guilt from our souls by his precious blood, but he must do everything that is to be done for our spiritual health. The sooner we learn it, and begin to live the life we live in the flesh, by the faith of the Son of God, the better, and that not only for the great things, but for the little things that belong to our peace.

Then, when the Lord announced to him that all would be offended, in the fullest self-confidence repudiating the notion: "Though all men," he said, "should be offended because of thee, yet will I never be offended." And, again, when forewarned of his denial, "Though I should die with thee, yet will I not deny thee." We begin to fall, when we begin to have confidence in ourselves. Satan watches till he sees a man beginning to lean upon his own strength, attempting to rest upon his own resolution: he knows he has him at an advantage then.

Next observe, when called by the Lord Jesus Christ to accompany him to the garden of Gethsemane, and told to watch and pray, Peter did neither watch nor pray, but went to sleep. Do you observe the steps, and see how the channel widens, down the broad way? Then, in verse 50, Peter leans upon an arm of flesh; he draws the sword, and would do violence for the Lord, as if the Lord needed his puny arm or his poor assistance. And now Jesus is arrested, and Peter begins to be ashamed of him. His faith is getting very weak. In the 54th verse we have the said record, "Peter followed afar off." Our only safety is when we are following Jesus so closely that there is no room for the devil, or the world, or the flesh, to get between us.

When a man follows Jesus afar off, there is room for a good deal to come in and intercept the view of Jesus, and the influences of Jesus. "Peter followed him afar off." Ah, there are many calling themselves Christians amongst us, I doubt not; there are many who are blood-bought ones and who would not for all the world not follow Christ; and yet I challenge you, in his house and in his presence, whether you are not following him afar off. Ten thousand worldly influences have intruded themselves between you and the Lord. It is a dangerous position.

Then observe, in the 55th verse of the chapter, instead of going into the court to witness for his Master, Peter, who had followed him afar off, now goes down to sit amongst the servants, and he waits there to see the end. Bad company: "Evil communications corrupt good manners." What business had the great apostle among the servants of the high priest? What business had he, who should have been at the right hand of the Saviour, to sit without, where they had kindled a fire to warm themselves, because it was cold, that he might wait and see the end? Ah, what is to be expected? A servant asks him, “Do you know the man ?" Peter does not understand what the

servant says. Another confidently affirmed, "Thou art one of this man's disciples, thy speech bewrayeth thee.” Man, I know not what thou sayest." And then a suspicion began to be felt that Peter must be one of the party which followed the Lord. To silence all suspicion, he began to curse and to swear, saying, "I know not him

of whom ye speak." "How art thou fallen, Lucifer, son of the morning."

Now, lastly, observe the divine grace in his restoration. Learn before we enter upon it, that the weakest thing in the creation of God is a Christian in his own strength. Had the Lord Jesus left Peter to follow the course upon which he had entered, he would have gone down, down, down to the bottomless pit for ever. But mark the grace in his restoration. There seem to be three things having an influence in the restoration of the Apostle; and the first is a very trifling one-the cock crew. It is wonderful what a little circumstance in providence acts sometimes like the blast of the resurrection trumpet upon a man's conscience. The crowing of that cock fell like a thunderbolt upon the heart of Peter, and, doubtless, led him to look in the direction where his divine Master stood: "And the Lord turned and looked upon Peter." Oh, that look! A great painter once said he wished to live that he might attempt to paint the Lord Jesus Christ looking upon Peter. No canvas could reflect that look but the poor sinner's heart that felt it. Oh, what anguish, tenderness, forgiveness, mingled in that appealing look; what intense love and prayer. High above the din and blasphemy around him, high above the ribald laugh of the mocking soldiery, there fell upon the ear of the Lord Jesus the well-known voice of his beloved, his fallen Peter; and "The Lord turned, and he looked upon Peter," as if to say, Peter, when they blasphemed me, because I said I was the Son of God, I

could bear that; when they spat upon me, Peter, I could bear that; when they clothed me with purple robes in mockery, I could bear that; but I cannot bear to hear you say with oaths and blasphemy, "I know not the man.'

"And Peter remembered." This was the third matter which seems to have had an influence upon his restoration. "Peter remembered." Half the world are lost for want of thought. Peter remembered the word that Jesus had said unto him, "Before the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny me thrice;" he thought of scenes, he thought of tokens, he thought of tenderness. He that once looked upon Gideon, and said, "See thy strength;" whose glance once withered the hosts of Sennacherib, and from which heaven and earth shall flee away, then looked with forgiving love, and broke Peter's heart. And Peter thought thereon, and Peter remembered, and Peter went out and wept-wept bitterly.

Love restored him. And if any here have wandered, nothing but love will restore you. Did Peter ever forget that look, or the special message afterwards sent him upon the resurrection of the Lord from the dead, and without which he would not have dared to associate himself with the eleven who were to go to the mountain, in Galilee, where Jesus had appointed: "Go, and tell my disciples and Peter,”—and Peter!" I go before you into Galilee;" and there before them all, he called again to him, that pardoned man, "Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these?" Peter had learnt now to boast but little of himself; and with pardon and gratitude in his heart, God

sent him forth restored and commissioned: "Go, feed my sheep."

May his own spirit teach you and me the lessons we are to gather from this precious history, and apply them to our hearts. The same Jesus is our Jesus still; the same hard heart belongs to us still. May the look which conquered Peter, conquer every poor wanderer here to-day; and bring us all down deeper, deeper into the dust before him, and draw us closer and closer to the heart that was pierced, that we might live. Amen. God command his blessing.