deny thee." But Christ had better understood his nature, when he replied, "Peter, the cock shall not crow this day, before that thou shalt thrice deny that thou knowest me."

And now the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter, and reminded him of the truth of these words. It might have been a reproaching look. Is this thy faithfulness? Is this thy return for the peculiar favour shown thee? There was great

reason to upbraid the disciple, who had been so forward to promise, and had failed so grievously in the performance. There was just ground to condemn him, when he had displayed the " "lying lip," which is "abomination unto the Lord:" nay, when he had confirmed his falsehood by solemn asseverations. The Lord might have looked in anger upon Peter, and cast him off for ever.

But the history shows that the look which he did turn towards him, was in accordance with his merciful character. "For he knoweth our frame: he remembereth that we are dust." It was rather to convince and warn, than to reproach and condemn. It convinced Peter, that even now, whilst the enemy was prevailing, and Jesus appeared to have lost all power, he could exhibit the greatest power: he could read the heart, and foretell the future. And it warned him of his weakness and insufficiency. Thou saidst, that thou wouldest "go with me to prison and to death." Whereas thou couldest not suffer with me one hour: thou couldest not acknowledge me, when challenged by my enemies. Know then thyself: know that thou must seek something stronger than thyself: know that only

through the Spirit which proceedeth from the Father and the Son, thou canst maintain thy profession, and "overcome the world."

Christ does not look in vain. Virtue attends the light of his countenance. Peter remembered the word of the Lord, and went out, and wept bitterly wept over his ingratitude and his sin. And the Lord put away his sin. He pitied the frailty of his servant, "like as a father pitieth his children:" he blotted out the offence with his own precious blood, and gave to Peter a boldness and a strength which by nature he had not, a courage which should resist even unto death, striving against the enemies of his Master's cause.

Observe, however, in this, the difference between the promises of men, and the promises of God. Peter had affirmed, "Though I should die with thee, yet will I not deny thee." Likewise also said all the disciples. Yet "they all forsook him and fled." God has promised-"I will never leave thee nor forsake thee." 2 And when has HE failed his people? Who can complain that they have not received support in proportion to their reliance, or assistance according to their need? A revelation had been made to Paul, "Be not afraid, but speak, and hold not thy peace: for I am with thee, and no man shall set on thee to hurt thee." 3 And Paul bore testimony to the performance of this promise, even at the greatest exigency: writing to Timothy from Rome, (2 Tim. iv. 16,) “At my first answer no man stood

2 Deut. xxxi. 6. Heb. xiii. 5.
3 Acts xviii. 9.

4

áoλoyia, defence.

with me, but all forsook me: notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me; and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion." He "knoweth them that are his ;" and does not deny them in the hour of trial. He makes good his promise: (Isa. xliii. 2:) "When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burnt; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee."

63. And the men that held Jesus mocked him, and smote him.

64. And when they had blindfolded him, they struck him on the face, and asked him, saying, Prophesy, Who is it that smote thee?

65. And many other things, blasphemously spake they against him.

66. And as soon as it was day, the elders of the people, and the chief priests, and the scribes, came together, and led him into their council, saying,

67. Art thou the Christ? tell us. And he said unto them, If I tell you, ye will not believe;

68. And if I also ask you, ye will not answer me, nor let me go.

69. Hereafter shall the Son of man sit on the right hand of the power of God.

70. Then said they all, Art thou then the Son of God? And he said unto them, Ye say that I am.

71. And they said, What need we any further witness? for we ourselves have heard of his own mouth.

What he was, they believed not now; but they should believe hereafter, when they saw him in power. Hereafter shall the Son of man sit on the

right hand of the power of God. Had they examined, they would have seen that he answered the character of the Christ. The people of their own accord had said, "When Christ cometh, will he do more miracles than these which this man hath done?" 5 Another said, "Come, see a man which told me all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ?" Yet, now, because he did not deny himself to be the Son of God, they condemned him of blasphemy. What need we any further witness? for we ourselves have heard of his own mouth.

:"

Such is the blindness of the human heart: so thick a veil is spread over it by prejudice and habits of sin. "The understanding is darkened : and truth and reason cannot penetrate. May "the Spirit of truth" enable us to see the truth, and leave it not: to see that God has made him, whom the rulers of the Jewish nation rejected, the corner-stone of our salvation: him whom they crucified and slew, the author of spiritual and eternal life to all them that obey him.

5 John vii. 31.

6 Ib iv. 29.

LECTURE LXXXVII.

JESUS IS ACCUSED BEFORE PILATE.-BARABBAS IS PREFERRED TO HIM.-PILATE CONSENTS TO HIS CRUCIFIXION.

LUKE xxiii. 1-25.

(Matt. xxvii. 1-25. Mark xv. 1-15. John xviii. 21—40; xix. 1-16.)

1. And the whole multitude of them arose, and led him unto Pilate.

2. And they began to accuse him, saying, We found this fellow perverting the nation, and forbidding to give tribute to Cæsar, saying, That he himself is Christ a king.

3. And Pilate asked him, saying, Art thou the king of the Jews? And he answered him and said, Thou sayest it.

4. Then said Pilate to the chief priests, and to the people, I find no fault in this man.

5. And they were the more fierce, saying, He stirreth up the people, teaching throughout all Jewry, beginning from Galilee to this place.

We are here presented with a picture of popular accusation. Jesus had never proclaimed himself as king. So far from perverting the nation with desire of change, when the people would have come by force to make him a king, he withdrew himself from them. 1 So far from forbidding to

1 John vi. 15.