a Matt. xxvi. 50. b Isai. liii. 7. c Matt. xvi. 23.
1580.1 peter's fall and repentance. 123
way to despair. You will soon hear, into what a dreadful measure Judas has been precipitated, through a sense of guilt, and a despair of mercy : but be sure you do not imitate him. I told you before, that I had prayed for youd; now then go, and pray for yourself: only repent, and you shall even yet find mercy, yea, and be restored to the office which you have so disgraced : return, and I will heal your backslidings, and love you freely e: go instantly, and cry unto God for pardon; and all shall yet be well with you, both in time, and in eternity.']
That something inexpressibly moving was intimated in that look, cannot be doubted, if we consider,
II. What effect it produced —
A voice from heaven could not have been attended with a more instantaneous or powerful effect on the mind of Peter :
1. It brought his sin to remembrance —
[It is astonishing to see how awfully the conscience even of a child of God may, on some occasions, be lulled asleep. David, after his fall, seemed wholly insensible of his wicked- ness, for no less than nine months. While he was disposed to punish, with most excessive severity, a crime of infinitely less enormity than that which he had committed, he appeared unconscious of having himself contracted any guilt at allf. Thus it was with Peter on this occasion. He had denied his Master ; he had repeated that denial with yet greater vehe- mence ; and no less than an hour had elapsed without his discovering any signs of penitence and contrition B. His heart even seemed to be more and more hardened : for, not contented with continuing to deny his Lord, he added oaths to his protestations, and perjury to lies.
And is it not thus with too many professors of religion, who allow themselves in pride, envy, malice, wrath, covetousness, impurity, or some other secret evil, and go on from year to year without being sensible that they have done any thing amiss ? Perhaps there may be instances, wherein even a fol- lower of Christ has acquired unjust gains, defrauding his cus- tomers by false weights and measures, or by bad commodities : defrauding the revenue too by withholding customs, and taxes, that were clearly due. O that the consciences of all such persons might be awakened from their lethargy, and be excited to remonstrate against such unchristian practices !
But this look of Jesus brought to Peter's mind the warnings
d Luke xxii. 32. e Hos. xiv. 4.
f 2 Sam. xii. 1 — 7. g ver. 59.