what thou hast heard, couldst thou doubt? And he raised the self-convicted man, and brought him into the ship, and “the wind ceased."

Notwithstanding Simon's occasional misgivings and temporary weaknesses, his fidelity was in the main firm and certain, because it was founded on the real goodness and tenderness of his nature. There was a time, when, as related in the sixth chapter of the Gospel of John, many of the followers of Jesus "went back, and walked no more with him,” because he spoke to them obscurely and figuratively of his office and kingdom, and because, from what they did understand, they began to suspect that there was something much more spiritual and much less lucrative and splendid in his proposed dominion, than suited with their earthly conceptions. They went back, therefore, and walked no more with him. Then said Jesus unto the twelve, his chosen twelve, "Will ye also go away?" To whose heart, of those twelve hearts, does the affecting appeal first find its way? Who answers it first? The same man who but just now was afraid of the wind. "Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life. And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living

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God." Generous, full-hearted, though too inconstant disciple! Though others desert that good and gentle Master, thou wilt not leave him. In this time of trial, thy heart has kept thee right. Thou art like some tall and comely tree, whose pliant trunk is swayed hither and thither by the passing storm, but whose tenacious root spreads wide abroad, and pierces deep beneath, and still reclaims the waving plant, and binds it firmly to the soil it loves.

At yet another time also, Peter made the same open and bold confession. It was when Jesus, having asked his disciples, whom men said that he was, and having received their answer, put the question to them, saying, "But whom say ye that I am?" Again it is the ardent Simon who advances before the rest, and answers unhesitatingly, "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God." This renewed proof of his attachment and faith draws forth the marked approbation of his Master, who answered him and said, "Blessed art thou, Simon, son of Jona; for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father who is in heaven. The spirit of God, himself, hath enlightened thee. And I say also unto thee, that thou art Peter. I have already called thee a rock, and upon this rock will I build my

church, and the gates of the place of death shall not prevail against it. Upon thy exertions shall the foundations of my church be laid, and laid so strongly, that they shall never be overturned nor destroyed. And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth, shall be bound in heaven; and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth, shall be loosed in heaven."

That by these words of Jesus a certain degree of apostolic preeminence was conferred on Peter, I think is too plain to be disputed; though some over zealous Protestants have denied the fact. But why they should wish to deny it, I cannot see; for I cannot see how the primacy which his Lord chose to confer on him should disturb them, nor can I see, on the other hand, how that primacy, being fully admitted, can be an argument for the papal supremacy. If Peter was thought by his Master worthy of standing first among his disciples, who shall say that he did not deserve the dignity? But what was the nature of that dignity?" On this rock will I build my church," said Jesus. The Christian church was not built on Peter alone, nor by him alone; for all the apostles contributed to the edifice; but to Peter was commissioned the duty of first declaring the

gospel to the Jews, and indeed, by a special vision, to the Gentiles also; and the centurion and his family, converted and baptized by him, were the first fruits of Christianity out of the Jewish pale. He was therefore the foundation of the church; the rock on which its beginnings were laid. But there is nothing transferable in this part of his dignity, at least. The foundations of the church are not to be laid twice and thrice, and over and over again, because a series of men calling themselves popes, claim to be his successors. Neither is there any promise of transmitting the keys of the kingdom of heaven, which signify only that authority which Peter, as an accredited apostle of Christ, was to have in his ministry. He was empowered to act in general as an ambassador from Heaven; to enact regulations, to establish and to break down, to do and to undo, with the concurrence and power of the Head of the Church himself. And this authority, let it be remembered, was committed to all the rest of the apostles in precisely the same words; for they also were to preach their Master's doctrine to the world, and needed his delegated power in things pertaining to his kingdom. To them also did he say, therefore, "Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth, shall be

bound in heaven; and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth, shall be loosed in heaven." The preeminence of Peter, then, appears to be simply a precedence among his brethren and equals, which was conceded to his abilities and energy; and a preference which was bestowed on him as a teacher of the religion of Christ. But there is no promise, no intimation, in the Scriptures, that even this preeminence was to descend on other men; nor does the similarity between the popes of Rome and Simon Peter of Bethsaida, between the triple crowned sovereigns of Christendom, who once set their feet on kings' necks, and the plain fisherman of the sea of Galilee, seem to be, in any point of view, very close or striking.

Whatever elation of heart may have been produced in Peter by the praise of a beloved Master, it was almost immediately doomed to be checked and mortified by the same impartial voice; for in the very chapter which records this last occurrence, we are told that the disciple drew upon himself one of the severest rebukes which Jesus ever uttered. "From that time forth," says the evangelist, "began Jesus to show unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders