these?"-more than Thomas, more than Nathanael, more than the two sons of Zebedee ?'

Those

Such was the question with which it pleased the Lord, in His infinite wisdom, to try the reality of His Apostle's change. And the question, in a slightly altered form, was thrice repeated, as if to give him the opportunity of washing out the stain of his three denials. And he did wash it out. answers were the answers of a converted man-of grace victorious over the pride and forwardness of the natural heart: Lord, Thou knowest that I love Thee.' For me, alas! I know not: I know nothing but my own infirmity, my own miserable apostasy, and still more miserable presumption. In like manner, he declines the suggested comparison of himself with others, of his own love with the love of others. It is not now, Though all men should hate Thee, yet would I never hate Thee; though all men should love Thee, yet would I love Thee more.' He abstains, you observe, not only from all strong language, but from all reference to himself, and appeals only to the knowledge of his dear Lord, as of one who could read what was passing in his heart. And so it was in the second reply; and so, but with still greater earnestness of feeling in the third: 'Yea, Lord, Thou knowest

that I love Thee.' 'Lord, Thou knowest all things: Thou knowest that I love Thee.' He was grieved indeed at the question being put so often, but it was a salutary, blessed grief. It provoked him to assert nothing of himself, but only more of Him, whom he now thrice professed not only that he knew, but that, as penitent and forgiven, he was known of Him.

And afterwards, when the day of Pentecost was fully come, and the promise of the Father and of Christ was fulfilled by the gift of the Holy Ghost, the confidence which S. Peter now placed in God was found to absorb all that had been weak and vacillating in his character, and enabled him, who had feared to confess his Master on the interrogation of a servant maid, to testify with uncommon boldness to the multitude assembled on that very day Let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.' And again, when the miracle of healing had been wrought by him and by S. John upon the impotent man, and 'the people ran together unto them in Solomon's porch greatly wondering,' all was renunciation of self-all was faith and resting upon God, and upon

:

1 Acts ii. 36.

AS EN Eserblue presumption.

ILED te a ines the suggested compari

ters of his own love with the

Is a DW-Torogh all men

11 La Tera val i ever hate Thee; In soonid love Thee, yet would I love E: MISOLDA TI observe, not only

Tirane, but from all reference to ammed and appeals caly to the knowledge of his int Locks of the who could read what was pussor in his heart. And so it was in the secor zenima and so, but with still greater earnest Seeing in the third: Yea, Lord, Thou 1

that I love Thee.' Lord, Thou knowest all things: Thou knowest that I love Thee.' He was grieved indeed at the question being put so often, but it was a salutary, blessed grief. It provoked him to assert nothing of himself, but only more of Him, whom he now thrice professed not only that he knew, but that, as penitent and forgiven, he was known of Him.

And afterwards, when the day of Pentecost was fully come, and the promise of the Father and of Christ was fulfilled by the gift of the Holy Ghost, the confidence which S. Peter now placed in God was found to absorb all that had been weak and vacillating in his character, and enabled him, who had feared to confess his Master on the interrogation of a servant maid, to testify with uncommon boldness to the multitude assembled on that very day: Let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.' And again, when the miracle of healing had been wrought by him and by S

upor the impotent man, and

them in Solomon's

renunciation of

1 and upon

the Saviour to whom they testified: Ye men of

Israel,' said Peter, why look ye so earnestly on us, as though by our own power or holiness we had made this man to walk ?' And still more remarkably, when on the morrow they were summoned to confront all the authority of the Jewish Sanhedrim -the Rulers, and Elders, and Scribes, and Annas the High Priest, and Caiaphas, and John, and Alexander If,' spake Peter, we this day be examined of the good deed done to the impotent man, by what means he is made whole, be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by Him doth this man stand here before you whole. This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner; neither is there salvation in any other; for there is none other name under Heaven given among men whereby we must be saved.'2 Nor, when the time came, did he shrink in his old age from sealing this testimony with his blood. The promise which he had so rashly made, and broken so weakly in days of his self-confidence, he nobly and abundantly redeemed in the days of his self-distrust; he did