The biographer of “Father Morris,” an American preacher of some local
celebrity, tells of him this incident:
He had noticed a falling off in his little village meeting for
prayer. The first time he collected a tolerable audience, he
took occasion to tell them something concerning the conference
meeting of the disciples, after the resurrection. “But Thomas
was not with them! Thomas not with them!” said the old man in a
sorrowful voice. “Why, what could keep Thomas away? Perhaps,”
said he, glancing at some of his auditors, “Thomas had got
cold-hearted, and was afraid they would ask him to make the
first prayer. Perhaps,” he continued, looking at some of the
farmers, “he was afraid the roads were bad; or perhaps,” he
added after a pause, “he thought a shower was coming on.” He
went on, significantly summing up common excuses, and then with
great simplicity and emotion he added: “But only think what
Thomas lost, for in the middle of the meeting the Lord Jesus
came and stood among them! Thomas was not with them when Jesus
came.” (Text.)
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See LAZINESS, EXCUSES FOR; REASONS VERSUS EXCUSES.
=Exercise and Food=--See FOOD AND EXERCISE.