the servant who kept the door to let him in, Peter being admitted, repaired to the fire burning in the middle of the hall, round which the officers and servants were standing; where being observed by the maid servant who let him in, she charged him with being one of CHRIST's disciples; but Peter publicly denied the charge, declaring that he did not know him, and presently withdrew into the porch, where he heard the cock crow: an intimation seemingly sufficient to have awakened his conscience into a quick sense of his duty, and the promise he had a few hours before made to his Master. But, alas! human nature when left to itself, is remarkably frail and inconstant. This Peter sufficiently experienced; for while he continued in the porch, another maid met him, and charged him with being one of the followers of Jesus of Nazareth; which Peter stiffly denied, and, the better to gain belief, uttered an oath, to confirm his assertion. Nearly an hour after this, the servant of the high priest (he, whose ear Peter had cut off) charged him with being a disciple of CHRIST, and that he himself had seen him in the garden with him; adding, that his very speech proved him to be a Galilean. Peter, however, still denied the fact; and to add the highest accomplishment to his sins, ratified it, not only by an oath, but a solemn curse and execration, that he was not the person, that he knew not the man. But no sooner had he uttered this denial, than the cock crew. At which his Master turned about, and earnestly Jooked upon him a look that pierced him to the heart, and brought to his remembrance what his Saviour more than once foretold, that he would, basely and shamefully deny him. Peter was now no longer able to contain his sorrow; he flew from the palace of the high priest, and wept bitterly, passionately bewailing his folly, and the aggravations of his sin; endeavouring thereby to make some reparation for his apostacy, recover the favour of heaven, and prevent the execution of divine justice, by taking a severe revenge upon himself for his crime.

St. Peter's fall should convince us of the miserable frailty even of the best of men, and effectually subdue those vain confidences which are apt to rise in our hearts from our own supposed strength and virtue; for as this great disciple fell in so scandalous a manner, who shall hereafter care to depend upon the highest degree of knowledge, when one so wise, so perfectly satisfied of the truth of the Christian doctrine, was after the fullest convictions of his own conscience, so weak and frail as to deny and abjure his Lord who instructed and bought him, even at the price of his own blood? Who shall presume upon his best resolutions, when he who declared so firm a purpose of adhering to JESUS, did within a few hours peremptorily and solemnly disown that very person for whose sake he was lately ready and disposed to lay down his life.

From this example we should also remember the wisdom and goodness of the Almighty, in causing the faults and infirmities of his saints to be recorded in the Holy Scriptures, and the use we ought to make of their failings and temptations.

Their eminent virtues, and their as eminent repentance where they did amiss, are written as a seasonable warning, and exhibit an instance of bumiliation to all future ages; by letting us see, that the most perfect are but men, subject to blemishes and imperfections: and that the highest and purest state is no security from danger. This should make us very tender how we judge and despise our brethren; whose faults, however severely we may censure them, might probably have been our own, had we been in their circumstances and surrounded with their temptations: for "let him that thinketh he standeth, take heed lest he fall." We should not then promise ourselves safety and freedom from temptations in any circumstance in life; or so far presume on our own virtues, as to think we are incapable of committing the blackest crimes, should the Almighty withdraw his grace, and leave us to ourselves.

We have no account whether St. Peter, after the denial of his Master, retired into some solitary place to give vent to his grief and indulge his tears: or whether be followed his Saviour through the several stages of his trial, and personally attended as a mourner at the funeral of his Master. But however that be, he staid at Jerusalem, or, at least, in the neighbour. hood, and probably with St. John; for when Mary Magdalene returned' from the sepulchre, to inform the disciples that the stone was rolled away from the door, and the body not to be found, Peter and John set out immediately towards the garden. John who was the younger arrived first at the sepulchre, looked into it, but did not enter, either out of fear, or a rever- · ence to his Saviour.

