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approach, and hastens to the door to meet them. Now he bows low before Peter, wishing to pay him respect as an apostle and servant of the Lord. Peter, who was ever jealous of the honour of his Saviour, felt that such deference was too much for him; and therefore, with a look of disquietude, he quickly takes Cornelius by the hand, and raising him, says, Stand up; I myself, also, am a man!" Even at the door they begin to speak on the subject of the vision; and when Peter enters the house he finds a large party assembled there, amongst whom were many Gentiles. At any time previous to this he would have refused to keep company with those who were not Jews; but now hear what he says, as he looks round on the crowded room: "God hath showed me that I should not call common, or unclean; therefore came I unto you without gainsaying, as soon as I was sent for. ask, therefore, for what intent ye have sent for me?"

any man

I

There is a lesson for us here, and we will pause a moment, that nothing be lost.

Are we not apt to look coldly on those who do not belong to our particular party? Nay, we have known friends become estranged, and the formal bow take the place of the kindly greeting, because, forsooth, they could not agree on trivial matters of opinion. Civil wars are ever the most

destructive and harassing, and these unloving feelings amongst Christians do more harm to the church of Christ than all open invasions from the enemy. Oh! when shall we learn to be of different opinions, and yet of one spirit; when, throwing aside prejudice, shall we so live in love, that the God of love be with us?

and peace may

It was now Cornelius's turn to speak, and he related all that had happened. Turning towards the apostle, he tells him how an angel, a man in bright clothing, had appeared to him, directing him to send for Peter, who was at Joppa. "Immediately, therefore," he continues, "I sent to thee;" and then, with a look of affectionate gratitude, he adds, "and thou hast well done that thou art come; now, therefore, we are all here present before God, to hear all things that are commanded thee of God."

Who is that with a countenance expressive of gentleness and humble love, who rises to address the people? At once we recognize Peter. He begins by telling them that God is no respecter of persons; and explains to them how his mercy in Christ Jesus is not to be confined to the Jew, but is to be extended to all the world. This is new doctrine, and the attention of every one is riveted on Peter, and then he speaks on the subject on which he loves to dwell. Jesus of Nazareth is the theme; he gives a simple but sublime record of the life of

the Son of God. Oh, how thrillingly interesting to listen to one who had been the friend and companion of the Saviour! Yes; Peter had been a witness of all things which his Lord had done. He was on Gennesaret's lake when its impetuous billows were awed into sudden silence by the voice of their Lord; he had seen the bright cloud on the mountain top, and heard the heavenly voice that said, "This is my beloved Son ;" he had slept for sorrow, whilst the Saviour wrestled in agonizing prayer, in Gethsemane's garden solitude; he had followed, trembling, to the high-priest's palace; and to him the risen Saviour had sent an express message, telling him that the Redeemer had burst the bars of the grave, and again walked in our sorrowful world. Yes; "Peace be unto you" had been breathed on him from the lips of Jesus; and he had been one of the little band of the faithful who stood wistfully gazing on Judah's sky, after a cloud had shrouded from his sight the last view of their Redeemer and their friend; therefore he spake of what he knew, and testified of what he had heard.

No wonder that tears of grateful love dim the eyes of his hearers, as he proceeds to tell them of salvation freely offered to all. Can such good tidings be true? they are ready to cry; and as if to strengthen their hope, we almost fancy we hear

G

Peter exclaiming, "Whosoever believeth in him

shall receive remission of sins."

Then the Holy Ghost descended on all there, and they all spake with tongues, and magnified God; and great was the astonishment of all, that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. Peter commands that they be baptized; and we are not surprised to find that they besought the beloved apostle to remain with them many days: "And this commandment have we from him, that he who loveth God, love his brother also."

XI.

PETER DEFENDS HIS CONDUCT WITH REGARD TO

THE

GENTILES.-THE GOSPEL IS PREACHED

AT ANTIOCH. PETER'S MIRACULOUS

VERANCE FROM PRISON.

DELI

AGAIN Peter visits Jerusalem, and as we might have expected, such an extraordinary circumstance as that which had happened at Cæsarea, created great astonishment, and was at first the occasion of much contention, alas, even amongst Christians! The brethren meet Peter with altered looks, saying, "Thou wentest in to men uncircumcised, and didst eat with them." We know the secret of their murmurings; they forgot at that moment that the Holy Spirit had descended on the Gentiles; "that they should be fellow-heirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the Gospel." They were looking on the whole matter as the work of man, and were utterly unmindful of their Lord's parting injunction, "Go ye into all the world, and preach the Gospel to every creature." They had not yet learnt that those who were afar