hat Jesus Christ is very tender of his followers, and will not cast
them off, nor upbraid them for every escape whereby they may provoke him
to anger and grieve his Spirit; but gently passeth by many of their
failings, when he findeth they are not obstinate in their mistake, nor
perverse in their way. For how gently and meekly doth he here pass over
Thomas his unhandsome expression, finding that Thomas spake here, not
out of obstinacy and pertinaciousness, but out of ignorance and a
mistake. And the reason is, because, 1. Christ knoweth our infirmity and
weakness, and is of a tender heart, and therefore will not "break the
bruised reed," Isa. xlii. Well knoweth he that rough and untender
handling would crush us, and break us all in pieces. And, 2. He is full
of bowels of mercy, and can "have compassion on them that are out of the
way, and can be touched with the feeling of our infirmities," Heb. iv.
15. v. 2.

Which truth, as upon the one hand, it should encourage all to choose him
for their leader, and give up themselves unto him, who is so tender of
his followers; so, upon the other hand, it should rebuke such as are
ready to entertain evil and hard thoughts of him, as if he were an hard
master, and ill to be followed, and put all from entertaining the least
thought of his untenderness and want of compassion. But, moreover,

II. We see, that weaknesses and corruptions breaking out in believers,
when they are honestly and ingenuously laid open before the Lord, will
not fear him away, but rather engage him the more to help and succour.
Much of Thomas his weakness and corruption appeared in what he said; yet
the same being honestly and ingenuously laid open to Christ, not out of
a spirit of contradiction, but out of a desire to learn, Christ is so
far from thrusting him away, that he rather condescendeth the more, out
of love and tenderness, to instruct him better, and clear the way more
fully. And that, because, 1. He knoweth our mould and fashion, how
feckless and frail we are, and that if he should deal with us according
to our folly, we should quickly be destroyed. 2. He is not as a man,
hasty, rash, proud; but gentle, loving, tender, and full of compassion.
3. It is his office and proper work to be an instructor to the ignorant,
and a helper of our infirmities and weaknesses, a physician to bind up
and cure our sores and wounds.

Who would not then willingly give up themselves to such a teacher that
will not thrus