The Unbelief of Tomas the Apostle, Text (1 of 2)

The Unbelief of Tomas the Apostle · Text (1 of 2)

p. 1THE VNBELEEFE OF. S. Thomas the Apoſtle laid open, for the comfort of all that deſire to beleeue: which armeth vsus againſt deſpaire in the houre of death.

Ioh. 20.24. &c.

But Thomas one of the twelue, called Didymus, was not with them, when Ieſus came. 25 The other Diſciples therefore ſaid vntounto him, We hauehave ſeene the Lord: but he ſaid vntounto them, Except I ſee in his hands the print of the nayles, and put my finger into the print of the nayles, and put mine hand into his ſide, I will not beleeue it. 26 And eight daies after again his Diſciples were within, and Thomas with them. Then came Ieſus, when the doores were ſhut, and ſtood in the middes, and ſaid; Peace be vntounto you. 27 After he ſaid to Thomas▪ Put thy finger here, and ſee mine …ands, and put forth thine hand, and put it …to my ſide: and be not faithleſſe, but faithfull. p. 228 Then Thomas anſwered, and ſaide vntounto him, My Lord, and my God. 29 Ieſu… ſaide vntounto him, Thomas, becauſe thou has… ſeene me, thou beleeueſt: bleſſed are they, tha… hauehave not ſeene, and hauehave beleeued.

THis text of Scripture is appointe… to be read for th… Goſpel vponupon S. Thomas day, becauſe it cōtainet… a memorable ſtorie of him, whoſe bleſſed memori… we keepe vponupon that day: to that end that we might be thankful vntounto Go… for him, and for the excellent gif… beſtowed vponupon him, and the gre… good done to the Church by his m… niſterie and preaching: and that w… might labour to imitate his vertue and to profit by his great infirmitie wherein conſiſteth the true and rig… obſeruation of this, and all other ſu… like daies.

p. 3And not in the worſhipping of him, and praying to him, and ſetting vp candles before his image, and offering to him, as they did in the time of Poperie; when they praied vntounto God to be heard at his interceſſion, and for his merits, and blood ſhedding; as they did vponupon other ſuch daies for the reſt of the Apoſtles, and Saints. And they thought that the celebrating of thoſe daies was a great honour and ſeruice acceptable vntounto them, and they kept them to that ende, that they might become their patrons, and fare the better for their ſakes before God: and they know no other vſe of them vntounto this day.

Wherein they offer great indignitie vntounto Chriſt, firſt, in robbing and ſpoyling him of the honour and office of his mediation and interceſſion, to whom onelyonly it belongeth: of whom the Apoſtle thus writeth: it is Chriſt which is dead, yea or rather p. 4which is riſen againe:…om. 8.24. who is alſo at the right hand of God, & maketh requeſt alſo for vsus, and therefore who ſhall lay any thing to the charge of Gods choſen? And Chriſt himſel…e thus ſpeaketh of his owne office: Whatſoeuer ye ask in my name,Ioh. 14 13.John 14:13 that wil I doe, that the father may be glorified in the ſonne.

Secondly, they doe great wrong vntounto him, in hallowing any daies to the honour of any, but of God alone. For all things that are ſanctified, are ſanctified to his honour and worſhip onelyonly, who only is to be worſhipped & ſerued with diuine worſhip: therefore the bread and wine in the Sacrament of the Lords ſupper, and the water in Baptiſme, are ſanctified to the honour of Chriſt, and of none other: as thoſe that repreſent vntounto v… the breaking of his bodie, and th… ſhedding of his moſt pretious bloo… for the forgiuenes of our ſinnes. An… p. 5ſo are and ought the Churches to be confecrated to the name and honour of God alone (who onelyonly is there to be ſerued) and not of any Saint, as in time paſt they hauehave beene.

And ſo ought the daies alſo: As vnderunder the law all the Sabbaths were conſecrated vntounto the honour of God the creator of heauen and earth: and vnderunder the Goſpel vntounto the honour of Chriſt the Redeemer of his Church: and all other daies, that are now put a part among vsus from the common affaires of the world, they are ſanctified to that ende, that God might be honoured in them, and by them.

And therefore we put a great difference betweene theſe holy daies, and the Sabbath, or Lords day. Firſt of all in that we know this later to ſtand vponupon a better foundation then they, as hauing his inſtitution from Chriſt and his Apoſtles, and ſo doth binde all nations, and is perpetuall, p. 6neuer to be changed. Whereas the former hauehave their warrant only from men, and ſo doe not binde all Churches alike, and may be changed, yea taken cleane away: and ſerue onelyonly for Chriſtian policie, and good order in the Church, that men vponupon theſe daies might come together, and ſerue God. And therefore it is to be prouided, that there ſhould not be too many of them, leaſt thereby men ſhould be hindred from the neceſſarie workes of their callings; which hath mooued the reformed Churches, as in this Realme, ſo elſ-where, to cut off many that were vſed in the time of Poperie, and ſo to keepe thē ſelues in a mediocritie, neither hauing too many, nor putting downe all.

Secondly, there is a difference betweene them, in the manner of keeping the one, and the other: for on the Chriſtian Sabbath the lawes of p. 7our kingdome and Church doe reſtraine all men from many things, as from markets, and faires, and keeping of Aſſiſes and Seſſions for the execution of iuſtice: which they doe tolerate and permit vponupon other holydaies. Whereas in the time of blindneſſe they ſometimes preferred theſe daies before the Sabbath; and had more ſolemne ſeruice and feaſts vponupon them, and counted it a more deadly ſinne then to worke, then vponupon the Sabbath day.

Beſides this, they appointing theſe daies to the honor of men, did thereby greatly diſhonour the Saints thē ſelues. For what greater diſhonour can there be vntounto any man, then to make him a traytor? and to giuegive vntounto him that honour, that is due onelyonly to the Prince? And if any ſhould in ſimplicitie and good will aſcribe ſo much to the greateſt noble man in the Realme, that at the laſt he ſhould p. 8giuegive him the titles that belong vntounto the King, and ſo bring him into the ſuſpicion of treaſon againſt his will, it were no honour, but diſhonour vntounto him: So the Papiſts in extolling the Saints ſo highly, that they conſecrate daies vntounto them, and thereby ſeeke to honour them, and hope that therefore they will become Patrons vntounto them: all which are proper vntounto Chriſt; in ſo doing they diſhonour them: for they make them, as much as lieth in them, to be traytors vntounto Chriſt, in robbing him of that honor that is proper vntounto him.

And theſe Saints if they were now aliue vponupon earth, would not onelyonly not take this honor vntounto themſelues, and thanke them for it, but altogether refuſe it, and rebuke them for it: as Paul and Barnabas did vntounto the people at Lyſtra, when they brought buls with garlands, and would hauehave ſacrificed vntounto them: They rent their p. 9cloathes, and ranne in among them,Act. 14 14Acts 14:14 ſaying, O men, why doe you theſe things? we are men ſubiect vntounto the like paſſions, that you be: and preach vntounto you, that you ſhould turne from theſe vaine things vntounto the liuing God.

IN this text there are theſe foure things principally to be obſerued: firſt of all the great infidelitie of S. Thomas the Apoſtle, who did not beleeue the reſurrection of Chriſt, reported vntounto him by all his fellow Apoſtles, who had ſeene him, v. 24, 25. Secondly, the great merciemercy of Chriſt, who did not caſt him off, and leaue him to periſh in this vnbeleefe of his, but moſt louingly in time conuenient ſought to pull him out of it by all good meanes; euen the very ſame, which himſelfe deſired. verſ. 26, 27. Thirdly, the increaſe of faith in Thomas by theſe meanes, appearing by the confeſſion that he made, after that p. 10he was thus confirmed, namely, that he did beleeue, not onelyonly that he was riſen againe, but for him, and therefore calleth him, his Lord, and his God. v. 28. Laſtly, here Chriſt vponupon this occaſion deliuereth a generall doctrine, and ſo applieth this fact of Thomas vntounto the whole church; euen that they ſhould be bleſſed, who ſhould beleeue in him, though they did not ſee him, as he had done.

I doe not purpoſe to intreat of all theſe, but onelyonly of ſo much, as doth concerne the vnbeleefe of S. Thomas. But before I come to it, it may ſeeme ſomewhat ſtrange, that S. Iohn in his Goſpel doth write this of his fellow Apoſtle, ſeeing it tendeth ſo wholly to his diſcredit. The other Euangeliſts all of them hauehave left it out, it may ſeeme in fauour of him; and it might be thought, that it had beene better, if he had paſſed it ouer with ſilence alſo. But this Apoſtle liuing p. 11longer then all the reſt, about an hundred yeares after Chriſt, and ſo ſeeing all their writings, doth adde this, as a matter of ſpeciall moment: as indeede in it there is offered to the Church great inſtruction and conſolation.

And this plaine dealing of his is a note of that integritie, that is to be found in all the Scriptures, as beeing penned by the ſpirit of God. For they came not in old time, as S. Peter ſaith,2. Pet. 1.2.2 Pet 1:2 by the will of man: but holy men of God did ſpeake and write, as they were mooued by the holy Ghoſt. And therefore they greatly differ frō the writings of men, which ſauour of the ſpirit of men; and ſo are in many things partiall: as this is a common fault in many Hiſtoriographers, that they flatter great men, and ſpeak onelyonly of their vertues, which they ſet out to the full: but their vices either they wholly conceale, or lightly paſſe thē p. 12ouer; eſpecially when they are their friends, and of the ſame ranke and order with them, as S. Thomas was vntounto the Apoſtle S. Iohn. But it is not ſo in the Scriptures, which proceeding frō the ſpirit of truth, are no more partiall, then God himſelfe, with whome there is no reſpect of perſons:…om. 2.11. in ſo much that the penners of them doe lay open the greateſt ſinnes of the greateſt men in their time, euen of the Kings and of the Prieſts.

Sam. 2.8.As of Heli, how he honoured his children aboue God, and cauſed the ſacrifices of the Lord to be deſpiſed, and troaden vnderunder foote: and of Manaſſeh king of Iudah, how he cauſed his ſonnes to paſſe through the fire in the valley of Ben-hinnom,Chr. 33.6 and gaue himſelfe to witchcraft, and to charming, and to ſorcerie: and vſed them that had familiar ſpirits, and ſoothſayers: and did very much euill in the ſight of the Lord, to anger him: yea, p. 13the Prophets do not ſpare them, that were neareſt in blood to them, or neareſt in any bond of affinitie, or friendſhip.Num 12.Num 12 For Moſes doth ſet out the murmuring of Aaron his owne naturall brother, and of his ſiſter Miriam, and how God did puniſh them for it: which he did not to de…ame them, or with a minde to be reuenged of them: for the Lord gaue this teſtimonie of him, that he was a very meeke man,verſ. 3. aboue all the men that were vponupon the earth.

And the Apoſtles doe write the truth boldly and ſincerely of their fellow Apoſtles, though their faults were exceeding great, and not the like almoſt heard of.Math. 2…Matt 2 As how Iudas did for thirtie pieces of ſiluer ſell and betray his Lord and maſter Chriſt into the hands of his moſt deadly enemies. And how Peter did not onelyonly denie him once, but the ſecond time did forſweare him,verſ. 7… yea did curſe and p. 14banne himſelfe, if that euer he did but know him.

