_And Peter remembered the words of Jesus, which said unto him,
Before the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny me thrice: and he
went out, and wept bitterly._
¹ The two following Sermons came to hand after the others were
in the press.
BIOGRAPHY, as one observes, is the best history; or, in other words,
writing or reading the lives of great and good men, is one of the most
profitable and delightful kinds of history we can entertain ourselves
with. For hereby we are convinced, that Wisdom’s ways are indeed ways
of pleasantness; and being proved to be practicable by men of like
passions with ourselves, we are insensibly allured to follow them as
they followed _Christ_, and encouraged to run with patience the race
set before us. This, one would hope, is the grand end proposed by all
such who undertake to draw the characters, or hand down to posterity
the remarkable transactions of persons who have shone as lights in the
church of GOD. Many have done worthily in this respect; and for this
their labour of love, thousands as yet unborn, shall rise and call
them blessed. But without detracting any thing from their due praise,
I cannot help observing, that in most of the lives that I have had
an opportunity of perusing, there seems to be one deficiency, I could
almost say, common to them all. It is this: The writers of them seldom
or never mention the blemishes or falls of those whose characters they
exhibit. They emblazon their good, without so much as hinting at any
of their bad qualities. In short, they paint them blameless, and by not
mentioning any of their foibles, or the sins that did most easily beset
them, they make them, as it were, equal to the angels of GOD, or rather
to the Son of GOD himself, of whom alone it can truly be said, “That
he was without sin.” Such a method, (however well meant, because we are
more prone to imitate others vices than their virtues) to speak in the
softest terms, is not according to the pattern shewn us in the mount.
The scriptures set us a different copy. In those lively oracles, as
in a well-drawn picture, we have both shade and light; and at the same
time as they paint out to us, in the most striking manner, the graces
for which the holy men of old were most eminent, they also, with an
equally impartial hand, expose to public view, not only the common
infirmities, but even some of the most dreadful falls, with all their
aggravating circumstances, of some of the greatest men of GOD that ever
did, or will live, till time itself shall be no more.
One of these is to be the mournful subject of our present meditation.
_Procul ite profani!_ Let all profane persons keep at an awful distance:
We are going to tread on holy ground. I set an hedge about it in the
name of the living GOD. Come not too nigh the mount, lest that which
was written for your learning, through your own perverse abuse of it,
should prove unto you a further occasion of falling.
If any should enquire, “Why all this caution?” I answer, “We are about
to discourse on the Apostle _Peter_’s shameful denial of his and our
blessed Lord and Saviour JESUS CHRIST.” A passage recorded by all
the evangelists, St. _Mark_ himself not excepted, who is supposed to
have been emanuensis to St. _Peter_, and to have taken his gospel from
_Peter_’s own mouth. A proof this, not only of the impartiality of the
sacred writers, but also that the Holy Ghost intended that this awful
story should, in an especial manner, be recorded for our learning, on
whom the ends of the world are come. But though all the evangelists are
very explicit in relating this perfidious and wicked act, yet we shall
chiefly confine ourselves, at present, to the account given us of it in
this xxvith chapter of St. _Matthew_, and, for method sake, purpose to
consider,
_First_, The steps that led to this great man’s fall.
_Secondly_, The fall itself. And,
_Thirdly_, His recovery from it, mentioned in the text: “And
_Peter_ remembered the words of JESUS, which said unto him,
Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And he went
out and wept bitterly.”
