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publicly read in many or all the churches, on account of the excellence and usefulness of their contents; and, till the writings of the New Testament were collected into one volume, it appears to have been the technical name by which this collection of epistles was distinguished from the Pauline Epistles.1

The object of the Apostle in this Epistle is plainly to confirm the disciples in the faith, profession, and obedience of the Gospel, by deepening their conviction, that the source of happiness and the foundation of the everlasting kingdom of God were contained in that faith of the Redeemer which had been announced to them, and received by them into their hearts; that that doctrine was indeed the everlasting unchangeable word of God, and therefore that they ought to aim at appropriating it with childlike simplicity, that so they might continually advance towards "the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ;" and to exhort them to maintain their steadfastness in the faith under all persecutions, and a corresponding course of conduct, by which they would "shine as lights in the world," and refute the false accusations against Christianity and Christians.2

It is my intention, "if the Lord will," to lay before you at irregular intervals, a series of Expository Discourses on this "weighty and powerful" epistle, and the passage which I have read shall form the subject of the first of these discourses.

These verses contain the inscription and the salutation, according to the ordinary usage of the apostolical epistles; and naturally lead us to speak, I. Of the writer of the epistle" Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ;" II. Of those to whom the epistle is addressed-"The elect strangers of the dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia-elect according to the foreknowledge of God, by a spiritual sanctification, to obedience and to the sprinkling

1 Euseb. H. E. ii. 23; Nässelti Opuscula, fasc. ii.; Michaelis; Hug; De Wette. 2 Neander.

Schott;

of the blood of Jesus Christ;" and III. of the benevolent wish which he expresses, or the solemn prayer which he presents for them "Grace unto you, and Peace, be multiplied."

I. OF THE WRITER OF THE EPISTLE.

The writer of this epistle, whose original name was Simon, was a native of Bethsaida, at that time an inconsiderable village on the banks of the sea of Galilee. He was bred to the occupation of a fisherman, which seems to have been the family profession; and at the time of his becoming acquainted with Jesus Christ, he was married, and had removed with his family to Capernaum. His brother Andrew, who was a disciple of John the Baptist, having heard his master pronounce Jesus, whom he had lately baptized, "the Lamb of God," solicited an interview with him, which ended in his conviction that he was indeed the great deliverer, concerning whom the ancient prophets had uttered so many glorious predictions, and whose appearance was at this period generally expected by the Jews without delay. He communicated the joyful intelligence to his brother Simon, whom he introduced to Jesus. He also appears to have become from that day a believer; and in the exercise of that knowledge of the secrets of the heart and of futurity, by which he was distinguished, Jesus, in reference to the dispositions he should discover, and the services. he should perform, surnamed him Cephas, or Petrosthe one a Chaldee-Syriac, the other a Greek word--both signifying a stone or rock.

For some time after this these two brothers continued to follow their profession, as fishermen. But one day Jesus, after having confirmed their faith by a miraculous draught of fishes, which he intimated was emblematical of the vast multitudes who, through their instrumentality, were to become his followers, required their constant attendance on him; and when he very soon afterwards selected twelve of his disciples, whom he termed apostles, and entrusted with

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miraculous powers, we find Peter's name holding the first place in the list. He obviously from the beginning was among the chief of the apostles," and occupied a high place, comparatively as well as really, in his Master's esteem and affection. Of this we have satisfactory evidence in his being, along with John and James, the sons of Zebedee, honoured as a witness of his glory on the Mount of Transfiguration, and of his agony in the garden of Gethsemane.

None of the apostles were more firmly persuaded of the divinity of Jesus' mission, more affectionately attached to his person, and more zealously devoted to his cause. When, on many of his disciples, who had expected from the Messiah a worldly kingdom, becoming offended with a discourse in which he had intimated that the blessings he came to procure and bestow were of a heavenly kind, and "going back, and walking no more with him," Jesus turned to his little chosen band, and put to them the touching question, "Will ye also go away?" Peter exclaimed, "To whom can we go but to thee? thou hast the words of eternal life. And we know and are sure that thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God." On another occasion, when our Lord, having inquired of his disciples what were the opinions generally entertained of him by his countrymen, put the question to them, "Who say ye that I am?" Peter immediately replied, "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God." His warm attachment to his Lord was equally strongly, though not equally wisely, manifested, in his dissuading him from submitting to suffering and death, in his refusing to allow him to wash his feet, in his declaration that though he should die with him he would never deny him, in his singly drawing his sword against a numerous body of armed men in his defence, and in his persisting to follow him when the rest of the disciples had forsaken him and fled.

To teach Peter his own weakness, he was permitted to fall before the temptations to which he had rashly exposed himself. Thrice in the course of a very short period he

denied with execrations that he knew Him for whom he had so lately, both by words and deeds, shown that he was then ready to lay down his life. The fact is recorded not for Peter's shame but for our instruction; and it proclaims, "Let him who thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall." "Be not high-minded, but fear." "Without Christ do nothing."

ye can

"Beware of Peter's word,

Nor confidently say,

'I never will deny my Lord;'
But 'grant I never may.""

On our Lord's casting on Peter a look of wounded but unchanging affection, he was stung to the heart. At the thought of his base ingratitude, he retired into solitude, and "wept bitterly."

It is a touching proof of Jesus' peculiar affection to Peter, that in the message he sent by the angel to his disciples by Mary Magdalene, to whom he first appeared after his resurrection, that Peter is particularly mentioned. "Go tell the disciples, and Peter." This token of kindness was not lost on him. He ran immediately to the sepulchre, and went into it to ascertain that the body was indeed removed; and he had the high honour of being the first among the apostles who saw his risen Redeemer, though we have no particular account of the interview.

Some time after the resurrection, our Lord gave Peter a most overwhelming proof of his regard, and afforded him an honourable opportunity of manifesting, in the presence of his brethren, his unabated love for the Saviour, and his increased distrust of himself. It would be injustice to tell the story in other words than those of the inspired historian, John xxi. 15-19 "So, when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs. He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou

knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep. He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep. Verily, verily, I say unto thee, When thou wast young, thou girdedst thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest : but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not. This spake he, signifying by what death he should glorify God. And when he had spoken this, he saith unto him, Follow me."

Peter was present with his brethren on that memorable day, when Jesus "led them out as far as to Bethany, and lifted up his hands and blessed them; and while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven." Not one of them gazed with a more eager eye upward till the form of the Saviour vanished in the cloud of glory, or with a heart more full of solemn gladness returned to Jerusalem.

Immediately after the outpouring of the Holy Ghost, Peter was honoured to open the gates of the kingdom of heaven to the Jews, by preaching the first Gospel sermon properly so called, and his preaching was blessed to the conversion of three thousand souls.

After having, along with John, performed a miracle of healing, he delivered an eloquent and convincing discourse, by means of which multitudes were induced to embrace the Gospel. And when brought before the council, he showed how completely our Lord's promise had been performed, that he would give to his apostles "a spirit and a wisdom which all their adversaries would be unable to resist."

At his reproof Ananias and Sapphira, who had attempted to impose on the apostles, were struck with instantaneous death.

Many of the Samaritans having embraced Christianity in consequence of the preaching of Philip, Peter visited them,

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