as well as ourselves, are recovered, from whatever ftate, and by whatever means, they may be called. Though they were once of a different religion, or rather of no religion at all, we should exult in their salvation, like the Angels in heaven. If the Lord God has fealed them for his own by the Holy Ghoft, who are we, that we should refuse them "the right hand of fellowship?" The free communication of St. Peter with the Gentiles, as here related, gave offence to fome of his Jewish brethren at Jerufalem *. But, upon his returning to that place, and explicitly declaring the matter, their vehement prejudices were in a great meafure removed, and they adored the grace of God, which was imparted to the uncircumcifed. Too frequently, alas! good men, through hafte or bigotry, take umbrage at the conduct of others, whom they would cease to cenfure, if they properly understood their situation, and the grounds on which they act. A. D. After fome time, a violent perfecution arofe against the Church. Herod Agrippa, that proud 44. and cruel tyrant, having put James to death, caft Peter into prifon, and commanded him to be kept under ftrong guard, till he should be brought forth to public execution, for the entertainment of the people +. The Apostle, however, had numerous friends, who made continual interceffion for him, not at the court of Herod, but before the throne of God: and their prayers procured his deliverance. Vain were all the precautions and means used for his confinement: the king's intention was fruftrated, the expectation of the profane multitude difappointed. The very night preceding the day appointed for Peter's fuffering, while he flept with compofure, not dreading the event, an Angel appeared to rescue him. Inftantly his chains fell off, the iron gates gave way, and, under the con Acts xi. I-18. † xii. 1-19. duct duct of his heavenly guide, he went out through the midst of sentinels without interruption. Juft at that time many pious perfons were actually engaged in offering up their fupplications for the Apoftle, when they were affured by his arrival amongst them, that they had obtained acceptance. After indulging bis grateful and devout fenfations with his friends and brethren, praifing God for this extraordinary difpenfation, he retired, probably for his own fafety. His difappointed enemies were enraged at his efcape, and the guards, who had been fet over him, put to death in his ftead. "Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; juft and true are thy ways, thou King of faints! Who fhall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name *?" He is "wonderful in counsel, and excellent in working,' who "pleadeth the cause of his people." He may fuffer them to be opprefied through tyrants, yet in many remarkable cafes he has difplayed his regard for them, and proved, that "their Redeemer is strong‡. The inftance before us ftands as a convincing token of his gracious attention to prayer: The importunate cries of the poor perfecuted faints, opened the prifon doors, and delivered an Apoftle. O let us be encouraged, in every diftrefs, to make known our requefts unto God, with greater frequency and fervour, and we fhall furely prevail ! 5.2. St. Peter is again introduced to our notice in A. D. the grand council of the Church at Jerufalem When the question was there agitated, whether an obedience to the Mofaic law fhould be urged upon the believing Gentiles, he rofe up and declared, how God had commiffioned him to preach the Gospel to the uncircumcifed, given them the Holy Spirit, and purified their hearts by faith §. He argued, therefore, that, being received to the divine favour without any Ifa. xxviii. 29. li. 22.- ↑ Jer. 1. 34. » Rev. xv. 3, 4. M 5 ceremonia? ceremonial obfervances, they should be left to their full liberty; and he maintained the important doctrine, that none can be faved any otherwise than through the grace of the Lord Jefus Chrift. Yet, on one occafion afterwards, he acted inconfiftently with his profeffed principles. At Antioch he lived on terms of Chriftian fellowship with the converted Gentiles, but at length withdrew from their fociety, through the fear of displeasing certain Jewish zealots, who came to the place*. This wavering conduct produced bad effects. Many, through the influence of his example, betrayed the fame timidity; and, while he endeavoured to conciliate one fide, he grieved and staggered another. St. Paul, therefore, very fharply reproved him, representing, that from his behaviour it might feem, as if he did not confider the believing Gentiles in a ftate of acceptance, or had renounced the fundamental doctrine of juftification by faith