But before we proceed to the prosecution of these points; it may be
proper to premise, that we take it for granted the Apostle _Peter_,
before his fall, was certainly a converted man. This is controverted
by some. For what reason, is best known to themselves. The scriptures
evidently leave us no room to dispute it. One passage may suffice
for a proof. “Blessed art thou, _Simon Bar Jonah_ (said the glorious
_Emmanuel_ to _Peter_, when he witnessed that good confession, Thou
art CHRIST, the Son of the living GOD); for flesh and blood hath not
revealed this unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.” Not content
with this, he adds, “Thou art _Peter_, and upon this rock will I build
my church, and the gates of hell shall never be able to prevail against
it:” Words that carry with them the strongest presumption, not only
that _Peter_ was a converted man, but that he had some eminent place
to be assigned him in the kingdom of grace. For our Lord pronounces him
blessed: “Blessed art thou, _Simon Bar Jonah_:” and gives him a reason
for it; “For flesh and blood hath not revealed this unto thee, but my
heavenly Father.” So that _Peter_ called CHRIST Lord by the Holy Ghost,
which none but a converted person can do. And further, “Upon this rock,
says CHRIST, will I build my church;” which, whether it be understood
of his confession of CHRIST’s divinity, or his being afterwards to
be employed in first preaching the gospel to the _Gentiles_, seems
to denote some peculiar favour and honour assigned to, and hereafter
to be conferred upon him. It is true, indeed, the same all-seeing
Redeemer, when afterwards he forewarned him of his fall, subjoined
this particular command; “And when thou art converted, strengthen thy
brethren.” But this only implies, that his fall would be so exceeding
great, that his recovery out of it would be, as it were, a second
conversion.
The steps that led to this terrible disaster, come now more
particularly to be considered. In order to be informed of these, (as
I take it for granted you have brought your Bibles with you) I must
beg you to look back to the 33d verse of this chapter, where we shall
find, that spiritual pride, and a too great dependence on a stock of
grace already received, was one of the first steps discernible in this
Apostle’s denial of his LORD――――The blessed JESUS, knowing all things
that should befal him, after the solemn institution and celebration
of his last supper, gave his disciples this tremendous warning, backed
with a scripture prediction: “All ye (verse 31.) shall be offended
because of me this night; for it is written, I will smite the shepherd,
and the sheep shall be scattered.” A warning, one would imagine,
terrible enough to have struck them all dumb, at least to have filled
them with a holy jealousy of their own desperately wicked and deceitful
hearts. But what says our Apostle? He (verse 33.) answered and said,
“Though all men shall be offended because of thee, yet will I never
be offended.” Poor _Peter_! How unlike thy former self, when at thy
first calling, thou criedst out, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man,
O LORD.” Alas! he now thinks his mountain is so strong, that it never
could be moved. “Though all men should be offended because of thee, yet
will I never be offended.” O these egotisms! How frequently are they
used by, but how little do they become such frail creatures as we are!
“Yet will I never be offended;” so far from being offended this night,
that I will never, at any time, or in any place, be offended because of
thee. No wonder, after hearing this, that the holy JESUS said unto him,
(verse 34.) “Verily I say unto thee, that this night, before the cock
crow, thou shalt, or will deny me thrice:” (for CHRIST’s predicting
his fall, laid him under no necessity of falling). Surely _Peter_ will
now retract! Nothing less. On the contrary, depending too much on the
sincerity of his intentions, and his present good frame, he said unto
his Master, (verse 35.) “Though I should die with thee, yet will I not
deny thee.” As though he should have said, “Die with thee I may; to die
with or for thee, I am ready: but to deny thee, I dare not. Deny thee
in any wise, I cannot, and neither will I. Is thy servant a dog, a
devil, that he should do this?” Stop, _Peter_; whither art thou going?
Where is thy present warm zeal carrying thee? What! wilt thou give the
GOD of truth the lie? I begin to tremble for thee. Such self-confidence
and spiritual pride, generally go before a fall.
But to proceed. Spiritual sloth, as well as spiritual pride, helped to
throw this Apostle down. The sun, that glorious Sun of righteousness,
was now about to enter into his last eclipse. Satan, who had left
him for a season, or, till the season of his passion, is now to be
permitted to bruise his heel again. This is his hour, and now the
powers of darkness summon and exert their strongest and united efforts.
A hymn is a prelude to his dreadful passion. From the communion-table,
the Saviour retires to the garden. An horrible dread, and inexpressible
load of sorrow begins to overwhelm and weigh down his innocent soul.
His body can scarcely sustain it. See how he faulters! See how his
hands hang down, and his knees wax feeble under the amazing pressure!
