moment of ardour, like a giant refreshed with sleep, and how, in another moment, it shrinks absolutely into a point of nothingness. We wonder, in the first place, how the flame should burst out at all; but we wonder more that it should lose its power so speedily, and leave the sinner in such total darkness. The resolute, whose hope is in himself, and the faint-hearted, who has no hope, are both of them in a state of disease, and in need of healing from the Physician of souls; they may see their remedy in this passage, and learn that it is our Immanuel alone that carries on the strong man in his strength, and causes the weak man to lift up his head and to tread firmly. We may find a full confirmation of this remark, in that memorable act of Jesus which is presented to us in the text: "The disciples were now on the sea of Gennesaret, and the ship was tossed with waves, for the wind was contrary; and in the fourth watch of the night, Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea; and when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, it is a spirit, and they cried out for fear; but straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer, it is I, be not afraid." Upon this, the zeal of that apostle is awakened, who was always on the watch for an occasion to declare it. "And Peter an

swered, and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water; and he said, come; and when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water to go to Jesus; but when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid, and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me; and immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?"

In looking carefully at this subject, in the several points of interest that it brings before us, I do not see how I can better improve it, than by tracing, in the first place, as this scripture appears to teach me, the progress of a weak and helpless sinner in his approaches to Christ; and, secondly, the manner in which our Lord is pleased to deal with him. May we be mutually blest, in the consideration of it, by the presence of the Holy Ghost; may I have the husbandman's privilege in witnessing the growth and increase of the seed, and may you spring up, and ripen into goodly fruit, to the praise and to the glory of the great Lord of the harvest.

Are any of you, my brethren, applying yourselves to the study of that most mysterious of all mysteries, the human heart? The character of this disciple may throw in a ray of light to aid you in your search. Are any of you caring

for your souls, and out of the records of life seeking what you must do to be saved? there is enough in that mixed character to induce you to look with suspicion upon those actions of your own that seem to be the fairest, and with great caution at those which you fancy are well pleasing to God. A deceitful heart will produce deceitful steps, and if they are not narrowly watched, and led on by the light, and under the shadow of the Spirit, we may be sure that out of them will be the issues of death.

The first thing which fixes our attention in the conduct of Peter, is the warmth and earnestness of his zeal. His ruling desire seems to have been, to give a full proof to others, that he was a true and sincere disciple. There was with him no compromise of principle, no unholy wish to be a mere closet worshipper, a sort of Nicodemus, confessing Christ by night, and losing sight of him by day; we find him, with the solitary exception of his denial in the hall of Pilate, the first to make a tender of his services, and the most forward to testify his affectionate regard for Christ. The cold-hearted, who know nothing, and feel nothing of devotional affection, will say that his professions were overstrained: let this be granted, and what is gained by it? Peter was but a man, and who would not palliate an imperfection, if

such it were, which, after all, was only an imperfection of love? Observe him in this place, whilst the rest of the disciples were crying out with fear, keeping his eye upon Jesus, and addressing him by name: "Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water." With all his forwardness, there is here no act of presumption; his heart is ready for a flight, but he restrains it; he is in his right place, as one who is making himself acquainted with his Master's will; he expresses a desire, but then as to giving effect to it, he does nothing; he waits for a bidding from Christ. A waiting Christian is by no means a character of easy attainment; we are apt to overleap God's appointed time, and to be all anxiety for pushing forward, where perhaps his command may be, "Lie down," the hour is not come, "Be still, and know that I am God." We want an increase of joy, an assurance of hope, a stronger light in the understanding; we forget, that as the King of glory, he has many mansions, and that for each he has his vessels of gold and silver, which he fills according to his own good pleasure. Ours is a plain and simple duty; we have a throne of grace erected expressly for our sakes, and there we may make our "requests known unto God." He has never said that he will be found of them that cry after him with an impatient spirit; but

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he has said, "They that wait upon the Lord, shall renew their strength;" and the grace that is vouchsafed to these waiting servants gives them the courage to fight manfully against "the world, the flesh, and the devil." In this way Peter became strong, in this way he waxed valiant against his enemies; this made a resting place for his feet, even out of the waves of the great deep; for as soon as he heard the voice of his beloved, in that one word of wellknown and familiar recognition, "Come," he went down at once out of the ship, and walked on the water to go to Jesus;" with that word, ' all difficulties seemed to vanish before him; he trod upon the billows as upon dry land, and felt that all was firm beneath him; he saw a foundation where others could discover none; he was full of trust, and it was made to him a tower of strength. The ark of refuge, the living ark, was before him, and his heart beat anxiously to reach it. This is no new description, no representation of one single scene that is to be realized but once; the believer is acquainted in degree with all the parts of it in his voyage over the sea of life. Again and again he is invited to meet the Shepherd and Bishop of his soul, and to assure him, he is addressed in the same accents of condescending love. I do not tell you, that he walks literally through the