alone. What fhall we fay to this inftance of unsteadiness? We prefume not to defend it; "because he was to be blamed." It does not appear, that he offered any excufe for himself, and we fhould hope, that he frankly confeffed and immediately repented of his fault. The most eminent Apoftles are not propofed as perfect patterns. They all discovered failings, and were liable to be again and again overcome by temptations, even as we are. Let us beware for ourselves. Are there not those among us, who are guilty of mean compliances, and who, not merely in one inftance, but habitually, counteract the dictates of confcience, through fear of temporal inconveniences? Do we not too much confult the world, how far they will allow us to affociate with ferious Chriftians? Let us abhor diffimulation, and act an open and upright part. Whatever we may fuffer, let us determine to "walk * Gal. ii. 11, &c. according according to the truth of the Gofpel," and not hefifate to fhew our cordial attachment to the people of God. Peter betrayed a wrong fpirit, and Paul was his reprover: this very circumftance is a confirmation of the doctrine, which they preached. If there had been any collufion, any cheat practised upon mankind, it would certainly have been discovered, when the two great champions differed. Yet even then they perfectly agreed in matters of opinion, and afterwards continued to maintain the fame principles, and promote the fame work, as "labourers together with God." The life of St. Peter was protracted to a confiderable length, and spent in active exertions for the honour of his Mafter. It should feem, that his wife. accompanied him in his travels, and that they both fubfifted upon the bounty of others. Some precious remains of his writing are tranfmitted to us; and by thefe he yet fpeaketh, and will speak to the end of time. His two Epiftles were addreffed to the difperfed Chriftians, for the purpose of comforting them in their troubles, confirming them in the faith, warning them against feducers, enlivening their hopes, and regulating their conduct. Let us ftudy these infpired exhortations with ferious attention, till they have produced their full influence upon our hearts. Surely we cannot refuse to listen to fo venerable "an elder," who had been " a witnefs of the fufferings of Chrift," and expected to be a partaker of the glory that fhall be revealed †.' Both these Epiftles were compofed in his old age; and in the fecond of them, especially, his language is that of one, who confidered his diffolution as at hand, and who was taking leave of the world. Here, then, he has delivered his moft folemn thoughts, in the near view of eternity. And did he waver in his mind? Did he * 1 Cor. ix. 5. ་་ + Pet. v. I. renounce renounce his principles? No: far otherwife. He defired moft earnestly, that his inftructions might be always remembered after his decease *: and, having described, with an aftonishing grandeur and majefty, the destruction of the earth, and the appearance of Chrift as the univerfal Judge, he added, "What manner of perfons ought ye to be in all holy converfation and godlinefs, looking for and hafting unto the coming of the day of God +!" A. D. At length he finished his course in an honourabout able manner: he died a martyr, (it is thought 67. when he was about feventy-five years old) and fealed with his blood the truth, which he had preached. His Lord had foretold, that he should be taken off by a violent death, even that of crucifixion ; and this came to pafs under the tyranny of Nero. It is believed, that both he and St. Paul fuffered at Rome about the fame time; and that St. Peter was crucified with his head downwards, at his own defire, as if he thought himself unworthy to refemble his Mafter. Be that as it may, he now appears in glory, where, amongst all the noble army of martyrs §," he will admire and praise his God and Saviour, and reign with him for ever and ever. Many Prophets, Apostles, and minifters, have loft their lives in vindication of the Gofpel; but, while we lament the removal of fuch able advocates, we rejoice that God will plead his own cause, and make the word of his grace to profper from age to age. We would enquire of every reader, Is not that fyftem of faith, for which St. Peter died, worthy your attention? Or," how fhall you efcape, if you neglect fo great falvation?" Defire, then, to know and feel the excellency of those principles, for the defence of which fo much has been done and fuffered: according to the exhortation of this infpired writer, “give diligence to make your calling and election fure ||." 2 Pet. i. 15. † iii. 11, 12. ‡ John xxi. 18, 19. § Te Deum, 12 Pet. i. 10. |