also wast with Jesus of Nazareth. But he denied, saying, I know not, neither understand I what thou sayest. And he went out into the porch; and the cock crew. And a maid saw him again, and began to say to them that stood by, This is one of them. And he denied it again. And a little after, they that stood by said again to Peter, Surely thou art one of them for thou art a Galilæan, and thy speech agreeth thereto. But he began to curse and to swear, saying, I know not this man of whom ye speak. And the second time the cock crew. And Peter called to mind the word that Jesus said unto him, Before the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny me thrice. And when he thought thereon, he wept.

Supposing the scene in the garden of Gethsemane to have been a scene of especial temptation, in which Satan was exerting his mysterious power against the Lord and his apostles, we readily understand the failure of their constancy, and more particularly the denial of Peter, even of Peter, who certainly wanted neither faith nor courage. It was Peter who first confessed him to be the Christ, and was on that account honourably distinguished by his Master. It was Peter who braved the risk of interfering in his behalf when he was apprehended. And yet, of all his followers, it was Peter who denied him.

In truth, Peter's temptation seems, as far as we

may judge from sundry incidental hints, to have been really the same as that of Judas; and to have arisen out of a view common to all, that Christ's kingdom was to be temporal. Hence no doubt at a very early period Christ so severely rebuked him, saying, "Get thee behind me, Satan;" words which, however severe they might have seemed at the time, were proved by the aftertrial of the apostle to be a merciful warning,— the more severe the more merciful, because, the more likely to sink deep into his mind, and to prepare him for this his last and worst scene of temptation. He to the last had looked forward, it would seem, to some miraculous interposition in behalf of Jesus; and the absence of this at once destroying all that he made sure of seeing realized, was the point at which he was most likely to fail. Accordingly he drew his sword in the garden of Gethsemane-an act far less audacious but apparently of the same character as Judas's betrayal. But Peter had faith enough to benefit by our Saviour's prayer for him. "Put up thy sword," said Jesus; and the apostle was for the time recalled to himself. But when his Master stood before the high priest, was condemned, and

yet no heavenly rescue appeared-when he evidently shewed by his manner that he meant to submit to death-the apostle's mind was wrought to the highest pitch of dismay. He could not comprehend the event. Against faith he for the moment desponded, and in that bewildered state of mind denied his Master. But, unlike Judas, he was still a little child of that same Lord who had prayed for him, and still alive to the last effectual aid which he gave him. Christ turned and looked upon him. Oh that we all could fancy ourselves in the many temptations of life, turning to meet that look! As when the Lord stretched out his hand, and at the same moment snatched Peter from the waves of Genesareth into which he was sinking, and rebuked him for his want of faith'; so he now at once saved him, and reproved him by a look. It was the last, and it was decisive. Henceforth he was as patient in faith as he was bold in hope, and fulfilled exactly the command of Christ, "when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren"." He it was who first preached Jesus to the Jews; and it is remarkable, that the sum of his discourse was the y Matt. xiv. 31. 2 Luke xxii. 32.

very point which seems to have constituted his own former difficulty and trial-the doctrine on which his own faith was so near being shipwrecked. "Let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ"."

z Acts ii. 36.

CHAPTER XV.

THE CRUCIFIXION.

And straightway in the morning the chief priests held a consultation with the elders and scribes and the whole council, and bound Jesus, and carried him away, and delivered him to Pilate. And Pilate asked him, Art thou the King of the Jews? And he answering said unto him, Thou sayest it. And the chief priests accused him of many things: but he answered nothing. And Pilate asked him again, saying, Answerest thou nothing? behold how many things they witness against thee. But Jesus yet answered nothing; so that Pilate marvelled. Now at that feast he released unto them one prisoner, whomsoever they desired. And there was one named Barabbas, which lay bound with them that had made insurrection with him, who had committed murder in the insurrection. And the multitude crying aloud began to desire him to do as he had ever done unto them. But Pilate answered them, saying, Will ye that I release unto you the King of the Jews? For he knew that the chief priests had delivered him for envy. But the chief priests moved the people, that he should rather release Barabbas unto them. And