things of men. Tbe form of words is the same But be who loses bis life hare for tho sake as th1tt U8ed by our Lor<l to Satan himself, of Christ, either by dying in his co.use or by wben he was tempted by him in the wilder- denying and mortifying his lusts out of ness. It reminded him of that great oon- love for him, he in the life to come shall diot. The visions of worldly glory again find his life in the bosom of Christ and in floated before him. The crown without the eternal joy. cross was again held out to him. This Ver. 36.-Wbat doth it proftt a man, to explains hie language. Peter was indeed gain the whole world, and lose his own rebuked; but the rebuke was aimed through soul 1 ((11µ.,o,8ijva,); literally, forfeit his lif~ him at the arch adversarv who WI!.'! address- (,j,ux-'1). The word ,j,ux-fi in the Greek, ing him through Peter. Here is the originally meaning simply "breath," as the striking sig:1ificance of his" turning about." sign of life, is of very oomprehensive import, reter was for the momont doing thfl embracing not merely " the breath of life," tempter's work, and in "turning about" but also the "soul," or immortal part of our Lord was ago.in }Jutting Satan behind man, as distinguished from bis mortal body; him. also the mind or understanding, as tho organ Ver. 34.-Ke O&lied unto him the multi- of thought. "Life" seems here to be the tude with his disciples. Thie shows that best English synonym, as being, like the there was an inter.al between what had Greek ,j,ux-fi, the more comprehensive term. just taken place and what is now recorded. Ver. 37.-In exohange (av.,-&,\,\ayµ.a.) for -Our Lord now, without any further special his life. The Greek term here means an reference to St. Peter, delivers a lesson of "eq Divalent," "a compensation." The" life," universal application; although, no doubt, in its largest sense and meaning, defies all he had Peter in his mind. ll any ma.n comparison, surpasses all value. It has would (,7 .,.,, 6.:>,u) come after me, let him been bought and redeemed with the precious deny himself, and take up his croes, and blood of Christ; therefore the whole world follow me. This self-denial onght to would be a poor price for the soul of one extend to everything, even to life itself, man. which we ought to be willing to resign, if Ver. 38.-0ur Lord here looks onward to need be, for the sake of Christ. Take up the day of judgment. Whosoever shall be his crou. It is as though he said, " Let him ashamed of me. " Whosoever:" the word take up his cross, as I have borne my cross, includes all, whatever their position or cir- that I might be the standard-bearer and cumstances may be. " Shall be ashamed of Leader of all cross-bearers-I, who carried me;" that is, shall deny my fe.ith, or blush the croBB on which I was to be crucified to to confess me here. Of him shall the Son of the mount of Calvary." St. Luke (ix. 23) man be ashamed j that is, Christ will adds the words (,ca6' iiµ.lpa.v), "daily:" "let despise him, when he shall appear with him te.ke np his cross daily;" thus showing power and great glory, in that sublime that "every day," and often "at every majesty which he gained by his death upon hour," something oocurs which it becomes the cross. In this adulterous a.nd sin1'tll UB to bear patiently and bravely, and so on generation. It adds to the disgrace of being continually through our whole life. He ashamed of Christ that the shame is mani- takes up hie cross who is crucified to the fested in the presence of the base o.n<l the world. But he to whom the world is worthless; and therefore our Lord exhibits -crucified follows his crucified Lord. Thie the contrast between the mean and oon- cross assumes various forms ; such as perse- temptible people in the presence of whom cution and martyrdom, affliction and sor- men are ashamed of him here, and the row of whatever kind, appointed by God; magnificent assemblage in whose presence temptations of Satan, permitted by Goel for he will be ashamed of them hereafter. The our trial, to increase our humility and cross of Christ appeared to the great body of virtue, and to make brighter our crown. mankind to be shameful and contemptible. Ver. 35.-Because the cross is sharp and To the Jews it was a stumbling-block, o.nd affi.icting, our Lord animates his followers to the Greeks foolishness. Hence vast iO bear it by the thought of its great and numbers, whether through shame or foar, everlasting rewards. The meaning of the did not dare to confess it, and still less to .overae is this: He who by trying to shun preach it. And therefore it is that St• .the oross and to escape seli denial would Paul se.ys (Rom. i. 16), " I o.m not o.shamed 11ave his life here, will loll it hereafter. of the gospel of Christ."
HOMILETICS. Vera. 1-10.-The Giver of bread. That the miracle of feeding ~he mu~titude ihould be repeated, and that two evangelistJI should record both events, 19 a testm1ony -0n. vm. 1-38.J 'l'HE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. :MARK. 337