The faith of our fathers - Carmel Apologetics

"""""""446 THE FAITH OF OUR FATHERS.of the New Law !Surely God "hatli not done aliketo every nation, and His judgments He bath notmade manifest to them." lWith how much more force may we apply to thesuccessors of the Apostles; the words which Godepoke to tfhe Priests of the Old Law :Hear, yeeons of Levi. Is it a small thing unto you, that theGod of Israel hath separated you from all thepeople, and joined you to Himself, that ye shouldserve Him in the service of the tabernacle, andshould stand before the congregation of the people,and minister unto Him ?Our Saviour affectionately puts this question threetimes to Peter: "Simon, lovest thou Me?" Andthree times Peter answers Him, Lord, Thou knowestthat I love Thee." What proof of love doesthen Jesus exact of Peter? Does He say: If thoulovest Me, chastise thy body by fasting and stripes,prophesy, work miracles, lay down thylife for Me?No, but feed My lambs," feed My Thissheep."was to be the closest bond of Peter s devotion to hisMaster, and of the Master s affection for His disciple.And our Lord declares that the reward of Hisdisciples would be commensurate with the dignityof their ministry : Behold," says Peter, we haveleft all things and have followed Thee. What,therefore, shall we have ? And Jesus said to them,Ainen, I say to you that you who have followed Me,1Ps. cxlvii. 20.