am baptized with shall ye be baptized," (he knew and foresaw the persecutions which awaited them, and how they would endure them) "but to sit on my right hand and on my left hand is not mine to give, but it shall be given to those for whom it is prepared."

To the same disciples, upon another occasion, when they desired him to permit them to call down fire from heaven to consume a village of the Samaritans, the inhabitants of which inhospitably refused to receive him, his reproof was more severe; "Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of, for the Son of Man is not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them 1."

Upon one occasion to Peter, his reply was somewhat indignant, but it was when he saw in him a worldly spirit, which required to be instantly repressed. It was at a time when he had been communicating to them his approaching death and crucifixion, that Peter dared to contra

dict his master; "Be it far from thee, Lord, this shall not happen unto thee;" which presumption of his drew down on him the rebuke; "Get thee behind me, Satan, for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but the things that be of men'

But to the same disciple, where his personal feelings toward him only were affected, his reproval was mingled with equal sincerity and affection. When Peter declared his readiness to lay down his life for his sake, his answer was, "Wilt thou lay down thy life for my sake? Verily, verily, I say unto thee, the cock shall not crow till thou hast denied me thrice 2." But the most affectionate reproof was that memorable one which he gave him by a look. It was when his erring friend was in the act of committing the very sin, against which he had been cautioned, and was, with imprecations, denying his Lord. And the Lord, who was surrounded by his accusers, turned

1 Mark viii. 33.

2 John xiii. 38.

and looked upon Peter'. It was a look at once of reproof, of pity, and forgiveness. It went to the very heart of the disciple, and excited there, where it remained afterwards finally fixed, repentance and conviction.

A further proof which we shall give of our Saviour's friendship for his disciples, was shewn in his endeavours to console them, and in his attention to their feelings. His last discourse to them is full of affectionate and pathetic regard. As I intend hereafter to enlarge upon this more fully, I shall at present only refer you to the Gospel of St. John, commencing with the thirteenth and ending with the sixteenth chapter, for a proof of this.

But there is an undesigned instance of this attention to the feelings of one of his disciples, which places this evidence of his friendship for them in the most conspicuous light. "Go," said the angel to the women after the Lord's resurrection in the garden, "tell his disciples and

Peter, that he goeth before you into Galilee: there shall ye see him, as he said unto you1." This message was sent by our blessed Saviour himself; but why was Peter so particularly mentioned? He was no more worthy of such a communication than were any of the rest. They all had forsaken him, but Peter had denied him with imprecations. But in this very circumstance shall we find the reason why the message was sent to him. It is true Peter had denied him, but he also had bitterly and sincerely repented of his sin; and this was, indeed, a message of forgiveness and of consolation to him. "Go, tell my disciples, but above all tell Peter, who has offended me grievously, but whose repentance I have accepted, and thus assure him of it, that I am risen from the dead."

A similar condescension he vouchsafed to Thomas. This disciple, in the rashness of his doubt as to the Lord's resurrection, had ventured to demand evidence

1 Mark xvi. 7.

of it, at once irreverent and unreasonable'. The other apostles had told him they had seen the Lord. "Except," said Thomas, "I see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe." Had his master left him to keep his oath, it would have been but a just punishment for his presumption; but in his friendship he was pleased to grant him the very proof which he required; "Reach hither thy finger and behold my hands, and reach hither thy hand, thrust it into my side, and be not faithless but believing."

The last instance of Christ's friendship for his disciples to which I shall now draw your attention, is that proof of it which he vouchsafed to the individual whom he loved. He it was who had the privilege of leaning on his bosom; and he, it appears, could ask of his Lord that which the others were fearful of doing. And, on the cross itself, Jesus shewed how