THOUGHTS FOR S. PETER'S DAY.

ALL attentive readers of the Holy Gospels must have been struck, I think, by the remarkable concern which our LORD had for S. Peter. In some sense he seems to be more favoured than the rest. S. John is called the disciple whom "JESUS loved," and who lay on His bosom, but S. Peter on many occasions seems to be the chief. In the catalogue of the Apostles he is always named first. On many occasions he speaks on behalf of the rest, as if his brethren looked up in some way to him. So, too, he is singled out as the representative of the body, "I will give to thee the keys of heaven," and then again, after His resurrection, the LORD said, "Feed My lambs, feed My sheep." Not that the other Apostles were not to do so, but special charge is laid upon S. Peter, and our LORD also in another place speaks of him as the future strengthener of his brethren, "When thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren." After these high privileges with which it pleased the great Head of the Church to invest this Apostle, we are not surprised to find him taking the lead in the administration of the affairs of the Infant Church. First he appears directing the Church what to do as to filling up the place of the traitor Judas; then he is the spokesman to the multitude on the Day of Pentecost; then GoD's power is shown in him by the punishment of Ananias, and the cure of the lame man, nay, even his very shadow healed the sick as he passed by. Then we see him travelling into Samaria to confirm the newly baptized, and admitting Cornelius into the Church of GOD, thereby opening the door of faith unto the Gentiles. And afterwards, when heresy had crept into the fold, we see him in the First Council reviewing the whole matter, giving a tone to the proceedings, and the decision given according to his views.

For so active a servant of GOD, we may very well imagine Satan wrought great trials. And not only was he beaten and scourged, but on a convenient opportunity Herod the king, after having put S. James to death, proceeded to take Peter also, and he was cast into prison. What an anxious moment must not this have been for the Church, the kinsman of their LORD dead, and now the great teacher and Apostle Peter under sentence of death. What a sad dismal Easter it must have been to them. What a gloom must it have cast over their festival. And day by day passed away and every hour brought him nearer his doom. How must they have missed him. How sad must it not have been to feel they should never hear him speak again of Him

Whom he had seen, or the tale of his fall and his LORD's mercy; never receive again from his hands the holy banquet of the SAVIOUR'S Body and Blood. For after Easter he was to die, and then what would become of the Church? Who would direct and guide it when its two great pastors were removed so soon after each other? Well might prayer without ceasing be made to GOD for him, and every Christian with one voice pray for the threatened blow to be averted.

And now from the Disciples let us turn to the Apostle himself. Let us look into the dungeon and see what meets us there. We find all safely secured and made fast, the keepers before the door keep the prison. They must not relax vigilance. And within we see two more soldiers, and between them the prisoner bound to each; and he is sleeping, he hath laid him down in peace, in resignation to GOD's Will. What though he be in prison and his life in jeopardy; what, though on the morrow his eyes would look upon the preparations for his death, and he be called to endure the ignominy and disgrace of a public execution he is in the hands of his LORD-his LORD has endured the same before him, and upon his ear has fallen the gentle command of his LORD, "Follow Me." And so he has followed Him, and is prepared not to part from Him in death. To him to die was to be only nearer that LORD Whom he had loved so well and so faithfully; Whose Gospel he had preached, and in Whose Church he had some high rule. He had provided oil for his lamp, and the summons to-morrow to the grave would only seem like the voice which he longed to hear, "Behold the Bridegroom cometh." And he was prepared to meet Him, and therefore he slept, and doubtless holy angels guarded his slumbers, and filled his mind with joy and peace unspeakable. We may have watched at the bed-side of the dying, and we may have seen something like this scene, we may have seen the sick manit may be husband, father, mother, gradually weaker and weaker, and stooped to wipe the death dews from his brow, and we may have seen him calm and resigned, and peaceably awaiting his summons, as peaceably as did this great Apostle on the eve of his supposed execution. We have heard no sigh or lamentation, no passionate wish to live, no passionate wish to be released, but calm, gentle resignation expressed in every feature; if we have seen this, we shall understand how it was S. Peter slept quietly with the human certainty of death hanging over him. It was because he had striven faithfully to serve his LORD and Master, because he had striven by hearty repentance of his fall to be restored to his SAVIOUR's favour, that he slept. And if when our summons comes, we would then await it in similar peace and resignation, let us strive with Peter to follow our LORD

and Master. "Keep innocency, and take heed to the thing that is right, for that shall bring a man peace at the last."

And now turn to the little band of brethren. Peter was in prison, and they were praying for him, and suddenly the Apostle himself stood without, knocking at the door. For the prayers of the Church had been heard, and a miracle had been wrought. An angel from heaven had come down, and the power of GoD had broken the iron chain and dungeon wall, and the fetters at the angel's touch fell straight from their joints, and

"Through darksome vault, up massy stair
His dizzy, doubting footsteps wind
To freedom, and cool moonlight air."

So powerful are the prayers of God's people. So do we learn, when misfortune threatens those we love, to bow humbly at the throne of grace, and implore the protection of the unseen Arm, we know not indeed whether GOD will interpose in our behalf, as He did in S. Peter's. This we must leave to Him whether He will grant our prayers, whether or no it will be for our good to do so, and what is good for us He will do; but this we know, that test our faith as He will, there is no place beyond the reach of His ministering spirits-no danger which He cannot avert, no chains which He cannot smite in sunder, no captivity which He cannot change into peace and joy.

