not recount the particulars of the "signs and wonders wrought among the people" by the hands of any other of the Twelve; and it is to be remarked, in the relation of the first miracle after the day of Pentecost, when Peter and John were companions at the Temple, and were jointly appealed to by the lame man, that it was Peter, who uttered the command: "In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk '." In the debate at Jerusalem, on the question of conformity to the Mosaic law by the Gentile converts, Peter took a conspicuous part 2.

4

VI. Our Saviour's distinction of Peter is often to be observed. Jesus said to him at the beginning; "Thou shalt be called CEPHAS." He afterwards promised that Peter should "catch men ." Our Lord appears to have dwelt at Capernaum, in Peter's house. He pronounced this Apostle "blessed" for his early and decided confession of faith, and pointed out a signal honour that awaited him 6. He admitted Peter, with James and John, to His more intimate conversation, and was pleased to afford, in the presence of these disciples, the most convincing demonstrations of His Divine nature and office".

1 Acts iii. 6.

4 Luke v. 10.

6 Matt. xvi. 17-9.

2 Acts xv.

3

John i. 42.

5 Matt. viii. 14. Mark i. 29. Luke iv. 38.

7 Matt. xvii. 1. xxvi. 37. Mark v. 37. ix. 2. xiii. 3, 4. xiv. 33. Luke viii. 51. ix. 28.

He declared that He had prayed for Peter, that his faith might not utterly fail'. Peter was one of the three witnesses of our Lord's agony in the garden; and even in the reproach, which the disciples incurred for slumbering at such a time, we have an instance of our Saviour's especial consideration of Peter: "He cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with Me one hour 2?" Jesus did not forsake Peter at the hour when He was Himself forsaken by His ungrateful servant: "The Lord turned, and looked upon Peter 3." On the morning of the resurrection, when the Angel informed Mary Magdalen, and the other pious women, that Jesus was risen, Peter was particularly named as one, whose heart was to be gladdened with this crowning proof of our Saviour's Divinity: "Tell His disciples, AND PETER, that He goeth before you into Galilee 1." Christ appeared to Peter before He showed Himself to the other Apostles: "He was seen of Cephas, then of the Twelve 5." His discourse was more immediately directed to Peter, when He met him and others, after the resurrection, at the sea of Tiberias, and Peter was then restored, in a marked and gracious manner, to full favour and trust o.

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3 Luke xxii. 61. Luke xxiv. 34.

VII Peter's name stands at the head of the catalogues of the Twelve, in the three Gospels, in which they are enumerated'. St. John does not furnish a list of the Apostles, but, when he first makes mention of Peter, he introduces his name as that of a very distinguished servant of Christ. It is in the following passage: "One of the two, which heard John (the Baptist) speak, and followed Jesus, was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother2. St. Matthew, in his enumeration of the Apostles, gives Peter singular respect: "Now the names of the Twelve Apostles are these; the first, Simon, who is called Peter 3" The names of the other Apostles are placed by the Evangelists in different orders, except that of Judas Iscariot, which is always inserted last.

In these, and in all parts of the Christian narratives, where Peter is introduced, an identity of description is preserved. The different writers exactly agree in their representations of him. They are strictly consistent with themselves, and with each other, in recording the actions and discourses of a disciple, whose character, marked by striking peculiarities, is prominently brought forward, who was high in his Master's favour, and held a station

Matt. x. 2-4. Mark iii. 14-19. Luke vi. 13-16.

of eminence among his brethren.

This CONSIS

TENCY affords a strong presumptive argument, that Truth, which is always uniform, is the basis of the accounts transmitted to us.

A VIEW OF OUR SAVIOUR'S PROPHECIES RELATING TO ST. PETER.

THE prophecies uttered by our Saviour, on occasions when the foresight of the events exceeded all human sagacity, are numerous and explicit. The language in which He delivered them was suitable to the Son of God. "Holy men of God spake, as they were moved by the Holy Ghost '" Their style was, "Thus saith the Lord." Jesus prophesied in His own Name, and as One having plenary authority.

It would be an edifying employment to consider distinctly, and with careful attention, the various prophecies delivered by Christ, to reflect, at what seasons, and under what circumstances, they were pronounced, how improbable most of the events, to which they pointed, appeared to man's discernment, and how strictly and punctually those events, brought