And to conclude this point, their vprightnes in their writings appeareth ſo much the more, that they doe not ſpare thēſelues, but publiſh their owne faults to the praiſe of God, as his ſpirit in them did direct them. For Moſes declareth at large how ſlow & backward he was to take vponupon him that calling, that God had appointed him vntounto, and what excuſes and delaies he made, in ſo much that the Lord was very angrie with him.…xod. 4.14

And Dauid writeth of the adulterie and murder, that he had ſecretly committed againſt Bath-ſheba, and her husband Vriah: and confeſſeth openly, that he had deſerued death for both of them, when he thus prayeth,…ſal. 51.14. …iddamim. Deliuer me from bloods, O Lord. So likewiſe the Apoſtle Paul ſpareth not himſelfe, becauſe it was not he, but the ſpirit of God that ſpake in p. 15him,Gal. 1.13Gal 1:13 in that he had perſecuted the Church of God cruelly, and waſted it. This kind of ſimple dealing is one argument not of the leaſt moment, among many other, to euince that the Scriptures are written by Gods ſpirit: and are therefore Canonicall, for they are not partiall: but the ſpirit of truth & ſimple dealing doth maruelouſly appeare eueryevery where in them.

But it may further be demanded, though ſuch things as theſe be written of the Saints, whether they ſhould be read openly in the Church vponupon thoſe holy daies, that cary their name: as if, when we keepe the memorie of a man, all his euill deedes ſhould be reckoned vp, tending to his infamie and diſcredit. Concerning which, as the prouidence of God therein is to be acknowledged, who hath thus diſpoſed of it: ſo we are to reuerence and highly eſteeme p. 16the godly wiſdome of thoſe holy fathers, who did firſt appoint thoſe daies thus to be kept. For they did it to the honour of God; and therefore would by the reading of theſe texts of ſcripture hauehave all men know, what the Saints were of themſelues: and what infirmities, vnbeleefe, and other ſinnes they were ſubiect vntounto; euen the ſame that we are: as Paul and Barnabas ſaide of themſelues,…ct. 14.14. We are men ſubiect to the like paſſions, that you are: and as S. Iames ſaith of the Prophet Elias,…m. 5.17. that he was a man ſubiect to the like paſſions, as we are. That ſo if they were any thing, we might know from whence it came, and ſo as Paul ſaith of himſelfe, I am the leaſt of the Apoſtles,… Cor. 15.…0. which am not worthie to be called an Apoſtle, becauſe I perſecuted the Church of God: but by the grace of God, I am that I am: and his grace which is in me, was not in vaine: but I laboured p. 17more aboundantly then they all; yet not I, but the grace of God which is with me. So we might ſay of them, beeing put in minde by the Scriptures that are read euen vponupon thoſe daies, wherein we keepe the greateſt memorie of them, what they were of themſelues, and what they were by the grace of God: and ſo not ſo much honour them, as praiſe God for them.

For the purpoſe of thoſe ancient fathers of the Church, who apointed theſe daies thus to be kept, was not to ſet out the Saints themſelues, that we might glory in them, and in their merits: but in the merits of Chriſt, & in the merciemercy of God ſhewed to thē for his ſake: and ſo not only to teach vsus how rightly to eſteem of them, but …hat in them, as in a glaſſe we might ſee, what we are ſubiect vntounto: and yet …ow gratious God is to pore ſinners, … ſo might take comfort in the merciemercy p. 18of God ſhewed to them. As here what great vnbeeleefe was in Saint Thomas, and yet Chriſt did help him of it, and ſaued him? to ſhew vsus, that we are as full of vnbeleefe, as he, and much more: yet Chriſt will not refuſe vsus, if we do not obſtinatly remaine in it, but are willing to be holpen of it, and hauehave a deſire to beleeue, by the meanes that he ſhall beſtow vponupon vsus. And this is the vſe that we are to mak of the vnbeleefe of S. Thomas, euen then when we heare it read vponupon his day.

The Papiſts did not ſo: for beſides that they had a great number of coū terfeit Saints in their Calēder, whoſe names were not written in the booke of life; ſome of them traytors, and others as ill, or worſe then they: vponupon their feſtiuall daies, they cauſed to be read out of Legenda aurea, that is their Legend of lies, a ſtorie of their liues, full of all vertues, and miracles that p. 19they wrought, ſome in their life, ſome after their death, whereof moſt were fained, and ſome of them moſt abſurd. And thus they made them to be Gods vponupon the earth, not making mention of any fault of theirs at any time, eſpecially ſo great as theſe, that we hauehave heard of in S. Thomas, S. Paul, and the reſt.

Whereby it came to paſſe, partly by the obſeruation of thoſe daies, and partly by hearing what was then reported of them out of their ſtories, that the cōmon people were brought into a ſuperſtitious admiration of them, and had no hope by imitating their vertues to be like them: but rather did worſhip them by meanes of the ſtraunge and incredible things, that they heard of them. And ſo here was no comfort from them for poore ſinners, but only for their merits and mediation: for they did not ſpeake of their infirmities and falls. But we ſee, p. 20how the Scriptures ſet out the true Saints of God after an other manner: not onelyonly in their miracles and vertues, but in their greateſt corruptions and ſinnes: that we knowing what they were of themſelues, and what they are by the merciemercy of God, and the grace of Chriſt; the pooreſt ſinner might be comforted in themſelues by the one, and giuegive thanks to God for the other. Seeing that there is no ſinne in themſelues, which they hauehave not ſeene pardoned and cured in ſome of the Saints or other: nor any grace wanting to themſelues, which by that experience of Gods goodnes which they hauehave ſcene in others, they might not hope for in themſelues in ſome meaſure.

BVt I come to the principal thing in this text, which is the great infirmitie, and wonderfull vnbeleefe that was in the Apoſtle S. Thomas, declared in theſe wordes of his owne p. 21that when the reſt of the Diſciples had told him, that they had ſeene the Lord, he anſwered them, Except I ſee in his hands the print of the nayles, and put my finger into the print of the nailes, and put mine hand into his ſide, I will not beleeue it.

The circumſtance of time, and many occurrants going before this, doe aggrauate the greatnes of his vnbeleefe. For this was done the eight day after Chriſts reſurrection: then he did ſhew himſelfe vntounto Thomas, as it is ſaide, verſ. 26. Eight daies after his Diſciples were againe within, and Thomas with them, then came Ieſus, when the doores were ſhut, & ſtood in the middes, and ſaid, Peace be vntounto you: after he ſaid to Thomas, Put thy finger here, and ſee mine hands: and put forth thine hand, and put it into my ſide, and be not faithleſſe, but faithfull. In the meane ſeaſon he had …ppeared vntounto Marie Magdalene at p. 22the ſepulchre the firſt day of his reſurrection earely in the morning, and ſhee knew him: for he called her Marie, and ſhee anſwered, Rabboni, that is to ſay, maſter, verſ. 17. at what time, ſhee was willed to goe tell the Diſciples, that he was riſen: and ſhee did ſo: and alſo ſhewed them, what other words he had ſpoken vntounto her: but none of them did beleeue her: as S. Marke ſaith.Mark. 16.11.Mark 16:11 Thus at the firſt hearing of it, Thomas was incredulous, as well as the reſt. And the ſame day toward the euening he appeared vntounto two other as they were in the wa… to Emaus, and they returned preſently, and tould the Diſciples of it, bu… they did not beleeue them neither.verſ. 13.

The ſame night therefore he appeared vntounto the eleuen, as they ſat… together, and caſt in their teeth the… vnbeleefe, and hardnes of heart, becauſe they beleeued not them, wh… had now twiſe told them, that the… p. 23had ſeene him, beeing riſen againe, verſ. 14. And becauſe their vnbeleefe was ſo great at that time, to put them out of al doubt for the time to come, he ſhewed them his hands, and his ſide that was pierced, and the print of the nayles in the one, & of the ſpeare in the other, and bad them looke on them, that they might know that it was he indeede,Ioh. 20.20.John 20:20 as S. Iohn the Euangeliſt doth report it.

At this time Thomas was not preſent among them. The Lord of his infinite wiſdome and goodnes thus diſpoſing of it, for the further good both of Thomas, and of all the reſt, and of the whole Church: that by this meanes there might be a new confirmation of his reſurrection, by a ſecond and more ſenſible apparition: when they ſhould not onelyonly ſee againe the print of the nailes in his hands, but for Thomas alſo to put his finger into them. But in the meane p. 24while, all the reſt tell him, what they had ſeene, namely, not onelyonly Chriſt in ſome forme, but ſo certenly that he ſpake vntounto them, and ſhewed them his hands and his feete, and the print of the nayles in them, ſo that they could not poſſibly be deceiued in ſo cleare a matter: yet for all this he not onelyonly not giueth credit vntounto ſome one of them ſeuerally, but not vntounto all of them ioyntly, beeing ſo many, and ſo credible witneſſes: and further, is ſo wilfull and obſtinate, and ſo addicted to his owne ſenſes and feeling, that he tells them plainly, that vnles he himſelfe ſee the print of the nayles in his hands, and may put his finger into them; and the print of the ſpeare in his ſide, and may put his hand into that, he will neuer beleeue it.

This is a maruelous thing, & may ſeeme iuſtly to be wondred at, that he beeing an Apoſtle, and one that had beene conuerſant with our Sauiour p. 25Chriſt a long time, and had heard his doctrine, and ſeene his miracles; yea, had preached ſaluation in his name with the reſt: and had heard Chriſt oftē ſay, that he muſt be put to death, and the third day riſe againe: that though he did generally beleeue in him, yet he was not perſwaded particularly of this article of his reſurrection. But ſuch is our corruption, and we doe ſo receiue the Spirit but in meaſure, that we may be true beleeuers in many particulars: as we ſee in the Apoſtle here, who beleeuing Chriſt to be the ſonne of God, and the Sauiour of the world, and ſo held the maine point of ſaluation, failed in the particular manner, and was not yet perſwaded of the truth of his reſurrection. But for all this we are not to account him, as an infidell, but thinke thus with our ſelues, if ſuch a man as he, was ſubiect vntounto ſo great doubtings, p. 26no maruell then, if I in many particulars finde my faith to be ſo full of doubting and wauering. OnelyOnly let vsus in theſe doubtings ſtill vſe the meanes, and God will at one time or other bleſſe ſome of them vntounto vsus. As Thomas here not beleeuing that Chriſt was riſen, though the reſt of the Apoſtles did tell him of it, did not forſake their companie, but came into their aſſemblies vponupon the Lords day, to ſerue Chriſt with them, and then Chriſt did appeare vntounto him, and ridde him of his vnbeleefe. Whereas if he had beene ſtill abſent, as he was before, and therefore hee remained longer in his vnbeleefe then they, God might hauehave depriued him of all meanes, and iuſtly hauehave giuen him vp to his vnbeleefe.

