SERMON XXXIX.

MATTHEW, xxvi. 75.

AND PETER REMEMBERED THE WORDS OF JESUS, BEFORE THE COCK CROW, THOU SHALT DENY

ME THRICE, AND HE WENT OUT, AND WEPT BITTERLY.

ST. Peter's denial of Chrift is one of the moft furprizing stories of the bible. That an apostle, who always appeared the firmeft, and most confident among his brethren, fhould deny his master-that he who had been fo long, and fo intimately con nected with the bleffed Jefus-had feen him perform fuch mighty works-and had heard his divine difcourfes, fhould ever be induced to fay, I know not the man, would fcarce come within the bounds of belief, if it had not been fo well attefted.

Now

Now as people are very apt in these cases, to fhelter themselves under the fins of holy men, it may be useful to compare the cafe of St. Peter with that of the generality of modern finners. I mean not to extenuate his guilt; but only to fhew, that we fhould not be forward in making it an apology for our own. This comparison fhall be the fubject of the following discourse.

First then, as St. Peter thought himself in inminent danger, he was under a strong impreffion of fear. He had often feen his master free himself from danger; and knowing he had the power to do it, whenever he pleased, in this extremity, no doubt, he expected it. But when he now found him in the high-priest's hall-furrounded by guards-put upon his trial for life-and every thing going against him, he was intimidated with all this awful parade; and being himself queftioned as a companion of Jefus, his fear got the better of him, and in his distress he denied having any knowledge of his master.

But have our offences the excufe of St. Peter's fin? Are we ever in danger of our lives for our religion? In ancient times indeed the martyr had often dreadful moments to encounter: and if

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his heart had fainted under the terrors that threatened him, he had the infirmities of nature to plead. But in our days this fear is over. We are never called to fuffer extremities for the gospel. And yet we are continually denying our Lord, and mafter, even when the world goes fmoothly with us. Every fin we commit is a denial of Chrift; and is committed not through the fear of danger; but in a worfe caufe-to obtain fome worldly gratification.

But St. Peter was not only under the impreffion of fear, he was under the impreffion of disappointment alfo. Firm as he conceived his faith, he had not yet entirely gotten rid of his worldly prejudices. It does not appear, that the apoftles were thoroughly acquainted with the nature of the Meffiah's kingdom, till after they had received the Holy Ghost. St. Peter therefore not expecting to fee matters brought to this extremity, feemed convinced, that all his hopes of, he knew not what power and dominion, were now over: and he was not enough confirmed in his religion, to be well affured of what he had to expect in their room. Had it not been for this difappointment, it is probable he might still have maflered his fear.

But

But here again the finners of these days have not St. Peter's excufe. We are under no difappointment. To us the idea of a crucified Saviour is familiar. We never expected him to appear in any worldly glory. St. Peter's fin therefore was light in comparison of ours, whofe faith is fhaken by no disappointment.

We may plead farther in St. Peter's .cafe, that he was taken by furprize. However under the influence of fear, and difappointment, if he had had time to recollect himself, he might still have stood firm. But in the midft of the difheartening scene of his master's trial, the temptation came fuddenly upon him; and tho' the denial was repeated three times; yet each fucceeding denial was only a confirmation of what went before. He had no time for recollection.

into fin, as he was.

Now in this particular of St. Peter's cafe, it is true, there is nothing uncommon. It might be the cafe of any of us. We may all be surprized But let us confider that his only fins, fo far as we know, were fins of furprize. Let us then ask ourselves, whether our fins against Christ are merely fuch? Is it by furprize that men feel fo little of religion at their hearts as they commonly

monly do; and that the world fo entirely poffeffes their thoughts? Is it by furprize that they defraud their neighbours? that their hearts are full of malice, and envy? that they are continually taking God's name in vain, and fhocking the ears of all fober chriftians with the moft horrid oaths and imprecations? Is it by furprize that they break the fabbath, by making it a day of pastime? that they come fo little to church; and many of them never to the facrament? If we are not furprized into these things; but commit them deliberately, frequently, and with our eyes open, there is a great difference between fuch fins, and the fin of St. Peter. His fin proceeded from the frailty of human nature: fuch fins, as I have been pointing out, proceed from the depravity of the heart.

This leads to another diftinction between his fin, and the generality of our fins.

His heart was All his inclina

good. His affections were right. tions, all his purposes, and all his habits were on the fide of religion. One unfufpected avenue was left unguarded. In the moment of temptation he gave way but here was no injury done to the goodness of his heart. The offence he had committed was a blot easily wiped off: a shower of penitential tears wafhed it away. No stain remained.

Now