He would not be contented with seeing Christ : that might
be a dream : it might be the vision of a disordered fancy.
He would not be satisfied with the assurance of others.
The evidence of testimony which he did reject was very



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The Doubt of Thomas 329

sboi^. Ten of his most familiar friends and certain
women, gave in their separate and their united testimony ;
but against all that St. Thomas held out sceptically firm.
They might have been deceived themselves : they might
have been trifling with him. The possibilities of mistake
were imiumerable : the delusions of the best men about
what they see are incredible. He would trust a thing so
infinitely important to nothing but his own scrutinizing
hand. It might be some one personating his Master. He
would put his hands into real wounds, or else hold it
unproved. The allegiance which was given in so enthusias-
tically, " My Lord and my God," was given in alter, and not
before scrutiny. It was the cautious verdict of an
enlightened, suspicious, most earnest, and most honest
sceptic.
Try the evidence next by character. Blemished character
damages evidence. Now the only charge that was ever
heard against the Apostle John was that he loved a world
which hated him. The character of the Apostle Thomas is
that he was a man cautious in receiving evidence, and most
rigorous in exacting satisfactory proof, but ready to act
upon his convictions when once made, even to the death.
