Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1902-09-20
THE THREE DENIALS.
Sunday Discourse BY DR.. Chapman, the
Noted Pastor Evangelist.
An Analysis Of child-Hearted, Maynard
Generous Biblical Charactcr-Lord
Awaits 10 Forgive and Forget.

bciisk III liS anu oaie az t4iV
popular pulpit orators OF New York. 1t
Is entitled Now, Peter and was
preached from the text: Now Peter sat
without in the palace" Matt xXvi: 80.
This Is the master stroke ol the great
artist IA painting the picture OF tins child
hearted, hayward, generous, '"N''S man
whom we know as Peter. 1t Is one Of the
shadows in the picture, but the shadows
help liz to appreciate the more the light.
1t is u single sentence, and yet IN 1t We
find the secret OF Il souls downfall. the
cause o. The heartache OF the Son OF God,
and a note OF warning Tor Gods people
everywhere.
Peter was in dangerous position. First
of all, because ne sat IN the presence OF
the enemy In the first Psalm the warning
Is give that we should not walk III the
counsel OF the ungodiy. nor stand Ill the
way OF sinners. nor sit IN the seat OF the
scoF;fui, and this last Is the most hurtiul
position cf all. Poor Peter was sitting
down. Ilc also is to be pitied because he
sat without" There Is a circle within
which every child o; God must keep ii he
would have both peace and power. Ii IN
Imagination we take compass III our
hand and set one point ut the place where
We would have the centre and with the
other point describe the circle. we have the
picture OF the Christian life. The centre OF
the circle Is Christ. ard the circle Itself is
described by prayer and Bible study and
fellowship with the saints. To keep within
thi, Gree is 10 keep in touch with Christ.
To st without is 10 be in danger, and poor
Peter had stepped outside.
y ith all my heart 1 love to study Peter.
The eernon which has been greatly blessed
to the people throughout the country Is the
one which bears the title. And Peter"
This one is sent forth that it NAV be
companion OF it, and carry the name OF
Now Peter.
The first service that | can find tina.
Peter ever rendered unto Christ is record.
ed in Luke. fifth chapter. and the third
verse: And He entered into orc OF the
ships. which WAS Simon's, and prayed him
that he would thr;ist ont little from the
land. And lie sat down and taught the
peop.e out nj the ship" like him for his
service. | have an idea that just the way
lie pushed the boat OF: the Master WAS
standing in it made Jesus understand that
there was something in him that would yet
, 20 far toward moving the word. Is it not
true that rlch OF the great worl; that we
find about us to-day begins in Just 50 hum
be fashion as did the work OF Peter:
like to study him IN his writings. Snmp
parts of the Bible ought Always to be read
IN the sunlight. The beautiful story y.
Ruth. and the letter tn the Philippians are
4 examples OF this. Others are for ;he dark
ness. Peters epist.cs would thus head the
list. 1t Is when we stand on the scashorc
at night that we see the phosphorssccnce
o: the waves. II is when we stand in the
darkness and read Peters precious words.
that we catch the best vision of the light
which comes down from heaven and rests
upon men.
| liz to study him in his preaching, FOR
it IS Just the kind that everybodv ought to
he able to do. You may say that it was
Simply string of texts. that mighty
mon OF his AZ Penteco~t. bat If yoa should
say this was nj thu; he said we could re.
ply. as we have said IN another pace. it is
all that Peter said :ha. the Hoy Spirit
thought worth recording.
like him for his sincerity You can
read him 1T a glance. He coaid not be
hypccrite When once he tried no ore
wcu'd believe him: he generally thought
aloud. While men sometimes admired
him. frequently laughed NJ him. generally
censured him. they always loved him
like nm for his promptness. He was
the first 20 enter the tomb that he might
see where the Lord law.
| liked him TO- his courage. IL was not
afraid TO stand in the very midst OF the
enemies of Chris
ike him Tor his intensity. 1t is truc
he made mistakes. but the pendulum swung
rs far toward uprightness Us i; DID toward
failure.
Nv text is to he read in connec, ion with
his denial. and thus we begin the more 10
appreciate the story. Chris. had given
him warning when lie said. "Simon. Satan
hath desired thee that he iaay sift thee as
wheat. and a-ain when He said. This
night yol sha.' be ashamed OF Me- apl
,beiora the cock crow thou shalt deny Ne
thrice. lie warns ~ too.
The oak that goes down in the midst o:
the storm does 30 because through the
long years its heart has been eaten away
by the worm. The soal OF the child o. God
/, Is never ovcr.hrown suddenly. and it j,
goes down it l. because IL has steadily lost
ground IN matters tnai were too triling
to cause a'arm. Ii you should fail to-mo,.-
row you will doubtless :ind the eausc ii
you look back on the history OF to-day
The neglected Bible OF to-day. the neglect
cd prayer OF today. the neglected fellow
ship Of to-day, means the DENIAL of to-!aor-
row
Il is not 10 be forgotten that there were
three denia!s. When Jesus was taken
irto tn. presence OF those who were to con.
denim Him Peter followed and wanted 70
go III. TOO. il Is said il Johns Gosnel that
another disciDle: who was known unto the
high priest. had gone in with Jesus and
this. OF course. mist have been John: they
Doubtless knew him at the door AID he
passed through without question When
he saw that Peter was not in he went IL
the door and secured his admission.
can. inst imagine how Peter must have
walked up aud down the coart now sitting
now. sta lding. now trembling for his safe.
y, tor IN those days to-day. conscience
makes towards ri lis ALL
The first denial was AT the wicket gate
To the mite carl that admitted him to the
court be said:
u know Him not
lie might have taken warning and gore
hack Il he had but remembered the words
of Christ. FOR he was Just at the cdce Of
The oirr'e: one side meant peace and the
orher side desnair.
doubt NOT that some one who reads
tFese words hrs ius5 passed. tn-o.ioi, tl6
wicket gate. tr"ning away FROM \ lie 81
lles>cdaess. and possibly has dcnea his
Master for the iir>- time From the hear,
Of the infinite Christ Z c:y goes ont 10 s,,c!
an ore:
Turn We. turn ve. for WHY will 20 de"
The second denial was at the fire. when
he sat with his enemies. and VIXEN he said
with an oath:
u tell YOU. know Him not"
Alas many nj lis have gone through the
wicket Of denial. and dare to-day sittins
With His enemies. hardly knowing how We
cached the position To all such the cry
II God comes: Come out from amons
hem and be We separate" The world ha.
always been the enemy OF the Son OF God
md he who allows himself to be in touch
With II in the least viii deny his Master
before he Is aware OF II.
The third denial was to the relative 81
siaichus. whose ear ne Rad cut off in hi.
Imposed defense Of his Master For til.
tack upon his fellow man he was domot
- amenable to the law. and possibly
.aiybf bavn boau triad and oouIos,..a.l