lection of the promise I have made, and which I have basely violated; Though all men should be offen ded with thee, yet will I never be offended. I am fully impressed with the mortifying history thou wouldest retrace. I am the least of all my brethren: there is not one to whom I can dare to give myself the preference.

If St. Peter replied with humility, he replied also with sincerity and zeal. If we wish the faithful to be humble, we never wish them to be vain. If we do not require them to say, "I am conscious of be.. ing so established in grace, as never to be shaken," we wish, at least, that they should feel the cheering and reviving flame of divine love, when its embers are most concealed in the ashes. We wish them not to make an ostentatious display of piety, but to evidence the tender attachment they have for God; even when, through weakness, they have happened to of: fend him. This was the disposition of St. Peter, and his humility implied no defect of love. Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? "Lord! I can presume nothing of myself, the past makes me tremble for the future; the example of distinguished saints; and mine still more, humbles and abases my soul. Perhaps, like Job, I shall curse the day of my birth; perhaps, like David, I shall become guilty of murder and treason; perhaps I shall deny thee again; perhaps I shall be so vile, as to repeat these awful words, which will, to me, be a subject of everlasting regret, I know not the man, I am not one of his disciples; and if thou wilt condemn me, thou hast only to crush a worm, on whom no dependance can be placed. Af ter all, Lord! amid so many defects, so many offenees, I feel that I love thee still; I feel that strong temptations can never eradicate a love, which is graven on my heart; I feel, when thy perfections are discussed, that they affect, penetrate, and fill my soul; I feel delighted that my Redeemer is invested with such abundant glory and

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strength; when thy gospel is preached, I feel my heart burn within me; and I admire and adore the God, who has revealed a scheme of salvation so grand, noble, and sublime. I feel, notwithstanding this awful deviation, inconceivable sorrow, and inconceivable shame, which, to me, is an evident test, that the God I offend, is in reality the God I love." ... Can it be imagined, that St. Peter's avowal of his weakness, rendered his love less estimable to his Master? Can it be conceived, that Jesus Christ is less delicate in his attachment than man? Knowing the fidelity of a friend, having a thousand satisfacto ry tests of his attachment, do you cease to love him, when he has committed a fault, for which he is wounded the first? The Lord knoweth, whereof we are made, Our faults, howsoever glaring (if followed by repentance,) though they may suspend, for a period, the influence of his love, can neither change its nature, nor restrict its duration. St. Peter had no sooner said to his Master, Lord, thou knowest that I love thee, than he was re-established in his minis, try by this prompt reply, Feed my sheep.

Ohow worthily did this apostle repair the offence he had given the church, by his devotion to its interests. Methinks I see him gathering, on the day of Pente. cost, the souls which, perhaps, he had caused to stray Methinks I seem to hear those pathetic addresses proceed from his mouth, which like streams of lightning, enkindle every thing in their course; soft, ening those very souls, which the cross of Christ was unable to move; extorting from them this language, highly expressive of compunction, Men and brethren, what shall we do? Methinks I see him flying from Pontus to Galatia, from Galatia to Bythinia, from By thinia to Cappadocia, from Cappadocia to every province of Asia, from Asia to Rome, leaving all his course strewed with the wrecks of Satan's power; with trophies of temples demolished, of idols dethroned, of pagans converted, correspondent conse

quences of a ministry, which, at its first commencement, had converted eight thousand men. Methinks I see him led from tribunal to tribunal, sometimes before the Jews, sometimes before the Romans, every-where loaded with the reproach of Christ, every-where confessing his name; finally fixed on a cross, and saying, as he died for the Redeemer, who died for him, Lord, thou knowest all things, thou knowest that I love thee.

Such was the repentance of St. Peter, and such may ours now be! May those eyes which still seek us, as they sought him, pierce our heart, as they pierced his ; striking the conscience with sanctifying terror, and causing those tears of repentance to flow, which are so availing for the sinner.

