The New York herald., 1871-10-23
GRACE CHURCH.

sermon by the Bishop or Gcorgia-The Life
and Character Of Peter-Somethina About
Impuisive Christians.
The fashionable w0rshippers In this beautiful tenn
pie were treated yesterday to sermon by tho Rev.
John w. Beckwith. the Bishop OF Georgia. The
usual services having been completed. the Bishop
ascended the pulpit and announced as his text the
words Of Peter, when he was sinking in the waves,
'Lord, save me ?" After briefly abiding to the
narrative in which they occur he said thai there was
curious and instructive figure for Christian
study In sacred history than the apostle whose BRIEF
prayer for help he had just read. Peter was the
personidcaton Of what might be called
.tAaT THE IMPULsIvE CHRISTIAN.
HIS character was made up OF the most startling
contradictions. At one time he was carried away
BY impulses OF the most sublime generosity: at
another he was prey to the most miserable selfish
ness and meanness. Now he displayed the most ex-
aed faith and again he was utterly overwhelmed by
douot. In one hour he exhibited a courage that
reached the degree or rashness and In the next he
was nervously timid. Judged by the ordinary stand
ards OF the world. such man would be regarded as
sINGULARLY UNRELIABLE--
man certainly not to be trusted In any great en-.
terprise Yet our Lord selected him specially from
among the apostles to be the most prominent figure
In the early Church. Why was thfs 2. Why did He
not choose some one among His followers Of greater
fact that Pe,ers life disciple and Perers career
as the nrst among the apostles were very different
sownF IL IN ss iss a,s rs 'as Ne ss@ s
man. as he had developed into the rpeness OF
natures moral and intellectual life. Between the
two-dividfng them the one from the Uther-was
rKMrrArIoN AND FALL.
Only few hours before our Saviour was hauled
away to prison Peter had protested In terms Of the
most sincere devotion that though all men should
prediction soi our, oaT, Lord Lord tn that ere ere !ass
the influence OF hts early enthusiasm and love for
the Lord TO- resist Ills seizure by Ehys
the bitter remorse that succeeded IT.. All through
his after career the memory OF that shameful weak
ness present to his mind, and he sought TO
attest by the most exalted and heroic sacrifices the
sincerity OF his repentance. When at last he Was
called upon to die as martyr upon the cross he
requested his execunonera 10 cruelty hlm
WITH HIS HEAD DOWNWARD,
his Master. After that one great fault he never wa
vered again IA his allegiance to bis right but perse-
ysrsd wS % to the epd When Ts
dom OF the Master In making him the chief OF the
apostles. The men most needed then IN the Church,
and the men most needed to-day, as WELL were men
OF zeal and earnestness who wold devote their en-
tire heart and soul and strength to the spread Of the
Gospel Peter was perhaps the most perfect exam
pie that could be found 0fthis
s.e sAN0UINE AND ENERGETIC
men Of
sarily-sadly lacking in discretion. In selecting
Peter therefore, Christ, doubtless, wished to show
most eager and anxious TO do His work, and that
even terrible and shameful sfns II sincerely re-
pented OF, would be completely forgiven. In the
latter part OF Peters life, however-in his career
as an aposte-the .... a~er -
WEAKNESS AND rNDECISTON
tnat marked him as a disciple were manly counter
balanced by the greatness and completeness OF
his faith. 11le Bishop then took up the story
OF the text and told how the disciples, having SET
out upon the sea By the Masters order and having
been overtaken by the Storm were suddenly startled
by the presence OF their Lord shining out from
tue darkness OF the night and the tenn
pest; Then, after the reassuring words, sit
istlc exaltaton Of feeling, asked for permission
to walk on the waves to the feet OF Christ The per.
mission granted, he set out: but soon the terrOrs
that surrounded him mastered his faith, and he be-
gan to sink. How striking an illustration this was
Of very common episode OF the Christian life
Often the Lord allowed US TO sink into the waves
OF doubt and fear while souls were alarmed at
the risk OF eternal wreck and only rescued when
! we framed the prayer 'L0rd save us !" The Bishop
closed by eloquent appeal TO his hearers to take
warning by Peters fall. and example by his repent
| ance and faith and noble works