he had slighted, the vows he had broken, and the complicated evil he had just committed, All his conduct now appeared in its true colours; and he saw himself, as in a mirror, a base, cowardly, perjured apostate.
And such is the effect, which the testimonies of Christ's com- passion will produce on all who duly receive them h ]
2. It filled him with compunction and contrition —
[Instantly his heart bled with a sense of sin, and was tor- tured with the bitterest anguish. Had Jesus reproached him with severity, it is probable he would have yielded to despon- dency, and sought refuge in suicide, from the horrors of a guilty conscience. But the look that pierced his soul poured also a healing balm into the wound. He could now no longer continue in the compauy of the ungodly, or indulge a vain curiosity respecting the issue of his Master's trial : his heart was now full; and he sought retirement, that he might give vent to his feelings, and implore that mercy which he so greatly needed.
Thus will a view of God's mercy operate on us. Even a wicked Saul, when he saw the lenity and forbearance of David, was overcome with a sense of the kindness shewn him, and lilted up his voice and wept'. How much more should the tender mercy of our God abase us in the dust, and cause the tears of penitence to flow apace ! Yes, doubtless, it will in- stantly lead us from the scenes of folly and dissipation to the more suitable employments of meditation and prayer k ]
To improve this subject, let us consider,
1. To what a shameful state the most exalted Christian may be reduced, if he be left to himself one single moment !
[Who, that had been witness to Peter's confession of Christ1, or had seen him jump into the sea to embrace his Master1", or had beheld him wielding a sword in his defence", and above all, had heard his promises of being faithful unto death0, would have supposed that, in so short a time, this most favoured Apostle should so grievously transgress? Let this then be a lesson to us all. " Let him that thinketh he standeth, take heed lest he fallp." Let every one of us remember, that there is not any sin whatever, which we shall not commit, if we be left to ourselves : and let our daily prayer be, " Hold
h Ezek. xvi. 60—63. I 1 Sam. xxiv. 16.
k Ezek.vii. 16. may, in an accommodated sense, be applied to this. 1 Matt. xvi. 16. m John xxi. 7. n John xviii. 10.
0 Mark xiv. 31. Pi Cor. x. 12.
1580.] peter's FALL AND REPENTANCE. 125
thou up my goings in thy paths, that my footsteps slip not ; hold thou me up, and I shall be safeq."]
2. How connected and precipitous are the ways of
sin !
[Peter began by indulging a confidence in his own strength : then he followed Jesus " afar off r:" then he mixed himself needlessly with ungodly company s : then he yielded to the fear of man : and then he denied his Lord with oaths and curses. And have not we also found that we have pro- ceeded from one sin to another ; and that, when once we have given advantage to the enemy, he has prevailed against us in a far greater degree than we ever could have imagined ? Let us then inquire, whether there have not been some warnings given us of which we are unmindful ; some resolutions, which, having been made in our own strength, we have violated in the hour of temptation ? Let us inquire, whether we be not at this moment walking at too great a distance from our Lord? whether we be not influenced by the fear of man ? whether we be not associating too much with the enemies of our Lord? or whether there be not some other sin, which we allowedly in- dulge ? Let us remember, that to descend is easy ; and that, when we enter on the downward road, none but God can tell where we shall stop1.]