And now once more, let us regard our Saint in Prison. We are told that in the persecutions under Nero, the Apostles S. Peter and S. Paul on this day suffered martyrdom; S. Paul, by reason of his citizenship, by beheading; S. Peter by crucifixion, with his head downwards in humility. So were the LORD'S words fulfilled to the letter, "Follow Me," and he who heard them followed Him, the Good Shepherd in His care for the sheep, and when trial came, he laid his life down too, and had grace given to endure the same death which his LORD had done.

Once more, then, we may view him in the dungeon, and doubtless he was as calm and resigned as before, though no angel winged his flight this time from heaven and smote his chains in sunder, for now his course was run, and together with his fellow Apostle he was to receive the crown of life. They had fought a good fight, they had finished their course, they had kept the faith, and even at last were to enter into rest. And now they reign with CHRIST in glory. May the Almighty and Merciful LORD make us as faithful in our manner as even S. Peter and S. Paul, and may He grant unto us to glorify Him by a faithful life, and if need be, by our death also, sooner than relinquish our hopes as Christians and deny the faith which was once delivered to the Saints.'

J. B.

The Editor's Desk.

CHURCH NEWS OF THE MONTH.

THE Convocation question grows on apace, and there is no doubt that ere long the freedom of the Church will be won. It only wants, as we have always said, sound heads and stout hearts. It is the cause of bare justice, and England, that prides itself on its strong common sense, cannot resist our appeal, if we will only take care to exercise a little common sense, and endeavour to remove ignorance, and calmly meet prejudices. It is therefore cause of no little congratulation, that in Mr. Collins, Mr. Pound, and their coadjutors, we find combined caution with perseverance, and wisdom coupled with zeal. The meetings they have held have told, and are telling upon the public mind. The one held last month at Gloucester, was not second to any of its predecessors in importance, as we think, and we venture to predict it will not be in its results. Quiet country gentlemen, as well as country Clergyman, who are not wont to put themselves to any inconvenience, unless they are convinced that measures are right, and that the time for action has come, were there to express, in calm, measured, but distinct terms, their matured opinions. And best sign of all, an opposition was got up by a dissenter, who has as much right to interfere with the internal economy of our branch of CHRIST's Church, as we to give directions for the assembly of Independent divines, or the "conferences" of the Wesleyans. The speeches were, as we have said, calm, and to the point; though we think with others that resolutions, which seem to imply amendments might give way to formal propositions or sentiments. But the speeches were also effective and telling. They uttered, in some cases, the sentiments of those who had at one time looked with fear and apprehension on the movement, trembling for the uncertain consequences of a speedy return to liberty. Such was Sir John Audrey, and therefore well did he deserve attention when he said, "He claimed on behalf of the Church that it should have that power of deliberative action, which was possessed by every other religious body in the world, with the exception of that body whose destinies were ruled by that autocratic power whom he would not name." The charge of Popery was admirably met by Mr. Scott. "Popery," he said, "asserted the infallibility of one single individual, but was that the principle which guided diocesan synods, where so many had voices?" It is unnecessary to follow the other speakers. We can only re-echo the

wish of Sir J. Tancred, that an account of the proceedings of that day would be conveyed to the most distant parts of Her Majesty's dominions.

A few more such meetings, and the point will be gained. We hope, however, that the managing committee will find it convenient to hold one of their assemblies at Plymouth. We long to see some effort made there to influence the public mind, and should hail with no ordinary satisfaction the announcement that that effort was to be made under the auspices of those who have shown such excellent qualifications for management, and whose labours have won the confidence of the great body of Churchmen. Whilst upon this subject, we cannot but express our regret that the question of the laity forming part thereof is now mooted. We fully agree with our contemporary, the Ecclesiastic, (in which an able article appeared last month,) and trust so strange an innovation will not be allowed. If antiquity is worth anything, let us ask of them of old, upon this as upon other subjects. We ought at least to be consistent.

In the North American provinces, the Apostolic Bishops of Quebec, Toronto, Newfoundland, Fredericton, and Montreal, have held an important conference, at which they came to decisions upon convocation, obedience, canons, articles, and formularies, division of services, and many similar topics affecting the well-being and edification of the Churches entrusted to their care. And now to turn to another subject.

The Canterbury settlement is progressing most favourably. This has been brought out prominently by a letter from Lord Lyttleton, in consequence of certain attacks made up in a quarter whence, considering the principle on which the association acts, nothing else could be expected. A Bishop has been elected, and will be consecrated, as soon as certain impediments are removed. Meanwhile, Bishop Selwyn has visited the new colony, and made every provision for the spiritual welfare of the inhabitants. Whilst there, his Lordship held a Maori service in the Church at Lyttleton, when nineteen Maories were admitted into the Church by Holy Baptism. In the course of the morning service, (says the Lyttleton Times,) the holy rite of confirmation was administered to eighteen young persons belonging to Lyttleton. The candidates were ranged in front of the communion rails, and received from the Bishop an affectionate and impressive exhortation. His Lordship afterwards preached a sermon, distinguished by his peculiar eloquence, in behalf of the Australasian missions, when the collection amounted to £12. 15s.

The work of Church extension is proceeding most satisfactorily at home. Many new Churches have been consecrated, and amongst them we may mention S. Mary Magdalen, Munster