in my temptations. And I appoint unto you a kingdom, as my Father hath appointed unto me; that ye may eat and drink at my table, in my kingdom, and sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. *

"As Christ glorified not himself, to be made an High Priest, but he that said unto him, Thou art a Priest for ever, after the order of Melchizedekt," so, neither did the Apostles take upon themselves the honour of becoming his ministers, ..but they, as was Aaron, were called of God; called, not merely by inward sensation, but externally, and by the express appointment of the supreme Shepherd and Bishop of Souls. (2)

Our Lord's kingdom was, indeed, to be of a nature different from what they expected. Still, it was to be a kingdom; and, consequently, it would require rulers and judges, to act under its Sovereign Lord. The Lord Jesus, therefore, not only commissioned his Apostles, as we shall presently see, to preside at his holy table, and thence to dispense the spiritual food of his body and blood,..but he now gave to them, (that is, to the episcopal body, which they represented,) authority, precedence, and dominion, over all the elect people of God, over the whole body of Chris

* Luke, xxii. 28-30.

+ Heb. v. 4, 5.

tians, figuratively described as the twelve Tribes of Israel. (3)

At the idea of the high rank to which they were appointed, in the kingdom of the Messiah, the great object of their ambition, their hearts would naturally exult; and this exultation was, perhaps, most visible, in the countenance and manner of St. Peter. Addressing himself, therefore, more immediately to him, our blessed Saviour mournfully and solemnly rebuked them all for they had all forgotten the lesson of humility, which they had just received; and still clung to the hope of temporal power, and worldly aggrandizement.

Simon, Simon, he said, behold Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat*; he, who was permitted to tempt holy Jobt, has craved permission, in like manner, to sift you; but I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not; ye have an intercessor at the throne of power, whom Job had not; and for all of you, I, that Intercessor, have prayed, but more especially for thee, Simon Peter, since, against thee, as the most zealous and self-confident of my disciples, Satan will most artfully exert his powers. But I have prayed for thee,

* Luke, xxii. 31-34.

+ Job, ii. 6.

that, amidst all thy dangers, thy faith may not fail: and, if that fundamental principle abide in thee, though the courage and resolution in which thou now trustest prove deficient, thou wilt possess within thyself the means of rising again; and, when thou art converted, when thou hast recovered from thy fall, evince thy gratitude, by strengthening thy brethren, by confirming in them that faith, which has wrought such wonders for thee.

It is interesting, to turn from the present narrative, to the conduct of St. Peter, when, having arrived at the stature of a perfect man in Christ, he addressed the brethren, throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, and earnestly exhorted them, to be clothed with humility; for, said he, speaking from sad, but blessed experience, God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. Surely, he was mindful of his own temerity and downfall; surely, he was reverting to the feelings with which he received his Master's merciful rebuke, when he continued, Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time; casting all your care upon him, for he careth for you.

*

* 1 Peter, v. 5, 6.

Thus wrote the Apostle Peter, in after times. But now, indignant that his zeal should be suspected, or his loyalty impeached, he declared. again, as he had declared before, Lord, I am ready to go with thee to prison, or to death. He spoke, no doubt, in the sincerity of his heart. He was ready to peril both life and limb, in the service of the Messiah. But He, (unto whom all hearts were open, and from whom no secrets were hid,) He knew full well, that Simon Peter was not prepared to see the Son of the living God insulted, scorned, and led to an ignominious death, while no sign was given from heaven in his favour, and while of his followers he demanded, not those active virtues, by which distinction is acquired, but the passive graces which can be discerned only by the Father, who seeth in secret. Therefore, the Lord Jesus, speaking as one who had authority, replied: I tell thee, Peter, the cock shall not crow this day, before thou shalt thrice deny that thou knowest

me.

After this parenthetical conversation, our Lord adverted, once more, to the nature of the kingdom, over which he was appointing them to preside:

When I sent you, he asked, without purse, and scrip, and shoes, lacked ye any thing? And

they said, Nothing. Then said he unto them, But now, he that hath a purse, let him take it, and likewise his scrip: and he that hath no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one. For I say unto you, that this that is written, must be accomplished in me, And he was reckoned among the transgressors: for the things concerning me, have an end. *

This passage is the more remarkable and important, because it evidently alludes to a grand mark of distinction, between the new covenant, under which the disciples of Jesus were henceforth to act, and the old covenant, under which they had hitherto lived. When they had been sent forth, on a former occasion, they had been sent forth, as Jews, under the Mosaic covenant. Now, this covenant related to the special providence and protection of Jehovah. By the care, therefore, extended over them, during the execution of their mission, the divine authority of him, under whose direction they acted, was proved. But the new covenant relates, not so much to the special providence, as to the special grace, of the Almighty. And in our difficulties and dangers, we are to look for spiritual support, rather than for temporal interference. For,

*Luke, xxii. 35-37.