church is built, has left one epistle universally acknowledged; let it be granted that he also wrote a second, for this has been doubted."

In the third and fourth centuries, both epistles were generally received by the Christians. The second has special reference to the first, and they both seem intended for Christians in general, Jews and Gentiles living in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bythinia; believers who had been led into the Christian faith through the ministries of Paul. The internal evidence of the second epistle is one of the strongest arguments in favor of its authenticity. Says a learned Christian author, "Though it has been a subject of examination full seventeen hundred years, nothing has hitherto been discovered which is unsuitable, either to the apostle, or to the apostolic age. Objections, indeed, have been made on account of its style, but the style of the second epistle when compared with that of the first, warrants rather the conclusion that both were written by the same person. It is difficult to comprehend what motive could have induced a Christian, whether orthodox or heretic, to attempt the fabrication of such an epistle, and then falsely ascribe it to St. Peter."

The epistle seems to have been addressed to Christians in a state of persecution, and is supposed to have been written a short time after the first epistle, and not long before the apostle's martyrdom. The Babylon at which it is dated, it is generally conceded, must have been from the Assyrian city of that name, and not from Rome under the mystical title which the imperial city bore.

I. Among the instructions plainly given in the history of this illustrious apostle, is that of faith; faith bold and strong, and confronting the world's opposing force, reproving its sin in high places, and daring its false religions to an encounter with the true faith that remembers its accountability, and looks for credentials to God, and not to It was such a faith as other Christian apostles possessed and manifested; but in this instance it is presented in the strongest light. That answer given to the rulers at Jerusalem who commanded the apostles to desist from the proclamation of their Master's Gospel, is worthy of all acceptation and honor, and specially of imitation, practically,

man.

For

in every age. "Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto men more than unto God, judge ye. we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard. We must obey God rather than men." One of the most difficult of all convictions and positions for worldly policy, or human lust and ambition, and pride and power, to comprehend. Were individual Christians and the churches everywhere under this conviction, or up to this inspiration, there would be such sure testimonies, such awakening appeals, such thunderings and lightnings from the Christian pulpit and press, and speech and action everywhere, against the prevailing falsehoods, wrongs and iniquities of man, as soon would change the whole moral aspect of our world, and hasten the true millenium. And that can never come but through living faith in God,-taking Him at his word-accepting his terms of service-acknowledging Him as the ultimate authority in all that pertains to human character, duty, progress, and salvation. The Christian church will be a dwarf of questionable efficiency until she has this inspiration. She will rise into a giant conqueror of heavenly might and glorious dominion when its in-breathings have blest her.

II. Zeal is another instruction of the life we are contemplating. Peter was the zealous apostle. He has ever been quoted and known as such; and his example in this respect is a blessing. Without zeal, Christianity would have stood still in the beginning. Jerusalem, Antioch, Corinth, Rome,-all those places near and remote when the apostles went forth, were witnesses of his zeal. They imbibed it when the pentecostal power came upon them. They never lost that power. They imparted it to others; they have sent it down in their histories and epistles to the present hour. Zeal is one of the indispensable instrumentalities of Christian success-a missionary zeal; readiness and earnestness to disseminate ;-going out into all the world, if practicable, and preaching the gospel to every creature; not standing still, or lying down to slumber, in the presumption that God has done all, and that men have only to await his time to move them to duty;-no rusting and decaying process like this; but a perpetual revival-a lively life of conscientious action, such as will make its way like light-beams through the world's densest darkness-the

striking of truth's hammer, and its breaking in upon the world's stone-heartedness ;-the kindling fire that catches and consumes its vanities and false pretences, and whatsoever would counteract or pervert the truth of the Lord.

No Christian sect can do its perfect work without zeal. It may be learned, wealthy, popular, in a few senses, richly endowed with other things;-but not one of them can make up for this, if this be wanting. Such is God's ordination, and it cannot be reversed.