Peter, whose zeal was greatly increased, came soon after, and resolutely went into the sepulchre where he found the linen clothes lying together in one place, the napkin that was about his head wrapped together in another; a sufficient indication that the body was not stolen away: for had that been the case, so much care and order would not have been observed in disposing of the linen clothes. But he did not wait long in suspence with regard to his great Lord and Master; for the same day, and probably about noon, JESUS appeared to him; perhaps in compassion to his sorrow, in which he was overwhelmed for his late shameful denial of his Master.And as he was the first of the disciples who had made a signal confession of the divinity of the Messiah, so it was reasonable he should first see him after his resurrection; and, at the same time, to convince him that the crime he had been guilty of in denying him was pardoned, and that he was come, like the good Samaritan, to pour oil into his wounded conscience, and administer comfort to his afflicted soul.

The apostles soon after prepared to obey the command of their great Master, of retiring into Galilee; and we find that Peter, Nathaniel, two sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples, returned to their old trade of fishing on the lake. One morning early, as they were labouring at their employment, having spent the whole night to no purpose, they saw on the shore a grave person (perhaps in the habit of a traveller) whoTM called to, and asked if they had any meat? To which they answered, No. Cast then, replied he, the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find. They followed his directions, and enclosed a prodigious number of large fish. Astonished at such remarkable success, the disciples looked one upon another for some time, till St. John, told Peter, that the person on the shore was doubtless their great Lord and Master, whom the winds, the sea, and the inhabitants of the watery region were so ready to yield & obedience to,

St. Peter no sooner heard the beloved disciple declare his opinion, concerning the stranger, than his zeal took fire, and, notwithstanding the coldness of the season, girt on his fisher's coat, threw himself into the sea, and swam to shore; his impatience to be with his dear Lord and Master, not suffering him to stay the few minutes necessary to bring the ship near the shore.

As soon as the disciples came on land, they found a fire kindled, and fish laid upon it, either immediately created by the power of their divine Master, or that came ashore of it's own accord, and offered itself to his hands but notwithstanding there were fish already on the fire, he ordered them to bring of those they had now caught, and dress them for their repast, he himself eating with them; both to give them an instance of mutual love and friendship; and also to assure them of the truth of his human nature, since he was risen from the dead, as they now beheld.

The repast being ended, our blessed Saviour addressed himself particularly to St. Peter, urging him to the utmost diligence in the care of souls; and because he knew that nothing but a sincere love to himself could sup port him under the troubles and dangers of so laborious and difficult an

employment, he inquired of him whether he loved him more than the rest of the apostles; mildly reproving him for his over-confident resolution. Peter whom fatal experience had taught humility, modestly answered, that none knew so well as himself the integrity of his affections; thou knowest the hearts of all men, nothing is hid from thee, and therefore thou knowest that I love thee. The question was three several times repeated by our blessed Saviour, and as many times answered by the apostle : it being but just that he, who by a threefold denial, had given so much reason to question his affection, should now by a threefold confession, give more than common assurance for his sincere love for his Master; and to each of these confessions, our great Redeemer added this signal trial of his affection, Feed my sheep."

Our dear Lord having thus engaged Peter to a cheerful compliance with the dangers that might attend the discharge of his office, particularly inti↳ mated to him the fate that would attend him; telling him, that when he was young, he girt himself, lived at his pleasure, and went wherever his fancy directed him; but when he should reach the term of old age, he should stretch forth his hands, and another should gird and bind him, and lead him whither he had no desire to go; intimating, as the evangelists tell us, by what death he would glorify God, and seal the truth with his blood.

St. Peter was not averse to drinking the bitter cup; and making his con◄ fession as public as his denial, that he might therefore testify the sincerity of his sorrow and contrition for his great offence. And seeing John following, he asked his great Master what should be his fate, and whether he, who had been the object of his Master's love in his life time, should not have as honourable a death as he that denied him? To which Jesus replied, it doth not concern thee how I shall dispose of events with regard to him; he shall see the destruction of the Jewish nation, and then go down in peace to the chambers of the dust.

