Peter leap'd down and trod the boisterous wave, But sinking crid, at last, "O master save! He did, but did his want of faith upbraid; Then to the ship in safety him convey'd.

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CHRIST SAVES PETER.

It was a dismal and tempestuous night
No cheerful star's afford their friendly light;
When across the lake the twelve directly bore;
The Master left behind them on the shore.

IT was an instance of Peter's faith, that he ventured upon the water when Christ called him. To quit the safety of the ship, regardless of the threatening waves, argued very strong dependence upon the power and word of Christ.

He bids him come. The Gospel call is come, come to Christ; yes, you may venture all in his hands, and commit the keeping of your souls to him; venture through a stormy sea, a troubled world, to Jesus Christ. He bore him up when he did come. "Peter walked upon the water." (Matthew⚫ xiv. 29.) Through faith and the strength of Christ we are borne up above the world,

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enabled to trample upon it, kept from sinking into it, preserved from being overwhelmed by it, and obtain victory over it.

Christ bid him come, not only that he might walk upon the water, and thereby know his Lord's power, but that he might sink, and feel his own weakness; for, as he would encourage his faith, so he would check his confidence.

Peter was afraid, The strongest faith and the greatest courage have a mixture of fear. Those that can say, "Lord, I believe,” must also say, Lord, help thou mine unbelief." Nothing but perfect love will cast out fear.

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Observe the effect of this fear. While faith kept up, Peter kept above water; but when faith faltered or wavered, he began to sink. We are upheld, as we are saved, through faith. He cried, "Lord, save me.”

Christ is the great Saviour; he came to save: those who would be saved, must not only come to him, but cry to him for salvation. "Lord, have mercy upon us. Christ, have mercy upon us."

Our discouraging doubts and fears are all owing to the weakness of our faith. Could we but believe more, we should doubt less. Jesus doth not cast off weak believers, but he is not pleased with the weakness of our faith. "Wherefore didst thou doubt ?" Our doubts and fears would soon vanish upon strict inquiry into their cause; for there is no good reason why Christ's disciples should be of a doubtful mind.

When Christ was come into the ship, they were presently on the shore. The storm ceased. When Christ comes into a soul, he calms all uneasiness, and communicates peace.

None but the Saviour could multiply the loaves, none but its Governor could walk upon the waters of the sea: the disciples yield to the evidence, and confess their faith; "Of a truth thou art the Son of God." They knew before that he was the Son of God, but now they know it more fully. Faith, after a conflict with unbelief, is sometimes the more active. It is good for children to know more and more of the certainty of those things wherein they have been instructed.

The disciples were suitably affected; they worshipped Christ. Faith is the proper principle of worship, and worship the genuine production of faith. He that comes to God, must believe; and he that believes in God, will come. (Hebrews xi. 6.)