Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1874-08-14
8eli9iuus department.
Conducted by nEv. c. NJ. sourneArE.
HOW PAUL DEALT WITH PErER

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method Of handling Peter at Antioch. Pc.
ter was Christian OF age aud high stand
ing he was minister, yea, more, he was
an apostle, and the very chief OF the origi-
nal twelve. 1t Was TO him those words were
uttered whatever they may mean: Thou
art Peter, aud upon this rock | will build
my church." He had preached the Peuta-
costal sermon, which was followed by the
reception Of three thousand persons into the
church he had wrought many and famous
miracles he had been supernaturally en-
lightencd by vision, as to the reception of
Geutiles, and had opened wide the door in
the case Of Cornelius aud then he had suf-
iered nigh unto death for the Master, having
been beaten and imprisoned and sentenced to
die, and only rescued by the intervention of
an angel. Surely such a man deserved to
be held IN the greatest esteem, and to be
treated with the most marked respect, by
every member of the Christian body, aud the
example Of so treating him should have been
set by those eminent in the church.
And yet it was Peter of whom Paul wrote
to the Galatians q" withstood him to the
face, because he was to be blamed" Aud
he did right, view the matter in what rela.
tons We may. Peter. with all his grand
qualities, high position, and great usefulness,
had weak side, as have other Christians
now. With some it is pride, with others
Impotence, with others anger, with others
arrogance, with others dogmatism, with
others a chronic infallibility, with others
rudeness, with others moral cowardice. Pc
ter's courage sometimes suddenly broke
down after deeds, too of heroic daring 1t
did so at Antioch, and he became involved
in what Paul considered discrimination. !"
Now the more eminent Peter was in charac-
tor aud position, the more harmful would be
his influence in any public act which was Of
evil tendency. And public men must be
dealt with openly, in respect to what they
say and do before all the world. And so
Paul, in no wise overawed by Peters not
only iancicd but real greatness, rebuked him
openly, aud criticised his actions and spirit
with frank unresorve. said unto Peter
before them ALL /" is his own additional de-
scripton Of what he did. lie was equal to
the occasion, though it was not OF his choos-
ing. Some men are only equal to pleasant,
joyous, complimentary occasions to a mem
bcrship in a mutual admiration society. But
Paul was equal TO trying duty equal to
rcbuking even an apostle, older than himself
both in years aud the apostlcship equal to
the responsibility Of membership in the
Christian church, which involves the reproof
Of wrong, appear in whom it may.
We have always admired Paul's noble
courage and impartiality in utterng the
truth respecting Peters weak side. lie did
not pouncc upon some poor, unknown broth
or, who had the same fault, and come down
upon him with the crushing weight Of apos-
tolio authority, allowing Peter to escape
censurs, MS being too high an official and too
respectable a character to DO reproved. That
would have been meanness itself. No he
indicated the truth, and rebuked public
error, without respect Of persons. Did no
write to Timothy, Them that sin rebuke
before all, that others also may fear p The
direction gained additional force from the
fact that he dealt in that very manner with
Peter himself than whom none stood higher
in the Christian church. There was nothing
deceptive or underhanded in Pauls charac,
ter. He did not compliment Peter to his
face, and then criticise him severely behind
his back. His blame, on just occasion, was
as open as his praise Z" | withstood him tC
his face" I" said unto Peter before, then
ALL" lie meant all that he said, when he
spoke in honor of that venerable fellow
apostle. lie tells the Galatians that, three
years after his own conversion, such was his
regard for him, that " l went up to Jerusa
lem to sec Peter, aud abode with him fiteeI
days and 10 an account OF another visit
fourteen years later, he speaks OF God hav
ing wrought efectualIy in Peter to th'
apostleship of the circumcision" aud of tn,
fact that "Jamcs, Cephas Tor Peter), auC
John seemed to be pillars And yet, only
two sentences on, he says, " But when Peter
was come to Antioch, withstood him to lh'
face, because no was to be blamed"