The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1912-11-12

GOLDEN TEXT-Let him that thinketh
he standeth take heed lest he fall Cor.
l0:l2.
The record OF Peters failure ia a
sad story. Mark, who received his
Gospel from Peter, gives It In clear
outline, This suggests that Peter did
not spare himself,
l.. After Passover Feast, w. 27-31.
On the way to Olivet Jesus warns the
disciples that all would be offended
Ccaused to stumble) because OF what
was about to occur. Not one escaped,
Matt. 26:5 6 Zech. 1877. Peter, assured
I'm his own mind. denies that this
should be true Of him, so confident
was he Of himself and Of his devotion
over against this warning Jesus
sounds the note OF his resurrection
and II was chiefly in their inability
to catch, or comprehend this note, that
they stumbled. Particularly is TINS
true Of Peter. That Jesus could found
n church on the vulgar tragedy OF a
criminals death was beyond the range
OF his understanding. This self-con'
fdence was the beginning OF his fall
Prov. 1913. II Is pride like this
which men have In their " strength
that Is the chief reason why they are
not saved. II they are able to care
for themselves, why do they need the
help Of another?
Peters Denials.
Peter trusted his own heart. A man
is a fool who will trust such n deceitful
member, Jer. 1879, Prov. 2S:26'
Peters loud profession Is answered by
a definite prophecy Of his utter fail,
ure, v. 30. Before the cock shall
crow twice. thou shall deny me
thrice" Again Peter c~ontradicts the
Lord, % will not deny thee" Peters
later denial of the person OF Jesus In
the judgment hall is %prefaced by a
denial of his masters assertions on
the way thither. lie had to learn Wis
dom and humility in the bitter school
OF experience. Peter is quite like us
all. but he did learn and profited there
by Il Peter 5:5), which cannot be
said Of all OF us.
H.. Following Afsr on, w. So, 81.
Peter followed affair." into the court
of the high priests palace. We have
suggested 0esson OF Nov. 1st) that
zeal and affection prompted Peter. yet
he was expressly forbidden and fore
warned. John 1868. Some one has
said that the development Of Peters
weakness began in the garden when
he ceased to pray. That courtyard
and its brazier OF Goals was a danger
GUS place for any disciple OF the Lord
The servants and soldiers OF the pow
ers against Christ we're c~ongregated
about that first. It is never safe 10
warm oneself at the enemies fre
though we see II constantly being
done, Matt. 6:13; Ps. IL.
~. ~ Know Not This Man." W.. g.
70. While at the fire, n serving maid
looking at Peter said, "Thou also vast
with the Nazarne, even Jesus" I'm
medlately and without any seeming
hesitancy Peter denied. and declared
his ignorance both OF the man and Of
understanding what she said. Peter
did not sympathize with what was be-
ing done to Jesus, but at heart he was
not brave enough to separate him
self from the enemies OF Jesus thereby
to draw upon himself some sort OF
censure or condemnation. Thus con-
forming to the world about him made
Il easy for Peter to utter his hrst
note OF denial. Having done so he
passed on into the porch and heard
the first Growing of the cock. The
~apparent contradiction between Mark
and the other writer's over the ques'
ton OF the number OF maids seems
to be solved by John 1925. where
reference is made to several who
smoke at the same time. Doubtless
tho words OF the first maid are re-
enforced by those OF another on the
second occasion; they both brought an
accusation against him.
Speech Betrayed Peter.
This second maid addressing the
unlocking spectators said, This is one
of them" and again Peter denies the
accusation. lie had escaped one pre-
dicament only to be plunged into an
other and perhaps more dangerous
one. To deny afresh seemed to be
the only way of escape, James IA;
Cor. 1882 r. V. A few words OF a
serving maid filled Peter with dis
may but a second denial did not de-
liver him from his predlcament. After
a little those standing with him de-
clared he must be n Of the follow
ers Of Jesus, for his speech betrayed
him to be a Galilean. Then Peter
touched the bottom, for he accom-
panies his denial with curses and
oaths. One OF the principal uses or
profanity Is to emphasize a lie and
the larger the lie the more profuse the
profanity. Again he hears the cock
crow. Mark says nothing about the
look Of the master and seems to as
ISOLATE Peters weeping chiefly with
the effect produced up his memory by