and answer in the affirmative the question, Lovest thou the cause of Jesus Christ? To Jesus Christ the heathen are promised for his inheritance, and the uttermost part of the earth for his possession; his dominion is covenanted to be from sea to sea, and from the rivers even unto the ends of the earth." Now are you anxious for the fulfilment of this prophetical declaration? Have you his cause so much at heart, that you make the extension of the Saviour's kingdom your daily prayer at the throne of grace, in your closets, and in your families? Further, I might put the question in reference to the cross of Christ, and inquire, Lovest thou the cross of the Redeemer? Nothing is so easy, in our day and generation, as making a certain kind of profession of the Gospel which has no cross, no difficulty, no temptation, no denial. Religion is to a certain extent tolerated; nay, admired; I had almost said it is fashionable. But this circumstance, dear brethren, should make the professors of vital godliness more upon their guard not to mistake the name for the thing itself. I would therefore ask, in connexion with the subject, Lovest thou the cross of Jesus Christ? The Apostle Paul could rejoice in tribulation, and take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, and persecution, and in distress for Christ's sake. Now I ask you not, whether you can go to the full extent of the Apostle's experience; but I do ask you whether you are ready to go without the camp, bearing the reproach of Jesus Christ? In other words, whether you are contented to be regarded as weak and enthusiastic visionaries for his sake: whether you can endure, as seeing Him that is invisible; whether you can esteem the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of this world? I ask you, as in the sight of God, Lovest thou the cross of Christ? He that will not wear the cross shall never wear the crown. I might enlarge on this head of my discourse, and inquire of each of you, Lovest thou the servants and the service of Jesus Christ? Lovest thou the day of Jesus Christ? and particularly, Lovest thou the temper and disposition that was in Christ Jesus, in its meekness and humility, in its kindness, its selfdenial, its holiness? Lovest thou these in a world of temptation? I proceed under the second topic proposed for our consideration, to consider THE EFFECT OF THE INQUIRY UPON THE MIND OF PETER AS EVINCED IN HIS REPLY. The conversation recorded by the Evangelist in this chapter, took place, it must be remembered, after the mournful and lamentable apostacy of Peter. He had denied his Master, with curses and swearing; he had affirmed, with awful imprecations, that he knew not this same Jesus. When, therefore, after his death and resurrection from the grave, but previously to his ascension to his Father's right hand, he openly showed himself to his disciples in the manner described, the deed itself could not but awaken in the mind of Simon feelings of no ordinary character. The remembrance of the past would open afresh the wounds of Peter, and renew his penitential sorrow for his transgression; but the continued kindness of his Lord, most beautifully marked in that memorable message, given by the angel to the devout women, "Go tell the disciples, and Peter," would assure him of his Lord's forgiveness and unchanged regard for him. And, therefore, at such a time, and under such circumstances, the question when first put, "Lovest thou me?" might occasion some degree of joy, inasmuch as it offered him an opportunity of publicly confessing his attachment to his injured Lord; and he might be glad that his companions heard it. But when the question was repeated, the mind of this servant of God must have read something more in it than he did at first; but still he does not appear to discern the real meaning of the repeated inquiry. A third time the Lord interrogates him, "Lovest thou me?" " Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me?" Surely he must have been grieved at the remembrance of his apostacy; he must have been grieved that it had generated suspicion of his weakness; his former presumption appears to be succeeded by an increased knowledge of the deceitfulness, and the desperate wickedness of his own heart. His boldness is tempered with self-acquaintance, and he has had a deeper insight into his own character. But still he learned by his fall his great need of a free and unmerited salvation, such as Jesus offered, such as Jesus had purchased. And this supposition accords with his earlier declaration, “Lord to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life: we believe, and are sure, thou art the Christ the Son of the Living God." 66 But further; the reply of the Apostle deserves our deep attention on these two grounds it gives us undoubted proof that the Apostle regarded Jesus as “God over all, blessed for ever;" and it contains an unhesitating avowal of love to Jesus. The Apostle regards Jesus as “God over all, blessed for evermore." Would he, brethren, could he, have applied to the man Christ Jesus, the words of the text, had not the deity of Jesus Christ formed an essential part of his creed? How absurd, how ridiculous, would such language be, applied even to the highest archangel? Could he have said to him, "Lord thou knowest all things?" Could it possibly be asserted of a mere man—“ Thou knowest all things?" It would be blasphemous as well as absurd. Here, therefore, we read a part of the Apostle's creed, that Jesus was very God of very God." But Jesus being regarded as omniscient, Peter could have declared concerning him, as the conviction of his own mind, in the language of the Psalmist, "Whither shall I go from thy spirit, or whither shall I flee from thy presence? If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold thou art there. