The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1910-05-28

the naked truth. Today's study EN-
phasizes both the strength and the
weakness of st. Peters natural dispo-
sition. We Identify the character here
pictured as the same which was dis
played on other occasions--noble AMI
courageous, but rather forward and
boastful. Not a single weakness OF
any OF the Bible characters seems 10
be smoothed down or cut away I'm the
narrative. II was this same st. Peter
who, after hearing Jesus tell of His
approaching death. took the Master
to task for II. upbraiding Him for
speaking after this manner and assuT-
ing Him that He did not tell the truth.
and that the disciple knew more than
his Master; that the latter was either
ignorant or else wilfully misrepresent-
inE the future. No wonder the Master
rebuked him. as In this matter being
an adversary.
The sam courageous man after
ward drew his sword and smote the
servant OF the High Priest In his Mas.
ter's defense. Yet with all this H.
was only few hours later when he
denied him entirely with oaths AMI
cursing. Nevertheless, the Master
loved him: with his peculiar combin-
alton OF weakness and strength ne
had, withal, noble, faithful heart,
even while he boastfully declared,
Though all men forsake Thee, yet
will not l." Our study shows us st.
Peter with the other disciples in a
fishing-boat on a bolsterous sea. Jesus
had declined TO go with them in the
boat, withdrawing Himself TO the
mountain for season OF prayer. The
boat had not yet reached her destina-
ton, when the disciples saw the Mas
ter walking upon the water and draw
ing near. AT first they were all af-
frighted: then reinsurance came from
His word, and finally st. Peter asked
the Lords permission that he might
walk to Him on the water. This per-
mission was granted, and we cannTt
doubt that. had the Apostle maintained
his faith, he would have reached the
Lord in safety. for the same power
that had exercised itself in him and
in the other disciples for the healing
OF sick and the casting out Of demons
was absolutely able TO keep Him from
sinking into the water.
But while St. Peters faith was
ElIOHs6I lndH lIldI vi IUG anu
stronger than ours today, In that he
even attempted TO walk on the water,
nevertheless II was not strong enough
AS his eve caught a glimpse OF the
boisterousness Of the sea his faith be-
gan 70 fail and he began to sink The
Master, however, caught him, sayinc,
20 thou OF little faith, wherefore didst
thou doubt?" The lesson Of the &C.
casion being ended. the wind ceased
All the disciples then offered the Lord
their worship, realizing afresh that He
was the Son of God in power; that
even the winds and the waves obeyed
Him.
"A hand that is not ours upstays
our steps.
A voice that is not ours COM
mands the waves;
Commands the waves, and whispers
in our ear.
o. thou of little faith, why didst
thou doubt?"
All are sinners. There Is none
righteous; no, not one" Some do
not realize the extent OF their imper-
fections. Nevertheless II is safe to
say that all sane people recognize
themselves as imperfect and hence as
unworthy the recognition of the great
Greater. They cannot commend
themselves to Him as being worthy Of
His favor and life eternal II is when
this conviction of unworthiness be-
comes deep-seated: when the realiza.
ton Is keen that the wage of sin is
death" that the heart is most likely
to realize the value OF life eternal and
to cry unto the Lord for deliverance
from darkness, from sins bondage. and
from its death sentence. To all such
the Savior stands ready to lend a
helping hand, as in ST. Peters case.
He will not reproach such for their
sins IL they have repented OF them
and turned to righteousness. Rather.
He will say, why did you not come
sooner? was quite willing to aid you
as soon as you cried"
Our forefathers used to think that
they should picture before the sin
ner's mind an everlasting torture at
the hands OF devils. II seemed TO
them that such pictures would be
more successful in drawing men from
sin u righteousness than the Scrip
ture penalty which declares that the
wages OF sin Is death, everlasting
uesIuCllOH III lneSSalOnlanS 4, ~
But they overdid the matter. Their
message failed to convert the world
II merely tortured the sanity. the
loving, the Godlike. Men reasoned
that there was probably some mistake
about It, as II is contrary to all hui
man experiences that life could per-
sist In such unreliable torture Now,
however, with the aid OF the modern
Bible, superior translations, marginal
references, ETC., the people OF God are
learning more and more that Gods
Word Is true and that 1t should not
be twisted-that when II says death
IL does not mean life in torture.
Indeed, some have told us that to
their minds the utter plotting out OF
existence which God has ordained to
be the fate of those who refuse His
every opportunity and offer OF saliva
tlon is more of a terror to them than
life in any condition would be. One
reason that II has greater terrors I'M
doubtedly Is that II is more rational,
and thinking people can and do re-
ceive It more earnestly and give IL
more weight. II is from everlasting
destruction that the Savior STANDS
ready to deliver every member OF