, has been often imputed to him; but it seems rather to have been owing to what has been the Spring of Infidelity ever fince, viz. to an over-high Opinion of his own Underftanding, and to what is generally an Attendant upon that, a Scrupulousness to believe what Reason knows not how to reconcile or comprehend. Thomas knew that Jefus had before raifed the Widow of Nain's Son, and Jairus's Daughter, Luk. vii. 11, &c. ch. viii, 41, &c. To the former he had been probably an Eye-Witness himself: But notwithstanding this ocular Demonftration, he knew not how the Thing was done, and therefore would not believe it could be done again. Confequently when Jefus had told them plainly that Lazarus was dead, and that he was glad for their Sakes, that he was not there (to the Intent they might believe) nevertheless that he would go unto him, in Órder to raife him, Job. xi, 14, 15. Thomas doubtful, or rather foreboding a quite contrary Event, fays to his Fellow DifA a 4 ciples,

مو

SERM. ciples, Let us alfo go, that we may die with
XV. him, ver. 16. If our Mafter, thinks he, who,

we know, loved Lazarus, could not fave
him from dying; what Hopes is there he
fhould be able to raise him when dead.
And fince the Rage of the Jews is for via-
lent against Jefus, that but a few Days fince
he was forced to fly, and get out of Ju
dea to escape their Fury; what can we ex-
pect now, but that, upon the fresh Provo-
cation he is going to give them, instead
of raifing Lazarus from his Grave, he will
be sent to his own,
However, don't let

us leave him: As he will be murdered himfelf for his Love to his Friend: Let us (whom we know he loves as well) bear him Company; though very likely the People will alfo fall upon us, and we shall all die with him. This feems to have been what Thomas thought; and in reafoning thus, he probably thought himself the wifeft of them all. The other Apoftles that went up with Jefus, might place, upon the repeated Experience they had had, an implicit Confidence and Faith in his Power: But the fagacious Thomas, knew not for what Use either his Reafon or Senfes were given him, if it were not to judge by them, how far the

Powers

Powers of Nature, or at least of Human Na- SER M. ture, (with which alone he might imagine XV. our Saviour to have been invefted) could opefate or proceed.

This is one Inftance which gives us fome Light into the natural Genius of our Apostle: And if from this we look forward to a fecond Inftance which St John alfo records, we fhall be apt to frame to ourselves the fame Character of him, as we have done from the foregoing. For when our Saviour, in order to arm his Disciples against his Departure, tells them that he was only going to prepare a Place for them, in his Father's Houfe, where were many Manfions, which when prepared, he would come again and receive them unto himself; John xiv. 2, 3. Thomas is the first again to difcover his Scruples, and to reafon with him. upon the Point. For when our Saviour speaks to them, as fuppofing they understood him,

Whither I go, ye know; and the Way ye know; ver. 4. Thomas takes him up with a fhort, but he thinks with a smart, Reply, Lord, we know not whither thou goeft: And how can we know the Way? As much as if he had faid-Thou talkeft of a House, and of Manfions we know nothing of: First therefore tell us where that House and those Man

SER M. fions are, and then it will be Time enough to XV. tell us the Way to them: But don't expect we should liften to any thing concerning the Way, till we are better acquainted with the Situation and Accommodations of the House.

But the greatest Inftance of Thomas's Scepticism, before our Saviour vouchsafed to confirm him, is in the Relation of my Text, which I defign for the Subject of the Remainder of my Difcourfe, and for the Sake of which this Festival of St Thomas is placed fo nearly before that folemn one which is now approaching.

For St Thomas is commemorated next to St Andrew, not because he was the second that believed Jesus to be the Meffiab, but the laft that was prevailed upon to believe his Refurrection. Of which notwithstanding he was at first the most doubtful, yet was he after wards the most fully affured of it. Him therefore, the Church, on this Day, sets before us, as an inconteftable Witness of our Lord's Resurrection; the Belief of which Article fhe thinks will difpofe us in a more serious Manner to celebrate his Nativity. For, unless we beljeve, with the Apostle of this Day, that the fame Jefus, whofe Birth we are now fo foon to celebrate, is the very Chrift, our Lord, and

our