The Indianapolis journal., 1896-06-06

primate. whose name was always first:
Simon. simon" He said, using the old
nesns,.S name Mark ARK 29 by which Hs always Ways
might might sifI yoa oaVe as YOU wheat Ia' whas at
an atoundIns In SSselosure As good JeY
Peter must have remembered the patriarchs
trials dob /. -, and considered his own
peril II the arch enemy Of souls is in search
must, therefore. have awakened his fears.
What had the fisherman apostle done or
sSa tSa bs waa sSdud S had 9s s S
apostles, Judas and Peter. in danger! 1t
was in mercy that Jesus declared what He
xes SI anG design BUT Hs fs mercy ths
that thy faith fail not" Verse 32.) Then
the apostle Is safe in his Masters keeping.
satan shall not touch him. Although Judas
will fall, Peter will stand. The fiend shall
I have but one OF the apostles. In conclusion,
Jesus directed him. when converted 70
better mind than he then had. 20 strengthen
the brethren. Tie saved must be a savior.
DENIAL--A wonderful transition OF
thought had been made. moment ago
Now, exposed to the he deviIs wiies, upheld
by the Saviours prayers he dismisses his
ambitions and seeks place OF safety. With
ms usual impulslveness, he says TO jesus,
death" This/deciaration was all Of it COM
daoieE,manywhere with Jesus, he
rihce for the Master was the high mark
OF loyalty to which ali souls must come
i VINO YOU'D rightly follew tfS the LSrS ro Ma,t 1T
own heart. He was not ready. For though
prayer was offered for him, it is evident
that he yet felt himself equal TO the danger,
self-conhdent. expecting endurance and vic
tory. And every one Who trusts in self is
in peril. q Cor. x l2) 1t became neces-
tain and exhibit future events to this man
of. earnest VOW "The cock shall not crow
this day. before thou shalt thrice deny, me-"
He said. That prediction was turned into
history. At the pasace of the high priest
this man OF strength. once and again 60
damsel, and afterward 70 an oflcer, the
last time with an oath (Mark xiv, 66-ID,
denied having even any knowledge of Him
whom he had promised to follow unto death.
All, Peter, thou art not yet converted,
DEFENSE-A very remarkable passage
Oversees 50 and S6) comes into the lesson at
this point. one which has greatly puzzled
expositors. Referring TO the time when He
sent the apostles on q missionary tour
(,hatt. X, 81. directing them to go without
purse scrip or shoes He "a asked t hi If they they
tive. The intention was 10 call TO their
minds the fact that they were not depend
Having thus brought their minds TO their
legitimate calling, He ordered a new MODE
of ministerial service. They must supply
themselves with what was before FORBIDDEN,
purse and SCRIP and besides these, swords
1t is easy to understand why they should
have ministerial comforts. But why
sword? Some say that they might nave op-
portunity TO exhibit their valor and TO re-
ceive Hts Instructions, as when Peter smote
the servants ear. Q.uke xxi, 49, Others
think that the swords were for personal de-
Tense in time Of danger, as they were 60
ing out into country invested with rob
bers. And yet. Jesus had expressly told
them not to resist EVIL. Matt. v, 49, 1t
has been thought that Jesus spoke Of spir-
itual weapons (Eph. u. 10. but that inter
probation seems to be far fetched Ger
tainly the apostles did not so understand
Tim, 1lf1Qf referred
carnal weapons (verse 3S),. and He did not
correct their thought. One thing is GER
tain, all confess it, that these swords were
not TO be used in propagating Christianity.
QI Cor. Y, A. The gospel must triumph by
the power of truth alone. Mark xvi, 1o)
DESTINATIONS next gave the reason
for the direction just delivered. This that
is written must be accomplished in me.
The things foretold concerning Him in the
prophets must all be fulfilled. Qsa. Iii, 12)
How many times in His ministry had He
made these references. Matt XVI, ~
Ever anxious to make His followers know soV
he directed their minds TO the many places
which indicated that the Messiah should
endure Affections and lay down His life.
very men raised up TO be witnesses and
afterward preachers were unable TO under
blunders concering the Kingdom and their
place in 1t. So now He makes the attempt
again. He would be reckoned among the
fenced tenc and Executed as such. This This would
terminate His earthly life. This was His
destiny. Because He would be thus taken
from them and they left alone. 1t was
necessary that they must become like Him
In spirit and In action that they might
continue His work and share His reward
For all the cross-for all the crown!
NCLCSION.-Another session in the
school of Christi A class OF twelve men,
duh and wayward pupils, attempt difficult
lesson. The inimitabie Teacher with infinite
patience bears with their folly and partly by
precept, but largely by illustration. example
and warning, opens up the theme. Seekers
after preferment must be seekers after
Christ! Earthly models must be exchanged
for heavenly. The way 10 greatness lies
through humiliation and service. Those who
are Christlike enter into partnership with
Him and share His glory. Matt XIV. S4)
No earthly throne or crown can compare
with the reward of a faithful follower Of
Jesus. QI Tim. iv. s. SO the instruction ad-
vanced. 1t is quite probable that the apos-
ties apprehended only in part what Jesus
tried 10 teach. His plan and desire for them
was far above the highest thought. Doubt
less in the after years, when endued with the
power from on hgn their views were i'm
proved. but. even then they fell short. Oh.
for ability to appreciate the dignity or the
work TO which we are called! (Phil. iii, I'D