some account and recollection of these children of the church, so as to give them, as opportunity offers, the best look and word, the best spiritual gift. Therefore, also, and above all, parents should 'grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ,' so that they come behind in no gift,' and that their children may find all that is best and sweetest at home.

IX.

THE CHURCH.

HE SAITH UNTO THEM, BUT WHOM SAY YE THAT I AM?

AND SIMON PETER ANSWERED AND SAID, THOU ART THE CHRIST, THE SON OF THE LIVING GOD.

AND JESUS ANSWERED AND SAID UNTO HIM, BLESSED ART THOU, SIMON BAR-JONA: FOR FLESH AND BLOOD HATH NOT REVEALED IT UNTO THEE, BUT MY FATHER WHICH IS IN HEAVEN.

AND I SAY ALSO UNTO THEE, THAT THOU ART PETER, AND UPON THIS ROCK I WILL BUILD MY CHURCH: AND THE GATES OF HELL SHALL NOT PREVAIL AGAINST IT.

Matt. xvi. 15-18.

THE CHURCH.

SIMON PETER certainly witnessed a good confession as to the person of his Master; and in return our Lord pronounced a great benediction upon his disciple, as well as took occasion to utter a most significant prophecy respecting his church.

If the prophecy had signified that there should be an uninterrupted succession of Peters, so taught of the Father through his Holy Spirit as to be the proper vice-gerents of Christ, the infallible dictators of seasonable dogmas to the church, the idea would seem to me-not in the least conformable indeed to the image of the prophecy, but sufficiently beautiful to be divine; and the historic demonstration of this prophetic meaning should evidently appear in a spiritual authority and influence the most august and the most engaging. But finding ourselves after many centuries somewhat disen