and probably with his new name he endowed him with qualities fuitable to its import. ture, Poole obferves, that Peter was, prior to this (according to the name of his father Jonas, which being interpreted fignifies a dove,) of a fearful and timorous difpofition. Cephas implies a ftone, or rock; and it seems to have been the design of our Saviour to point out, that, for the fuhe should be steady, firm, and full of courage and conftancy. In the remainder of his life we have but one inftance of his departing from this character, and that proceeded from a too great confidence in himfelf; as a punishment for which he was fuffered to fall into the meanest and most despicable of vices. Severe repentance, and, we can have no doubt, a full pardon, inftantly followed the crime. This is a comfortable leffon for all good Chriftians, when furprized into the commission of fin, and points out to them the only means they can take to regain their peace of mind, and reconcile them to themselves. 66 43. The day following, Jefus would go forth into Galilee, and findeth Philip, "and faith unto him, Follow me. 66 66 44. Now Philip was of Bethfaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. 66 45. Philip findeth Nathaniel, and "faith unto him, We have found him of 66 whom Mofes in the law and the prophets " did write, Jefus of Nazareth, the son of Jofeph. 66 66 46. And Nathaniel faid unto him, "Can there any good thing come out of "Nazareth? Philip faith unto him, Come " and fee. 66 47. Jefus faw Nathaniel coming to him, and faith unto him, Behold an If"raelite indeed, in whom is no guile." Such should be the character of every Chriftian; fuch will be the character of every one who follows the gofpel rules. "48. Nathaniel faith unto him, Whence "knowest thou me? Jefus answered and "faid unto him, Before that Philip called thee, thee, when thou waft under the fig-tree, I faw thee. 66 49. Nathaniel answered and faith un"to him, Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; "thou art the King of Israel. 66 50. Jefus answered and faid unto him, Because I said unto thee, I saw thee "under the fig-tree, believest thou? thou "fhalt fee greater things than these. 66 51. And he faith unto him, Verily, " verily, I say unto you, hereafter ye fhall fee heaven open, and the angels of God 'afcending and descending upon the Son of Man !" Nathaniel's immediate and zealous faith may be accounted for by the purity and innocence of his mind: the foil was fitted to receive the feed of truth, which accordingly took root as foon as fown; and having no weeds to choke or impede its growth, flourished abundantly. He had the gratification of being highly approved by his master, and received a promise from him that he fhould fee greater things than than those which had just carried conviction to his mind. This promife is more fully explained by our Lord, in the 51st verse just recited. May the Almighty grant us grace to follow the conduct of Nathaniel, that true Ifraelite in whom was no guile! and then we may hope to fee greater things, continually, than any we have seen! we may hope to fee his promises opening more and more, and his grace ftill farther extended towards us. To Him, for all the holy inftruction and pious examples he has afforded us, be all praise, thanksgiving, and worship, world without end! Amen! CHAPTER CHAPTER THE SEVENTH. ST. JOHN, CHAP. II. 1. AND the third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee; ❝ and the mother of Jesus was there. 2. And both Jefus was called, and his disciples, to the marriage.” Our Lord feems purposely to have diftinguished this facred inftitution with his prefence, and, by this performance of his firft miracle, to restore it to its former credit, which it had greatly lost amongst the Jews, who made no scruple, upon fcruple, upon the most frivolous pretences, of getting rid of their |