But this is a greater wonder, and herein his vnbeleefe doth appeare much more: that beſides the former things, when the other Apoſtles, p. 27whom he by long experience knew to be very reuerend and credible mē, told him that they had ſeene the Lord, and after what manner, euen with the prints of the nailes, & of the ſpeare in his body, yet he ſo diſtruſted all of them, that he would beleeue none of them. Oftentimes wee beleeue meaner men and of leſſe credite in matters of great vncertentie, and of ſmall moment: therefore not to beleeue ſo many and of ſo good credit, and in a thing of great moment, it beeing true alſo, doth plainly ſhew, how deeply vnbeleefe was rooted in him. Eſpecially if we conſider how he further addeth, that if there were neuer ſo many more of them, let thē be, what they will be, that ſhould tell him ſo, he would beleeue none of thē but his owne ſelfe, and his owne ſenſe and feeling: for v…les he could ſee in his hands the print of the nailes, and put his finger into the print of the p. 28nailes, and put his hand into his ſide, he would not beleeue it.

And it ſeemeth, that the reſt of the Apoſtles were ſubiect vntounto this vnbeleefe, though not in the like meaſure: for when Marie Magdalen at Chriſts commandement, came vntounto them, and finding them weeping & mourning, tolde them for their comfort, that Chriſt was riſen; though they heard her ſay,…ar. 16.11 that he was aliue, and had appeared to her, they beleeued it not: nay they were ſo farre from beleeuing it, that her wordes ſeemed vntounto them,…uk. 24.11. as a fained thing: ſo that they were not only ſomwhat doutfull of the matter, but did wholly reiect it as a meere fable. Moreouer, when two of the diſciples, the name of the one beeing Cleopas, going to Emmaus, Chriſt did appeare vntounto them in the way, and though they knew him not at the firſt, yet at the laſt their eyes were opened, ſo that they knew p. 29him perfectly, and ſo returning to Ieruſalem, ſaide vntounto the eleuen, The Lord is riſen indeede: and ſo doe auouch it conſtantly with a note of aſſeuerance; and told them alſo, what was done in the way, and how they knew him at the laſt:Mar. 16.…Mark 16 They beleeued them neither. So that this caſe was not of Thomas alone, but of all the reſt, that we might ſee that the beſt ſeruants of God of all, are greatly peſtered with theſe remnants of vnbeleefe. That as Dauid ſaith, If thou,Pſal. 13…Ps 13 O Lord, ſtraitly markeſt iniquities, O Lord, who ſhall ſtand? that is, not the beſt mā in the world, much leſſe ſuch a wretch as I: So we may ſay, if theſe holy men were ſo full of vnbeleefe in this thing, no maruell, if ſuch a poore ſinner as I am, ſtand doubtfull and perplexed in many things: and as Chriſt did ſuccour them, I hope he will be mercifull vntounto me, that deſire to beleeue.

p. 30And it is very probable, that the reſt of the Apoſtles in this vnbeleefe of theirs, were ſubiect vntounto the ſame temptations that Thomas was, and had the ſame thoughts to hinder thē from beleeuing, that he had: and namely, that they ſpake within themſelues, as he did openly, though for ſhame they did not vtter it, as often it falleth out, that many are afraid to vtter their temptations, they are ſo fearefull and ſo ſtraunge, that they thinke, that none are poſſeſſed with them, but themſelues. But the Apoſtle telleth the Corinthians, that no tentation had taken hold of them,…or. 10.13. but ſuch as appertaineth vntounto man; that is, which proceedeth of mans infirmitie, and which mans nature is ſubiect vntounto: that they might not be diſcouraged, or diſpaire for that, that he had ſaid vntounto them. And therefore he addeth, that God is faithfull, and would not ſuffer them to be tempted p. 31aboue that, that they were able, but would giuegive an iſſue with the temptation, that they might be able to beare it: as he did here vntounto the reſt of the Apoſtles, and to Thomas himſelfe.

And that they had indeede the ſame thoughts of vnbeleef that Thomas had, it appeareth by the fact of Chriſt. For when he came among them, and they were abaſhed and afraid,Luk. 24.3Luke 24:3 ſuppoſing that they had ſeene a ſpirit, he ſaid vntounto them; Why are ye troubled? and wherfore do thoughts ariſe in your hearts? Behold mine hands, and my feete, for it is my ſelfe; handle me, and ſee: and when he had thus ſpoken he ſhewed them his hands and his feete. So that Chriſt in ſhewing them his hands and feete, that ſo they might be ridde of thoſe thoughts and doubts, that hindred them from beleeuing; did manifeſtly ſhew, that he knew the thoughts of their hearts to be theſe, that vnleſſe p. 32they ſaw in his hands and feete the print of the nayles, they would not beleeue that it was he. Chriſt therefore like a skilfull phyſitian of their ſoules did applie his medicine according to their maladie; and therefore when as at his firſt apparition he did ſhew vntounto them his hands and his feete, he doing all things in wiſdom and to ſome good purpoſe, did thereby declare, what thoughts of vnbeleefe they were troubled with.

If ſuch holy men as theſe, who had ſo many meanes to helpe their faith, did not ſufficiently profit by them at the firſt; but were found thus incredulous: then we may be aſſured, that vnbeleefe is more deepely rooted in vsus, then we be a ware of: and if after many meanes, and long continuance in the ſame we finde it in our ſelues more then we would, we muſt not too much ſuſpect our ſelues, as long as we are ſorie for it, and doe groane p. 33vnderunder it, as vnderunder an heauie burden, deſiring to be eaſed of the ſame. For indeed there is no ſinne in the world, that hath more infected mankinde, then that: it came in with our firſt parents euen in Paradiſe, and it will continue as long as there is any man vponupon earth: it is the firſt ſinne that poſſeſſeth all men: and it is the laſt that we muſt ſtriue againſt: in ſo much that when we hauehave ouercome all other, then wil our vnbeleefe moſt of all trouble vsus. And eſpecially we ſhall finde this to be true in all afflictions, and in the houre of death: when the temptations of pride, of vo…uptuouſnes, of reuenge, &c. ſhall …eaue vsus, as hauing receiued their …eadly blow; then will vnbeleefe, and …iſtruſt fall vponupon vsus afreſh, as though … had neuer beene wounded, or ne…er ſo much as incountred with.

For ſeeing that faith is, as the A…oſtle calleth it,Eph. 6.16.Eph 6:16 A ſheild wherewith p. 34we may quench all the fierie darts of the deuill: therefore he laboureth moſt of all to pull it out of our hands altogether, or ſo to weaken it in many things, that his darts may eaſily pearce through it into our ſoules to deſtroy them: that is, his temptation may deceiue vsus one way or other. For as long as this ſheild of faith is whol, and we be able to hold it out againſt our ſpirituall enemie, we ſhall preuaile againſt him, whether he tempteth vsus vntounto any ſinne in time to come, or for any ſinne of the time paſt. But if we let fall the ſheild of faith, or doe not defend our ſelues with it; we lie open to all temptations of Satan: that is, if we altogethe… giuegive ouer faith, or fall to doubting o… the truth of his word.

Adam and Eue were firſt ouer come by vnbeleefe, and that was th… cauſe of their ruine: for the deuill b… diſputing with the woman like a ſubtile p. 35Sophiſter, brought her at the laſt to cal into queſtion the truth of Gods word, and to ſay,Gen. 3.3.Gen 3:3 Of the fruit of the tree, which is in the middes of the garden, God hath ſaid, ye ſhall not eate of it, neither ſhall ye touch it, leaſt ye die: whereas the Lord had ſaid in expreſſe words before,chap. 2 17. In the day, that ye ſhall eate thereof, ye ſhall die the death: that is, ye ſhall aſſuredly die: which if they had ſteadfaſtly beleeued, they had not beene ouercome of his temptation. So in all ſinne that we commit there is vnbeleefe, more or leſſe; for if we fall by preſumption, then we beleeue not his threatnings; if by deſpaire, then we beleeue not his promiſes. And iuſtifying faith though it principally looketh to the promiſes of ſaluation; yet generally it reſpecteth the whole …ord of God. The manifold ſinnes then that we ſee in other, and doe …ommit our ſelues, doe apparently p. 34duplicate page p. 35duplicate page p. 36ſhew, how full of vnbeleefe we and the whole world is: for if we did beleeue God to be true in his threatnings, and in his promiſes, we ſhould be kept from ſinne.

Beſides, when men are fallen into any ſinnes, what is the cauſe that they doe not ſpeedily repent them of thē, and ſo leaue them, but onelyonly vnbeleefe? For if they did rightly beleeue either the promiſes of God, as, At what time ſoeuer a ſinner ſhall returne from his ſinnes,…zek. 18.21. and doe that which is lawfull and right, he ſhall ſurely liue, and ſhall not die: all his tranſgreſſions, that he hath committed, ſhall not be remembred, or laide to his charge: they would preſently repent, and leaue their ſinnes, that they might be forgiuen them. Or if they beleeued his threatnings; as, Kiſſe the ſonne,Pſal. 2.12.Ps 2:12 leaſt he be angrie, and ye periſh in the midde way, when his wr…th ſhall ſuddenly burne, bleſſed p. 37are all that truſt in him: they would ſpeedily repent, whiles merciemercy is offered; leaſt God take them away before, or bring ſome great iudgement vponupon them. But contrarie to the truth of Gods word (according to the nature of vnb…leefe) they imagine ſome thing of their owne head, wherein they reſt; and let all men ſay to the contrarie, what they will, they will beleeue none but themſelues, & their owne conceit.

As that, they ſhall doe wel enough though they continue in their ſinnes: or that they ſhall hauehave time enough hereafter to repent them at their leiſure: and that they may repent them when they liſt, or ſome ſuch like: of which there is nothing promiſed in the word of God, but the cleane contrary ſet down often and very plainly. Therefore that men, when they hauehave fallen into any ſinne, do ſo eaſily continue in them, and either repent thē p. 38not at all, or doe it very ſlowly, & that doth bewray ſufficiently, how full of vnbeleefe they are. Seeing therefore that it is ſo vniuerſally ſpread ouer all men, no maruell, if the better ſort doe complaine ſo much of it in thēſelues, and finde it to be a great deale more, then they would.

Agine, let vsus be in trouble, & want meanes to helpe our ſelues, and ſee if we be not prone to diſtruſt God? and ſo not to depend on his prouidence: but rather to vſe vnlawfull meanes to helpe our ſelues: or to be too reſtles & vnquiet in the vſe of thoſe that are lawfull: and ſo either altogether to forget to ſeeke vntounto God by prayer: or elſe to doe it very coldly, and with little hope. Though God hath ſaide, Call vponupon me in thy trouble,…ſal. 50.15. ſo will I deliuer thee, and thou ſhalt glorifie me.…ebr. 13.6. And be contented with thoſe things, that ye hauehave, for God hath ſaid, I will not faile thee, nor forſake p. 39thee.Heb. 6.31.Heb 6:31 And firſt ſeeke the kingdome of God; and his righteouſneſſe, and all things neceſſary ſhall be miniſtred vntounto you: and a thouſand ſuch promiſes more: which doth ſhew that vnbeleefe poſſeſſeth men eueryevery manner of way, and there is no man in the world altogether free from it, though it be a great deale more in ſome, then in other.

