fear that he actually denies his Lord. He declares that he knows not Him whom he had accompanied and lived with for three years ! He declares that he knows not Him who had healed his own wife's mother, taken him up into the mount of transfiguration, and saved him from drowning in the sea of Galilee ! And he not only denies his Master once, but does it three times ! And he not only denies Him simply, but does it " cursing and swear- ing !" And above all, he does all this in the face of the plainest warnings, and in spite of his own loud protesta- tion that he would do nothing of the kind, but rather die !
These things are written to show the Church of Christ what human nature is, even in the best of men. They are intended to teach us that, even after conversion and renewal of the Holy Ghost, believers are compassed with infirmity and liable to fall. They are meant to impress upon us the immense importance of daily watchfulness, prayerfulness, and humility so long as we are in the body. " Let him that thinketh he standeth, take heed lest he fall."
Let us carefully remember that Simon Peter's case does not stand alone. The word of God contains many other examples of the infirmity of true believers, which we shall do well to observe. The histories of Noah, Abraham, David, Hezekiah, will supply us with mourn- ful proof, that " the infection of sin remains even in the regenerate," and that no man is so strong as to be be- yond the danger of falling. Let us not forget this. Let us walk humbly with our God. " Happy is the man that feareth alway." (Prov. xxviii. 14.)
Let us learn, in the second place, from these verses,
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how small a temptation may cause a saint to have a great fall. The beginning of Peter's trial was nothing more than the simple remark of " a maid of the High Priest." " Thou also wert with Jesus of Nazareth." There is nothing to show that these words were spoken with any- hostile purpose. For anything we can see, they might fairly mean that this maid remembered that Peter used to be a companion of our Lord. But this simple remark was enough to overthrow the faith of an eminent apostle, and to make him begin to deny his Master. The chiefest and foremost of our Lord's chosen disciples is cast down, not by the threats of armed men, but by the saying of one weak woman !
There is something deeply instructive in this fact. It ought to teach us that no temptation is too small and trifling to overcome us, except we watch and pray to be held up. If God be for us we may remove mountains and get the victory over a host of foes. " I can do all things," says Paul, " through Christ that strengthened me." (Phil. iv. 22.) If God withdraw His grace, and leave us to ourselves, we are like a city without gates and walls, a prey to the first enemy, however weak and contemptible.
Let us beware of making light of temptations because they seem little and insignificant. There is nothing little that concerns our souls. A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump. A little spark may kindle a great fire. A little leak may sink a great ship. A little provocation may bring out from our hearts great corruption, and end in bringing our souls into great trouble.
Finally, let us learn from these verses that backsliding