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.