bold profeffion and defence of the Gospel. May theys whofe cafes refemble his, learn in like manner to walk more circumspectly in future, labour more abundantly to be useful in their generation, and exhort others to beware of thofe mifcarriages, which have brought fuch anguish upon themselves!

When our Lord afcended into heaven with great triumph and glory, Peter, probably, was one of those, who followed him with their eyes, till a cloud received him out of their fight; and for fome time afterwards he remained in a ftate of holy fellowship with the difciples at Jerufalem *. He it was, who addreffed the Church upon the apoftafy of Judas, fhewing that the fcriptures were fulfilled in him, and that his place among the Apoftles fhould be fupplied by a fresh election.

On the day of Pentecoft, the Holy Ghoft defcended with miraculous influences upon all the twelve, but our attention is directed chiefly to St. Peter . Though it does not appear, that he was diftinguished above the reft by fuperior powers, yet he ftood forward with peculiar courage. He first opened the grand commiffion of the Gospel, and the effect of his preaching, on that memorable occafion, was the moft viable and extenfive. In his folemn difcourfe to the people, he replied to the scandalous reproach, caft upon him and his brethren, and alleged, that the gift of tongues, which excited fuch aftonishment, ought not to be ascribed to intoxication, but to the extraordinary effution of the Spirit, which had been exprefsly foretold. By a most decided teftimony, he maintained, that Jefus had wrought various unquestionable miracles, and, after being injuriously put to death, had been raised from the grave, according to David's prophetical defcription. He argued, that He, who expired on the crofs

* A&s i. 9, 13, &c. + ii. 14, &c.

had

had taken his feat at the right hand of God, and, having fulfilled his own promife in communicating fo large a measure of the Holy Ghoit, had proved himfelf to be the true Meffiah, the very Saviour, who fhould come into the world.

An immediate and deep impreffion was made upon the minds of the audience. Many expreffed the moft pungent anguifh and terror, while they earnestly implored direction from the Apoftles. Peter inftantly called them to the exercife of repentance, required them to be baptized in token of their submiffion to Jefus and dependence on his merits, and encouraged them to expect from Hin the gift of the Spirit. How venerable did the preacher appear, when, with a holy fervour of zeal and love, he stood and befought the furrounding multitudes to be faved from that perverf generation! O that all the minifters of Chrift poffefled the like ardour, and that the labours of thofe, who do exert themselves in the fame honourable service, were crowned with fimilar fuccefs! Let them lift up the ftandard of the cross, and doubt not that God will profper their efforts for the enlargement of his kingdom.

We infift not in this place on the various miraculous operations performed by the Apostles, nor on the happy ftate of charity, peace, and piety, in which the primitive Church lived together, as their very enemies obferved with aftonishment. That defcription would exhibit a pleafing picture, and ftrongly recommend our religion; but it does not immediately relate to the character of St. Peter.

Soon after the feast of Pentecoft, he is again brought forwards on a very intering occafion *. He went to the temple, in company with John, at the ufual hour of prayer, when a poor man, who had been a cripple from his birth, folicited re

*Acts iii. 1, &e.

lief.

"Silver and gold have I none," faid this merfenger of peace, "but fuch as I have give I thee: in the name of Jefus Chrift of Nazareth, rife up and walk." A perfect cure inftantly fucceeded; and fo public was the cafe, that it excited general notice. Crowds of people flocked together, that they might fee the wondrous perfons, whofe word had given feet to the lame.

Peter fought not their applaufe, and therefore eagerly feized the opportunity of turning off their attention from himself to his dear Lord and Master, whom he affectionately commended to their regard. He boldly charged them with the moft heinous guilt, in having crucified the Prince of life, and exhorted them to repent and believe on Him, who was raised from the dead, that they might receive pardon and peace. He argued, that Jefus had fulfilled their ancient prophecies, and juftly demanded their fubmiffion. He ftated the nature and excellence of the falvation propofed, declaring that their long expected Meffiah was fent "to bless them, in turning away every one of them from their iniquities.' A fimilar mode of addrefs, from those who labour in the Gospel, will be at all times proper. They alfo "preach not themfelves, but Chrift Jefus the Lord *." It is of neceffity, that they endeavour to fix a conviction of fin upon the minds of their hearers, without which the offer of deliverance will not meet with any cordial acceptance. They must cry aloud, "Repent ye, and be converted, that your ins may be blotted out, and the times of refreshing come from the prefence of the Lord." They proclaim, that "the Redeemer is come to Zion," and, while they exhibit his ineftimable benefits, they maintain, that those only can enjoy them, who "turn from tranfgreffion +."

The zealous exertions of the two Apoftles provoked the refentment of the priests and rulers, who therefore apprehended and imprisoned them*. But a great honour was put upon them, though caft into a dungeon. They had preached to good effect, as it appeared that the Church received a large increase through their word. On the day following they stood arraigned before the Sanhedrim, being called to anfwer for their conduct. Peter was the fpeaker, and displayed an uncommon degree of courage; but at this we do not wonder, when informed that he acted immediately and entirely under the influence of the Holy Ghoft. He declared, that the cure of the lame man had been wrought by the power, through faith in the name, of Jefus. Forgetting his own fituation as a prifoner at the bar, or difregarding his fafety, he charged his judges with the murder of his Lord, whom he afferted to be raised from the dead, and warned them that by Him alone falvation could be obtained.

Such undaunted fortitude in one, whom they had defpifed as a low and illiterate person, confounded the council, and they knew not what fteps to take. However, they ftrictly enjoined him, not to prefume to propagate the Chriftian doctrine: and, had the scheme been of human contrivance, it is probable that it would have been inftantly defeated. But, as the work was of God, they could not overthrow it, and therefore their threatenings were ineffectual. Peter and John ftood unmoved, and declared their determi nation never to defift from the caufe, in which they were engaged, appealing even to this malignant affembly, for the juftification of their conduct. "Whe

ther it be right," faid they," in the fight of God, to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye.' For that time they were difmiffed, but with fresh menaces; and when they had joined their brethren, the

whole company united in prayer. They spread their cafe before the Lord, and entreated Him ftill to fupport and profper them in the propagation of the Gofpel. Their petitions obtained an immediate and favourable anfwer: the Holy Spirit came upon them, perhaps with fome external tokens as before, and enabled them with renewed vigour to perfift in the fervice of their Master.

Do not fuch examples make us afhamed of our own timidity? Is it not neceffary for us to be as firm and undaunted in the profeffion of the truth, as St. Peter? Or, will it be right, in any inftance, to hearken unto men, more than unto God? Yet are we not doing this, while by difhonourable compliances we feek to evade perfecution? You, who love the Lord, being perfuaded of the excellence of your caufe, fhould poffefs an unfhaken courage. Whatever your enemies may threaten, only by prayer and faith com. mit yourselves to Him, whofe you are, and whom you ferve, and then you need not dread any confequences. He will communicate to you more abundant grace, which fhall be fufficient to sustain you in the feverest conflict.

The Church continued to increase and profper; but the hypocrify of fome profeffed members produced a painful trial. Ananias and Sapphira were convicted by St. Peter of the baseft diffimulation, and inftantly ftruck dead at his word. This very circumstance, however, tremendous as it was, turned out" to the furtherance of the Gospel;" which more evidently appeared to be the cause of heaven. Our Apoftle, in particular, was held in profound veneration: he wrought various wonderful cures, which are not minutely defcribed; nay, his very fhadow proved to many perfons the means of miraculous recovery. Who