October 20

"And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, Is hold I Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat; but I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not; and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren. And he said unto him, Lord, I am ready to go with thee, both into prison and to death. And he said, I tell thee, Peter, the cock shall not crow this day, before that thou shalt thrice deny that thou knowest me." Luke 22:31 -- 31.

We proceed to remark from these words,

PETER'S RASHNESS. "Lord, I am ready to go with thee, both to prison and to death." Two things Peter seemed to forget; the power of temptation. We are little aware in what manner, or from what quarter, temptations may come, and the particular influence they may have on the mind. — When Peter uttered these strong expressions of attachment to our Lord, he knew not how near the tempter was to him. But he forgot his own weakness. "Lord, I am ready to go with thee into prison and to death." Yes, Peter, but are you able? have you counted the cost? have you weighed the matter, and thought of the peculiar grace that is requisite to support the mind of a martyr? How little do we know of ourselves and our own weakness, till some circumstances occur to try us, and our faith is called into exercise!

HIS FALL. This is intimated in the words of our Lord, in the 34th verse; that Peter should deny him before the dawning of the day: but he could not believe it. Deny thee, he was ready to say, Oh how ungrateful should I be, if I should thus act! What! after all the kindness thou hast shown me, and all the professions of attachment I have made! no, my Master, "though all shall be offended at thee, yet will not I." But hark! Judas comes at the head of a multitude with swords and staves to take Jesus; the hour and power of darkness are come. Peter appears very valiant for a time, and begins to fight for his Master, and cut off the right ear of one the high priest's servants. Soon he follows afar off, and at length is ashamed of his Master, and denies him with oaths and curses. Lord, what is man! But observe

HIS RECOVERY. This is intimated in the words, "When thou art converted," or restored. We are told that the Lord turned and looked upon Peter—what a look it was! it was a look of reproach that pierced him to the heart, a look of remembrance that brought past scenes to his memory, a look of affection that won his soul, the look of Omniscience that penetrated his mind; it was an expressive and forcible look, that seemed to say, What, Peter, is this thy kind return for all my favors? Is this the result of all your strong professions?

HIS DUTY. "Strengthen thy brethren." The people of God, who have fallen into sin, when they are again restored to him from whom they have wandered, feel anxious to publish abroad more than ever the Divine mercy and forgiveness. This was the case with David. "Then will I teach transgressors thy ways, and sinners shall be converted unto thee." Peter's fall should be regarded by us, not as an example for our imitation, but a beacon for our warning.

"O Lord! thy heavenly grace impart, And fix my frail, inconstant heart; Henceforth my chief desire shall be To dedicate myself to thee.

Renowning every worldly thing. And safe beneath thy spreading wing, My sweetest thought henceforth shall be, That all I want, I find in thee."