he performed it with full effect after the out-pouring of the Holy Ghost. A leading place was assigned to him among "the servants of the most High God," sent to show unto mankind "the way of salvation 1;' and, having this ministry committed to him, he fainted not. He spake, and wrote, and lived, with a singleness of purpose to advance the knowledge of the everlasting Gospel; to feed the flock of Christ with the bread of life; so to exercise the high spiritual gifts bestowed upon him, as to prove himself "a good steward of the manifold grace of God "." He was "not negligent (as he humbly says of himself,) to put believers always in remembrance 4" of the doctrines, which they had embraced, and of the "exceeding great and precious promises "," of which they were heirs, and to "stir them up" to the practice, through every scene and trial, of "all things, that pertain unto life and godliness "." He exhorted his fellow-Christians to greater watchfulness, than he had himself exercised, against the enemy of souls. "Be sober, be vigilant," said he, "because your adversary, the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: whom resist, STEDFAST IN THE FAITH This advice was feelingly

7 99

6

tolical body. Appellatio Duodecim rεxviǹ est, nec tam numerum, quam collegium, denotat. Calvin.

given. The writer's experience had taught him the value of it. The word, FAITH, in the address of our Lord to Peter individually, is significant and emphatical: "I have prayed for THEE, that thy FAITH fail not." The other disciples showed themselves deficient in firmness and courage, but Peter's FAITH was more immediately tried. Accordingly, when the time arrived, at which he was to be a strengthener of his brethren, his heart's desire was, that they should arm themselves with "the shield of FAITH" -that sole effectual defence, as HE had too good reason to know, against "all the fiery darts of the wicked 1."

66

SECTION IV.

PREDICTION IV.

Verily, I say unto thee, That this night, before the cock crow, thou shalt deny Me thrice." Matt. xxvi. 34.

To view this prophecy in its true light, it is necessary to have an accurate knowledge of the person, to whom it referred. If we advert to the circumstances of Peter's previous conduct, and former intercourse with Christ, we shall perceive that the event predicted was, according to human judgment,

Peter left it written: "Add to your faith, virtue—” åpɛrǹy, virtutem-courage, resolution. i. 5.

1

TOŨ TOVηpo—of the wicked one. Eph. vi. 16.

altogether improbable, and that He, who foretold it, spake with Divine authority.

I. Peter was distinguished among the Twelve for warm attachment to his Lord, and zeal to show the reverence in which he held Him.

- When the disciples were in a ship, driven by a contrary wind', and Jesus walked to them on the sea of Galilee, Peter, regardless of the storm, exclaimed; "Lord, if it be Thou, bid me come unto Thee on the water." His request was granted, and "he walked on the water to go to Jesus." He acted, indeed, upon the impulse of a too confident temper, for, "when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid, and, beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me! And immediately Jesus stretched forth His hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt ?" The faith and resolution of Peter gave way on this occasion; but the experience, which he received of the transcendent power of Christ, might well have

1 Matt. xiv. 22-32.

2 Two feet walking upon water, was an Egyptian hieroglyphic to denote impossibility. Job represents the Almighty, as alone having power to "tread upon the waves of the sea. " ix. 8.

3 "A strong current marks the passage of the Jordan through the middle of the lake of Gennesareth, and when this is opposed by contrary winds, which blow here with the force of a hurricane from the south-east, sweeping from the mountains into the lake, it may be conceived that a boisterous sea is instantly raised."-Clarke's Travels.

served to prevent any future distrust of mind. His experience of his own weakness, too, was calculated to inspire him with caution, lest he should promise, a second time, more than he might be able to perform.

1

Soon after this, many of the disciples, who heard our Lord preach in the synagogue at Capernaum, took offence at His doctrine, and "from that time went back, and walked no more with Him ""Then said He unto the Twelve, Will ye also go away?" Simon Peter answered, in the name of all, "Lord, to whom shall we go? Thou hast the words of eternal life. And we believe, and are sure, that Thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God.".

Peter made a like confession, in his own name 2, when our Saviour, in His journey from Bethsaida to the territory of Cæsarea Philippi, asked the disciples what conception the people entertained respecting Him, and then, whom they (the disciples)

66

1 John vi. 66-69.

2

It is stated with exact agreement by the three Evangelists, who preserve the discourse, in which the words occur, that this confession proceeded from Peter alone. When our Saviour asked, “Whom do men say that I am?" the Apostles answered, They said," &c. ; but when our Lord inquired, "Whom say ye that I am?" St. Matthew, St. Mark, and Luke all inform us, that it was Peter who made reply. Our Lord's observation on the truth uttered shows that Peter was (under Providence) the sole discloser of it: "Flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but My Father which is in Heaven."

thought Him to be.

"Whom say ye that I am?" Peter replied, "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God "."

Lest this assurance, however, of the greatness and 'power of Jesus should lead His followers to encourage improper expectations (as they were too much influenced by human views, and fondly cherished the hope of temporal privileges) He, from that time, "spake openly 2" of the approaching day of His tremendous affliction. He "began to show unto His disciples, how that He must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders, and chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day." Peter listened with impatience to a doctrine, which then appeared to him strange and unwelcome, and gave expression to his feeling in the unadvised words: "Be it far from Thee, Lord: This shall not be unto Thee."

When Jesus saw fit to check the too aspiring disposition of the Apostles, and to set before them, in His own Person, an example of humility, by condescending, after the manner of a servant in eastern countries, to gird Himself with a towel, and wash

Matt. xvi. 13-16. Mark viii. 27-29. Luke ix. 18-20. ? Mark viii. 32. Jesus spake in plain words (wappnoią, freely, and openly) to the disciples; not publicly to the people, for He had expressly "charged the disciples that they should tell no man of Him" at that time. Ver. 30.

3 Matt. xvi. 22.

T