Page:Philochristus, Abbott, 1878.djvu/381

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.
PHILOCHRISTUS.
373

sitting together, knew what Thomas had in his mind to say (for it was in our minds also), namely, that the rest of the words of Jesus were not to be fulfilled. So again we sat silent; for indeed our souls were wholly given up to meditating on those words of Jesus, "after two days he will revive us;" and each knew that the others were meditating on the same; yet durst none of us say so much as a word, nor so much as confess to himself that the words could import any thing now; for about that matter we feared even to hope.

But by degrees our tongues were loosed, and we began to speak more freely concerning the goodness of Jesus, how exceeding gentle he was at all times to the young and simple, and to the poor and oppressed; how full of peace and cheerfulness; how thoughtful for others, how forgetful of himself. Then we spake of his marvellous power in the forgiving of sins, and in the healing of diseases, and in the casting out of unclean spirits. And one said that with all these faculties he joined a marvellous grace of modesty and humility, so that no child could carry himself with less of pride or ostentation. "Yea," said another, "and yet withal, though he were never so simple and humble, he ever spake of himself, none the less, as the haven and refuge for men, saying such words as these unto us, 'Come unto me, and I will give you rest,' and again, 'Take my yoke upon you:' moreover he bade us take his voice as our Law in the stead of the Law of Moses, saying, 'It was said to them of old, do this, but I say unto you, do that.' Therefore are we of all men most miserable in that, having received from God the very source of light and life, now we are deprived thereof." Then Peter said, "Yea, verily we have none else to whom we can go, for Jesus alone hath the words of eternal life; and without him we have no life." But said another, "If God be good, how could