CHAPTER XXIV.

Peter.

FIRST INTERVIEW WITH JESUS AND HIS CALL; DENIAL OF CHRIST; MEETING WITH JESUS AFTER HIS RESURRECTION; BOLDNESS IN PREACHING.

AINT Peter was born at Bethsaida, a city of Gali lee, situate on the banks of the lake of Genesareth, called also the sea of Galilee, from its being situated in that country, and the lake of Tiberias, from that city being built on its banks.

But the particular time of this great apostle's birth can not be known; the evangelists and other writers among the primitive christians having been silent with regard to this particular. It is, however, pretty certain that he was at least ten years older than his Master; the circumstances of his being married and in a settled course of life, when he first became a follower of the great Messiah, and that authority and respect the gravity of his person procured him among the rest of the apostles, are thought sufficiently to declare this conjecture to be very near the truth.

As he was a descendant of Abraham, he was circumcised according to the rites of the Mosaic law, and called by his parents, Simon, or Simeon, a name common at that time among the Jews. But after his becoming a disciple of the blessed Jesus, the additional title of Cephas was conferred upon him by his Master, to denote the firmness of his faith; the word cephas, in the Syriac, the common language of the Jews at that time, signifying a stone, or rock; hence we call him Peter, which implies the same thing.

With regard to the parents of Peter, the evangelists have also been silent, except in telling us that his father's name was Jonas, who was highly honored by our blessed Saviour, who chose two of his sons, Andrew and Peter, to be his apostles, and preachers of the glad tidings of salvation to the children of men.

Peter in his youth was brought up to the trade of fishing on the lake of Bethsaida, where he followed it for some time, but afterward removed to Capernaum, where he settled; for we find he had a house there when our Saviour began his public ministry, and there he paid tribute.

His business was both mean and servile; exposing him to all the injuries of the weather, the tempestuousness of the sea, and the darkness and horror of the night, and all to acquire a mean livelihood for himself and family.

But meanness of worldly degree is no obstacle to the favor of God. Indeed, the chosen friends and votaries of christianity, are oftener persons of humble and lowly stations in life, than the great, the dignified, and the opulent.

Of what sect the apostle was, sacred history hath not ascertained.

His readiness and curiosity at the first news of Christ's ap pearance, to come to him and converse with him, shows that his expectations had been awakened, and some glimmering rays of hope conveyed to him by the preaching and ministry of John, who was "the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his path straight.

He became acquainted with the immaculate Lamb of God, in the following manner:

His brother, having heard from John the Baptist, a description of the character of Jesus, who not only told them. of him, but pointed him out personally, was greatly rejoiced at the discovery, hastened to Simon, and with rapture exclaimed, "I have found that eminent person so long and signally foretold by the prophets, and whom all the devout and pious among the sons of Jacob so earnestly expected."

Simon, who was one of those who waited for redemption in Israel, ravished with this joyful news, and impatient of delay, presently followed his brother to the place; and on his arrival the Saviour immediately gave him a proof of his divinity, saluting him at first sight by his name, and telling him both who he was, his name and kindred, and what title should soon be conferred upon him.

Peter, however, seems not to have followed Jesus at this

time, but returned to his fishing on the lake, where the Redeemer afterward found him.

sea.

Having occasion at a certain time, to get into Simon's boat, to avoid the multitude who pressed upon him, he ordered that the boat be put from the shore, and the net cast into the To which Simon answered, that they had labored the preceding night, and had taken nothing; and if they could not then succeed, there was little hopes of it now, as the day was far less proper for fishing than the night. But as his Master was pleased to command, he would obey; and accordingly he let down his net, when, to the astonishment both of himself and his companions, so great a multitude of fishes were inclosed, that they were obliged to call their partners to their assistance.

Amazed at this miraculous draught of fishes, Simon Peter, in an ecstacy of admiration, blended with awe and humility, fell prostrate at his Master's feet, acknowledging himself to be a vile and sinful person, and thinking himself unworthy of being admitted into the presence of one so immediately sent from God. But the compassionate Son of the Most High kindly removed his fears, telling him that this miracle was wrought to confirm his faith, and indicate to him that the Almighty had appointed a more noble employment for him, that of saving the souls of the children of men.

