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ed to pray, and mixed with bad company. Let this be regarded and improved as a folemn caution to ourselves. Let us beware of thofe omiffions and failures, which are thought trifling: they may lead to the most fatal events.

Such cafes are most lamentable; and yet the Lord God fees fit to permit them, and even renders them fubfervient to his own gracious purposes. His offending people are more deeply abafed, while their painful experience teftifies their total depravity and entire helpleffness: they learn to walk more circumfpectly, perceive more of the excellency and value of redemption, and become more cordially attached to the Saviour. There are perfons, indeed, upon whom thefe inftances have a bad effect but they muft anfwer for their own perverfe abufes. If they are encouraged to fin, here is nothing which can juftify their conduct. They prove their own defperate wickedness, while they plead the examples of others; so that their very excuses will be turned against themfelves.

The fall of Peter was fcandalous, but not of long continuance. The fame night, and almost the fame hour, he was reftored and brought back to God as a weeping penitent. Immediately after his laft profane declaration, the cock crew the fecond time; and, it should feem, that found, which fo exactly fulfilled the previous admonition given him, deeply affected his heart. But, more especially, he was awakened by the eye of his infulted Mafter, who had been within the hearing of fome of his impious fpeeches. "The Lord turned, and looked upon Peter; and Peter remembered his word." That look pierced his very foul: and yet, we apprehend, it was a look, not of indignation, which would have driven him to defpair, but of the most compaffionate regard it upbraided him for his treachery, but encouraged his hope of forgiveness. Then he beheld

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the heinoufnefs of his tranfgreffion; and, under the ftrong influence of fhame, confufion, and pungent forrow, he fought where he might hide his head, and vent the diftreffes of his mind. "He went out,

and wept bitterly." Where, then, is the promised fweetnefs of fin? Rather, what complicated miferies does it produce! How deep the wound, which it leaves upon the confcience! Many, alas! are almost overwhelmed with anguifh, on account of their backflidings, and cry out day and night, with a painful remembrance of what they have loft, "Reftore unto me the joy of thy falvation *." Yet let them not fay, "There is no hope;" fince we here refer them to one, who was recovered from his fall, pardoned, and again eftablished with equal, if not with greater, ftrength.

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We read no more of this Apoftle, till the morning of the refurrection. The interval must have been to him a feason of extreme affliction, spent in prayers and tears. But, upon the first tidings that the Lord was rifen, Peter, who was in John's company, ran with eager hafte to fee the fepulchre +. A celeftial meffenger, proclaiming the joyful event to certain pious women, directed them to inform the difciples of their Master's design to meet them, and made mention of Peter's name in particular. This was calculated to comfort him, as it conveyed an intimation, that he was not abandoned or forgotten ‡. Soon afterwards, on the fame day, Jefus fhewed himself alive to him, before the reft of the Apostles had obtained that fight: and there was not one, who stood so much in need of fupport and confolation §.

The Saviour, alfo, after his refurrection, favoured him with peculiar notice, in a very remarkable interview at the fea of Tiberias. He appeared to Peter and

Pfal. li. 12. + John xx. 1-10. Mar. xvi. 7. § Luke xxiv. 34. 1 Cor. xv. 5. John xxi. 1, &c.

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certain other difciples, who were fishing, and by his miraculous influence filled their net with large fi.hes. Peter, difcovering his dear Lord upon the hore, inftantly call himfelf out of the flip, that he might fwim to him; and teftify the ftrength of his attachment. They dined together, and then followed a mot affecting difcourfe

The former profeffions of the Apoftle might feem to be rendered dubious, if not entirely falfified, by his late misconduct. Probably with a reference to this circunftance, Jefus now enquired, whether his love was indeed greater than that of others, as he had once boafted. The interrogation conveyed a tender reproof, to which Peter replied only by appealing to Jefus, as acquainted with the ftate of his heart, for the fincerity of his regard. He was then commanded to give evidence of it, by attending to his paftoral office, and feeding the meaneft and weakeft of the flock. This contaired, in effect, a renewal of his Apoftolic committion, and therefore a full teftimony of forgivenefs. Thrice was the queltion propofed, and thrice did he call upon the Saviour, to whom his inmoft foul was open, for the attestation of his integrity. But, having become more diffident of himself, he prefumed not to intimate, that he felt a ftronger affection than the reft. As the charge, alfo, was thrice repeated, there could not remain a doubt, that he was reinflated in his place. Jefus predicted, that in his old age he would fuffer a violent death, and glorify God by crucifixion, and then ftrictly enjoined him to follow the fteps of his Mafter. Peter wished to be informed, what would become of John, but received for anfwer, that, leaving the concerns of others, he must attend to his own, and labour to imitate the example fet before him.

Here we paufe, and ftand in admiration of that grace, which can pardon, reftore, and fave, even the most heinous backfliders. "Return unto the

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Lord your God," you, who "have fallen by your iniquity." He himself declares, "I will heal their backfliding, I will love them freely*." O confefs your bafenefs, and weep with genuine contrition for your aggravated offence! But confider alfo, if you have obtained mercy, and God be pleased to employ you again in his fervice, what grateful acknowledg ments of his love, what vigorous exertions to promote his caufe, are due from you more than from any others! You cannot expiate your guilt, or repair the mischief you have done: but defire, at least, to prove your recovery, exhort your brethren to main tain their fteadfaftnefs, and labour to bring again thofe, who, like yourselves, have been driven away. Let your great Exemplar be ever before your eyes. Follow him more clofely and conftantly than before; follow him, even unto death, and you fhall finally reign with him in glory. Amen.

* Hof, xiv. 1, 4s

SAINT PETER.

SECT. 2.

Peter propofed the election of a new Apoftle-preached on the day of Pentecoft-healed a lame man, and addreffed the people-imprifoned-pleaded before the Sanhedrim -detected Ananias—again imprisoned, brought before the Sanhedrim, and Scourged-went to Samaria, Lydda, Foppa, and Cefarea-defended his conduct towards Cornelius-delivered from Herod attended the council at Jerufalem-reproved by St. Paul at Antioch-bis writings, and death.

THOSE profeffions of repentance, which are not accompanied with its genuine fruits, deferve no credit. Saint Peter received a particular injunction to prove his recovery, by confirming the faith of his brethren, and feeding the flock of Chrift*. This evidence was given through the whole fucceeding part of his life. The Acts of the Apoftles have put it beyond a doubt the twelve first chapters chiefly relate to him, and, as if it had been their grand object, demonftrate by the strongeft teftimonies, that his contrition was fincere, and his fubfequent conduct confiftent and honourable. Many circumftances may be concealed from us; but enough is recorded, to fhew, that he obtained forgiveness, and continued for many years an extenfive bleffing to the Church. As he lived, fo we have reason to believe that he died, in the

Luke xxii. 32. John xxi. 15.

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