And to be ſhort, when we are tēpted vntounto any ſinne, we by lamentable experience finde, that we are too eaſily ouercome, becauſe we beleeue not Gods threatnings, that he will aſſuredly puniſh it. And when we are tempted for any ſinne, how ſoone are we readie to deſpaire, becauſe we beleeue not the promiſes of forgiuenes vntounto the repentant? So that this ſinne is found in the whole courſe of our life: in ſo much that when we hauehave ouercome many other ſinnes in the firſt and ſecond table; then we ſhal be p. 40either wholly ouercome with vnbeleefe, or greatly polluted with it.

The Deuill did greatly aſſault our Sauiour Chriſt with this, both in the firſt entrance into his office, and alſo in the laſt diſcharging of it. Firſt of all in the wildernes, when he would by that long time of abſtinence & want of corporall foode by the ſpace of fourtie daies, and fourtie nights, hauehave perſwaded him, that God had forſaken him, and had no care of him: for then he would hauehave prouided for him all this while: and therefore he muſt now ſhift for himſelfe, and if he could doe any thing, he muſt ſhew his power, If he be the ſonne of God indeed,…ath. 4.3. he muſt command that thoſe ſtones he made bread. Secondly, when he was vponupon the croſſe; for then they that paſſed by reuiling him, and wagging their heads,…ap. 27.39. ſaid, If thou be the ſonne of God, come downe from the croſſe: and the Prieſts alſo mocking p. 41him, ſaide, He ſaued others, but he cannot ſaue himſelfe: if he be the king of Iſrael, let him now come downe from the croſſe: ſo that they concluded againſt him to the weakning of his faith, that God did not care for him, becauſe he did not preſently deliuer him.

Thus by tempting him to vnbeleefe in the beginning, he ſought to diſcourage him from it: and by the ſame temptation of vnbeleefe in the ending, to cauſe him to giuegive it ouer, before he had happily finiſhed it. And after the ſame manner the deuill ſetteth vponupon all the members of Chriſt: in the beginning of their calling, he greatly buffeteth them with vnbeleefe, and puts into them many feares and doubts, that their ſinnes ſhal not be pardoned; that ſo they might as men tired in the combate, giuegive ouer, and returne to their old byas. And before their death he terrifieth them p. 42againe with feare, that they ſhall not goe to heauen, that ſo in deſpairing of ſo great a matter, they might giuegive ouer ſeeking it any longer. But Chriſt did ouercome by the power of his Spirit in thoſe temptations of his, that by the ſame Spirit he might ſuccour vsus in ours.…eb. 2.17. And ſo in all things he was made like his brethren, that he might be mercifull, and a faithfull high Prieſt to make reconciliation for the ſinnes of the people: for in that he ſuffered, and was tempted, he is able to ſuccour them that are tempted. As he did here in due ſeaſon help the vnbeleefe of the Apoſtles, in ſhewing vntounto them his hands, and his feet; but moſt of all his weake and poore ſeruant Thomas. For when he had ſaide,…h. 20.25. Except I ſee in his hands the print of the nailes, and put my finger into the print of the nayles, and put my hand into his ſide, I will not beleeue: Then a little after Chriſt appeared p. 43vntounto him, and ſaid vntounto him, Put thy finger here,verſ. 27. and ſee mine hands; and put forth thine hand, and put it into my ſide; and be not faithleſſe, but faithfull.

BVt to proceede, the firſt degree of Thomas his vnbeleefe appeareth in this, that he did heare this often, and of diuers, that were very credible, and yet he did not beleeue it: as firſt of all of diuers holy and godly women,Luk. 24.….Luke 24 and namely of Marie Magdalene, and Ioanna, and Marie the mother of Iames, and other women with them, who earely in the morning returning from the ſepulchre, told the eleuen that Chriſt was riſen: and alſo he heard it againe of Cleopas, and an other diſciple,verſ. 33. who told them, they had ſeene him, and ſpoken with him after his reſurrection: and now the third time he heard it of all his fellow Apoſtles, beeing ten in nū ber, all of them very credible, who did p. 44auouch it vntounto him vponupon their owne knowledge, and ſaide, that they had ſeene him themſelues. It was appointed in the equitie of the law, that in the mouth of two witneſſes,…eut. 19.15 or at the mouth of three witneſſes, eueryevery matter ſhould be eſtabliſhed. Therefore there was no colour to diſcredit ſo many witneſſes, eſpecially comming in to teſtifie the ſame truth at ſeuerall times. But herein appeareth the nature of infidelitie, which is, to cauſe vsus, though we heare the truth of God witneſſed vntounto vsus by ſundrie men, and at diuers times, not to beleeue any one of them in diuers things, but onelyonly our ſelues. And though they be neuer ſo graue, and reuerend, and conſtant in auouching of it, & ſound in proouing of it, yet all ſhall be as we thinke, and ſay our ſelues, and not otherwiſe: and thus they are wiſer in their owne conceit,…r. 26.16 then ſeauen men that can render a reaſon. Whereby it p. 45commeth to paſſe, that they hinder themſelues in their ſaluation: for though God ſend his ſeruants vntounto them, to tell them his will, they will beleeue nothing, but as they cōceiue themſelues.

And this though it be a great ſinne, yet it was not proper vntounto Thomas only, but it was found in the reſt of the Apoſtles at this preſent. And that we might not wonder at it in thē without any profit, we ſhall ſee it as deeply rooted in our ſelues, & others: for this is but a looking glaſſe to let vsus ſee our owne vnbeleefe in. For how often hauehave we heard one & the ſame truth conſtantly deliuered vntounto vsus by the Prophets, Euangeliſts, and Apoſtles? & yet we doe not beleeue them: we hauehave ſundry times heard them, and read them, yea they hauehave bin often preached vntounto vsus, and that by ſundry of the faithfull miniſters and ſeruants of God; and yet we gi…e p. 46no credit vntounto them: and this is too true, whether we looke to Gods fearefull threatnings, or his mercifull promiſes, both for this life, and the life to come.

How oftentimes, and by how many men hauehave we heard, that vnleſſe we repent, we ſhall all periſh; and yet very few beleeue it, for they goe on full in their ſinne, and thinke that they ſhall doe well enough. And that eueryevery tree,…ath. 3.10 that bringeth not forth good fruit, ſhal be hewen downe, and caſt into the fire: that is, all wicked ones, that will not ſpeedily amend their liues, ſhall be caſt into hell fire: and yet though they liue neuer ſo wickedly, they thinke to be ſaued, as well as the reſt. And though a ſinner doe euill an hundred times,…ccles. 8.…. and God prolong his daies, yet it ſhall not goe well with him at the laſt; yet men thinke the contrarie, that ſeeing they hauehave eſcaped in one ſinne vnpuniſhed, p. 47and the ſecond, & third time, that therefore it ſhall goe well with them for euer: and they thinke, as the Prophet ſaith,Pſal. 50.2….Ps 50:2 that becauſe God holds his tongue, he is like them, and liketh their waies well enough.

Moreouer, how often hauehave we heard, and by how many, that he that is angrie with his brother vnaduiſedly, is culpable of iudgement:Matth. 5.2Matt 5:2 1. Ioh. 3.1…1 John 3:1& whoſoeuer hateth his brother is a manſlaier: and yet men nouriſh theſe euill affections in themſelues, as though theſe ſayings were vtterly falſe. And hath it not often beene ſounded in our eares by men of great credit, That neither adulterers,1. Cor. 6.…1 Cor 6 nor fornicatours, ſhall inherit the kingdome of God: but yet I would to God, that the wicked liues of too many did not ſufficiētly bewray the thoughts of their hearts, namly, that they did not only ſomewhat doubt of the truth of this, but they thinke it to be a meere fable: p. 48and let men ſay what they wil againſt theſe ſinnes, they will beleeue none but themſelues: ſo wholly are their hearts poſſeſſed with infidelitie.

Yea let a man come, and deale with one in any ſinne of his, in which he is ſetled, and denounce the iudgements of God againſt him out of the truth of his word: and let a ſecond & a third man likewiſe preach the ſame vntounto him at an other time: and he yet is reſolute in himſelfe, he knoweth as much of that matter, as any man can tell him, he will beleeue none but his owne deceitfull heart, and his owne feeling; vnleſſe he feele the ſmart of it vponupon himſelfe, he will giuegive no credit vntounto it: like vntounto the men of Sodom, who when righteous Lot told them of fire and brimſtone, that ſhould come downe from heauen vponupon them for their horrible wickednes, they iudged him to be an old doting foole,…n. 19.1…. and would not beleeue it, p. 49vntill they ſaw it, and felt it themſelues burning about their eares, when it was too late.

By this infidelitie, which is in vsus naturally, we are enemies to our own ſaluation, in that we will not beleeue this part of Gods holy word, preached vntounto vsus often by them, that are worthie of all credit. And this was …he eſtate of all of vsus, till God of his great merciemercy did reforme vsus, & purge …s of this vnbeleefe, that for the amendment of our liues, and repen…ing vsus of our ſinnes, that we might …e ſaued, we would beleeue nothing of Gods iudgements, and of hell fire, …hough preached by many; but onelyonly …uch things, as our blind reaſon did …erſwade our falſe hearts of: and that …e did ſticke faſt vntounto, whatſoeuer …hen ſaid, and of neuer ſo many to the …ontrarie. And the ſame vnbeleefe …emaineth ſtill in vsus in meaſure in …at part, that is vnregenerate.

p. 50We muſt therefore examine our ſelues, that we may find it out, & pray to God to helpe vsus againſt it, which no doubt he will, if we ſeeke vntounto him, and be deſirous to be holpen of it; as he did here his ſeruant Thomas the Apoſtle. For this ſtorie of his vnbeleefe is written, to comfort all thoſe that are fallen into vnbeleefe, and are deſirous to be ridde of it, and to beleeue, as this Apoſtle was. But if men for want of due examinatio… and triall of their owne heart, do… preſume of that, that is not in them▪ and ſo imagine that they beleeue when they doe not, or to hauehave mor… faith then they hauehave; they ſhall on… day finde, that their phantaſie hat… deceiued them, and they ſhal be farr… from beeing holpen in that, that the… want. For many thinke that it is the… eaſieſt thing in the world to beleeue when as indeede it is the hardeſt; an… it is more hard to ouercome our re… ſon p. 51in beleeuing, then the affections of our heart in doing: and therefore Chriſt ſaith, The gate is ſtrait,Math. 7.14.Matt 7:14 and the way narrow that leadeth vntounto life, …nd few there be that finde it.

