Arizona republican., 1901-10-28

and sheep, with a reminder which should render Peter very tender and
 compassionate in dealing with mem
 bcrs of his flock in their weakness and
 WaywardnesS.
 Who of us would not wince at mem
 ories Of the past if the Master would
 nointediy put this question to us as he
 did to Peter. Lowest thou me?" Who
 of us could throw stones at Peter. I find here four lessons: First, we should
 never be satisfied until, like Peter. we can honestly say to the Master Yea. Lord. Thou knowest that I love Thee" Second. it is possible for us to say this honestly and truthfully, in spite of past acts and present weaknesses that seem
 to give the lie to it. Peter could say
 it in spite of what he had just been through. Third, these past failures
 and sins and present weaknesses
 should not render us afraid or unwil- ling to avow our love stand up as friends of our Lord, or to engage in the
 Lords work if he calls us. Peter, not | withstanding his recent dreadful fall. both avowed his love and accepted the
 Saviour's commission to the respons-
 ible duty of feeding his flock. Fourth.
 These avowals of love and this assum- ing of duty should be in great humble
 ness of spirit and simple reliance upon
 the Lord for strength, and yet they may be with honest boldness. Peter could look the Lord straight in the face and say "Yea, Lord, Thou know
 est all things. Thou knowest that I love
 Thee'' and accept the Lords commits sion to service.
 l ask you also to observe that this
 question of our Lord to Peter. Lowest | thou me?" is the great test question of
 the religion of Jesus. This fact does not displace faith, it only evidences It.
 Faith is the root of the Christian reli- giCn; out of it grows love and all it's graces. Faith is the root or seed of the Christian religion but love is the Christian religion. And in speaking thus Of love I do not mean a namby bamby sickly sentiment which some
 have mistaken for love. The mushy spirit that hugs and kisses and blar- | news but will not serve. is not love.
 Love is forceful spirit: that spirit
 which Jesus manifested which made Peter the mighty man which he be-
 came. which made Paul one of the earth's greatest men. which made John
 man with a heart strong as lion
 and tender dove.
 1 This is the great test question of reli- zion. Here was disciple who had
 sinned gricvously. had denied the Lord,
 had disgraced the cause. and now he | stands face to face with the Master. | What does Jesus say to him? Docs | he say simon you have repented but are you righteous man now? If | so. l will forgive your sins and will give you work in my kingdom" Poor simon. shocked and shamed by his re- cent fall, could only have shaken his
 head and beaten his breast. and said.
 No Lord. am not good, I am q sinful
 and weak man. I am anything but | ri did no 'sPefar- ! forgive you this time will you prom ise to be true to me hereaftcr?" such | questions are we prone to ask our children. I do not say they are inn
 proper and should never be asked. But repentant and humhled. simon
 was in no position to make avowals or promises of this kind now. He was
 dreadfully conscious of unrighteous-
 ness and moral weakness. The other
 night he thought and vehemently de-
 clared he would stand by the Lord in ! srite of the world, the flesh and the devil But he had learned a great deal in the few days; ne had had
 revelation of himself. Peter had lost faith in Peter and did not know what
 he would do next He could not lay
 claim to any righteousness of his own:
 he could not make any promises for the
 future: he could only look at the Mas | ter anu say lpTu- lnou kHONtSl
 lore Thee It is precious thing for you and me to know that this is as far
 as the Lord questioned this repentant
 man.
 l Let us consider for a moment the profound and divine wisdom of Christ | in making love rather than a present righteousness the test. Human philo- sophy would plant religion on a right
 eous life. but Christ is wiser; he plants I
 to God. Primarily religion is not pure
 good morals, but right heart toward God. But religion in this sense is the | one sure promoter of good morals. The
 heart once right toward God. must in the nature of the case begin to arrange
 itself in right attitude toward every | thing else. The man who begins to love God and do his duty toward God.
 will soon begin to love his neighbor.
 and do his duty towards his neighbor. Our loves give us our ideals. To love | is to be under influence. Our real
 loves lift up or lower the moral level
 of our lives. Love to d noble person
 tends to uplift and enobie; love to an | ignoble person tends to degrade. The young man who loves a pure noble
 young woman is under purifying in
 fluence. while the young man who loves
 a weak and frivolous young woman
 will be weakened and unnamed by her i influence. A noble love has been the
 magnet which has settled many way
 ward character at last into right and
 steady ways. Many a young mans
 love for his mother has kept him from being utterly lost, and has won him back at last to her ways and to her | God. Love is mightier than fear. for perfect love casteth out fear. and who
 could really love the pure and gracious
 Jesus. feeling the inspiration and up
 lifting influence of his character with
 out finding himself endeavorinE 10
 struggle out of his wrong ways into
 the right. out of the false into the true. l out of the impure into the pure? He