rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory : 9 receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation 10 of your souls. Of which salvation the prophets have

inquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of 11 the grace that should come unto you: searching what, or what manner of time, the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory 12 that should follow. Unto whom it was revealed,

that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into.

Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ. Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers. And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. And they straightway left their nets, and followed him.' Matt. iv. 18-20. When Jesus came into the coasts of Cæsarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am? And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist; some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets. He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but Father which is in heaven. And I my also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my Church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be

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bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.' Matt. xvi. 13-19. So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs. He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love. thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep. He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me ? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep. Verily, verily, I say unto thee, When thou wast young, thou girdedst thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest: but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not. This spake he, signifying by what death he should glorify God. And when he had spoken this, he saith unto him, Follow me.' John xxi. 15-19.—to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia. We learn from the sacred records, as well as from profane history, that, about the time in which this Epistle was written, there were great multitudes of Jews residing in various countries out of Judæa. Then said Jesus unto them, Yet a little while am I with you, and then I go unto him that sent me. Ye shall seek me, and shall not find me and where I am, thither ye cannot come. Then said the Jews among themselves, Whither will he go, that we shall not find him? will he go unto the dispersed among the Gentiles, and teach the Gentiles?' John vii. 33-35. On the celebrated day of Pentecost after our Saviour's ascension, there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men out of every nation under heaven, Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia, Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene,

and strangers of Rome.' Acts ii. 5, 9, 10. St. James addressed his Epistle to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad.' James i. We should also remember that, on occasion of the persecution of the Church at Jerusalem, recorded in the eighth chapter of the Acts of the Apostles, it is said that the disciples were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judæa and Samaria, except the Apostles; and also that they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word.' Acts viii. 1, 4.elect, according to the foreknowledge of God the Father. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: according as he hath chosen us in him. before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy, and without blame before him in love: having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, to the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the Beloved.' Eph. i. 3-6. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover, whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.' Rom. viii. 29, 30. From all which it plainly appears that it is not by mere chance that Christians are called to the possession of Gospel light and privileges, but that they have been elected or chosen to this state of grace by the free and sovereign mercy of Almighty God. And therefore this same Apostle, in his other Epistle, exhorts those who have obtained the precious faith of the Gospel, to give diligence to make their calling and election sure: 2 Pet. i. 10. It is our own fault if we fall from grace. Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord: Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God.' Heb. xii. 14, 15.—through sanctification of the Spirit. We are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen

you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth: Whereunto he called you by our Gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.' 2 Thess. ii. 13, 14.-unto obedience. That ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light.' ch. ii. 9.—and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: 'Ye are come-to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel. See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven.' Heb. xii. 22, 24, 25. Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.' Heb. x. 22. Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied. Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord.' 2 Pet. i. 2. To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.' Rom. i. 7.--Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope. Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; that being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.' Tit. iii. 5-7. Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old; can he enter the second time into his mother's womb and be born? Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born

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again.' John iii. 3-7.-by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from th dead. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable. But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.' 1 Cor. 19-21. XV. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.' 1 Thess. iv. 14.--to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that fadeth not away. Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.' Matt. vi. 19—21. -reserved in heaven. Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.' 2 Tim. iv. 8. For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.' 2 Cor. v. 1.for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me and I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand. I and my Father are one.' John x. 27-30. 'Jesus lifted up his eyes to heaven and said,-Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are. While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the Scripture might be fulfilled. I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.' John xvii. 1, 11, 12, 15—unto salvation, ready to be revealed in the last time.

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