They ought to produce those particular effects on you, my brethren, whose sin has had a sad conformity to St. Peter's; who having seen (while in France,) Jesus Christ delivered again into the hands of thieves, and hearing the interrogation, You, also, are not you his disciples? have answered as our apostle, I know not the man, I am not one of his disciples. Oh! seek the eyes of Jesus Christ: see the looks he gives, hear what they say: Cowardly souls, are these the fine promises you made in the time of peace? Is this the example you have set before the church? Was it not enough........? But why do I open wounds, which the mercy of God has closed? Why do I recal the recollection of a crime, which so many tears, so many torrents of blood, so many sacrifices, have effaced? It is, indeed, less with a view that I name it now, to reproach the fault, than to remind you of the vows you made, when, all bathed in tears, you implored forgiveness; less to overwhelm you with a sight of your sin, than to comfort you with that divine mercy, which has done it all away."

Who can ascertain the extent of mercy? Who can find language sufficiently strong, and figures sufficiently pure, noble, and sublime, for its adequate

illustration? To what sinner did it ever prohibit access? What wounded and contrite conscience was ever repulsed at its bar? This immensity of mercy has forgiven Nebuchadnezzar and Manasseh, the one a monster in nature, the other a monster in reli gion. It has forgiven St. Paul for persecution, and St. Peter for apostacy. It has forgiven you, who have imitated this weak disciple; it has readmitted you into the fellowship of the church, who had so basely abandoned it. Happy those apostate Protestants, if Jesus Christ should deign to cast his eyes upon them, as he has on you. Happy if, on quitting the court of Caiaphas, in which they have, like our apostle, denied their Master, they should weep like

you.

O God! if we are permitted to address thee," though but dust and ashes, is it for the confirmation, or the confusion of our faith, that, on this subject, thou seemest inexorable; and a subject on which we will never cease to pray. On this head, has the mighty God forgotten to have compassion? No! I cannot persuade myself that God has for ever abandoned so large a portion of his church. No! I cannot persuade myself that God has ceased to watch over the consciences of those our unhappy brethren, whom satan has so long detained in security and slumber. No! I cannot persuade myself, that God should permit so many children to perish for the sins of their fathers; and to be for ever separated from the church, to which they materially belong. Let our part be done, and God's shall surely be accomplished. Let us be afflicted for the affliction of Joseph. Let us pray for the peace of Jerusalem. Let the calamities of the church be ever on our mind. They are ever before the eyes of God; they excite him to jealousy; they cause him to emerge from that cloud, in which he has so long been concealed for the exclusion of our prayers.

APPLICATION.

I address myself to you, my brethren, whose characters have never been defiled with so foul a blot; offer not incense to your drag, nor sacrifice to your net. Ascribe not to your courage, a felicity, which perhaps is solely due to the favourable circumstances in which you may have been providentially placed. Remember St. Peter. He reposed the utmost confidence in his zeal; and, the first trial he made of his strength, he was convinced of his weakness. Had God smitten the Shepherd in the midst of you, perhaps the sheep would have been scattered. Had you, as so many others, seen gallies equipped, dungeons opened, gibbets erected, faggots kindled, executioners armed, racks prepared, perhaps you would Jikewise have denied the Saviour.

Do I impose on my hearers? Do you judge by what we do in the time of peace, of what we should do in the time of tribulation? Let each here sound the depth of his own heart, and let him support, if possible, the dignity of Jesus Christ. How frequently, amid a slanderous multitude, who have said to us, Are not you his disciples? Are not you attached to those, who make it a point of conscience not to mention the faults of your neighbours? How often have we replied, by a guilty silence, I know. him not, I am not one of his disciples. How often in licentious company, when asked, "Are not you of that class? Are not you one of those, who restrict their appetites, moderate their passions, and mortify the flesh ?" How often have we answered, I know him not, I am not one of his disciples. How often when led away with the enemies of righteousness, who have said, "Are not you one of that company? Are not you one of those who pique themselves on primitive virtue ?" How often have we answered by a cowardly conduct, I know him not, I am not one of his disciples.

In defiance of all the composure and apathy with which we daily commit this sort of sins, conscience