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me. If I say surely darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me. Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee." "Thou knowest all things." But again, it contains an unqualified avowal of his love. Though he had disgraced his profession by his denial of his Lord, though he had even publicly fallen, before a world that might always afterwards brand him as the man who was false to his Saviour, yet he could not be silent when his Lord demanded, the third time, the required sacrifice of his love. He confessed him, though doubtless with indescribable feelings of grief; and his subsequent sufferings, his continued consistency of character, and his glorious crucifixion with his head downwards, a fit emblem of his humility, proved to the Church afterwards the truth of his assertion. Jesus knew all hearts; he could discern the future as well as the present; with him a thousand years were as one day, and one day as a thousand years: and from this knowledge he perceived the faithfulness of his servant, and upon his determined purpose to uphold him by his grace, he gave him his apostolical commission with his other disciples, to feed the sheep of Christ's fold. "Jesus said unto him, Feed my sheep." Now, my beloved brethren, in the conclusion of my subject, I would offer one or two suggestions for your personal improvement. My subject leads me to represent to you, in the first place, an increased attention to personal religion. Let every man say to his own heart, in the name of the Saviour, "Lovest thou the Saviour; Do I love the Saviour?" Let religion be to you a matter of individual concern. "Follow not the multitude to do evil;" neither be contented in following a multitude of religious professors, if you believe their habits, their tempers, their practices, and associations, are opposed to the will and word of God. Weigh all opinions and all practices in the balance of the Sanctuary. You must die alone; and pass through the valley of the shadow of death; and though you shall stand in the judgment-day before the assembled worlds, yet you must give an account of yourself before God; you must, as it were, be separated and condemned by yourself, singly and individually. To your own Master you stand or fall. Let, then, your attachment to the office and cause, the cross and character of Jesus, be tried for yourself; as though you stood alone in the world. The Saviour makes this appeal; demands of every accredited disciple, "Lovest thou me?" Next, I would say, how lamentable is the state of those who make no account of the great salvation, of the Gospel of the ever blessed God. Occupied either in the attainment of the perishing honours, and profits, and praises of this world, they consume their days with vanity, as though they had no souls; they spend their lives as a tale that is told, and they go down to the grave, unpardoned, unsanctified, and unsaved. Do I address any of my fellow men whose consciences accord with this view? Then would I put the question to you in the name of the Saviour of a lost world, "Lovest thou me?" Were many of you honestly to put the question, the reply would be, "Lord thou knowest all things, thou knowest that I do not love thee. I have no anxiety about my immortal soul: thy salvation is a strange thing to me; it is a matter of total indifference to me, a thing of nought, a dead letter. It is not the one thing needful to me." Oh, my beloved brethren, how shall I address you? How shall I tell you of the deep pity the Christian minister, and all the followers of a crucified Lord, feel for you? They believe you are upon the brink of ruin; they see you suspended, as by a thread, over the brink of hell; they call upon you to escape, to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, that you may be saved. Why will you perish? If you do, it is through your own wilfulness: the Saviour's remonstrance is still the same, "Ye will not come unto me that ye might have life." He is ready, he waits, to be gracious: he warns, he invites, he encourages you to come to him and accept his mercy; and I assure you none ever repented such acceptance. Again; I would hold out the text as affording comfort to the discouraged or the lacksliding sinner. Remember, that the same Jesus who asked