From this time Peter and his companions became the constant and inseparable disciples of the great Messiah, submitting themselves to the rules of his discipline, and living under his institutions.

Peter became one of the chosen twelve, selected to be in attendance on the blessed Saviour, to perform his holy pleasure. He accompanied his Master to the house of Jairus, on the occasion of his restoring to life the ruler's daughter; and from this time we have no account of him in particular till the night after our Saviour's miraculously feeding the multitude in the wilderness.

Then, as Jesus was walking toward his disciples on the raging, tempest-tossed sea, Peter, who was always remarkable for bold resolutions, desired his Master to give him leave to

cone to him on the water; and, on obtaining permission, he left the ship, and walked on the sea to meet his Saviour.

But when he heard the deep roar around him, and the waves increase, he began to be afraid; and as his faith declined, his body sunk in the water, so that, in the greatest agony, he called for assistance to him who was able to

save.

His cry was heard, and the reproof given, "O, thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?"

As Jesus was discoursing the next day on the true bread from heaven, in allusion to the miracle of the loaves, many left him, upon which he turned to his disciples, and asked them if they also would go away. To which Peter replied in a manner that showed his confidence, "Lord, whither shall we go? Thou hast the words of eternal life."

Then in order to test them, he inquired what they thought of him, and Peter again unhesitatingly speaks, "Thou art Christ, the Son of the living God."

This full and comprehensive declaration satisfied the Saviour, who answered, "Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-Jonah: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my father which is in heaven."

That is, this faith which thou hast now confessed is not human, or built upon the testimony of men, but upon the knowledge which I was sent from God to reveal unto the world; therefore I say also unto thee, "that thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it."

As thy name signifies a rock, so shalt thou prove firm. solid, and immovable in building my church, which shall be so firmly established by thy care and diligence, upon that faith thou hast now professed, that all the assaults of men and devils shall not be able to destroy it.

The disciples had no idea that their Master was to suffer death for the sins of the world; and when he related to them what he must undergo, Peter, who could not endure the thought of his Lord's suffering even the least punishment, much less those cruelties he had mentioned, and at last death

itself, interrupted him very unseasonably, and said, "Be it far from thee, Lord; this shall not be unto thee."

But the Saviour, who came down from heaven to give his life a ransom for the sins of the world, and who valued the redemption of mankind infinitely more than his own ease and safety, highly resented this speech, and accordingly returned the sharp reproof, "Get thee behind me, Satan; thou art an offense unto me."

Soon after, we see him one of the favored three who ascend the mount of transfiguration, and while the heavenly scene was being enacted there, he fell asleep, and on waking, was surprised to see him surrounded with unutterable glory, and Moses and Elias talking with him.

Silence was preserved till those visitants from the courts of heaven were going to depart, when Peter, in a rapture and ecstasy of mind, addressed himself to his Master, declaring infinite pleasure and delight in being favored with this glorious spectacle, and desired his leave to erect three tabernacles-one for him, and one for each of the two prophets. But at this moment, a voice from heaven declared the divinity of Christ, which filled the disciples with fear; and as he touched them, bidding them dismiss their fears, they looked up, and saw their Master only.

Peter, also, was one of those who were sent to make preparations for celebrating the Passover.

While Jesus was washing his disciples' feet on this occasion, he came to Peter, who would by no means permit him to perform so mean and condescending an office. What! the Son of God stoop to wash the feet of a sinful mortal!—a thought which shocked the apostle, who strenuously declared, "Thou shalt never wash my feet."

But Jesus told him that if he washed him not, he could have no part with him,-insinuating that this action was mystical, and signified the remission of sins and the purifying virtue of the Spirit of the Most High, to be poured out upon all true christians. This answer sufficiently removed the scruples of Peter, who cried out, "Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head." Wash