III. Another lesson of our subject, is, that of the need of enlarged views of Christianity in order to make best proof of the Christian ministry and life. The larger the faith, the wider the view of divine grace, the stronger the inducement to work for the truth, seeing that such forces are in its favor;-the more reliance on the promises of the Everlasting One. As a distinguished minister of a lesser faith than ours, said, "The hope of success is necessary to the attainment of the gospel blessing with man. Some may give up for a time in despair. Nay, the heart of Infinite love itself would weary of beating without a knowledge of final success."

Peter's reception of the great truth of the extent of salvation to the Gentiles did not dampen his Christian ardor nor cause the fires of his zeal to burn low. He did not find that the motive power was taken from Christianity now that all were to be made its subjects by renovating grace. No; this very revelation of the infinite and impartial mercy gave him renewed strength-sent him forth with mightier energy than ever, and rendered him far more efficient as a Christian minister wherever his influence extended.

This was precisely the effect of Peter's enlargement of faith from the partial to the universal. And it will ever be thus with all faith as true and as thorough as that manifested in him. A strange hallucination is it, that our motive-power to holiness declines as the horizon of divine grace widens and extends in our vision. Paul's searching question and answer place this whole subject in its true light. "What shall we say, then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? (or because grace abounds?) God forbid! How shall we that are dead to sin, live any longer therein ?"

IV. The need of self-acquaintance and watchfulness in
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the Christian life, is another lesson in the apostolic life before us. It was in this need that the weaknesses of Peter were made most manifest. He was stronger in himself than in the all-sustaining power. What startling words to him were those which predicted his denial of his Master and Lord! Such a declension could not be! But it was! And let him that thinketh he standeth secure in moral principle and devotedness to truth and right take heed lest he fall. The tempter is near. "The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak." Our resolutions to duty may lack strength of spirit and nerve, and, in the hour of trial, some soporific of the adversary's cunning may paralyze and render us the victims of his wiles.

The Christian life is a perpetual conflict and consecration. Such is the summing up of the whole instruction of our subject. We may be called in this service to a forced march, a long endurance, a fierce encounter with the tempter, a heavy cross, a daily tribulation. But, through all these, the call is still to "glory, immortality, eternal life." Each day has its ministries to be fulfilled, each hour its endeavors and accomplishments. What we are, that should we improve. Peter had his work; Paul his; we have ours. What we have, we are to consecrate to the Giver,-talents, time, heart, soul, life. Our advantages: let us know what they are. We never shall know until we try to apply them. We may make failures or triumphs of them-monuments of shame or crowns of glory! God help us in the work and the victory of his everlasting truth!

J. G. A.

ART. XII.

The New Dictionary.

A Dictionary of the English Language by Joseph E. Worcester, LL. D. Boston: Hickling, Swan, and Brewer. 1860.

THE publication of a new dictionary, claiming to be the standard authority in all matters pertaining to the orthography, pronunciation, and meaning of words, challenges the closest scrutiny,-the most rigorous criticism. Especially is this the case, when, as at the present time,there is no lack of dictionaries, in point of number, each of which possesses many acknowledged excellences. Under these circumstances, a slight improvement on existing works, the introduction of some new but unessential feature, or a new arrangement of their best features, does not furnish sufficient reason for the publication. The deficiencies of existing works must be radical, and the superiority of the new claimant manifest.

To this test the work before us must submit before it can take the place it claims, as the standard work on English lexicography.

What, then, are the facts in the case? The three principal objects for which a dictionary is consulted are the definition, the orthography, and the pronunciation of words. Of these, definition is usually regarded as the most important; and in this respect, we think it will be generally admitted, that Webster-even now,-stands unrivalled. If any one doubts it, let him take words at random from the two dictionaries, and decide for himself. We have done this for our own satisfaction, and, as it is something that every intelligent man can do, we prefer to recommend such a test, rather than make use of the words we have examined, lest there might be supposed to be some unfairness in the selection.

The differences in orthography in the two dictionaries, we think, will be found on examination, to be much less