he proceeded in the selection of his particular friends and apostles, if it be discoverable, is certainly a subject of great interest and laudable curiosity; it has therefore often afforded matter of speculation. Observe, however, the following facts, and then say whether it does not actually seem as though, by his procedure, he had intended to commend the subject now before us to the most serious attention of Christians individually, and the Christian church in all ages.

Of the twelve men whom he selected for apostles, while not one of them belonged to Jerusalem, and not one of them, as far as we know, was taken from the tribe of Levi, more than the half were under previous natural connexions among themselves. The natural relationship, however, of these apostles to each other, as well as their connexion with the parents who gave them birth, like many other subjects, is not apparent at first view, nor does any single passage, in so many words, inform us of either. The sacred penmen pursue their own high purpose or end, while they write so as to invite search; and numerous are the discoveries which result from cautious induction, and a careful comparison of incidental expressions. As far as the Apostles and their Parents are noticed, in a variety of places, the following may be taken as the result:

Cleopas and Mary had indeed yet another son, called Joses or Joseph; so Mary is said, in one place, to be the mother of James, and Joses, and Simeon, and Judas; and, as she was also nearly related to the mother of our Lord, these, her children, in the large acceptation of the Jewish phraseology, were called "his brethren,” while, by the same passage, it also appears that Mary had several daughters.

Thus, of the twelve apostles of the Lamb, eight of them were brothers chosen out of three families; and nothing, by the way, could be more lovely than these brothers going out, two and two, as they afterwards did, by the direction of their Saviour. On the eminence of these men I need not dwell, nor on their importance in establishing Christianity. They include the only individuals in the apostleship who wrote any part of the New Testament; nay, five out of the eight are writers in Scripture; ten of its books they are inspired to compose, including two lives of the Saviour himself, seven epistles, and the book of Revelation; one of them opens the door of faith to the nations of the world, and, from attachment to their Master, one is the first, and another the last, who suffered for his sake.

It is however on account of their Parents, and in connexion with them, that they have been here introduced. Of these parents the brief notices in Scripture are extremely interesting, and, when they are all united, it is presumed the inference will be clear and striking, that to them their children must have been signally indebted.

Of the parents of the two and Andrew, we know least.

first mentioned, Peter Of their mother indeed

nothing is said, so that probably she was gone to a better world; and of their father, though but little is recorded, that little seems honourable to his character. When a man is introduced in Scripture as the son of such a one, it will be found generally to denote something either good or bad, honourable or the opposite, in the parent's character, though most frequently it denotes that his character was exemplary, and worthy of being handed down to posterity on the sacred page. Now, immediately on Peter being called, you hear him thus addressed, "Thou art Simon, the son of Jonas;" and at a later period, "Blessed art thou, Simon Bar Jona, for flesh and blood hath not revealed this unto thee, but my Father who is in heaven." As though he had said, Here is one thing of which your own father never did, and never could inform you. But it was on one of the most memorable and affecting occasions in his future existence that he was reminded of this connexion, with an emphasis which, I doubt not, went with him to the grave. Simon," said Jesus, son of Jonas, lovest thou me?" Surely there must have been design in this mode of address, repeated as it was not less than three times. Was there not something under it, and more meant than met the ear? Was it not saying in effect, -Oh, Simon! only act in character, and be a son worthy of such a Father, as well as an apostle worthy of your Lord and Master? Thus, at the calling, the congratulation, and the reproof of Peter, equally intended for the formation of his character, the name of his Father is never omitted.

66

66

Another son of this venerable parent was Andrew. He was one of the first two who, by the direction of the

Baptist, found the Messiah, and who not only evinced the strongest attachment, but exulted that he had found the key to a book with which he had been well acquainted; and no doubt through his parent. He instantly seeks for his own brother, Simon, saying, "We have found him of whom Moses in the law and the prophets did write." He it was, too, who without loss of time enjoyed the felicity of first introducing Peter to his Lord and Saviour.

By the time that these two individuals were called to a constant attendance on Jesus, the old man, Jonas, is generally supposed to have been dead, no mention being made of him, as there is of Zebedee, when his two sons were called.1 If so, this accounts for the slender notice of him in the Evangelical history. His name, however, is introduced with honour, and, in the training of these his sons, every candid reader will feel disposed to believe he had been exemplary. As it was an advantage to David that he was the son of Jesse, so it should seem it had been to them, that they were the sons of Jonas.

The information, however, respecting the parents of

1 By this time also Peter had taken James and John, the sons of Zebedee, into partnership in business with him,—a proof, by the way, of subsisting friendship, and of the closest previous intimacy. That their attachment to Christ may have contributed to cement their union in one business is not improbable, as for some time Peter at least had known him; but, whether or not, the Saviour broke up the whole concern,-took the three partners into union with himself, encouraging them by the assurance, that from henceforth they should be engaged in nobler employment. These were the men who saw him in the height of his glory on Mount Tabor, and in the depth of his humiliation in Gethsemane, the men whom he favoured with such peculiar distinction.

the rest of these apostles is more ample, besides being in itself interesting in no common degree.

James and John come next in order, the influence of whose parents in the formation of their character is more evident, from the deep interest which they themselves took in the cause of the Redeemer. It is true that John the Baptist was the harbinger of the Messiah, but still he came to make ready a people prepared for the Lord, as well as to call sinners to repentance. Much remained for him to do and say in every case; but preparation-work had unquestionably been going on, and in this it is not difficult to descry the hand of parents. To part cheerfully with a son, already engaged in business and often assisting his father, when called to wait constantly on the Saviour in the days of his reproach, while his cause was yet only in prospect, will surely be admitted to have evidenced something like both faith and love. But here was a Father, who, in one day, parted with his two only sons, and yet seems to have cheerfully acquiesced. The old man, Zebedee, was with James and John when they were called away; yet, however much their leaving himself as well as their nets involved, so far as he is concerned, not a word is heard against it. Here too was a Mother, who not only approved, but followed their footsteps; nay, set them an example, and, in some respects, kept still a-head of them; for she not only followed Jesus, but ministered to him of her substance. True, her zeal, like that of her children and all the apostles, was, occasionally, not according to knowledge; and, in requesting for these her children the most honourable places in Christ's kingdom, she