Part 202

But why should I waste my time in reasoning with men of such perverse minds? To you who do, from your hearts, believe on JESUS of _Nazareth_, and who, in reality, are the children of the most High GOD, the mournful passage we are now upon, does, in a more immediate manner, call me to address myself. You, I am persuaded, on hearing of _Peter_’s fall, and the LORD’s turning and looking upon him, Will not draw this abominable inference, “Let us sin then, that grace may abound.” No. I know you detest it from your inmost souls; and if it was proper to speak, would to a man cry out, “God forbid.” Your hearts, I would humbly hope, are rather employed in silent ejaculation to the holy JESUS, saying within yourselves, “Oh, that he would this day look down from heaven, the habitation of his holiness, and cause, out of these rocky hearts, floods of repenting tears to flow.” I will readily join with you in this necessary request. For, alas! we are all guilty concerning this thing, viz. Of denying our LORD, as well as _Peter_. Some of us, perhaps, have not so openly with oaths and curses denied that ever we knew him. But then, though we have in words owned, yet in works and practice, it may be, we have habitually denied him. For how often have we been sleeping, when we ought to have been watching? And how often have we been warming and indulging our bodies, when we should have been in our closets warming our hearts in prayer? How often have we needlessly left the communion of saints, and as needlessly put ourselves into the way of, and too intimately conversed with open and unconverted sinners, or at least, with those who we had reason to think were enemies to the cross of CHRIST? How often have we been drowsy when hearing the word of GOD? Nay, how often have we been stupid, and even as dead as stones, at the table of the LORD, when CHRIST has been evidently set forth crucified before us? How often have we been so foolish as to trust our hearts, and instead of trusting the LORD, have leaned on the broken reed of our own understandings? How often have we been puffed up with spiritual pride, and confidently boasted of our graces, as though we had not received them? And oh, how often have we shamefully followed our LORD afar off? And notwithstanding he may have manifested himself to us as he doth not to the world; notwithstanding he may have taken us on the mount of ordinances, given us to see his glory, led us into his banqueting-house, and let his banner over us be love; notwithstanding our repeated vows that we would never leave him, never forsake him; yet how often have we, as it were, been ashamed of him, and his glorious Gospel, and given our LORD occasion, times without number, to complain in that cutting language, “These wounds have I received in the house of my friends?” And now which of us shall throw the first stone at _Peter_? Behold, he has been placed in the midst of us this day. My brethren, why stand we like statues? I say, let him that is without this sin of denying the LORD JESUS, cast the first stone. But with what face of justice can we do this, being guilty in many respects equally, and in some even more guilty than _Peter_ himself? Rather let us turn the edge of our resentment against ourselves, and imitating _Peter_ in his repentance, as we have undoubtedly too much imitated him in his crime, let us go out from a wicked, noisy, and deluding world, and weep bitterly. Who knows but the LORD may return and leave a blessing behind him? For this end was this instance of human frailty and divine condescension recorded. In him the Redeemer shewed all this long-suffering, that we, notwithstanding our manifold backslidings, might be kept from despair. True, we have sinned, but though we have sinned against light and love, yet we have still an advocate with the Father, even JESUS CHRIST the righteous, whose precious blood can, and, if applied to our souls by a living faith, will certainly cleanse us both from the guilt and power of all our sins. It was this which washed away the stain of this foul and dreadful fall from _Peter_’s heart. He quickly rose, and was as speedily restored to his blessed master’s favour again. “Go tell his brethren and _Peter_,” said the angel, “that he goeth before you into _Galilee_.” There shall you see him. They did see him. And what said JESUS unto him? He renewed his commission, and bid him “feed his sheep and lambs.” Accordingly we hear not only of his preaching, but of his being honoured so to preach, that three thousand were converted in one day. And is not the LORD JESUS the same now as he was yesterday? Yes, he is, and will continue the same for ever. We have his own royal word for it, that he will heal our backslidings, and love us freely. Let us return then unto the LORD, from whom we have revolted. He is long-suffering, slow to anger, and soon repenteth him of the evil which we provoke him to send upon us. But oh let us not return again to folly, but carefully watch and pray against spiritual pride, spiritual sloth, and self-indulgence, from whence all our evils flow.