And that which hath bin ſaid of Gods iudgments, it is true alſo of his …romiſes, that there is as much vn…eleefe in vsus towards the one, as to…ards the other. For how often hauehave …e read the ſame ſweet and comfor…able promiſes of God made for our …ood: yea how often hauehave they bin …reached ouer and ouer againe vntounto …s; and yet we rather not beleeue thē …t all, or not as we ſhould. Let vsus take …ne for example. The Lord ſaith by …is Prophet,Pſal. 50.15.Ps 50:15 Call vponupon me in the day …f thy trouble, ſo I will deliuer thee: …nd who ſo euer ſhall call on the …ame of the Lord ſhall be ſaued.Ioel 2.22.Joel 2:22 Yet …hen trouble and affliction cōmeth, …h how fewe doe beleeue this to be …rue? as appeareth by their practiſe; p. 52for how few or none at all almoſt doe ſeeke vntounto the Lord by earneſt and feruent prayer? and they that doe, with how little confidence and hope of beeing heard, doe they practiſe it? which ſheweth howful of vnbeleefe they are.

Few or none can ſay, as Salomon doth,Prov. 18.10.Prov 18:10 that the word of the Lord is their ſtrong tower, and that they run to that, as to their ſure defence: or as Dauid taught the people to ſay, Some truſt in chariots,Pſal. 20.7.Ps 20:7 and ſome in horſes, but we remember the name of the Lord our God; that this is the firſt thing that they remember, as that that ſhall doe them moſt good. But prayer is either ſo wholly neglected, or men come to it ſo ſlowly, as it were drawing their legs after thē, and laſt of all, as though they did no… one whit beleeue the promiſes thi… way made vntounto them.

Nay, which is more, if any com… p. 53to them in their trouble, and tell thē that they hauehave often found this to be true by experience in themſelues: as Dauid doth, The poore man cried,Pſal. 34.6.Ps 34:6 and the Lord heard him, and ſaued him out of all his troubles: yet we doe not beleeue that we ſhall finde it to be true in our ſelues. Eſpecially if God deferre vsus any while, we can giuegive no credit to the truth of his promiſes, vntill we ſee them verified in our ſelues: but we are readie to ſay, vnleſſe we ſee and feele theſe things in our ſelues, we will not beleeue it.

Againe, how often, and by how many hauehave we heard this truth of God,Rom. 8.28.Rom 8:28 All things worke together for …he beſt vntounto them, that louelove God: …hat is, God will turne all the afflictions of his people vntounto their good in …he ende: yet when the leaſt croſſe …oth befall vsus, how are we diſmaied, …s though this were falſe, becauſe we …oe not beleeue it? And if any ſhall p. 54then ſay vntounto vsus, be of good comfort, beare it patiently, the Lord herein ſeeketh your good, and you ſhal… come out of this affliction better thē you were before; yet we thinke it a matter impoſſible; yea, a meere fable: and that it is better for vsus to be otherwiſe, and ſo we will not beleeue him: nor others, though they ſhould come immediately, and tell vsus the ſame vponupon good trial, that they found it to be ſo in themſelues, as Daui… ſaith,Pſal. 119.71.Ps 119:71 It is good for me that I hau… beene afflicted, that I may learne thy ſtatutes:67. and before I was afflicted, I went aſtray, but now I keepe thy word: and as the Apoſtle Paul alſ… ſaith vponupon his owne experience, and the reſt of the faithfull in whoſ… name he ſpeaketh,Rom. 8.28.Rom 8:28 We know, that al… things worke together for the beſ… vntounto them that feare God. Not onelyonly I my ſelfe, but many others alſo do know this to be true. Which is as if a p. 55skilfull Phiſitian ſhould ſay vntounto his ſicke patient; take this potion, though it be bitter, it is for your health, I hauehave found the proofe of it by long experience: nay not onelyonly I my ſelfe, but all we Phyſitians doe know it to be ſo: and yet the patient would beleeue none of them, but himſelfe. Oh what a great note of infidelitie is within vsus? how had we neede to ſtriue againſt it?

To be ſhort, how often hauehave we heard this promiſe of our Sauiour Chriſt;Math. 6 33.Matt 6:33 Firſt ſeeke the kingdome of God, and his righteouſnes; and all outward things ſhal be miniſtred vntounto you: and that alſo of the Apoſtle Paul vntounto Timothie,1. Tim. 4.8.1 Tim 4:8 Godlines is profitable vntounto all things, which hath the promiſe of this life, and of that that is to come: yet let vsus be in any want, and it is a wonder to ſee, how hardly or not at all we with cheerefulneſſe depend vponupon Gods prouidence, p. 56vntill ſuch time as we can ſee, how to prouide for our ſelues. Let other men come, and ſay what they will, and what they hauehave found by experience in themſelues, and in others concerning the truth of this, we doe not almoſt regard it, or take any comfort in it: ſo full of vnbeleefe are we, & ſo common a thing is it in the matters of God, to giuegive credit to none but to our ſelues: as the Apoſtle S. Thomas ſaith of himſelfe here.

Laſtly, let vsus come to the matter of our ſaluation:Reuel. 12.10Rev 12:10 if Satan the accuſe… of the brethren, and our owne conſcience doe ſet before our eies the remembrance of our ſinnes, and preſſe vsus ſomewhat therewith; though we be heartily ſory for them, & do weep bitterly,Math. 26 75.Matt 26:75 as Peter did at the remembrance of his fall, and do wiſh a thouſand times that we had neuer committed them, & thus trauell & groane vnderunder the heauy burden of them, as p. 57that that is able to preſſe vsus down vntounto the bottom of hell, and vnfainedly turne from them vntounto God, ſaying with Dauid, HaueHave merciemercy vponupon me,Pſal. 51.1.Ps 51:1 O God, according to thy louing kindneſſe: according to the multitude of thy compaſſions put away mine iniquites: yet how hard a matter is it then to finde th…t in our hearts, which we ſay with our mouth, I beleeue the forgiuenes of my ſinnes; eſpecially in the day of temptation, and in the howre of death: though wee hauehave oftentimes before heard the bleſſed ſaying of the Apoſtle, This is a true ſaying,1. Tim. 1.…1 Tim 1 and by all meanes worthy to be receiued, that Chriſt Ieſus came into the world to ſaue ſinners: and that comfortable voice of our Sauiour Chriſt, Come vntounto me all ye that are wearie,Matth. … and laden, and I will eaſe you.

This then we ſee is no new thing, for men not to beleeue ſundry parts p. 58of Gods word brought vntounto thē by the miniſterie of diuers of his faithful ſeruants, by reaſon of the great vnbeleefe and hardnes of heart that is in them: whereby it commeth to paſſe that their owne vnderſtanding doth more preuaile with them to diſtruſt, then the teſtimonie of many to beleeue. How then had we neede to find out this vnbeleefe in our ſelues: which when we hauehave done, we are not to iudge too hardly of our ſelues, ſeeing that it is ſo common: but onelyonly lament & bewaile it, & ſeeke vntounto Chriſt to be holpen of it, who is the author and finiſher of our faith:…. 12.2. and ſay with the Apoſtles,…. 17.5. Lord increaſe our faith: and with the man in the Goſpel,… 9.24. Lord I beleue, helpe my vnbeleefe.

And if there be ſuch great ſtreams of vnbeleefe in Gods children, till they be holpen of it, what a bottomleſſe ſea, thinke you, is there of it in p. 59the wicked? whereby it commeth to paſſe, that they are filled with all atheiſme and prophannes; caſting the word of God behinde their backs, ſo that let neuer ſo many learned and godly men, witneſſe the truth vntounto them for their amendment, they will beleeue no more, then they hauehave determined before hand with thēſelues. Let vsus pray to God for them, that they may hauehave better mindes, euen deſirous to beleeue; and then ſhall they be holpen in time, as the Apoſtle S. Thomas was. And for our ſelues, let vsus labour to hauehave teachable hearts, that we may reuerence & giuegive credit vntounto them, who in the myſterie of our ſaluation know more then we doe: and hauehave in the matter of faith a great deale more experience then we our ſelues. That ſo it may come to paſſe, of what minde ſo euer we hauehave beene before, that when Gods faithfull ſeruants, whome we p. 60ſhould eſteeme and truſt, they ſhall tell vsus ſo and ſo: whether for Gods iudgements, or for his promiſes, or for the direction of our liues, we may beleeue, and obey them. Then ſhall we come to faith, and be confirmed in it:…. 1….17. for he that regardeth inſtruction, is in the way of life.

And if in other matters we thinke it reaſonable, that we ſhould beleeue thoſe, that hauehave more knowledge thē our ſelues; yea euen cleane contrarie to that, that we thought before: as for the matter of our health we beleeue many skilfull Phyſitians for the ſtate of our bodies, and many expert lawyers for the ſtate of our lands and goods; why ſhould we not then in matters of diuinitie, and for the ſtate of our ſoules, giuegive more credit to many skilfull Diuines then to our ſelues. Eſpecially when as the generall rule holdeth as well in that, as in any other ſcience: that eueryevery skilfull man p. 61is to be credited in his owne arte and facultie: our reaſon is more corrupt in this, then in any other thing, and therefore there is more cauſe that we ſhould beleeue others, then our ſelues.

Therefore as in other matters, when we are doubtfull, we conferre with them that hauehave more skill and knowledge, and giuegive credit vntounto thē contrarie to our owne thoughts, and we are readie to relie vponupon them rather then vponupon our ſelues: So let vsus doe in matters of faith, and let vsus not offer Gods ſeruants and our ſelues this great wrong, that we wil beleeue all men in other things, ſauing then in this. It is too much, that we hauehave done it ſo often alreadie, let vsus not continue in it, that we ſhould come to the Church, and heare Gods word preached, and goe away not beleeuing it: and come againe the next day, and then depart away, as full of p. 62vnbeleefe, as before: and thus from day to day, & ſo ſtill be of this mind, that whatſoeuer men ſay, we will beleeue none but our ſelues, thinking that we hauehave reaſon as well as they, and therefore vnles we can conceiue it by reaſon, we will not admit it, whatſoeuer they ſay.

For faith is aboue reaſon, therfore we muſt beleeue the ſeruants of God in things, whereof we can conceiue no reaſon: nay reaſon is againſt faith, and there is nothing in vsus more to hinder vsus from beleeuing, then to harken to our owne reaſon.…or. 2.14. For the naturall man (by his beſt reaſon) perceiueth not the things of the ſpirit of God: for they are fooliſhnes vntounto him: neither can he know them (by his owne wit) becauſe they are ſpiritually diſcerned: that is, by a ſupernaturall inlightning of the ſprit of God. So that matters of faith we can not only not by reaſon comprehend thē, p. 63but they ſeeme fooliſhnes vntounto all thē that will no further giuegive credit vntounto things, then they be demonſtrated by reaſon: which made the Apoſtles, when the women came from the ſepulchre, & told them that Chriſt was riſen, not onelyonly not to beleeue them, but that their words ſeemed vntounto thē as a fained thing,Luk. 24.11Luke 24:11 and a meere fable that had no truth in it: and therefore Chriſt ſaith in the Goſpel,Math. 16.Matt 16 If any man will follow me, let him forſake himſelfe, that is, his owne reaſon moſt of all, that ſo he may beleeue others contrary vntounto it.