the question of Peter, was the same who by his Spirit shed abroad in his heart the truth of the Gospel. Peter would have been once and for ever a traitor, as Judas was; but God's distinguishing grace marked him for a vessel of mercy; by its influence upon his heart, restored him to the faith, to a more faithful allegiance, increased usefulness, and seemed to write, in more indelible characters upon his heart, the favour of his Lord, so that nothing could separate him from the love of God which was in Christ Jesus. Do you, my beloved brethren, who are desponding under a sense of your apostacy from your Saviour, return to him; for to whom can you go? he only hath the words of eternal life. Go to him with all your burden; he alone can bear it, and he engages to do it; give him your unqualified confidence; trust your whole soul with him; be assured, that in his own time he will advance you to the comfort, the enjoyment, and the bliss of his inheritance. Let your many sins be no discouragement; behold the apostate, lying, cursing Peter, restored to God and holiness, to mercy and truth. Jesus the Saviour redeemed unto eternity them that come to God by him. Lastly, my Christian brethren, cultivate, I beseech you, a growing attachment to your great Redeemer. Let the answer to the question, "Lovest thou me?" be written out in intelligible characters: you know what I mean-in the characters of a highly devoted, self-denying, spiritual life. They that truly love Christ, keep his commandments; the principle of love renders this no longer, after the natural man, grievous: it is the meat and drink of the true disciple of Christ to do, as well as to know his Lord's will. Oh be faithful to your principles; love him because he first loved you, and avow your love, if it be needful, before the world: Oh, be not ashamed of Jesus; own him as the best of Masters: and if other Lords have had dominion over you, be resolved, in his name and his strength, to make mention of his name and his righteousness, and his only. "Be ye faithful unto death, and ye shall receive a crown of life." No one shall be ashamed, in the great day of decision, of an extensive love to the Saviour of sinners; oh, no, but let it be deeply imprinted upon your hearts, where there is much forgiven, there will be much love; but "to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little." Now do you, my friends, who know you have much forgiven, prove the truth of this divine assertion, and love your Lord and Saviour much. THE SPIRITUAL PROSPECTS OF AFRICA. REV. W. KNIBB*. EAGLE STREET CHAPEL, RED LION SQUARE, AUGUST 17, 1834 "Ethiopia shall soon stretch out her hands unto God."-PSALM, lxix. 31. It is, my Christian friends, ten years ago since I had the privilege of sitting down with this Church at the Lord's table, just before my first departure from my beloved country, to proclaim to the Negro salvation through the blood of the Lamb and in the wise arrangements of a kind and benignant Providence, I find myself again associated with you, not only in person but in spirit, just before I again quit it for the same beloved employment. As I was then followed by your prayers, I have no doubt that I shall still be followed by your earnest supplications; and though one who then commended me to the care of Him who hath watched over and protected me from that time until now, is this evening celebrating the high praises of his God in the upper and better world, watching, I have no doubt, with intense interest, the result of that measure which was dear to him as life itself—it is pleasurable for us to know, that the same kind sympathy is exercised by our friends who still remain, and that the same affectionate wishes will follow those who, separated from their brethren, will soon be exposed in the high places of iniquity. There is, fellow Christians, at least in my estimation, a peculiar solemnity attending this meeting; though doubtless I shall feel it with greater intensity and interest than any of you. It is the last Sabbath I shall spend, in ail probability, in the land I love; and I stand, in all probability, in this pulpit, occupying it for a short season, in my last public engagement. And I do feel thankful to my Heavenly Father for this opportunity; and I trust it will be esteemed a token of respect to one who ever was dear to me, whose memory I cherish with the fondest affection, and whom I trust I shall be enabled to follow, at a great distance I am well aware, as he followed Christ. I am confident, that as you have breathed his spirit, that as you have frequently been animated by his holy example, that as you have frequently rejoiced in those energetic and giant-like efforts which he made in the destruction of tyranny, I am confident your feelings will be in unison with mine when I direct your attention to the future prospects of the people in whose welfare he felt an undying interest, and over whose interests, I have no doubt, he still watches with most intense Selight. , fellow Christians, a pleasing employ to trace the history, and the steady |