The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1888-05-25

Golden Text, ! Cor. X, i2-Memoriz
Verses 73-75-Comment by Rev. II. (
Hoffman.
CONDENSED from Lesson Helper Quarterly, b
permission of H. s. Hoffman. Philadelphia, pul
Usher,
the highest contempt and insult, Number
xii, IA; Job xxx, 10. Buffeted, striking wit
closed hands or with the fists. V. is. LUX
| (xxii Ga and Mark xiv, 65 tell us that the
blindfolded him before saying these words
| V. CD. Without, in the outer court or space
where the servants gathered. Damsel,
FORTRESS who kept the door, John
| V. II. Porch, the small apartment between
the outer door and the large hall in the cen
ter of the building. V. 49, After while
about an hour later, Luke xxi, So Speed
bewrayeth, his Galilean accent showed it
V. a. Began he to curse and swear losing
all control Of himself he went on to wors,
sins. V. 75 Thrice, three times. Luke xxi
81 tells us Jesus looked on him. Went bit
terly, the thought of deep guilt swept ovel
Peters soul and he went out into the darkness
TO repent OF MS sins.
Few events in the Bible are so full of hu
man nature and divine grace, of warning
and comfort, as the fall and restoration oil
Peter The nearest parallel case in the Bible
is the great sin and repentance of David.
After the preliminary trial before the high
priest had taken place many of the members
of the Jewish sanhedrim assembled in the
council hail. They knew Jesus was to be
arrested, and hence were ready. PERHAPS
such members as Nicodemus and Joseph of
Aramathea were absent. The sanhedrim
had authority to try those charged with cap
ital otfenses, but could not execute the SEN
tence of DEATH In this midnight trial of
Jesus every rule of Jewish law seems to have
been violated in the haste and eagerness to
condemn him. A night trial was not legal.
10 be bound as malefactor before he was
arraigned, to be beaten before verdict was
rendered, to be struck in open court while
the trial was going on, were all in violation
of every sense of right and justice The ir-
regular and illegal trial of him by night was
suspended until daybreak SO that they could
then secure from Plate the sentence of his
death. In the time elapsing till daylight
occurred the maltreatment by his lawless
V. 81. After the sanhedrim had pro-
nounced him ''guilty of death" he was sub
jected to a series of indignities Before the
trial in the house of Annas he was struck by
one of the officers. Doubtless others in au.
thority offered him insults. The common
guard soon followed in jeer and mockery.
The abusive intsllts of the underlings was the
natural sequence of the more formal mockery
Of their superiors. Let it not surprise us if,
as followers of Jesus, we too receive insults.
V. 6S. After they had blindfolded him
they scotfed at his prophetic office as Mes
siah. Jesus answered not word, though all
the universe was at his command No act is
so contemplate as to ridicule good persons
or holy things. And yet when we are
Knocked silence is best.
V. g. Peter was now inside the court yard
of the palace of Caiaphas. He had gained
admittance through John, who was known
at the palace. With the servants he was
sitting around the fire, for the night was
cold. A FORTRESS looking upon Peter said
that he was with Jesus. This drew upon
him the eyes of all about. An obscure SER
want becomes now the innocent occasion of
the downfall of the chief of the apostles
V. ~. In the most cowardly fashion he re-
sorts to evasion, which always leads to direct
falsehood and often perjury.
V. H. Perhaps wishing to escape the fur
Their observation of the servants, he went
into the vestibule or porch leading into the
street, where another female slave in ridicule
accused him of being with Jesus. Perhaps
several at the time confirmed her statement.
Christians cannot long be hid when among
men of the world
V. r. Now he boldly denies his Master.
back to him in the moment of excitement.
He told an unblushing, positive lie, when he
said that he knew not Christ, and then tried
to confirm his falsehood with an oath. Sin
grows when it is not checked. The disciple
first and loudest to profess his Lord, now
denies him! Times of fanatical
defense of the faith are often followed by
base denial.
V. 70. The men who stood by must have
had a contempt for Peters perfidy.
V. "A. Irritated beyond endurance, with
positive witness against him, Peter now re-
sorted to calling down curses on himself,
that what he said was true, affirming before
God what he knew to be false. How the sins
of his former life came again to the surfaced
There is much hidden and remaining sin in
the best Christian
When the cock crew Peter remembered
what Jesus had said. And it was now that
Jesus turned and looked upon Peter. 1t was
the look of wounded love- History bears to
us the tradition that ever after when Peter
heard the Growing Of a cock he fell on his
face and mourned over his base denial of his
Lord.
At about o'clock in the morning, when
his last denial occurred, Peter hurried out
into the dark, and gave way to deep sorrow
for his SINS He not only wept, but wept bit
terly We must not only notice Peters sins,
but his sincere tears of repentance The re-
morse of Judas made him rush out and hang
himself The repentance of Peter made him
turn to God with tears and cries. The re-
membrance of his great sin ever after hu,n-
bled his proud and self confident spirit. Lis
repentance was complete.
Notice the causes of Peters sin. q. lie
followed Jesus afar off. Had he kept nearer
to Jesus he would have been safer. b. He
rot separated from the other disciples. Had
they kept closer together they all would have
been stronger. C. He moderated and neg
octad the WARNINGS of Jesus He was an