again; though he suffered, he threatened not, but committed himself to Him that judgeth righteously *"

The evangelist now resumes the history of St. Peter, who while these things were transacting in the council-room, sat without in the palace; and a damsel came unto him, saying, "Thou also wast with Jesus of Galilee. But he denied before them all, saying, I know not what thou sayest. And when he was come out into the porch, another maid saw him, and said unto them that were there, This fellow also was with Jesus of Nazareth. And again he denied with an oath, I do not know the man. And after a while came unto him they that stood by, and said to Peter, Surely thou also art one of them, for thy speech betrayeth thee. Then began he to curse and to swear, saying, I know not the man. And immediately the cock crew. And Peter remembered the words of Jesus, which said unto him, Before the cock crow thou shalt deny

me

1 Pet. ii. 23.

me thrice. And he went out, and wept bitterly."

This most interesting story is related by all the evangelists, with a few immaterial variations in each; but the substance is the same in all. There is, however, one circumstance added by St. Luke, so exquisitely beautiful and touching, that it well deserves to be noticed here. He tells us, that after Peter had denied Jesus thrice," immediately, while he yet spake, the cock crew; and the Lord turned and looked upon Peter *." Peter *." What effect that look must have had on the heart and on the countenance of Peter, every one may, perhaps, in some degree conceive; but it is utterly impossible for any words to describe, or, I believe, even for the pencil of a Guido to express . The sacred historian therefore most judiciously makes no attempt to work upon our passions or our feelings by any display of eloquence

on

*Ch. xxii. 61.

+ In fact, I cannot learn that any great master has ever yet selected this incident as the subject of a picture.

on the occasion. He simply relates the fact, without any embellishment or amplification; and only adds, "and Peter remembered the words of the Lord, how he had said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny we thrice; and he went out and wept bitterly."

The reflections that crowd upon the mind from this most affecting incident of Peter's denial of his Master, are many and important; but I can only touch, and that slightly, on a few.

The first is, that this event in the history of St. Peter, is a clear and striking accomplishment of our Saviour's prediction, that before the cock crew he should deny him thrice. And it is very remarkable, that there are in this same chapter no less than four other prophecies of our Lord, which were all punctually fulfilled, some of them like this, within a few hours after they were delivered.

The next observation resulting from the fall of Peter is the melancholy proof it affords us of the infirmity of human

nature,

nature, the weakness of our best resolutions, when left to ourselves, and the extreme danger of confiding too much in our own strength.

That St. Peter was most warmly attached to Jesus, that his intentions were upright, and his professions at the moment sincere, there can be no doubt. But his temper was too hot, and his confidence in himself too great. When our Lord told him, and all the other apostles, that they would desert him that night, Peter was the first to say to him, "though all men should be offended because of thee, yet will I never be offended." And when Jesus again assured him, that before the cock crew he should deny him thrice, Peter insisted with still greater vehemence on his unshaken fidelity, and declared, " that though he should die with him, he should never deny him.” Yet deny him he did, with execrations and oaths; and left a memorable lesson, even to the best of men, not to entertain too high an opinion of their own constancy and firmness

"Let him

in the hour of temptation. that thinketh he standeth, take heed lest he fall."

And hence in the last place we see the wisdom and the necessity of looking beyond ourselves, of looking up to heaven for support and assistance in the discharge of our duty. If, when Peter was first forewarned by our Lord of his approaching denial of him, instead of repeating his professions of inviolable fidelity to him, he had with all humility confessed his weakness, and implored his divine Master to strengthen and fortify him for the trial that awaited him, the event probably would have been very different. And it is surprising that he had not learned this lesson from his former experience. For when, confiding as he did now in his own courage, he entreated Jesus to let him walk to him upon the sea, and was permitted to do so; no sooner did he find the wind boisterous than he was afraid, and beginning to sink, he cried out, Lord, save me! And immediately Jesus stretched

66

forth