When  they  had  eaten,  Jesus  reminded  Peter
how  diligent  and  zealous  he  ought  to  be,  in  order
to  wij^ie  olf  the  stain  of  his  denying  him  when
he  was  carried  before  the  high-priest:  "Simon,
son  of  Jonas,"  said  our  blessed  Saviour  to  him,
"  art  thou  more  zealous  and  affectionate  in  thy
love  towards  me  than  the  rest  of  my  disciples.'*"
To  which  Peter  answered.  Yea,  Lord,  thou  knoivesi
that  1  love  thee.  He  was  taught  modesty  and
diffidence  by  his  late  fall;  and  therefore  would  not
compare  himself  With  others,  but  humbly  appealed
to  his  Master's  omniscience,  for  the  sincerity  of
his  regard  to  him.  Jesus  answered,  "  Express
then  thy  love  towards  me,  by  the  care  of  my  flock
committed  to  thy  charge.  Feed  my  lambs ;  feed
m,y  sheep.  Shew  thy  love  to  me,  by  publishing  the
3E*


284


THE    LIFE    OP    OUR    BLESSED    LORD


Chap.  XLIV.
great  salvation  I  have  accomplished  ;  and  feeding
the  souls  of  faithful  believers  with  that  food
which  never  perishes,  but  endures  for  ever  and
ever.
"  I  well  know,  indeed,"  continued  the  blessed
Jesus,  "  that  thou  wilt  continue  my  faithful
shepherd,  even  until  death.  For  the  time  will
come,  when  thou  who  now  girdest  on  thy  fisher's
coat  voluntarily,  and  stretchest  out  thy  hands  to
come  to  me,  shalt  in  thine  old  age  be  girt  by
others,  and  forced  to  stretch  out  thy  hands  against
thy  will,  in  a  very  difl'erent  manner,  for  the  sake
of  thy  constant  profession  of  my  religion."

By  these  last  words,  Jesus  signified  the  manner
of  Peter's  death,  and  that  he  should  finally  suffer
martyrdom,  for  the  glory  of  God,  and  the  testimony
©f  the  truth  of  the  Christian  religion.
