The morning news., 1899-09-04
PETER AND HIS DANGER.
An analogy Exists To-day in the
Efforts of Satan.

The pastor, Rev. Arthur J. Smith,
preached yesterday morning at the First
Presbyterian Church. It was his first SER
vice for a month, as he has been away on
his vacation, and a large congregation
was out to welcome him. In point of size,
the congregation was a surprise. as it was
unusually large for this season. There
was no night service, though services at
night will begin next Sunday.
As his text, Mr. Smith took the follow
ing passage: And the Lord said, Simon,
Simon, behold Satan hath desired to have
you that he may sift you as wheat: but
have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail
not; and when thou art converted
strengthen thy brethren" Luke 22:31 and
90.
Three persons are mentioned in The
text" said Mr. Smith. Simon, Satan and
the Lord Simon is the central figure.
Both Satan and the Lord prayed for ST.
mon and both prayers were answered. ST.
mon Peter was in danger and the Lord
warned him OF it. Satan had prayed de-
string to leave Peter that he might "sift
him as wheat"
This prayer or request of Satan's re-
minds US of another similar petition he
made in the Old Testament. The sons of
God gathered about the throne, and it is
sara IHdL SATAN Game also. Tie dSAeI
permission TO torment job in order to
prove to God that he was not patient
man. This permission was given, and
Satan endeavored in every manner to
make Job deny God. He took away his
loved ones, but still JOB was loyal. He
robbed him of his vast estates and stock,
but this did not move him. He afflicted
him with disease most loathsome, and still
Job said Tho He slay me, yet will 1
trust Him.
This same permission was what Satan
requested, and he endeavored in every
way possible to break Peters faith. His
success was but partial. To-day he seeks
the same permission to torment the disci-
pies of Jesus, and the doubts and fears
that assail the mind, the sorrows of the
heart and the Affections of the body are
the direct work of Satan. In these ways
and many others he endeavors TO lead
believers from God and to destroy their
faith.
His failure to destroy Peters faith
was due to the fact that Christ had pray
ed for him. This must have been a great
encouragement to the weak dis
| ciple. 1t certainly is to those
| who are~orely tried to-day. When doubts
| enter the mind and fnith well nigh goes
we remember that Christ has prayed for
| us, and strength comes. When the heart
| is almost broken because OF some bitter
| ppointmert, and we feel as though
| God does not love us, we remember that
| Christ ever Eveth to make intercession
! for u.s. and great peace fills the heart.
| When the body is racked with pain that
seems almost too hard 90 bear, we almost
feel as though God had forgotten us, but
We know that He has not and we also
know that Christ is at the right hand
of the throne, pleading for us, that our
| faith fail not Satan prays for us by name
| and so does Christ.
1.-The reason why God permits Satan thus
! to torment us is that we may be separated
from the chaff that we may be tested,
! tried and proved. Then he can use us.
! The stubborn will becomes yielding, the
selfish heart becomes generous, the proud
| spirit becomes humble, the harsh manner
| becomes gentle, the quick temper is
| brought under control. God then can use
us TO strengthen or establish our breth-
ren. The most helpful man to one in
temptation Is the man who has been tempt
ed and has found the way of escape"