that should do this thing. "They were exceeding sorrowful, and began every one of them to say unto him, Lord, is it I?" It was least likely to be those, who were fearful and distrustful of themselves. No doubt, the fact is grievous, that of those who profess the name and faith of Christ, many, he knows, shall betray him. But they are those who have never given up their hearts to him: those who have still served mammon whilst they have been engaged to God, and have provoked him to anger by honouring him with their lips, whilst in their hearts they have gone after their covetousness." 4

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24. And there was also a strife among them, which of them should be accounted the greatest.

25. And he said unto them, The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and they that exercise authority upon them are called benefactors.

26. But ye shall not be so: but he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth serve.

27. For whether is greater, he that sitteth at meat, or he that serveth? is not he that sitteth at meat? but I am among you as he that serveth.

28. Ye are they which have continued with me in my temptations:

29. And I appoint unto you a kingdom, as my Father hath appointed unto me.

30. That ye may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

Of such slow growth is the christian spirit of lowliness and humility, that there was even now a strife amongst the apostles, which should be

3 Matt. xxvi. 22.

4

Ezek. xxxiii. 31.

accounted greatest. The Lord rebukes them. Among the Gentiles such a temper would exist, and might be expected. But it should not be so amongst them. The same mind must be in them, of which he had set the wonderful example: for he had "humbled himself," and been among them as he that serveth.5

We must observe, however, that it is not the being greatest, but the desiring to be accounted greatest, which is forbidden. Some must be first and greatest and if God had designed it to be otherwise, he would have dispensed to all the same talents and the like opportunities. Difference of circumstances, and difference of abilities, will always set one above another in station and authority. Of the apostles afterwards, John and Peter, James and Paul, justly took the lead. But they who were greatest in eminence, were as the youngest and lowest in their spirit: and Paul, though "in labours more abundant," and though he might have gloried "in visions and revelations, of the Lord," would only "glory in the things which concerned his infirmities," and owned himself"the least of all the apostles, who was not meet to be called an apostle." We find in life, that the highest are often the humblest; and that pride is as common in the cottage as on the throne. The real greatness of man on earth, must consist in the knowledge of his own unworthiness and true ambition will aim at the world to come. That was the kingdom to which Jesus bid his apostles look there they should be great indeed; and sit 6 2 Cor. xii. 1; and xi. 30.

5 See Phil. ii. 8.

on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. For " many that are last shall be first, and the first last:" and the tribes of Israel who rejected the Messiah, and persecuted his disciples, should then stand convicted by those who had recognised the tokens of his divinity; should be judged and condemned by those humble and despised persons who had heard his voice, and followed him.

In that day, may we be found to have been partakers of his humility, that we may also be partakers of his glory!

LECTURE LXXXIV.

JESUS WARNS PETER OF THE ENMITY OF SATAN, AND PROMISES TO PRESERVE HIM.

LUKE Xxii. 31-34.

(Matt. xxvi. 33-35. Mark xiv. 29-31.)

31. And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat:

32. But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not ; and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.

33. And he said unto him, Lord, I am ready to go with thee, both into prison, and to death.

34. And he said, I tell thee, Peter, the cock shall not crow this day, before that thou shalt thrice deny that thou knowest me.

The apostles had hitherto been comparatively secure. They had been supported by their Master's presence, and strengthened by his advice and example. This calm was now at an end: the storm was threatening. He was to be taken from them; and they would be exposed to all the reviling, persecution, and cruelty which he had foretold.

Of this, he now forewarns them. He forewarns them, also, of the author of the evil. Satan hath desired to have you, (to have all of you in his power,) that he may sift you as wheat: may agitate and harass you by inward doubts and outward difficulties, as when corn is winnowed, or shaken in the sieve. And soon, indeed, were these words proved true: when danger approached, all forsook him and fled: he to whom the warning was particularly addressed, was induced by his fears to deny that he knew his Lord: and, dismayed at his death, they gave up all hopes that Jesus were he who should redeem Israel.

Here, then, was the danger. Satan would take advantage of their circumstances, to overthrow their faith.

But this was not the danger of the apostles only. Satan will do his worst against all to whom the gospel is proposed, to keep them from the way of salvation, or to withdraw them out of it. He desires to have them, that he may sift them as wheat. Their situation, their disposition, the events that happen to them, all of these he will turn against them. He will tempt the rich to 1 ἐξητησατο ύμας.

self-indulgence: the poor to dishonesty: the prosperous to covetousness: the unfortunate to discontent: the timid to sinful compliance: the bold to rashness and presumption.

Hence the warning of this very apostle to his own disciples afterwards; "Be sober, be vigilant, because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: whom resist, stedfast in the faith; knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world." 2

Having declared the danger, Jesus proceeds to say, addressing Peter in particular: But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not. I have prayed that the enmity of Satan may not prevail to overthrow thy faith, and effect thy ruin.

Here, then, was Peter's safety. Christ had taken him under his charge, to shield him from the adversary's power. "All things had been delivered. to Jesus of his Father," "that he should give eternal life to as many as he had given him: " and

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they shall never perish, neither shall any pluck them out of his hand." And he, the conqueror of Satan, the Redeemer of the world, had prayed for Peter that his faith might not fail.

This leads to an important question. We are all threatened and endangered by the same enemy. May we obtain to ourselves the like security!

Let us inquire what Peter had done, to protect himself against the arts of Satan. What he had done, we may do. For he was a man as we are,

2 1 Pet. v.
8, 9.

3 ἐγω ἐδεήθην περι σου.