" Feed " my flock : once, " Feed my lambs ; " and twice my " sheep." Can we doubt for a moment that this thrice-repeated charge was full of deep meaning ? It was meant to commission Peter once more to do the work of an Apostle, notwithstanding his recent fall. But this was only a small part of the meaning. It was meant to teach Peter and the whole Church the mighty lesson, that usefulness to others is the grand test of love, and working for Christ the great proof of really loving Christ. It is not loud talk and high profession ; it is not even impetuous, spasmodic zeal, and readiness to draw the sword and fight, — it is. steady, patient, labori- ous effort to do good to Christ's sheep scattered through- out this sinful world, which is the best evidence of being a true-hearted disciple. This is the real secret of Chris- tian greatness. It is written in another place, " Whoso- ever will be great among you, let him be your minister ; and whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant : even as the Son of man came not to be min- istered unto, but to minister." (Matt. xx. 26 — 28.)
Forever let the parting charge of our blessed Master abide in our consciences, and come up in the practice of our daily lives. It is not for nothing we may be sure, that we find these things recorded for our learning, just before He left the world. Let us aim at a loving, doing, useful, hard-working, unselfish, kind, unpretentious re- ligion. Let it be our daily desire to think of others, care for others, do good to others, and to lessen the sor- row, and increase the joy of this sinful world. This is to realize the great principle which our Lord's command to Peter was intended to teach. So living, and so labor- ing to order our ways, we shall find it abundantly true, that *' it is more blessed to give than to receive." (Acts XX. 35.)