He is afflicted and oppressed indeed. See, see, O my soul, how he
sweats! But what is that which I see? Blood――drops of blood――great
drops of blood falling to the ground. Alas, was ever sorrow like unto
this sorrow! Hark! what is that I hear? O dolorous complaint? “Father,
if it be possible, let this cup pass from me.” Hark! he speaks again.
Amazing! the Creator complains to the creature, “My soul is exceeding
sorrowful, even unto death: tarry you here and watch with me.” And now
he retires once more. But see how his agony increases――Hark! how he
prays, and that too yet more earnestly: “Father, if it be possible,
let this cup pass from me.” And will his heavenly Father leave him
comfortless? No.――An angel (happy, highly-favoured angel!) is sent
from heaven to strengthen him. But where is _Peter_ all this while? We
are told that the holy JESUS took him, with _James_ and _John_, into
the garden. Surely he will not leave his LORD in such deep distress!
What is he doing? I blush to answer. Alas! he is sleeping: nay, though
awakened once by his agonizing LORD, with a “_Simon Peter_, sleepest
thou? what! couldest thou not watch with me one hour?” yet his eyes,
notwithstanding his profession of constancy and care, are heavy with
sleep. LORD, what is man!
After hearing all this, we need not be surprized at the account given
us, (verse 58.) of another step to his fall, viz. His following JESUS
afar off. “But _Peter_, says the Evangelists, followed him afar off.”
The Redeemer’s agony was now over, “and behold the hour is at hand,
when he is to be betrayed into the hands of sinners.” He warns his
sleepy disciples of it, and, acting like himself, goes out to meet the
threatening storm. “Arise, said he let us go: behold! he that betrayeth
me is at hand.” _Judas_, one of the twelve that eat of his bread,
performs the hellish task, and lifts up his heel against him. He says,
Hail, Master! kisses and then betrays him. For this was the sign agreed
on, “Whomsoever I shall kiss, the same is he, hold him fast.” They
knew the watch-word, and, like so many roaring lions, seize on their
unresisting prey. This rouses _Peter_. Out of an honest, but misguided
zeal, he draws his sword, and cuts off the High-priest’s servant’s ear.
The blessed JESUS heals the one, reproves the other; and, according
to _Isaiah_’s prophecy, is contentedly led as a lamb to the slaughter.
_Peter_’s heat is soon cooled, and instead of adhering to his LORD, or
saying, as might justly be expected, “Whither thou goest, I will go;
whithersoever they lead thee, they shall lead me also:” Alas! alas! he
followed him afar off. Observe, he does not deny his LORD all at once.
No. Satan leads us on by degrees into great sins, and will not suffer
us to be very bad immediately. _Peter_ at first follows afar off: he
skulks behind, and keeps on purpose at a distance, lest he should be
accounted one of his followers. O _Peter, Peter_, did I not know how
prone my own deceitful heart is to go astray from the great Shepherd
and Bishop of our souls, I should now begin to say, Fie upon thee, fie
upon thee. Hadst thou kept close to thy LORD, thou mightest have been
sheltered safely under his almighty wings; but how canst thou avoid
falling, and that foully too, when thou beginnest thus to be ashamed of
thy glorious master?
But this is not all. For we are not only informed that he followed
JESUS afar off, but that “He went into the High Priest’s palace (verse
58.) and sat with the servants.” So that keeping bad company was
another step that led to his great fall. Oh _Peter_! my blood begins
now almost to run cold within me. I tremble for thee more than ever.
What canst thou propose to thyself, or what bad thing may we not expect
to hear of thee, when sitting in such sorry company? I had much rather
have heard that thou hadst fled with thy other cowardly brethren. Thou
sittest among thy master’s professed enemies to see the end. Whatever
becomes of him, I dread to hear what the end of all this gradual
backsliding will be, in respect to thy own soul.