And this is that which is ſo highly commended by the ſpirit of God in our father Abraham,Rom. 4.1Rom 4:1 that he aboue all hope (that reaſon could affoard him) beleeued vnderunder hope, that he ſhould be the father of many nations: for he conſidered not his owne bodie, which was now dead (that is, void of ſtrength, and vnmeete to get p. 64children) beeing almoſt an hundred yeares old: neither the deadneſſe of Sarahs wombe: neither did he doubt of the promiſe of God through vnbeleefe; but was ſtrengthned in faith, and gaue glorie to God, beeing fully aſſured, that he that had promiſed it, was able to doe it: where we ſee, that renouncing his owne reaſon, which would hauehave held him in vnbeleefe, he reſted vponupon the truth and power of God, and ſo beleeued aboue that by reaſon could be ſhewed him, or he able to conceiue: and ſo muſt we doe alſo.

…. 11.3.The Apoſtle ſaith, that through faith we vnderſtand, that the world was ordained by the word of God, and that the things which we ſee, are not made of things which did appeare: that is, that this great & beautifull frame of the world was made of nothing, is a matter not to be comprehended by any reaſon, but onelyonly p. 65by faith: which made not onelyonly the Epicures, but alſo ſome of the wiſeſt Philoſophers, to hold, that the world was not eternall: for it was vntounto them a principle in reaſon, that of nothing, …omes nothing, neither can you ſo multiplie nothing, that there ſhould come any thing of it. Therefore the Apoſtle ſaith, that he that will hold, …hat all theſe things, which we ſee in …eauen and earth were made of no…hing, he muſt beleeue it aboue all …eaſon.

And who can by any reaſon con…eiue the truth of this article of our …aith, The reſurrection of the bodie? …hat is, that theſe very bodies of ours, …eeing turned into duſt and aſhes, …e ſame in eueryevery part and member …ould be raiſed vp againe. Some of …e wiſer ſort of the Heathen did ac…owledge the immortalitie of the …ule, and that there was a place of …y for them that liued well, and of p. 66paine for them that ſwarued from the rules of right reaſon, after death. Bu… that the ſame bodies of men ſhould riſe againe, they did not ſo much as once dreame of it, becauſe they could not comprehend it by any reaſon… therefore in that matter we muſt beleeue others aboue all reaſon.

The like is to be ſaide of almes, which hath a promiſe of increaſe: ſo that by giuing to the poore we ſhal… not looſe any thing, but gaine: which is a thing contrarie to reaſon, that th… more a man ſhould giuegive away from himſelfe, the more he ſhould inric… himſelfe: and therefore few doe beleeue it, which maketh them couetous and hard hearted, and to be wi… ling to depart from nothing, lea… they ſhould want themſelues: and … ſpecially to be moſt hard hearted … their poore brethren in the times o… ſcarſitie and want, when they ſhoul… be moſt liberall, and by that meane… p. 67beſt prouide for themſelues: which S. Paul was ſo fully perſwaded of, that he doth commend it vntounto vsus by an excellent compariſon, ſaying,2. Cor. ….… He which ſoweth ſparingly, ſhall reape alſo ſparingly: and he that ſoweth liberally, ſhall reape alſo liberally. Where he compareth almes vntounto ſowing of ſeede: the more a man ſoweth, the more he reapeth by Gods bleſſing: the more a man giueth, the more he receiueth by Gods promiſe: the one we ſee by experience, which maketh mē in the times of dearth and ſcarſitie, to ſow moſt: the other we comprehend by faith, which maketh the beleeuer in the hardeſt times, to be moſt liberall. Thus we ſee, what vnbeleefe is in vsus, in that we giuegive no credit vntounto others, any further then we can conceiue a reaſon of it: which is the ſame, that was in S. Thomas, and yet he was cured of it, and ſo may we by the ſame p. 68grace of God, if we will learne this leſſon; that in the time of temptation we beleeue others aboue our ſelues: which if we doe not, it is the next way to remain in vnbeleefe for euer: but if we can come vntounto this, there is hope of vsus in time.

THe 2. degree of Thomas his vnbeleefe, appeares in this; that he wold not only not beleeue this, being thus often told him, diuers times, & by ſundrie credible perſons, but he will beleeue none but himſelfe: for he ſaith in plaine words, Except I ſee in his hands, the print of the nayls, I will not beleeue it. Which is, as if he had ſaid; you indeed tel me, that you hauehave ſeen Chriſt riſen again, & ſo do diuers others; I hauehave heard theſe things oftē; but I hauehave not yet ſeene him my ſelfe; what others hauehave ſeene, that appertaines not vntounto me, vnleſſe I ſee him my ſelfe, I will not beleeue it. This therefore is further to be conſidered, p. 69becauſe ſomtime it fals out, that there is good cauſe, why we ſhould not beleeue a thing ſpokē often, & by many.

And if they be of any good credit, though there be no cauſe in truth to ſuſpect them, yet it may ſeeme vntounto vsus, that there is ſome: and hereupon it commeth to paſſe, that ſome in their vnbeleefe take exception againſt the Preachers, and thinke that they hauehave ſome cauſe, why they ſhould not beleeue thē in the things that they hauehave preached vntounto them, though in truth there be none. But yet to be altogether of this mind, that S. Thomas was here in this matter, that we will beleeue none in the world, but our ſelues, that ſeemeth to be ſuch a thing as wanteth all colour of reaſon. And yet thus vnreaſonable is vnbeleefe, as we ſee moſt clearly in this example: for he ſaith very peremptorily, that vnleſſe I my ſelfe doe ſee in his hands the print of the p. 70nayles, I will not beleeue it. He doth not ſay, vnles better men then you doe tell me ſo; or vnles I heare more in number; or vnles I heare better reaſon for this matter, then I doe yet, I will not beleeue it: but if all men in the world tell me of it neuer ſo often, vnles I ſee him mine owne ſelfe, I will beleeue none of them: which is, as if he had ſaid, In this caſe I will beleeue my ſelfe, and no bodie els.

We ſee then whether vnbeleefe will driue vsus, if we giuegive place to it, euen that we ſhall beleeue none but our ſelues. And indeede ſo it is in all ſorts, in whome it raigneth, they will beleeue no more from any man, then they can perſwade themſelues by their owne reaſon: vntounto that they obſtinatly ſticke againſt all men: and ſo are not aſhamed to ſay, I will beleeue none of you all; I will beleeue mine owne ſelfe, and further I will not be lead by any: no man ſhall draw me to p. 71…eleeue that, which mine owne reaſon tells me not. And thus they ſo much abound in their owne ſenſe through vnbeleefe, that they perſwade themſelues, that they hauehave more reaſon for that they hold, then all other men hauehave for the contrarie.

And ſo let men ſay neuer ſo much againſt that, which they hauehave conceited themſelues, they ſtil imagine, that they hauehave ſome thing to ſay againſt it, and ſome reaſon, why they ſhould not beleeue them. And this is moſt true, not onelyonly in matters of faith, but for life and conuerſation: which is the cauſe, both that Papiſts and other heretikes are ſo obſtinately addicted to their errors; and alſo wicked men ſo altogether wedded vntounto their ſinnes; that neither the one, nor the other can be reclaimed from them. And therefore when men hauehave ſaide what they can, they will not giuegive thē p. 72ouer, for they hauehave determined to beleeue none but themſelues: & of this minde will they be, till God ridde them of their vnbeleefe: and then the ſaying of Chriſt ſhal be verified vponupon them,Ioh. 20.29.John 20:29 Bleſſed are they, that hauehave not ſeene, and hauehave beleeued: that is, they ſhall beleeue others, beſides themſelues, and ſo bleſſed ſhall they be: as indeede this is the way to faith, and ſo to bleſſednes, to diſtruſt our ſelues, and to beleeue the ſeruants of God, ſpeaking vntounto vsus in his name: of whō Chriſt hath ſaide,…ath. 20 40. He that receiueth you, and your doctrine, receiueth me.

And that we might come vntounto this, we are to remember, that true faith yeildes vntounto the bare word o… God againſt our owne reaſon; and ſo giueth glory vntounto God,Rom. 4.20.Rom 4:20 as the Apoſtle ſayth, acknowledging, and reuerencing his truth, mercy, and power, where we can ſee no reaſon o… p. 73it, and ſo prayſing him for the ſame, and reſting in it. Which we ſee to be true in Abrahā not onelyonly in the birth of Iſaac, which was beyōd the courſe of nature, and ſo aboue all reaſon: but alſo in the offering vp of the ſaid Iſaac his ſonne, whom he loued, and in whom he receiued the promiſes, euen that with him God would eſtabliſh his couenant,Gen. 17.…Gen 17 and with his ſeede after him for euer: and therefore take away him, and take away all, and the hope of all: and yet at the commandement of God, he was contented to offer him vp for a burnt offering in moūt Moriah: which he did by faith,chap. 22 as the Apoſtle ſaith:Hebr. 11.Heb 11 for he conſidered that God was able to raiſe him vp euē from the dead: and ſo he meaſured the performance of the promiſes of God, not by his owne reaſon, though neuer ſo great, but by the truth and power of God.

The like may be ſaide of Noah p. 74concerning the building of the Arke, of whom it is ſaid;…rſ. 17. that by faith he beeing warned of God of the things which were not as yet ſeene, mooued with reuerence, prepared the Arke to the ſauing of his houſhold. In which matter if he had conſulted with fleſh & blood, and conferred with his own reaſon, he ſhould neuer hauehave vndertaken ſo great a matter. For how could he thereby imagine that all the world ſhould be drowned except his family, and that they ſhould be ſaued, and all the reſt periſh: when by the ſpace of 120 yeares, he both preparing the Arke, and preaching their deſtruction, not one man or woman would beleeue it, beſides his owne family of eight perſons; might not he hauehave thought that he was deceiued rather then they all. And how could he hauehave hope that fowre men ſhould gouerne ſo great a veſſell, wherein ſhould be male & female at the leaſt p. 75of eueryevery liuing thing vponupon the earth …nd in the ayre, with ſufficient prouiſion for them all by the ſpace of an whole yeare: and that not in the great Ocean ſea, but when the whole world was a ſea. And where could he thinke …o hauehave meanes to take and bring in all theſe fowles of the heauen, and beaſts of the earth? and how could …hey attend vponupon them all to feede them, and to doe all things neceſſarie …nto them? And many more things might be put into his head, to cauſe …im to deſiſt from this worke, as a …hing impoſſible: and no doubt he …as ſubiect vntounto many of theſe, and …uch like temptations, but the Apo…tle ſheweth vsus, how he ouercame thē …ll, euen by faith: whoſe nature and …ropertie is, to relie vponupon the com…andement and promiſe of God a…oue all reaſon, and contrarie vntounto …t.