Our blessed Saviour soon after appeared to his diciples at Jerusalem, and took his last farewell of them, who had constantly attended him during his public ministry amongst the sons of men. He now led them out as far as Bethany; a small village on mount Olivet, where he briefly told them; that they were the persons he had chosen to be the witnesses both to his death and resurrection; a testimony which they should publish in every part of the world in order to which he would after his ascension to heav en, pour out his spirit upon them in an extraordinary manner, that they might be the better enabled to struggle with that violent rage and fury with which the doctrine of the gospel would be opposed by men and devils; adding, that in the mean time they should return to Jerusalem, and there wait till those miraculous powers were given from on high. This discourse being finished, be laid hands upon them, and gave them his solemn benediction; during which he was taken from them, and received up unto the regions of the heavenly Canaan,

Our glorious Redeemer having left this vale of misery and ascended into the blissful habitations of immortality, the apostles began to act in conformity to the power and commission they had received from him.The first object that engaged their attention after their return to Jerusalem, was to fill up the vacancy in their college, lately made by the unhappy fall and apostacy of Judas. In order to this they called together the church, and entered into an upper room, when Peter, as president of the assembly, proposed to them the choice of a new apostle. He put them in mind that Judas, one of the disciples of their great and beloved Master, being betrayed by his covetious and insatiable temper, had lately fallen from the honour of his place and his ministry; that this was no more than what the prophets had long since foretold should come to pass; and that the care of the church which had beer, committed to him, should der

volve upon another; that therefore it was highly necessary that some per son who had been familiarly conversant with the blessed Jesus, from first to last, and consequently, a competent witness both of his doctrine and miracles, his death, resurrection, and ascension, should be substituted in his room, and appointed to that high office. In order to which, two candidates were proposed, Joseph, called Barsabas, and Matthias, both qualified for the great and important office of the apostleship; and having prayed that the Divine Providence would immediately guide and direct their choice they cast lots, and the lat fell upon Matthias, who was accordingly admitted into the number of the twelve apostles of our Lord.

This vacancy being filled up in the apostolic college, they spent their time in prayer and meditation, till the feast of Pentecost; when the promise of their great Master in sending the Holy Ghost was fulfilled. The Christian assembly were met as usual, to perform the public service of their worship when suddenly a sound, like that of a mighty wind, rushed in upon them, representing the powerful efficacy of that Divine Spirit, which was now to be communicated to them; after which there appeared small flames of fire, which, in the shape of cloven tongues, descended and sat upon the head of each of them, to denote that their enjoyment of this gift should be constant and perpetual, and not like the prophets of old, who were inspired only at some particular times and seasons: upon which they were all filJed with the Holy Ghost, which, in an instant, enabled them to speak fluently several languages they had never learned, and probably never heard till this time.

As this surprising transaction had different effects on the minds of the audience, some considering it as the effect of a miracle, and others to the power and strength of new wine; the apostles thereupon all stood up, and Peter, in the name of the rest, undertook to confute this injurious calumny: he told them that this scandalous slander proceeded from a spirit of malice and falsehood; that their censure, was as uncharitable as it was unjust; that it was early in the morning, and therefore, not a time for drinking, especially on a day set apart for devotion; that these extraordinary and miraculous effects were but the accomplisment of an ancient prophecy, which the Almighty had expressly declared should be fulfilled in the times of the Messiah; that Jesus of Nazareth had evidently proved himself to be that great prophet, the Son of the Most High, by many unquestionable miracles, of which they themselves had been eye-witnesses; and though, by the permission of Omnipotence who had determined by this means to bring about the redemption of mankind, they had wickedly crucified and slain him, yet God had raised him from the dead.

Though this was the first speech St. Peter ever made in public, it deeply affected the audience, and every word, like a dagger pierced them to the heart; so that they cried out, Men and Brethren, what shall we do ?" To which Peter answered, "The only way to expiate your guilt, and obtain pardon for the many sins you have committed, and acquire the gifts of the Holy Ghost, is to repent sincerely, and to be baptized into the religion of this crucified Saviour,”

A short time after this wonderful conversation, Peter and John going up to the temple about three in the afternoon, near the conclusion of one of the solemn hours of prayer, they saw a poor impotent cripple near forty years of age, who had been lame from his birth, lying at the beautiful gate of the temple, and asking alms of those who entered the sacred edifice. This miserable object moved their compassion; and Peter beholding him with attention, said, "The riches of this world, the silver and gold so highly coveted by the sons of men, are not in my power to bestow; but I possess the power of restoring life and health, and am ready to assist thee." Then taking the man by the hand, commanded him in the name of Jesus of Nazareth to rise up and walk. Immediately the nerves and sinews were