Well! the blessed JESUS is now at the bar. Omnipotence suffers itself
to be arraigned, and he who set bounds to the sea which it cannot pass,
is content to be bound, and that as a criminal, by the work of his
own hands. False witnesses rise up against him, and lay to his charge
things that he knew not. “This fellow, say they, (verse 61.) said, I am
able to destroy the temple of GOD, and to build it in three days.” And
what reply doth the innocent JESUS make? None at all. Not only because
they all knew that it was a malicious slander, but because he stood
as our representative. He, therefore, held his peace, and as a sheep
before the shearers is dumb, so this immaculate Lamb of GOD opened not
his mouth. At length, being adjured thereto by the High priest in the
name of the living GOD, he confesses himself to be the CHRIST, the son
of the Blessed; and lets the imperious Sanhedrim know, that however
contemptible his appearance might be now, yet they should hereafter
see him sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of
heaven. And does not this strike terror into his accusers and judges?
By no means. The haughty High-Priest rises in disdain, hypocritically
rends his cloaths, urging this as a reason, “He hath spoken blasphemy;
what further need have we of witnesses?” Was ever indignity, like this
indignity, put on thee, thou most adorable Mediator! Which shall I
marvel at most, the High-Priest’s impudence, or thy patience? Both,
doubtless, are unparalleled. And yet, alas! a further trial awaits
our suffering LORD. For whilst the master is thus arraigned, insulted,
and causelesly condemned at the bar within, _Satan_ is no less busy
in wounding him through _Peter_’s side, who was sitting in the palace
without. _Peter_, indeed, thinks to sit there undiscovered; but a
damsel comes to him, (verse 69) saying, “Thou also wast with JESUS of
Galilee.” And what then? Was that high treason? Or rather was it not
the highest honour? _Peter_, what sayest thou? Alas, (verse 70) “He
denied before them all, saying, I know not what thou sayest.” Know not
what thou sayest, _Peter_? her words were plain enough, “Thou also was
with JESUS of Nazareth.” Can any words be plainer? To deny this, in the
least, was bad, but to deny this before them all, who could so easily
confront thee, proves thee to be falling indeed. Call him now no longer
_Peter_, but call him _Ichabod_: for the glory of the LORD is departing
from him.
However, as yet there is hope concerning him. For, conscious, as it
were, of his guilt (verse 71) “He went out into the porch.” _Satan_
pursues him. For when a saint begins to fall, his hellish language
is, Down with him, down with him, even to the ground. Another damsel,
therefore, is put in _Peter_’s way, who, upon seeing him, says, not
unto _Peter_ himself, but to them that were there, (verse 71) “This
fellow was also with JESUS of Nazareth.” She speaks the same language
with her sister scoffer, and with those who accused the blessed JESUS
at the bar. Doubtless, our modern scoffers are related to them, for
they use the same dialect every day when speaking of CHRIST, or those
that, through grace, dare to own and confess him before men. But here
would I stop and feign be excused from relating to this great assembly
_Peter_’s answer. Oh tell it not in _Gath_, publish it not in the
streets of _Askelon_! But we must not be wise above what is written.
The Holy Spirit hath left it upon record, and proclaimed it by four
Evangelists upon the house-top, and, therefore, I am constrained to
tell you, that again (verse 72.) “He denied with an oath, I do not
know the man.” What! an Apostle swear? Was it not enough barely to deny
the damsel’s assertion, but he must deny it with an oath? Perhaps, it
was a crime he never was guilty of before. Surely, the way of sin is
down-hill. One step leads to another. At first he only denied what was
said to him, by a kind of equivocation, “I know not what thou sayest.”
Now he grows bolder, and denies with an oath, “I know not the man.”
What, _Peter_! Know not the man? That glorious God-man CHRIST JESUS thy
LORD? What! not know Him, who called thee from the poor occupation of
catching fish, to make thee an Apostle and a fisher of men? What! not
know Him, who bad thee come to him upon the waters, and Him who with
his own almighty arm saved thee from drowning, when thou wast answering
thy name _Cephas_, and sinking like a stone? What! not know Him, with
whom thou hast so intimately conversed for three years last past, who,
so lately pronounced thee blessed, washed thy feet, gave thee a new
name, and took thee to Mount _Tabor_, where he displayed before thee
his excellent glory, which made thee cry out, It is good for us to be
here? What! hast thou forgot all this, _Peter_?