But on the otherſide vnbeleefe, p. 76which is contrarie vntounto faith, that reſteth wholly and onelyonly vponupon reaſon; in ſo much that vnleſſe they can ſee ſome reaſon, how that may be done, that is ſaide, and promiſed, they will not beleeue it, they thinke it impoſſible, they reiect it as an vnreaſonable thing. A moſt liuely patterne whereof we hauehave in that great man of Samaria, in the daies of Ahab king of Iſrael: at what time by reaſon of the fiege of the king of Aram, there was ſuch an extreame famine, that women did eate their owne children.…. king. 6.28. Then the prophet Eliſha did propheſie vntounto them great plentie on the ſudden, euen the next day following. To whom this great prince,…hap. 7.2. on whoſe hand the king leaned, anſwered, and ſaid, Though the Lord would make windows in heauen, could this thing come to paſſe? as though he had ſaid, this is impoſſible, though the Lord ſhal raine downe corne from heauen p. 77among vsus? for he could not conceiue …y any reaſon, how either the ſiege …hould be ſo ſuddenly raiſed; or if it …ere, how it ſhould come to paſſe, …hat corne beeing ſo vnreaſonably …eare to day, it ſhould be ſo excee…ingly cheape to morrow. But God verified his owne word vntounto them at …he time appointed, and this man ſaw it with his eyes, but neuer taſted of it, becauſe of his vnbeleefe. For the king appointed him to be gouernor, and to ſit in the gate of the citie, to ſee the corne ſold to the people, who ſo thronged,verſ. 20. that they troad vponupon him, and there he died.

The whole world is full of this vnbeleefe, that they will beleeue no more then their owne reaſon perſwades them vntounto: and that that goeth againſt their reaſon they are readie to croſſe it, though it be neuer ſo true. For how many are there, that hauehave ſet downe with themſelues, that p. 78whatſoeuer the Preachers ſay, they hauehave determined a courſe, which they thinke, they hauehave good reaſon for: in that they minde to continue, beyond that they will not goe; they are ſo ſetled, that out of it, they will not be remooued; they hope they are not now to learne, they are too old to be taught; they truſt that they hauehave not liued ſo long for nothing; they hauehave wit and reaſon as well as other men; and ſo that that they hauehave conceiued they will ſticke vntounto, that courſe they hauehave entred into, they purpoſe to continue in, and in that they minde to liue and die; and this courſe they hold for doctrine both of faith and manners, for duties to God and to men; and thus they will beleeue none but thēſelues, and their owne reaſon.

And thus though they come to the Church from day to day, they come not to learne any thing, they p. 79hauehave determined beforehand what they minde to doe. They will learne of no man, they can teach themſelues ſufficiently. Whereupon it commeth to paſſe, that though they daily heare their ſinnes rebuked, they will amend nothing; and the iudgements of God denounced againſt them, they will beleeue nothing: they thinke, they hauehave better reaſon for their doings, then any man can hauehave againſt them. And if they be called vponupon to increaſe in knowledge and godlines, and ſo to goe on to perfection; they ſtand ſtill at a ſtay, and thinke it not neceſſarie; they like well of their owne doings, and no man ſhall remooue them frō them, they will beleeue none but themſelues: vnleſſe I ſee reaſon for it mine owne ſelfe, I will not beleeue you.

Thus through vnbeleefe the word is choaked in the greateſt part of the hearers, as our Sauiour Chriſt ſheweth p. 80in the parable of the ſeede: and it profiteth them not one whit, no more then it did the Iewes, when it was preached vntounto them, becauſe it was not mixed with faith in them that heard it.…ct. 4.2. And ſo that is the very cauſe, why in this long time of preaching, there hath bin ſo little good done, euen the great vnbeleefe that raigneth in men eueryevery where. Of which the Prophet Iſai had too great experience in his time in them to whom he preached, and doth with great griefe complaine of it, when he crieth out thus pathetically, who will beleeue our report? & to whom is the arme of the Lord reuealed?…a. 53.1. meaning, that none would beleeue it, but thoſe whoſe hearts God touched by his holy Sprit. And thus by their doings men doe too apparently ſhew, that though they doe not vtter it with their mouthes, yet they ſay it with their hearts, that let men ſay what p. 81they will, becauſe as they thinke they hauehave ſome reaſon againſt it, they will beleeue none but themſelues.

Let vsus labour to ſee this vnbeleefe in our ſelues in any meaſure, that we hauehave it, and be ſorie for it, and ſtriue againſt it: and pray God to forgiue vsus, and helpe vsus. And that we might this way be holpē, let vsus not be too much addicted to our reaſon, & meaſure things by it: for our naturall reaſon beeing corrupt, it doth not onelyonly not further vsus vntounto faith, but doth ſomtimes hinder vsus from it; not onelyonly becauſe faith is of things aboue reaſon, but contrary vntounto it. Therefore in the matter of our ſaluation we muſt be ſo farre from being addicted to our owne will and reaſon, as that we muſt vtterly deny it, that we might beleeue: as the Apoſtle Saint Thomas ſhould hauehave done here: & hauehave ſaid, though this that you tell me be a matter impoſſible in mine vnderſtanding p. 82and reaſon, and I cannot poſſibly conceiue how it ſhould be: yet becauſe ſo many of you beeing of conſcience to ſpeake the truth, I beleeue it.

And thus did Abraham concerning the promiſe, which God had made vntounto him:…om. 4.20. for it is ſaid, that he did not deſpiſe or reaſon againſt the promiſe of God through vnbeleefe: where theſe two are ioyned together as ſubordinate, & come helping one the other, namely, reaſon and vnbeleefe, and not reaſon and faith. So that if we hearken to reaſon, it will cauſe vsus to doubt rather then beleeue: and the next way to beleeue, is not to liſten or giuegive credit vntounto the diſputes & doubts that reaſon will miniſter vntounto vsus. For it is able to obiect many things againſt that that we ſhould beleeue: and therefore if we will be Chriſts diſciples, we muſt denie no… onelyonly all our ſinnefull affections tha… p. 83might draw vsus from obeying, his doctrine, but our reaſon eſpecially which might diſſwade frō beleeuing it. That when our reaſon ſhall tell vsus one thing, as that we may continue in our ſinnes a while longer, we may repent at leiſure, and be ſaued well enough: and that the way to heauen is not ſo ſtraight, as men ſpeake of and then we ſhall heare the contrarie out of Gods word daily, we muſt beleeue that contrarie to our reaſon, if we will be ſaued. For Thomas remaining in this vnbeleefe, he might hauehave periſhed for euer, but that Chriſt had merciemercy on him extraordinarily, and yeilded vntounto his vnbeleefe for the good of the Church; that for his ſake, he might ſhew himſelfe vntounto his Apoſtles after his reſurection another time.

Therefore firſt of all let vsus pray to God to ſanctifie our reaſon, and to inlighten it by his holy ſpirit, that we p. 84may be capable of the myſteries of word of God:Pſal. 119.18.Ps 119:18 as Dauid doth, Open mine eies, that I may ſee the wonders of thy law. And ſecondly when we come to heare, and read the word of God, let vsus bring theſe minds with vsus, that what reaſon ſoeuer we ſeemed to hauehave for our opinions & doings before, when we ſhall heare the contrary auouched by the ſeruants of God, & prooued out of the ſcripture, we giuegive them ouer & credit them aboue our ſelues. And let vsus renounce that reaſon of ours, that ſhall miniſter vntounto vsus any thing againſt that that hath been taught vsus out of the Scripture, and not harken vntounto it. For if we ſhould hold the Angels of Go… accurſed,…al. 1.8. if they deliuer any thing to vsus contrary to the written word of God: then much more ſhould we accurſe and denie our owne reaſon, that ſhould ſuggeſt any thing vntounto vsus contrary to the ſame: and let vsus no… p. 85after ſo long time of preaching be ſtil of this minde, that we will beleeue none but our ſelues.

A Third degree of the vnbeleefe of S. Thomas appeareth in this, that he ſaith, Except I ſee in his hands the print of the nailes, and put my finger into the print of the nailes, and put my hand into his ſide, I will not beleeue it. For, as though it had not bene ſufficient that he had ſayd, that he would beleeue none of them; nor any other that ſhould tell him as much as they did: he would beleeue none but himſelfe: he further addeth, that vnles he might ſee in his hands and feete the print of the nailes, and put in his finger into them, he would not beleeue it. Which is as if he had ſaide, if I may not onelyonly ſee himſelfe, as you ſay you hauehave done: but may be ſure of it, and therefore may alſo ſee in his body theſe markes, that he had on the croſſe, and eſpecially if I p. 86may come ſo neere vntounto him, that I may feele thē, and put my finger into them, I will beleeue it; otherwiſe I will not. So that he will no further beleeue, for all their ſayings then his outward ſenſes ſhall perſwade him; and namely, his ſight and feeling: if I may ſee and feele, I will beleeue, and till then I will not beleeue.

O wonderfull infidelitie: eſpecially in one that was ſo neere Chriſt, and had beene ſo long time conuerſant with him. For what if Chriſt had neuer appeared vntounto him, nor vntounto any other of the Apoſtles? was it not ſufficient vntounto them, that he had often before in their hearing ſaide; that he ſhould be put to death,…atth. 16.31. …ap. 17.9. …d 26.32. and the third day riſe againe: And that they were charged to ſhew no man that viſion which they ſaw vponupon the mountaine, vntill he was riſen againe from the dead: and after I am riſen p. 87againe, I will goe before you into Galile. Should they not hauehave beene left without excuſe in their vnbeleefe? Seeing they had heard it from his owne mouth ſo often before his death: and now after his reſurrection diuers credible women did tell them that they had ſeene him riſen againe, according as he had often told them.

Beſides, if he were of that minde, and thought that he had good reaſon for it, that he would not beleeue, vnles he did thus ſee & feele him why may not other be of the ſame minde too? and ſo Chriſt ſhould hauehave remained vponupon the earth vntounto this day, and not hauehave aſcended into heauen: or els often ſince he ſhould hauehave deſcended to ſhew himſelfe to thoſe that ſhould beleeue: if none would beleeue further then they ſhould ſee and feele. Moreouer after that he had thus ſeen him and felt him himſelfe, would he not hauehave thought it ſtrange, if others p. 88would not hauehave beleeued him, when he preached vntounto thē the reſurrection of Chriſt? why then doth he make ſuch a ſtraight rule to himſelfe?

Surely that in him we might ſee a patterne of that great weaknes that is in vsus, and how full of vnbeleefe we be: and a liuely example of the great merciemercy of Chriſt in bearing with ſinners in the ſame: and by all meanes putting them out of the ſame in time, that they might be ſaued.

