haps, that lie could stand to tliem. But he did not know his own heart. There was more feeling than principle in his decla- ration. He did not see all that was in himself.
Let us note the mischief of self ignorance. Let us pray for humility. Let us beware of over-confidence in our own courage and steadfastness. Pride goeth before a fall.
i. — [Jesus answered 7dm, Wilt thou, etc.] Our Lord's meaning appears to be, " Wilt thou really and truly lay down thy life for Me ? Thou little knowest thy own weakness and feebleness. I tell thee in the most solemn answer, that this very night, be- fore the cock crow, before sunrise, thou, even thou, wilt deny tliree times that thou knowest Me. So far from laying down thy life, thou wilt try to save thy life by cowardly denying that thou hast anything to do with Me."
Let us note the wonderful foreknowledge of our Lord. What an unlikely thing it seemed that such a professor should fall so far and so soon. Yet our Lord foresaw it all !
Let us note the wonderful kindness and condescension of Je- sus. He knew perfectly well the weakness and feebleness of His chief disciple, and yet never rejected him, and even raised him again after his fall. Christians should be men of very pitiful and tender feelings toward weak brethren. Their in- consistencies may be very great and provoking, but we must never forget our Lord's dealing with Simon Peter.