Surely, it is high time for the cock to crow. Hark! The cock does crow,
not only once, but twice; but all in vain. Fallen as this great man
is, he must still fall lower. _Satan_ is now about to give him the last
and most fatal thrust. He hath his quiver full of deadly arrows, and
hath always instruments at hand, the weakest of which will foil the
strongest Apostle when left to himself, “After a while (verse 73) came
unto him they that stood by, and said unto _Peter_, Surely, thou also
wast one of them, for thy speech betrayeth thee.” As though they had
said, “How canst thou have the impudence to say thou knowest not the
man, when thy very language and manner of speaking betrays thy being
even one of his followers?” What says _Peter_ now? Can he withstand
this glaring evidence? Yes, he not only denies it with a single oath,
but (Oh, how shall I speak it!) he “began to curse and to swear,”
and with a whole volly of execrable expressions, striving to act the
bravado, he persists in saying (verse 74) “I know not the man.” And
now, _Satan_, thou hast gained thy point. A great man, through too
much self-confidence, spiritual pride, spiritual sloth, and too great
intimacy with some of thy children, is fallen indeed! Thou hast sifted
him with a witness.
But is he fallen, never to rise again? Is _Peter_ sunk too low for free
grace ever to raise him up? Will the Redeemer suffer his truth to fail;
or shall the prayer put up for him before he was led into temptation,
viz. that his faith should not fail, remain unanswered? No, all the
promises in CHRIST JESUS are all yea and all Amen; and having loved his
own, he loves them unto the end. The enemy hath broke in upon _Peter_
like a flood, but the almighty Redeemer will now lift up his standard
against him, and deliver his captive servant. Immediately, (verse 74)
upon this last denial of his LORD, “the cock crew.” And what is most
of all (nay, without which the cock might have crowed ten thousand
times) another Evangelist tells us, that “the LORD turned, and looked
upon _Peter_,” Oh amazing condescension! Oh unparalleled instance of
endearing love! Our Lord was now upon a trial for his life. Fat bulls
of _Bashan_ were surrounding him on every side. Yet the same love,
that in the night in which he was betrayed, would not permit him to
forget his disciples in general, would not, though he was himself now
arraigned at the bar, suffer him to forget his poor fallen Apostle in
particular. “The LORD, therefore, turned, and looked upon _Peter_.”
But who besides _Peter_, and souls like him recovering from their
backslidings, can tell the language of that look? Doubtless, it carried
with it an “_Et tu Peter?_ And art thou there _Peter_? Is it not enough
for me to be falsely accused, and condemned by my enemies, but I must
be wounded also in the house of my friends! Is it not sufficient that
_Judas_ betrays me, but thou must add to my grief by denying me? Deny
me too with an oath, nay, with oaths and curses deny that ever thou
knewest me? Is this thy kindness to thy friend? Alas! What is become
of thy boasted professions now? Art thou the man that didst so solemnly
declare, that though thou shouldst die with me, thou wouldst not deny
me in any wise? Yes, Thou art the man.”
This, and much more of the same kind, we may well suppose was the
real language of that convincing, heart-piercing look, which the LORD
JESUS at this time gave his fallen _Peter_. Amazing! He looks him into
contrition; whereas had he rewarded him according to his iniquity,
he might have looked him into hell. Rejoice with me, therefore, my
dear hearers. This straying sheep, through the tender mercies of the
compassionate shepherd and bishop of our souls, by this look is brought
back to the fold again. “And _Peter_, says our text, remembered the
words of JESUS, which said unto him, Before the cock crow,” i. e. at
the time emphatically called the cock-crowing, which was about three
in the morning, “thou shalt deny me thrice. And he went out.” (The word
seems to import, that he threw himself out with a holy violence) “and
wept bitterly.” St. _Mark_ only says, “And when he thought thereon, he
wept.” For being an amanuensis to St. _Peter_, though explicit in the
account of his fall, he is very sparing in mentioning his repentance.
