What wonder if they should even waver in their opinion, and doubt whether, after all, he were the Messiah? He might be only a forerunner, as many men supposed him.

In order therefore to ascertain the state of their minds, and prepare the way for the yet more fearful disclosures that must soon be made, he speaks to them on the subject. He asks them, first, what is the general opinion of men respecting himself. They tell him, that opinions are various. Some think him to be John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others say that one of the old prophets is risen again. That is, his course had been so different from what they anticipated in the Messiah, that men generally did not believe him to be he, though they were willing to think him a great prophet sent to prepare the way. Jesus then asked their own opinion; had they also been so disappointed at this change in his affairs, as to doubt respecting him? "Whom say ye that I Peter immediately replied, "Thou art the Christ." There was no hesitation. The answer was direct, frank, hearty. It proved that nothing had occurred to shake their confidence, or cause a serious doubt. Jesus rewarded the heartiness of the confession, by a strong expression of pleasure and approbation. "Blessed art thou, Simon, son of Jonas," he exclaimed; "for flesh and blood hath not revealed this unto thee,

am?"

but my Father who is in heaven.” And then added that distinguished promise, "I say unto thee, thou art Peter,' -a rock indeed;-" and on this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it."

Thus it was evident that the minds of the Twelve did not waver; and this emphatic promise to Peter was eminently adapted to encourage and confirm them. But there was more yet to be done. He had now at length, for the first time as it would seem, solemnly and formally recognised the title of Messiah in the presence of his followers. They might think themselves at liberty immediately to act upon it, and proclaim him to the people. But this would be inconsistent with the designs of Providence. He therefore strictly forbade it. "He charged them straitly, that they should tell no man of him." He would not have them publish his titles and office until they rightly understood them; and he went on to explain to them, that they did not rightly understand them. He told them that instead of a triumphant, he was to be a suffering, leader; instead of an army and a throne, the homage of the people and the dominion of the nations, he must go to Jerusalem, "and suffer many things from the elders, chief priests, and scribes, and be put to death, and rise again the third day."

They heard these words with dismay. How

contrary to their expectations, how opposed to all their notions of their Messiah's fortunes! Peter, with his usual ardor and boldness, loudly expressed his feelings. He expostulated with his Master, insisted that it must not, and should not, be as he had said. He not improbably went further, and attempted to persuade him to resist forcibly the oppression of which he had spoken. Jesus, whose meekness and gentleness formed a strong contrast to the vehemence of his disciple, was hurt at this violent outbreak of zeal, and saw the necessity of checking it at once; it might easily lead to most disastrous consequences. Therefore he turned and looked on his disciples," says Mark, that they might cbserve how positive and resolved he was, and loudly rebuked Peter as influenced by a worldly ambition and a regard to human honors, rather than by a religious regard to the will and purposes of God. Then turning to all his disciples, in the hearing of the people, he with great solemnity urged on them the duty of adhering to their profession at every risk, and through all hardships of self-denial. If they would have the advantages and glories of his kingdom, they must be ready to relinquish their selfish hopes, to take up the cross, and even surrender their lives. They were pledged to a suffering and despised master, they must not be ashamed of him, they must acknowledge him before man; otherwise,

he would not acknowledge and honor them in the great day of his real glory. For, he assured them, he should come in the glory of his Father and of the angels, and bring to every one a reward according to his character and fidelity. Thus he encouraged them by the solemn and magnificent promise of a final triumph, notwithstanding what he had just taught them of his approaching sufferings and disgrace. And that this might the more forcibly impress them, he ended with saying, that there were some present among them who should not taste of death, till they had seen the kingdom of God coming with power. Thus mingling the new vision of evil he had just opened to them, with a stern precept of duty and an animating prospect of glory, he sought to make on them that profound impression which would prepare them to meet with firmness and constancy the trials before them.

Oftentimes,

The lesson was not lost on them. doubtless, in after days, when they were preaching the doctrines of their despised master in the midst of obloquy and scorn, of peril, privation and death, they recalled to mind the powerful words in which he had first taught them, that they must endure suffering for his sake, and follow in the bloody path of his cross to their reward; and when they did so, and then remembered how he had suffered and was now glorified, they felt

themselves armed to endure all things for his sake; they braved persecution and torture; they confessed him before men in prison and amid flames, and died rejoicing in the confidence that he would confess them before his Father in heaven.

It is not they only, to whom those precepts respecting self-denial and the necessity of owning our holy Master, were addressed. To none are they inapplicable, who hope to enter on the future life which he has revealed.