IV.  We may learn, That our ill condition and distempers put into Christ’s hand will have remarkable out-gates, and an advantageous issue; seeing Christ taketh occasion here from Thomas his laying open his condition, not without some mixture of corruption, to clear up the truth more fully and plainly than it was before; for hereby, 1.  Christ giveth an open declaration of the glory of his power, mercy, goodness, wisdom, &c. 2.  He hath occasion to give a proof of his divine art and glorious skill of healing diseased souls, and of making broken bones stronger than ever they were. 3.  Thus he effectually accomplished his noble designs, and perfecteth his work, in a way tending to abase man, by discovering his infirmities and failings; and to glorify himself in his goodness and love. 4.  Thus he triumpheth more over Satan, and in a more remarkable and glorious manner destroyeth his works. 5.  Thus he declareth how wonderfully he can make all things work together for good to his chosen ones that love him and follow him. 6.  Yea, thus he engageth souls to wonder more at his divine wisdom and power; to despair less in time coming, when cases would seem hard; to acknowledge his great and wonderful grace, and his infinite power and wisdom, that can bring life out of death; and also to be more sensible of the mercy, and thankful for it.

O believer, what manner of joy is here! how happy art thou that hath given up thyself to him!  Thy worst condition can turn to thy advantage.  He can make thy ignorance, vented with a mixture of corruption, turn to the increase of thy knowledge.  Bless him for this; and, with joy and satisfaction, abide thou under his tutory and at his school.  And withal, be not discouraged, be thy case of ignorance and corruption what it will, lay it before him with sincerity and singleness of heart, and then “thou mayest glory in thine infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest on thee,” 2 Cor. xii. 9; for thou shalt see, in due time, what advantage infinite love and wisdom can bring to thy soul thereby.

May not this be a strong motive to induce strangers to give up themselves to him, who will sweetly take occasion, at their failings and shortcomings, to help them forward in the way?  And what excuse can they have who sit the call of the gospel, and say, in effect, they will not go to Christ because their case is not good.  And O that believers were not sometimes led away with this error of scaring at Christ, because of infirmities seen and discovered!

V. It is remarkable, that, as the disciples did ofttimes vent much of their carnal conceptions of the kingdom of Christ, as apprehending it to be some carnal, outward, pompous, stately, and, upon that account, desirable condition; so there might be much of this carnal apprehension lurking under this acknowledgment and question of Thomas; and the Lord, who knew their thoughts, doth here wisely draw them off those notions, and sets them about another