And why doth he ſay thus rather then any thing elſe, Except I may ſee and feele, &c. Are theſe two ſenſes ſuch ſure iudges of the truth, that they cannot be deceiued? May not a man thinke, that he ſeeth and feeleth that, which he doth not? and may he not againe doubt, whether he ſeeeth and feeleth that, which indeede he doth? How came it to paſſe that when Eliſha had cauſed water to come miraculouſly into a vally of the p. 89wildernes, for the Kings of Iſrael, of Iudah, and of Edom, that the Moabites when as earely in the morning the ſunne roſe vponupon the water, and they ſaw the water as redde as blood ouer againſt them; they ſaid, This is blood: the kings are ſurely ſlaine, and one hath ſmitten an other: but when they came to the hoſt of Iſrael they found it otherwiſe. And as the ſight of theſe men deceiued them, ſo did the feeling of Iſaac deceiue him in his old age. For his ſonne Iaakob comming vntounto him in the perſon and habite of his elder brother Eſau to receiue the bleſſing: when he felt the roughnes of his necke and hands, which Rebekah had couered wi…h skinnes, he iudged by his feeling that it was Eſau. For he ſaid, Come neere my ſonne, that I may feele thee, whether thou be my ſonne Eſau or no; & when he had felt him he ſaid, The hands are the hands of Eſau.

p. 90Thus wee ſee that ſight and feeling may eaſily be deceiued: and yet this is the nature of vnbeleefe, to giuegive credit more vntounto theſe deceiueable ſenſes, then to many other things, that are moſt ſure and certaine. And many men in matters of faith will almoſt beleeue nothing, vntill ſuch time, as they ſee and feele them: and therefore when they are taught what in heauen is prepared for them that ſerue God; what in hell for them that diſobey him: they are readie to ſay, who hath ſeen them? giuing vsus to vnderſtand, that they will not beleeue them, vntill they either ſee them, or feele them themſelues. Was not this vnbeleefe vniuerſally ſpread ouer the face of the whole world before the flood, when Noah the pr… cher of righteoſnes declared vntounto th… the iudgment of God, that ſhould come vponupon them for their ſinnes; & namly, that God would bring a flood p. 91of waters vpō the earth to deſtroy all fleſh wherin was the breath of life vnderunder the heauen, becauſe all fleſh had corrupted his way, and the earth was filled with cruelty; and thus he continued preaching an hūdred & twentie yeares: But none of them beleeued it though they ſaw him alſo all this while preparing the Arke for the ſauing of himſelfe and his family. And therefore they continued ſtill in their impenitencie, and in their ſinnes, till the flood came and tooke them all away. And ſo they ſaid to Noah, ſome in their thoghts, ſome in their words, as Thomas did here in an other caſe to the Apoſtles: You ſay that the world ſhalbe drowned, but except we ſee the raine come in ſuch meaſure, and feele it, we will not beleeue it.

And was not the like infidelity afterwards in all the men of Sodom where iuſt Lot liued, and was vexed with their vncleanely conuerſation: for p. 92which he denounced Gods iudgemēt againſt them: and at the laſt by ſpeciall reuelation of the Angels that were ſent vntounto them, he ſaide vntounto his ſonnes in law which had maried his daughters, Ariſe, go out of this place, for the Lord wil deſtroy this citie; but he ſeemed to his ſonnes in law as though he had mocked. Thus they would not beleeue it, becauſe they ſaw it not, nor any likelihood of it, till fire and brimſtone came downe from heauen, and fell vponupon them, and conſumed them. And ſo they being condemned, and the citie ouerthrowne, they were made an example vntounto them that after ſhould liue vngodly, and which would not beleeue the truth of Gods iudgements againſt ſinne in the mouthes of his ſeruants any further then they ſhall ſee and feele themſelues.

Thus we ſee how common this is among all vnbeleeuers, ſo farre as infidelitie p. 93preuaileth with them, that they will beleeue nothing that is threatned againſt ſinne any further, then they ſee and feele it themſelues. When in the famin of Samaria there was exceeding great plentie againſt the next day promiſed by Eliſha the Prophet, did not one of the Princes ſay; when I ſee it, I will beleeue it, and not before. Whereupon this anſwere was giuen vntounto him, Beholde, thou ſhalt ſee it with thine eies, but thou ſhalt not eate thereof. And ſo vnbeleefe diſcredits not only the threatnings, but the promiſes, except they can ſee them with their eies, and feele them with their hands: of which we ſhall ſpeake more afterwards.

Doth not S. Peter ſay, that there ſhal come mockers in theſe laſt daies, which will walke after their luſt, and ſay, where is the promiſe of his comming? for ſince the fathers died, all p. 94things continue alike frō the beginning of the creation. Wherein he ſheweth how men through vnbeleef will make a mocke of Chriſts ſecond comming, & of the end of the world, and of the day of iudgement: becauſe with their eyes they doe not ſee any ſuch thing likely to come to paſſe: when they ſhall ſee ſome great alteration in heauen & in earth bending that way, they will beleeue it, and no ſooner, nor any further.

And we finde by experience the truth of this daily in many, that they will beleeue nothing of this matter any further, then they can ſee themſelues. And our Sauiour Chriſt in the Goſpel hath foretold, and forewarned vsus of this, when as he ſaith: As it was in the dayes of Noah,…k. 17.26. ſo ſhall it be in the dayes of the ſonne of man: they eate, they dranke, they bought, they ſolde, they married wiues, and gaue in marriage, vntounto the p. 95day that Noah went into the Arke, and the flood came and deſtroyed them all.

Likewiſe alſo, as it was in the daies of Lot, they eate, they dranke, they planted, they built: but in the day that Lot went out of Sodom, it rained fire and brimſtone from heauen, and deſtroyed them all: after theſe inſamples ſhall it be, when the ſonne of man ſhall be reuealed: that is, not onelyonly it ſhall come ſuddenly and all things ſhall continue in their ordinarie courſe: but men ſhall then giuegive themſelues to all pleaſure and worldlines: and ſhall neither beleeue it, nor thinke of it, till it come: as the men of the old world did not: of whome the Euangeliſt S. Matthew ſaith, that they knew nothing, till the flood came and tooke them all away: ſo ſhal alſo the comming of the ſonne of man be. They knew nothing, not that they had not heard of it, for Noah did p. 96preach vntounto them an 120. yeares before: but they did not beleeue it, nor regard it, becauſe they ſaw it not: euen ſo ſhall it be towards the end of the world: though they hauehave heard of theſe things an hundred times, yet they wil know nothing til they ſee it.

And not onelyonly this ſinne raigneth in the wicked, that they will beleeue no more of the promiſes and threatnings; of the ioyes of heauen, & pains of hell, then they can ſee & feele thē ſelues: and ſo becauſe they do neither of them yet, they will beleeue none of them; let men ſay what they will, and neuer ſo long: and ſo they goe on in their ſinnes, and liue thereafter: which is greatly to be lamented. But alſo if we will examine our ſelues, & other men, we ſhall finde, that this was in our ſelues, and in them, til… the Lord had merciemercy vponupon vsus. That though we had often heard that God was iuſt, and would puniſh ſinne, ye… p. 97we preſumed otherwiſe, and did not beleeue it, becauſe we eſcaped a while in our ſinnes, and did not ſee and feele the truth of it in our ſelues: and by that meanes went on, and were hardened in our ſinnes. And ſo that was verified in vsus, as well as in others, which the Lord complaineth …f by his Prophet;Pſal. 50.21.Ps 50:21 Theſe things haſt …hou done, and I held my tongue: …herefore thou thoughteſt that I was …ke thee: but I will reprooue thee, …nd ſet them in order before thee.

And thus not only before our cal…ng, infidelity did wholly beare …e ſway in vsus: but alſo ſince that time great remnant of it ſtill remaineth … vsus: ſo that in many things we will …eleeue no further, then we ſee, and …ele, eſpecially in the time of temp…ion: for if we be in any great trou…e,Iob and then if there be a meſſenger God ſent vntounto vsus, or an interpreter …his word, one of a thouſand, as Elihu p. 98calleth him: who ſhal bid vsus be of good comfort, and put our truſt in God, he will helpe vsus and deliuer vsus in his good time: and declare vntounto vsus many promiſes of his word, to that ende. We then, if wee want meanes to help our ſelues, we are ready to ſay, O but I ſee not how, and which way that ſhould be. So that if we did preſently vſe the promiſed helpe that we might feele it, or had means to bring it to paſſe, that we might ſee it, we ſay, we wold beleeue it, or els not. S… our faith goeth no further to comfor… vsus, then our ſenſes of ſeeing and feeling. And this is too true, in what affliction ſoeuer we be, either of pouertie, ſickeneſſe, or any other diſtreſſe.

And this vnbeleefe of ours is … much the more dangerous and th… more deepely rooted in vsus, becau… though we hauehave had experience … Gods goodnes towards our ſelues i… p. 99time paſt, wherein we may remēber how he hath holpen and deliuered vsus beyond all that we could foreſee, or hauehave any hope of: yet at another time we truſt him and his worde, no further then we can ſee our ſelues. Thus the people of Iſrael doubted of the power of God, whether he would giuegive them fleſh in the wildernes according to their deſire, though they …ad ſeene his power before in giuing …hē water out of the hard rock: wherof Dauid ſpeaketh after this manner, They temped God in their hearts,Pſal. 78.18.Ps 78:18 in …equiring meate for their luſt: they …pake againſt God alſo, ſaying, Can God prepare a table in the wildernes? Behold, he ſmote the rocke, that the …ater guſhed out, and the ſtreames …uerflowed: can he giuegive bread alſo? …r prepare fleſh for his people? Where he aggrauateth their ſinne …f infidelitie, in that they ſeeing be…ore how he beyōd all hope brought p. 100water plentifully out of the rocke to ſupplie their want, they did now doubt that they ſhould hauehave no fleſh, though Moſes had promiſed it vntounto them from God, becauſe they could not ſee how in the wildernes ſuch aboundance ſhould be prepared for ſo great a people, that eueryevery one might hauehave enough.

And we our ſelues are ſubiect to the like, not onelyonly in theſe outward things, and are therein too much miſlead, becauſe we relie wholly vponupon our outward ſenſes: but alſo in the matter of our ſaluation, therein our vnbeleefe doth eſpecially ſhew it ſelfe, ſo that we can hardly or not at all beleeue any thing beyonde our ſenſe and feeling. For when we are humbled vnderunder the weighty hand of God with the ſight of our corruption and ſinnes, and hauehave the feeling of Gods wrath vponupon vsus for them in any meaſure: thē though we heare p. 101the cōfortable promiſes of the goſpel made to all that vnfainedly turne frō them:Rom. 8.1.Rom 8:1 As there is no condemnation to them, that are in Chriſt Ieſus, which walke not after the fleſh, but after the ſpirit.Eſa. 1.16.Isa 1:16 And if you will inwardly walke and make your ſelues cleane from them, and take away the euill of your works from before your eies; ceaſe to doe euil, & learne to doe good: though your ſinnes were as crimſon, they ſhall be made white as ſnow: though they were red as ſcar…et, they ſhalbe as white as wooll: that …s, if you leaue thē, I am readie to forgiue them, though they be neuer ſo many: and then we find by the grace of God, that we vtterly deteſt them, …nd are weary of them, as of an im…ortable burden, & hauehave caſt them …way from vsus, as a filthie cloath: yet …ecauſe we ſee not the light of Gods …ountenance ſhining clearly vponupon vsus, …nd hauehave not the feeling of his louelove p. 102powred into our hearts, wee cannot beleeue the pardon of them, as wee ought. And vntounto all the promiſes, that are brought for our comfort, we are ready to obiect: alas, we hauehave no feeling of that, that is ſaid vntounto vsus. Which is as if we ſhould thus ſpeak; you ſay thus and thus vntounto me, but I can hauehave no comfort in it: for vnles I ſee it, and feele it, I will not beleeue it. Which vnbeleefe though it be very great, yet Chriſt Ieſus doth beare with them a while in it, and helpe them of it in due ſeaſon, as he did his ſeruant Thomas the Apoſtle here.