Unless we suppose that St. _Mark_ would insinuate that whenever _Peter_
reflected on his fall, he always wept for ever after. However that be,
he wept bitterly now. Methinks, I see him wringing his hands, rending
his garments, stamping on the ground, and with the self-condemned
publican smiting upon his ungrateful breast. See how it heaves! Oh
what piteous sighs and groans are those which come from the very bottom
of his heart! Alas! It is too big to speak. But his tears, his briny,
bitter, repenting tears plainly bespeak this to be the language of his
awakened soul. “Alas! Where have I been? On the devil’s ground. With
whom have I been conversing? The devil’s children. What is this that
I have done? Denied the LORD of glory, with oaths and curses denied
that ever I knew him. And now whither shall I go? Or where shall
I hide my guilty head? I have sinned against light. I have sinned
against repeated tokens of his dear distinguishing and heavenly love.
I have sinned against repeated warnings, resolutions, promises and
vows. I have sinned openly in the face of the sun, in the presence of
my master’s enemies, and thereby have caused his name to be blasphemed.
How can I think of being suffered to behold the face of, much less to
be employed by, the ever-blessed JESUS any more? O _Peter_, thou hast
undone thyself. Justly mayst thou be thrown aside like a broken vessel.
GOD be merciful to me a sinner.”
And is this the language of thy tears, O _Peter_? Blessed art thou
still then, thou _Simon Bar Jonah_. These tears, and this holy
resentment against thyself, bespeak thee to be a holy mourner. Yet a
little while, and thou shalt be comforted with a “Go tell his brethren
and _Peter_, that he is risen;” and with a “_Simon_ son of _Jonah_,
lovest thou me? Then feed my lambs.” And where is now thy boasting, O
_Satan_? Or what hast thou gained by foiling this favourite of heaven?
Thou didst desire to have him. Thy request was granted. Thou hast
sifted him as wheat. But dost thou imagine the all-prevailing Mediator
will suffer thee to pluck him out of his hands? No. JESUS hath prayed
for him, and therefore _Peter_’s faith shall not finally fail. Rejoice
not then over him, O thou enemy of souls! For though he has fallen,
yet see how he begins to rise again. Though at the present he sits in
darkness, yet, ere long, the glory of the LORD shall shine around him.
Where then are those Sons of _Belial_, those perverse disputers of this
world, and yet, if possible, more perverse perverters of the Word of
GOD? Dare any of you now go away, saying within yourselves, “Who can
blame us for a little equivocating, or a little innocent lying, cursing,
and swearing? Was not _Peter_, the great Apostle _Peter_, guilty of all
these?” Yes he was, but with this difference, he fell through surprize,
and but once, you, perhaps, sin wilfully and habitually. Fall he did,
and that dreadfully too; but if his fall was dreadful, his repentence
was as sincere and lasting. Ere long you shall see this same _Peter_,
boldly owning his LORD before the whole _Jewish_ Sanhedrim, and
rejoicing that he was counted worthy to suffer for his great name’s
sake. Ere long you shall hear of an angel’s being sent to bring him out
of prison, and at last sealing his blessed doctrine with his blood. Go
ye then, and entreat the LORD to look you into a godly sorrow, and see
that with _Peter_ you bring forth fruits meet for repentance; or as the
LORD GOD liveth, in whose name I speak, and in whose presence we now
stand, you, with all your carnal reasonings and wilful wrestings of the
word of GOD, shall, ere long, be thrust down to the nethermost hell.
But why should I waste my time in reasoning with men of such perverse
minds? To you who do, from your hearts, believe on JESUS of _Nazareth_,
and who, in reality, are the children of the most High GOD, the
mournful passage we are now upon, does, in a more immediate manner,
call me to address myself. You, I am persuaded, on hearing of _Peter_’s
fall, and the LORD’s turning and looking upon him, Will not draw this
abominable inference, “Let us sin then, that grace may abound.” No.
