BUT Peter had declared on Christ's forewarning them that "they would all be offended because of him, although all shall be offended, yet will not I."

He had indeed made that declaration; but he had not judged others, or pretended to determine that they would, or would not, be offended because of him. Peter knew that he loved Chriftthat the love of Chrift was generally a governing principle in his heart. He felt the ftrength of it fo fenfibly at that time, that he did not conceive it poffible, that any dangers or fufferings could ever induce him to forfake his Lord; or in any respect, be offended because of him. Therefore his confident declaration, that he should stand by him in every extremity, though he fhould be left to fland alone. Leaving the future conduct of others, to determine the measure of their love to Christ, he fpake only of his own. Though all men shall be offended because of thee, yet will not I be offended." As though he had faid;

"I Do not pretend to know the hearts of others; but I think I know my own; and that I have fuch love to thee my Lord, that nothing can feparate me from thee." Jefus anfwered, "Verily I fay unto thee, that this night, before the cock crow, thou fhalt deny me thrice." Peter replied, "Though I fhould die with thee, yet will I not deny thee. Likewife alfo faid all his disciples."

THEY no doubt all spoke the language of their hearts; all expreffed the determination of their fouls at the time; though they were foon convinced of their mistake-that they did not fuffi

ciently know themselves-their own weaknessthe need they flood in of divine fupport.

PETER, in particular, expreffed the genuine feelings of his own warm and honeft heart; but without the smallest intimation, that he suspected his fellow difciples; or pretended to judge them.

AND is there reason to think that Chrift would put him upon this work? That he would require him to judge them, and compare his love with theirs? Efpecially when we confider Chrift's for. mer prohibition of judging others, which he had early made a law to his difciples. Judge not that ye be not judged:" And remember that Chrif tians are directed," in all lowlinefs of mind, to ef teem others better than themselves."

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SOME have been disposed to think highly of themselves, and meanly of others-to say to others, Stand by thyfelf; come not near me; I am holier than thou"--Some, to " compare themselves with others and exalt themselves above others." But not fo the humble Chriftian-Not fo the meek follower of Jefus. Nor is there any thing favorable to fuch temper and conduct to be found in the facred volume. The fpirit and tenor of the divine rule is opposed to it, and fpeaks perfons of this character, objects of divine averfion.

THIS temper, and its oppofite, are exemplified in the pharifee and publican, who went up to the temple to pray. "God I thank thee, that I am not as other men-or even as this publican.” Thus the pharifee. But "the publican standing afar off, would not lift up fo much as his eyes to

heaven, but fmote upon his breaft, faying, God be merciful to me a finner." We know which of these met the divine approbation.

Now, is it fuppofable, that the Savior would put a question to Simon, which would countenance the pharifaic difpofition? Or that he would require him to judge the hearts of others? Or compare himself with others, in a matter which required the knowledge of their hearts?

Ir feems frange that this should be thought by any one, to be the fenfe of Christ's question to Peter; much more that this fhould be the moft common conftruction of it, by expofitors.

II. In answer to our Lord's queftion to Simon, we find him in the text appealing to our Lord, for the reality of his love. "Thou knoweft that I love thee-Thou knoweft all things, Thou knoweft that I love thee."

It is obfervable that Peter refts the whole matter on Chrift's knowledge of the heart. Peter makes no plea adduces no evidence-mentions no circumftance, evidential of his love to Chrift, but refers the matter back directly to him, as the fearcher of hearts and leaves it with him. Thou knoweft

that I love thee.

THE grieved, and diftreffed apostle, could have mentioned many things as proofs of his love to Jefus; yea of the firength of his affection for him. He might have pleaded his profeffion refpecting Chrift, at the time when he was honored with the name of Peter-an honorable diftinction, and defigned to recommend him to the acceptance of his

fellow disciples. He might have mentioned what paffed, when Chrift afked the twelve, whether they "would alfo go away?" When many offended at his doctrine forfook him, after having followed him, and profeffed themfelves his difciples. Simon had on that occafion made a noble profeffion; fhewing that he was a difciple indeed" Lord, to whom shall we go? Thou haft the words of eternal life. And we believe and are fure, that thou art that Chrift, the fon of the living God?" He might have pleaded, that he had fingly dared to draw his fword againft the multitude, which came to apprehend his Lord-that he had refolutely at tacked them, and maintained the conflict, with the whole band, till difarmed by a command from his divine Sovereign to put up its fword into its fheaththat he had followed Chrift, when most of the others forfook him and fled-had ventured into the judgment hall to attend his trial and witness the event that though there surprised and terrified in. to a denial of Chrift, when he faw him contrary to his expectations, refign himself to death, by the wicked hands of unbelieving Jews, aided by heathen foldiers, yet that only one kind look from his captive Lord, had brought him to repent and mourn in the bitterness of his foul, that he had not agreeably to his former purpofe, died with his divine master-He might have alleged, that he had not forfaken Chrift's family and friends, even when Chrift hung on the crofs or flept in the tomb; though his moft faithful followers, had then been

ready to conclude, that they had been deceived, when "they trufted that it was he who fhould have redeemed Ifrael"-that he had watched Chrift's corpse, and been with the first to examine the report of his refurrection, and among the first who believed it-and that even then, at that appearance of his Lord, he only of those present, when they faw him ftanding on the fhore, could not wait till the boat fhould convey him to the land, but had thrown himself into the sea, leaving the fish which they had inclofed, to continue in their own element, and fwam to the fhore, not perhaps, without endangering his life, that he might not delay to receive and welcome his Lord.

THESE, and probably many other things, evidential of the reality and ftrength of his love to Christ, Simon might have alleged, notwithftanding his late defection-distinctions, which perhaps none of his fellow difciples could have pleaded; and which, had any fhare of the pharifaic fpirit refted on him, might have induced him to claim that fuperiority to his brethren, which a certain church afterwards attributed to him.

To have mentioned thefe, might have strengthened the charity of his fellow difciples towards him; but he knew that none of them were requifite, to convince Chrift of his love. Though he had done, and fuffered, and exposed himself for Chrift, more than others, he put in no claim to a reward he had done lefs than was his duty. His dependence was on grace. Therefore did he decline the mention, of what fome would have