The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1910-12-13
his life the fair plant Of burning love
and ready reception Of Truth
MTake Heed To Yourselves"

"Take Heed to Yourselves"
I One Of the great lessons wiich the
Muster ttusht his followers, and which
all In the School Of Christ must learn.
is that, with burning love aud zeal Tor
God and for Righteousness. we Should
also have mouera erauon-exercisin the
Spirit Of sound nliul. Christs fol-
lowers are exhorteu to be wise as
serpents and harmless Us doves.
Their Wisdom is uol to be mercy the
selfish kiLd. which would look out for
It's OWL interests. but of the generous
kind which looks out tor the Interests
OF ALL. and particularly for the inter-
ests of the LollS cause and for any
share therein which he may enuust
to US.
In the course Of his instructions.
Jesus had said to his disciples, In at-
vance Of the trying hour Of his be-
truyul-"All ye shall be offended De
cause Of NE this night; for 1t is wilt
ten (ln the Irophets),. | will snlite the
Shepherd ana the sheep Of the flock
Shall he scattered uDroud. But after /
an, risen again will go before you
into Gulilee."-hIatt. 2G:31, 81.
Then spoke the impuislye Peter.
"Though all shall be offended because
Of thee, yet will never be offended.
". :3) Alas! how little did tits cour-
ageous man understand the nature OF
the trials anu difficulties immediately
before him, or realize the weak points
Of his own impulsire nature. Yet II
we are grIered with his denlai OF the
Master. we must rejoice to note ms
faith and love and Zeul. as manifested
in Ills acknowledgement Of Jesus Us the
Messiah aud his later declaration that
nothing should ever shake his loyalty.
However, 1t is the specially loyal and
ardent that the Adversary seeks most
I,ersistently to entrap. Thus Jesus, on
this very occasion. explained to St
Peter, Satan hath desired to have
thee that lie might sift thee lAuke
oo:3D; that he might separate you
from your Loyalty to Christ and dis.
courage you rom dlscipleshlp. over
whelming you with fear and with your
own weaknesses. The Master added,
But / have prayed for thee that thy
faith fail not We may well under
stand that the same loving Master still
assists all of his true, warm-hearted
followers. whatever their weaknesses
of heredity. We may well understand.
too, that he is able to develop all such
into strong characters. II they abide in
Ills love. continuing In their zeal.
"5cfors the Cock Crow"
The Master discerned the danger of
his loving but imDetuous follower, and
uttered warning word, that before
cock-crowing he would deny his Mas.
ter. How improbable this seemed to
st. Peter! How he courageously de-
clared. Though should die with thee,
yet will not deny thee" And so said
all Of the eleven. Their hearts were
good. And the Lord looketh upon the
heart
Our study now passes to verse
60. The Master had been arrested.
The scattered disciples had fed. St.
John, because OF an acquaintance with
the high priests family. penetrated
further Into the palace than st. Peter.
who stood In the courtyard. A maid
Of the palace recognized St Peter MS
one of Jesus disciples aud so declared
publicly. Fearful TINT he might share
the fate Of the Master, st. Peter denied
his identity. declaring that he knew
pothing about the matter A little
later another declared the same.
Peter emphasized his denial with an
oath, declaring that he knew not Jesus.
Later the word spread throughout the
courtyard and many took II up, declar-
ing TINT they believed what the mad
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