Mansfield mirror. (Mansfield, Wright County, Mo.) 1908-1957, 1914-11-12

GOLDEN TExT-Lst him that hinketh
he standeth take heed lest he fall Cor.
1O:l2.
The record of Peters failure IL q
sad story. Mark, who received his
Gospel from Peter. gives It in clear
outline. This suggests that Peter did
o spare himself.
!. After Passover Feast, w. 27.31.
On the way to Olivet Jesus warns the
disciples that all would be Offended"
(caused to stumble) because Of what
was about to occur. Not one escaped,
Matt. 20: So, Zech. 1877. Peter. assured
In his own mind, denies that this
should be true Of him. 80 confident
was he of himself and of his devotion.
Over against this warning Jesus
sounds the note Of his resurrection.
and 1t was chiefly In their inability
to catch, or comprehend this note. that
they stumbled. Particularly is this
true of Peter. That Jesus could found
. 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. It Is pride like this
which men have In their own 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 OeniaIa.
Peter trusted his own heart. A man
is a fool who will trust such q deceitful
member, Jer. 1873, Prov. 28:26.
Peters loud profession Ii answered by
a definite prophecy Of his utter fail.
ure, v. 80. Before the cock shall
crow twice. thou shall deny me
thrice" Again Peter contradicts the
Lord, II will not deny thee" Peters
later denial of the person Of Jesus In
the judgment ball is prefaced by a
the way thither. He had to learn wis
dom and humility In the bitter school
Of experience. Peter Ia quite like US
all. but he did learn and profited there
by Il Peter 5:5). which cannot be
said Of all of III.
II. Following Afar on, w. So, "a.
Peter followed affair." into the court
Of the high priests palace. We have
suggested 1esson Of Nov. 1st) that
zeal and affection prompted Peter. yet
he was expressly forbidden and fore
warned, John 13:36.3S. 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 q danger
Gus place for any disciple Of the Eord.
The servants and soldiers of the pow.
ers against Christ were congregated
about that first. It is never safe to
warm oneself at the enemies fire
though we see 1t constantly being
done, Matt. 8:13; Pc. III.
~. ~ Know Not rhls Man." w. C.
"a. While at the fire. a serving maid
looking at Peter said. Thou also vast
with the Nazarne, even Jesus" I'm
mediately and without any seeming
hesitancy Peter denied, and declared
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.
to the world about him made
It easy for Peter to utter his first
note Of denial. Having done SO he
passed on into the porch aud heard
the first growing Of the cock. The
apparent contradiction between Mark
and the other writer's over the ques-
ion Of the number Of maids seems
be solved by john 1895. where
reference Ia made to several who
poke at the same time. Doubtless
he words Of the first maid are re-
by those OF another on the
Iecond occasion; they both brought an
accusation against him.
speech Betrayed Peter.
This second maid addressing the
Unlocking spectators said. '"This 10 one
them" and again Peter denies the
.~ccusation. He had escaped one pre- /,
icament only to be plunged into an.
Their and perhaps more dangerous !
ne. To deny afresh seemed to be +,
he only way of escape. James "A; I :
'or. l6;sa R. v. A few words of . .
maid filled Peter with dis.
nay but 4 second denial did not de- !:
|ver him from his ~predicament. After
little those standing with him de-
he must be one Of the follow.
RS Of Jesus. for his speech betrayed
I'm to be q Galilean. Then Peter
the bottom. for he accom-
anies his denial with curses.
From his high and exalted state OF
lind his high hopes as to Jesus, he
aes himself q traitor and Jesus about
, be crushed by the hand OF man.
was p~assionately devoted TO
esus and had felt that he could. 60