I know you detest it from your inmost souls; and if it was proper
to speak, would to a man cry out, “God forbid.” Your hearts, I would
humbly hope, are rather employed in silent ejaculation to the holy
JESUS, saying within yourselves, “Oh, that he would this day look
down from heaven, the habitation of his holiness, and cause, out of
these rocky hearts, floods of repenting tears to flow.” I will readily
join with you in this necessary request. For, alas! we are all guilty
concerning this thing, viz. Of denying our LORD, as well as _Peter_.
Some of us, perhaps, have not so openly with oaths and curses denied
that ever we knew him. But then, though we have in words owned, yet
in works and practice, it may be, we have habitually denied him. For
how often have we been sleeping, when we ought to have been watching?
And how often have we been warming and indulging our bodies, when we
should have been in our closets warming our hearts in prayer? How often
have we needlessly left the communion of saints, and as needlessly put
ourselves into the way of, and too intimately conversed with open and
unconverted sinners, or at least, with those who we had reason to think
were enemies to the cross of CHRIST? How often have we been drowsy
when hearing the word of GOD? Nay, how often have we been stupid, and
even as dead as stones, at the table of the LORD, when CHRIST has been
evidently set forth crucified before us? How often have we been so
foolish as to trust our hearts, and instead of trusting the LORD, have
leaned on the broken reed of our own understandings? How often have
we been puffed up with spiritual pride, and confidently boasted of our
graces, as though we had not received them? And oh, how often have we
shamefully followed our LORD afar off? And notwithstanding he may have
manifested himself to us as he doth not to the world; notwithstanding
he may have taken us on the mount of ordinances, given us to see his
glory, led us into his banqueting-house, and let his banner over us
be love; notwithstanding our repeated vows that we would never leave
him, never forsake him; yet how often have we, as it were, been ashamed
of him, and his glorious Gospel, and given our LORD occasion, times
without number, to complain in that cutting language, “These wounds
have I received in the house of my friends?” And now which of us
shall throw the first stone at _Peter_? Behold, he has been placed
in the midst of us this day. My brethren, why stand we like statues?
I say, let him that is without this sin of denying the LORD JESUS,
cast the first stone. But with what face of justice can we do this,
being guilty in many respects equally, and in some even more guilty
than _Peter_ himself? Rather let us turn the edge of our resentment
against ourselves, and imitating _Peter_ in his repentance, as we have
undoubtedly too much imitated him in his crime, let us go out from a
wicked, noisy, and deluding world, and weep bitterly. Who knows but the
LORD may return and leave a blessing behind him? For this end was this
instance of human frailty and divine condescension recorded. In him the
Redeemer shewed all this long-suffering, that we, notwithstanding our
manifold backslidings, might be kept from despair. True, we have sinned,
but though we have sinned against light and love, yet we have still
an advocate with the Father, even JESUS CHRIST the righteous, whose
precious blood can, and, if applied to our souls by a living faith,
will certainly cleanse us both from the guilt and power of all our sins.
It was this which washed away the stain of this foul and dreadful fall
from _Peter_’s heart. He quickly rose, and was as speedily restored to
his blessed master’s favour again. “Go tell his brethren and _Peter_,”
said the angel, “that he goeth before you into _Galilee_.” There shall
you see him. They did see him. And what said JESUS unto him? He renewed
his commission, and bid him “feed his sheep and lambs.” Accordingly we
hear not only of his preaching, but of his being honoured so to preach,
that three thousand were converted in one day. And is not the LORD
JESUS the same now as he was yesterday? Yes, he is, and will continue
the same for ever. We have his own royal word for it, that he will heal
our backslidings, and love us freely. Let us return then unto the LORD,
from whom we have revolted. He is long-suffering, slow to anger, and
soon repenteth him of the evil which we provoke him to send upon us.
But oh let us not return again to folly, but carefully watch and pray
against spiritual pride, spiritual sloth, and self-indulgence, from
whence all our evils flow.
Young preachers, to you in an especial manner are these words of
exhortation sent. Of all people in the world, you had need watch most
against spiritual pride. It is a fly that often spoils your whole pot
of ointment. This made aged _Paul_ so careful to warn _Timothy_ not
to lay hands upon novices, lest, says he, “being puffed up with pride,
they fall into the condemnation of the devil.” How many awful instances
have we had of this in various places within these few years last past?
