The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1900-01-19
SUNDAY AT
THE CHURCHES.
Rev. A. ?. Nc Ferrin's Ser
mon at
THE FIRST METHODIST CaURCU.
n" StreHE h ana Weakness IN the Char
acier "f Peter, a"d Ills Courage and
COwaTuiCo.
fFrom Mondays DAIIY HERAIDJ

i l'ill .hDlhdN bAtL1 iIhkAhl''I
Rev. A. p. McFe'rin preached a most
interesting and practical sermon at the
First Methodist Church last evening.
His text was taken from the 5Sth verse
of the Goth chapter of Matthew" But
Peter followed Him afar off,
The life of Peter, said the speaker,
presents a most interesting study, He
stands out on the page of history as a
wonderful paradox of strength and
weakness, and of courage and coward
ice. Now we behold him in the fore
front with all the boldness of lion,
ready to fight and die, if need be, for
his Master; and later we find him a
coward and even denying that he knew
the Lord.
Peter occupied a prominent position
among the disciples, and he was what
might be termed favorite of the Lord,
He was earnest in .his affections and
active in his duuies. From the time he
left the fishing boat to answer the call,
we find him displaying strong zeal in
his work, and showing a deep love for
his Master. He it was who braved the
waves of Galilee that he might reach his
Master, and, Just before the tragic end,
it was he who expressed his answering
fidelity and said, "Uthers may forsake
Thee in this trying hour, but | will
stand by you through death"
After this, it is hard to imagine that
Peter would follow his Master atar off.
Yet we find that he did. But let us
not deal too harsly with him, Tor he is
only type of thousands who live in this
day and generation. We may look in
the church and find many Of them, like
Peter, following the Lord at a guilty
distance. Men and women once active
in the church have gone back to the
beggary elements of the world. They
are strong men and women, many of
them, truthful and honest in their busi-
ness transactions, and if they were ac-
cused of treating their fellowmen as they
have treated Christ, they would resent
it as an insult There is no one for
whom the pastor feels S ronger atfec-
ton than the ''backslider, and he
would gladly do anything to reclaim
him from the world.
The example of Peter shows that the
cause for '.backsliding" is not in every
instance the lack of faithful, gospel
preaching; for Peter had the greatest of
preachers. His case further illustrates
the truth that a man may apostaclse
under the best pastoral care, for to none
of His disciples did Christ give more
care and attention than Peter. He adj
monished him of his faults and bore
him to His Father in prayer; and yet,
in the face of it all, he fell away
rTl,n pnactipD boc haan aclypH CIV hy
did Peter follow afar off, with such a
Preacher as he had, and receiving such
pastoral care as Christ could gige?''
Many answers have been given to this
question, and one of the theories is that
of wounded pride. He had been guilty
of rude conduct, and had been rebuked
by Christ When the multitude came
to take his Master away, he had drawn
his sword to cut the servant of the high
priest. and the Lord commanded him tC
! put up his weapon.
/ In all of our churches to-day persons
may be found who years ago were faith
/ ful members. but their pride has beer
wounded by some imaginary otTense OF
! because they haven't been paid the at
tention they wanted They have be
come cold and they take back seat in
! the church and say, NOW let us see
how they can get along without us
But, no matter what may have beer
the cause of Peters backsliding, the
! thing that concerns us most IS the cause
and condition of the backslider in the
church to-day. You may be following
Christ afar off becau-e of a neg
J lected Bible, or because of neglected
duties. Let us follow Peter and SEE
what is the inevitable result of such {
course of conduct. When charged with
being disciple of Christ he denied it
and then with bitter curses he declared
/ that he knew not the Lord. So the back
slider, instead of saying that he has
/ forsaken the Lord, will try and justify
his conduct by saying that he never haC
religion, and then with curses he de
MES that he ever knew the Lord.
Poor Peter. He neve. dreamed of sucf
when he began to follow the Lord afal
off; and SO it is who those who back
slide.
But in the moment of Peters degreda
ton the Lord turned His eyes upon him
That look brought back to him the hal
/ lowed memories Of the past, and in hi
bitterness he went out and Weyt O, thI
depth and love in such a look. O Peter
do YOU not remember the waves of Gall
lee: How you began to sink when you
faith Wayered, and how / lifted YOU a.
from the water? Have you forgotten 5
soon the scene OF the TRANSPORTATION
when YOU said. Lord, it is good for u
to be here." Have you forgotten bein
with me at the supper table and in Geth
. semaue? That look moved the heart q
Peta- and brought him to tears.
Have YOU who have backslidden Nc
had the sweet memories of the pas
brought to you in such a mannery Ca
YOU not hear the still small voice saying
lis it true that you have forgotten me S
, soou!' Have you forgotten how 20
. stood before the altar Oi the church az
. took the sacred VOWS? Have you fol
gotten the many blessings which Go
has shuWered upon yOus If like Pete
YOU have followed the Lord afar off, lik
/ Peter show that you have a heart and
conscience left.
y Peter. after hc had fallen. rcrented {
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