438 KxrosiTORY thoughts.
strengthy or look down upon others. Whatever else we pray for, let us daily pray that we may " walk humUy with God." (Micahvi. 8.)
The story of Peter's fall teaches us, thirdly, the infinite mercy of our Lord Je»m Christ
This is a lesson which is brought out most forcibly by a fact which is only recorded in St. Luke's Gospel. We are told that when Peter denied Christ the third time, and the cock crew, ^'the Lord turned and looked upon Peter." Those words are deeply touching ! Surrounded by blood- thirsty and insulting enemies, in the fiill prospect of horrible outrages, an unjust trial, and a painful death, the Lord Jesus yet found time to think kindly of His poor erring disciple. Even then He would have Peter know. He did not forget him. Sorrowftdly no doubt, but not angrily, — ^He " turned and looked upon Peter." There was deep meaning in that look. It was a sermon which Peter never forgot.
The love of Christ towards His people, is a deep well which has no bottom. Let us never measure it by comparison with any kind of love of man or woman. It exceeds all other love, as far as the sun exceeds the rush- light. There is about it a mine of compassion, and pa- tience, and readiness to forgive sin, of whose riches we have but a faint conception. Let us not be afraid to trust that love, when we first feel our sins. Let us never be afraid to go on trusting it after we have once believed. No man need despair, however far he may have fallen, if he will only repent and turn to Christ. If the heart of Jesus was so gracious when He was a prisoner in the judgment hall, we surely need not think it is less gracious, when He sits in glory at the right hand of God.