SERMON XV.

LUKE xxii. 61.

And the Lord turned, and looked upon Peler. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said unto him, before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice.

I HAVE made choice of these words, rather than the parallel passage from Matthew, because there is a circumstance related here, that Matthew does not mention, and a circumstance of great importance in the history of Peter's restoration; it is, That the Lord turned and looked upon Peter. This circumstance is recorded, not only as a powerful instrument to lead Peter to repentance, but to bring us acquainted with an affecting particular in Peter's denial of him; that it was not done in a secret manner, in low whispers, but in the very presence and hearing of Jesus, when standing as a malefactor before the tribunal of men. It is an interesting particular, and well worthy of being preserved and recorded, by the historians of the life of Christ. We can easily conceive the posture in which our Lord stood, from the simple narration; with his back towards Peter, and his face towards his judges; treated by the powers of this world as

a blasphemer, as the vilest of malefactors, smitten even in the presence of his judges, without rebuke or punishment; a melancholy proof of the people's universal treatment of the everblessed Jesus, and of the wretched policy of the government, which afforded no protection to the miserable, or against injustice, Whilst this is passing, he has to sustain a more afflicting distress, to hear his own disciple, who had so lately vowed, in the strongest terms, his inviolable fidelity and adherence, now loudly protesting, and with cursing and swearing,—I know not the man. This is permitted, till Peter's shame and guilt are manifested; then the cock crew for the second time, as a signal of the completion of his guilt, and as an evidence of the perfect know, ledge that Christ had of futurity. Aud the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter.

Let us now accompany him in the history of his restoration, and to the circumstances that brought him back to the acknowledgment of Christ. The first circumstance, is the crowing of the cock. The other evangelists, who take no notice of the turning of our Lord, and his affecting look, mention this as the first circumstance that awakened Peter to recollection. We may consider them both as having their effect, and therefore I consider them apart. The cock crowing was the signal our Lord had given to Peter, and therefore, when our Lord turned, it

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was in some measure to call his attention to that signal. It was to Peter, a proof of the perfect knowledge our Lord possessed of the human heart, by the minuteness of the prediction respecting the signal, and the time, and the complete accomplishment. Little accidents may often produce great and powerful effects, may determine to much evil, or may be productive of much good. There was nothing in the voice that could create much alarm, further than that it was the voice of God. It was the signal of Providence and when every thing exactly corresponds with the prediction, this is sufficient to rouse his attention. God sometimes employs other means, naturally much more alarming. Nebuchadnezzar was alarmed with the vision of the judgments of the Most High, coming upon himself; the impious Belshazzar, by the hand writing. Saul was arrested in the progress of his persecution, by a light from heaven, above the brightness of the sun, and by an audible voice distinctly calling upon him,- Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? I am Jesus whom thou persecutest. Judas Iscariot was left to the workings of his own heart, which forced from him that confession,—I have sinned, in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. But Peter, only by the crowing of a cock. But it was foretold, and foretold by him who never erred-by him, who knew all things. But this is also miraculous;

and every circumstance with it, was verified. A single word will produce great effect, if we be impressed with the belief, that it comes from God. The second circumstance is,―Jesus turned, and looked upon Peter. We read of no voice, no immediate address. Much might have been advanced, to aggravate the guilt of this disciple he might have reproached him with his boasting, with his vain confidence, with his present cowardice. How! where is he now ?— Though I should die with thee, yet will I not deny thee. What ground for fear? It was only the challenge of a weak woman. His crime was also aggravated by cursing and swearing: I know not the man. How different is his behaviour, when contrasted with the mild treatment of Jesus Christ; he only turned, and looked upon Peter. This was enough. The human look and countenance, is often highly expressive, and may strike more terribly than the most powerful language. Looks can convey pleasure, approbation, joy, and confidence; and they can express displeasure, anger, pity, and contempt, and every various passion which actuates the human heart. And if man, with all his weakness and imperfection, can convey such language, how forcible must have been the looks of the ever-blessed Jesus. His words were powerful, in this his state of humiliation : disease filed at his rebuke; it cured the sick of the palsy, and

restored them to sound health ; it

gave sight to the blind, strength to the lame, hearing to the deaf; to the leper, it said, I will, be thou clean. His word was powerful: the winds, the waves, heard and obeyed, and all nature submitted to his command. And equally commanding must be the majesty of his countenance and his allpenetrating eye. We see the effect of these in the case of Judas, when he and his associates came to apprehend Jesus Christ. When the question was put to them, as they drew nigh to our Lord, Whom seek ye? When they answered-Jesus of Nazareth-he readily answered them, I am he. And with that tender attention to his disciples which he manifested on every occasion, said-If ye seek me, let these go their way. How gracious and kind! We see the effect of that divine eloquence on other occa, sions. The apostle Paul, when reasoning before Felix, on righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, caused him to tremble, and say,—Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee. But such was the powerful effect, that that season never came. A similar impression was produced on Agrippa, which moved him to say-Almost thou persuadest me to be a christian. Paul's answer is admirable :-1 would to God, that not only thou, but also all that hear me this day, were both almost, and allogether such as 1 am, except these bonds.