Young men, therefore, I exhort you to be humble. For CHRIST’s sake,
for your own souls sake, for the sake of the church of GOD which he
hath purchased with his own blood, pray without ceasing that you may be
cloathed with humility. Take care of carrying too high sail. Popularity
is a dangerous sea, and nothing but the special and almighty grace of
GOD can keep you from oversetting in it. Mark the rocks against which
others have made shipwreck, and beg of the LORD JESUS night and day,
to help you to steer such a course as to avoid and keep clear of them:
he alone can preserve you. _Satan_ envies the honour put upon you;
he has a particular enmity against those whom he sees the Redeemer
making use of. He knows your weak sides, and will desire to have
you, as he desired to have _Peter_, that he may sift you as wheat.
Watch, therefore, and pray always, that you may not fall in an hour of
temptation. If _Peter_ could not stand when left to himself, what are
we?
Have any from among ourselves of late given proofs of this? Nay, have
any that once appeared boldly for our LORD, and seemed ready to follow
him to prison or to death, have any such, I say, been permitted not
only to follow him afar off, but shamefully and openly to disown and
deny both him and his people? Let us not marvel as though some strange
thing happened unto us, but let us search the scriptures. Many such
instances are recorded there; and we know who hath forewarned us to
expect them now. “It must needs be, says the unerring, all-seeing JESUS,
that offences come. Let us not therefore be high-minded, but fear; and
let him that standeth take heed lest he fall.” Brethren, pray for them.
Who knows but they may yet rise, and the locks at present cut off, grow
again? Who knows but the cock may yet crow, JESUS may yet look, and
such grievous backsliders, being as it were reconverted, may appear
more zealous than ever in strengthening their brethren? When shall this
once be? “We wait for thy salvation, O LORD: make no long tarrying, O
our GOD!”
In the mean while, let none of us be discouraged, GOD will take care of
his own cause. The Redeemer hath declared, that the gates of hell shall
never be able to prevail against his church: and, therefore, though the
ark may totter, he can keep it from falling; and though driven for a
while into the _Philistine_’s country, he assuredly can bring it back.
He that healed the wound imprudently given by _Peter_ to the ear of
the High Priest’s servant, he can and will heal all wounds, and repair
all breaches that have been occasioned either by the backslidings, or
unguarded conduit of those whom he vouchsafes to employ. “Out of the
eater shall come forth meat, and out of the strong shall come forth
sweetness.” The wicked, no doubt, rejoiced when they heard of _Peter_’s
fall, and in all probability frequently vented their spleen in saying,
“Here is religion for you! Here is a pretty family of reformers, and
setters forth of new doctrines. One of them hath betrayed his master
with a kiss, and another with oaths and curses denied that ever he
knew him: if this be the beginning, what will the end of their boasted
reformation be?” What will the end of it be? Ye fools! I have an
answer ready: CHRIST shall be glorified, _Satan_ and all his emissaries
confounded, and a multitude of souls out of every nation, language, and
tongue, redeemed and finally saved. Oh what a CHRIST have we! Courage
then, my brethren, courage! I beat to arms again in the name of the
LORD of hosts. Let us not quit the field of battle, but in the strength
of our once crucified, but now exalted JESUS, renew the combat. “He
is faithful who hath promised not only to make us conquerors, but more
than conquerors through his love.” Yet a little while, and our warfare
shall be accomplished, death will put an end to all. A wicked world,
a wicked heart, a wicked devil shall then cease from troubling us, and
our weary souls shall never be so much as tempted to deny our blessed
LORD any more.
Where is _Peter_ now? Yonder he sits, not weeping bitterly, but
rejoicing in GOD his Saviour, on a throne of never-fading glory. To Him,
at whose right hand he is now sitting, and who alone is able to keep
us from falling, and to present us faultless before the presence of
his glory with exceeding joy; to Him the only wise GOD our Saviour, be
glory, majesty, dominion, and power, both now and ever. _Amen._