The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-03-24
Peters Fall.
(selectod for the Times-Dispatch.)

xnow not what thou snyest," Matthew
sxvi 70.
it takes Almighty God to lift up a
SOIL from death, and only thnt same
power can keep that soul alive Hence
the need of divine qnickener; hence
the righteousness Of the Holy Spirit lie
only can keep us from falling; lie only
can make us pure. Were lIo to let US
go, III that moment we would fall.
In Peters case We see this plainly. An
Almighty Voice had called to him, FOL
low Me-; and an Almighty Hand drew
him out Of his boat and away from his
nets It was an Almighty Arm which
sustained him, and now for. o momen:
ho loses that support, and he falls!
What lesson do we learn from this
sad story?
And first, who Is this? Is It Thomas
the doubtcr2 Nicodomus the timid9
Philip the questioncr? Is It one OF the
rabble, or Roman soldier, who thus de-
MES al Knowledge of the sinless One?
1t is none of these. but one of the Mas
tcr's chosen friends and apostles-Peter
the Rock! Peter who a few days be-
fore had confessed Him as the Christ
Of God! Peter. who took up the sword
against NIalchus to defend Him.. Peter,
who had been with the Master on the
Mount of TRANSPORTATION and witnessed
His glory; who had been with Him IN
the garden and seen His agony. Alas!
1t is Peter who denies!
Lord, what Is MANI Hero Is con-
verified man and q disciple, yet he falla!
''Lct him that thlnketh he standeth, take
heed lest he fall"
1t is his own Master whom he treats
thus-Josus, whom he had followed,
whom he had so nobly confessed, and
whom he so truly loved. II is not q
fellow disciple thus abandoned; 1t Ia his
blessed Lord and Master! Oh, incredible
mystery Of human evil! oh, the des-
pcrate wickedness of the heart Of man! a.
He denies Him. 1t is not forsaking
Him merely; they had all done that, But
| he denies, he rejects Him. lie who had
! so lately exclaimed, "'rhOu nrt the
Christi now says, II know not the man. :"
What ingratitude, what falsehood what
cowardice is here! What would we have
done If we hQd been there?
i When did lie do this? Immediately
after those wondrous loving words spoken
i in that upper room; after, that solemn
4 supper, and the Garden OF Gethsemane,
4 with Its mysterious agony. with all this
. lin his remembrance he denies his Lord.
Does 1t not seem impossible?
i Whore? III tho high priests hall, and
within the sight and hearing Of his Lord
5 we should have thought, under these
, circumstances he would stoutly confess
Him, and even try to protect and defene
), Him. In the hour of danger surrounded
by enemies, forsaken by friends nsultet
I, BY foes, if 10 ever needed friends ant
: comfort 1t is now; aud yet this Is thu
{ time that Potter takes to deny and re
: ject Him, Untouched by pity for Eli
S dcsolation and sorrow and torture, Pete
abandons IIim
1t was not sudden assault and fall
He did it three times. iie did It atte
being warned by the Lord. 1Hc did !
! through fear of u woman and In III
4 most decided way, He did 1t with OATH
Il ana curses. Oh. what q denial! 'Wo
; man, j know Him not" Then, Man,
Ii know Him not" Then, Man. ] kno'
g not what thou sayest," And the
the oaths and curses burst forth. 81
" dreadful ana Incredible wickcdness o.
l. shameful fall!
d 1t would seem from this that the o.
II fisherman OF Galilee had In his yout
IS been profane. But this swearing fisher
u man had been called by tho Lord, ar
l. had become His follower. Those thrs
years of close ana tender intercourse ne
10 wrought am entire change But, no
- that the temptation arose the old hal
y returned and the basphemcs broke on
y The old oaths came forth again; ay
= they poured out to clinch the denial
his Master.
." o simon, son of Jonas Is II tGo'
= is TINT thy voice? If your Master hear
- what would He say?
H. AT that fatal moment when tho
- shameless curses still nuivered on t
air, the Lord Was led past tho group
>,r the fircside, through the open court. vi
~ rude pushnss and rihnld iecrs, nccol
,ns panied With blows and splttlngs; I
le- Lord in the agony OF His humiliation,
cit the majesty Of Ills silence, 'rhc Lc
,rv turned and looked upon Petor." Bless
40 are those on whom when He looks
10, SORROW He looks also With love!
as IT was enough. Like an arrow throl
l2G his Utmost soul, shot the mute angu
OF that glance AS the sunbeam smi
,es, the last hold Of snow upon the rock.
af~ 1t rpshes down In an avalanche, so
or false self Of the fallen apostle slip
sed away and forever He saw no more Q
;sd, mics. knew M more danger, feared
is more death. Ringing the fold Of