The Hawaiian gazette., 1883-04-11
Pastor Cruzan's Sunday Sermon.

ANOIuEA DlANEE AMONt NUHIsIIANh.
In tho daily papers of certain class, it is no
unusual thing to see a staring headline: "An-
other good man gone wrong'' There has been,
during the past few years. especially in America,
large number Of defacations; and many of these
defaulters have been professed Christians. 1t is
not the fault of Christianity, but the want of it,
that fills prison cells with defaulters. Human ma
turc is about the same in all ages. The Christian
Church is purer now than in the time of Christ.
In one day from among His personal followers
one Apostle launched himself into Eternity from
ropes end, having first basely betrayed his Mas
ter; and another denied Him, and cursed and swore
publicly. 0ne-sxth Of Christ's ministers fell into
sin in one day Hawaii is only sixty-five years re-
moved from hesthenism, and yet should one-sixth
of the Christian ministry in this Kingdom fall
into fragrant sin in one day we should think tbs
Heavens were about to fallI
Mr. Cruzan then, taking Simon Peter as an OBJ
iect-lesson, gave a brief sketch of his early life,
and the leading traits of his character, dwelling
upon Peters ardent impulsive temperament, his
strength of feeling, and his boduess and courage,
and then said. Such man we cannot but admire.
With all his faults we love him. He is so human.
Large-hearted whole-hearted, lion-hearted. There
is nothing tame and insipid about him. He is not
one of your calculating, plotting designing sort,
betraying with q kiss. He is not one of your pru-
dent sort whose virtue lies mainly in the fact that
they have not soul enough to commit any great
sins, nor energy enough to make any great mis-
takes. For such men, with all their prudence, and
their virtue and their wisdom, and their htteneSs
| for one, have no great admiration. | would
rather be Peter sinking in the sea, than the other
disciples sitting safely in the boat. would rather
be Peter " following the Master afar off, but fol-
lowing Him into the midst of danger. than the
other disciples who forsook Him and fed" Yes,
= would rather be Peter going out and weeping
bitterly" than hose other disciples, who at this
crisis time, kept themselves saftI,H OF the reach
/ of temptation and danger, leaving Christ to his
fate. With all his faults there is a redeeming no
| bleness about the man which wins our love and
| esteem.
! Among the practical lessons to be learned fTUm
| the study of Peters character Mr.. Cruzan cmpha-
sized, a. How little we know the future. e.
How little for self-conidence have the best
and strongest of men. 49, II is the unexpected
| temptations before which men fall. Peter could
| have met the High Priest with his entire retinue
or PLATE at the head of an armed band, bravely
and would have stood firm at the peril of his life
But he falters, turns pale ard is unnamed by the
| question of maid-servant. - How full of en-
enlargement TO those who have sinned, is Christ
| treatment Of Peter. He does not reproach him:
He does not burn his fault into him: He does not
even mention the past-His simple, tender, loving
| question is, Lowest thou me?' And He is the
same loving, forgiving Saviour to us as to Peter.
| o. Judas and Peter are two types Of sinners.
Both disciples; both sinned previously; both
were warned beforehand. But when their sins
were consumated, Judas was stung TO madness,
while Peter was melted in contrition; the one re.
pented with halter, the other with tears. We
have here a true test of character: 1t is not so
much the absence of sin as the temper in which
sin Is regarded, which decides the fate of soul.
Convict a man of sin and he will take one Of two
courses Either he will be driven into deeper sin
and finally into despair, he will repent and for
sake his sin. He will either become Judas or a
Peter He will hang himself with the rope of his
own sin, or he will be drawn TO the foot of the
Cross for relief from the burden of sin.
Christ reads our hearts as he read the hearts of
Judas and Peter. He is on trial every day. Upon
every sinner He turns His sad, sorrowful, pleading
face. What shall be the result? Will you, Judas
ike rush head-long to distinction, Peter-like,
find pence in Christ,s forgiving lovel