desired to have him, and Satan would not easily let him go. Ile still lingered abont the door. He had sinned exceedingly, but his sin had not wholly driven his love for his Me.star out of his bee.rt. He trembled for his life; and yet a strange fascination kept him in that dangerous place, An hour longer, St. Luke tells uA, he remaine,l there--a most miserable hour it must have been. But he wa.s to fall more deeply yet. He talked, it seems, to hide his terror. Ilia proviucia.l e.ccent showed the Galilrea.n. 11 Surely thou also art one or them," they said e.gain; "for thy speech bewrayeth thee." Then, e.las I for our poor human nature, Peter "bega.n to curse a.nd to swea.r, saying-, I know not the Man." This was the climax of his guilt-first the evasion, then the false oath, then this awful result of the first equivoca.tion, cursing a.nd swearing. 4. His repentance. Peter swore, "I know not the Man." But the Lord knoweth them that a.re his; he knew his sinful follower still. "The Lord turned and looked upon Peter." We may well be thankful to the Evangelist St. Luke for havinJ recorded, by the guidance of the Holy Spirit, that touching fact. The Lord was in the hands of bis enemies, condemned to death, mocked, buffeted; but he thought of bis apostle. He had saved him from the swords of the soldiers; now he saved him from Satan. That holy, loving, mournful look went straight to Peter's heart. The crowing of the cock, heard at the same time, brought to his remembrance the warning words of Christ; "and he went out, and wept bitterly." Oh that we might have faith to know and feel that that loving, mournful look is now fixed upon us! Still the Lord looks round about upon all things. He reads the hearts. How often does he even now see sins like St. Peter's--cowardice, fafaehood, blasphemy-nd that among men who are called by his Name, who have been baptized into his Church I How often do men even now deny the Lord that bought them, sometimes in words, still more commonly by their life and conduct I He sees us out of heaven. Oh that we could realize that look of mournful tenderness, of yearning, compassionate love I The consciousness that that look is seeking us out, that it has found us, that it is fixed upon us in longing affection, must suroly bring us to our knees, to true repentance, to those blessed tears which are precious in the sight of the 'angels of God; for they tell or a sinner that repenteth. "The Lord turned, and looked upon Peter." Look on us, 0 Lord; and by the power of that holy look win our souls from sin unto God, from selfishness to thine own most blessed love. LESSONS. 1. " Rend your heart, and not your garments." Caiaphas rent his clothes; it was mere affectation. Let -us come to God with a penitent heart, confessing our sin. 2. The Lord was cruelly mocked and derided. Let us learn of him the blessedness of Christinn meekness. 3. Peter denied the Lord, and that thrice. "Let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall."
HOMILIES BY VARIOUS AUTHORS. Vere. "?---13.-" Ointment poured forth." This incident has a unique honour set upon it bi, :-v Lord, who promises it worldwide and lasting fame. Thus accentuated, it claims our closest attention. Why does Christ desire honour to be given to the memory of so simple a deed as is here recorded? l. ONE WHO TRULY LOVES CHRIST WILL BECKON NO GIFT TOO COSTLY TO BE OFFERED TO HIM. Mary's adoration was prompted by adequate motives. She had often sat at the feet of Jesus, and she had learned to appreciate his goodness as far as auy human being could do so. Her brother had just been restored to her from the grave by this wonderful Friend. Jesus had dropped dark hints of his approaching departure. '!'hen all her love and adoration were gathered up in an enthusiasm of devotion for this last typical a.et. 'fhe reason why the incident is so exceptional is that the Marya of Bethany are rare. The real wonder is that the Church of Christ should bs so slow to pour out her treasures at his feet, that calculating economy and grudging meanness should cripple the efforts of any Christinn people in sacrificing themselves and giving their offerings for the glory of their Lord. II. JESUS CHRIST ACCEPTS COSTLY OFFERINGS GIVEN TO HIMSELF. The hypocritica.l objection of Jud!\S was cleverly invented. The traitor knew the simplicity and unselfishness of his Master, and he knew that the heart of Jesus was alwavs with the 550 THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. MAT1'Hl!;\V, [on. xxv1. 1-75.