when I contemplate the baneful influences of deception which arrive from so many quarters, to charm and fascinate the minds of Friends, I know not how to drop the subject. Could I arouse the energies of some of those who at this hour stand, and who have long been engaged, in successful combat against the powers of darkness-could I engage them to turn their energies against this stronghold of the kingdom of darkness, I am persuaded it would redound to the glory of Him to whose cause they are devoted. Among Friends there are many amiable, upright, exemplary and honourable members of the community; but on religious subjects they are sadly deficient in information. I know the system, and see the sources and the direction of those fatal influences which support it, but am in every other respect unqualified to grapple with it.

In bringing the subject thus far on its way, I have done my duty, and I hope my part is finished.

There are three very prominent sources of deception, well exposed by Luther in his Commentary on the Galatians, and which apply to the case of Friends, viz. That arising from the seeming holiness of great spiritual men; the operation of the law on the consciences of those who give it something like its due weight, yet remain its slaves; and the delusive charm of certain virtues in regard to justification with God. A proper exposure of these and some other sources of delusion ;-above all, a most determined vindication of the authority of God, that what he says must be true, and not only so, but that it must be true only because he has said it; and that, were the opinions and the experience both of angels and men to unite, they could neither strengthen nor diminish the authority of a single sentence; and that we are safer to believe that all heaven have revolted, and conspire together for the purpose of producing in our minds some deception, than for a moment to think of altering or bending a single word that God has spoken. This, together with a faithful exhibition of the gospel, and the detection of some of the more glaring errors of the system, are means likely, through the Divine blessing, without which no means can be effectual, to spoil the imaginary beauty that fascinates many minds.

Till that day when it shall please Him in whose hand are the hearts of all men, by his Spirit to shine in the hearts of Friends upon the truth as it is in Jesus, when they will give me credit for the motives I allege in troubling them, I must content myself with assuring them, that their interest has been, is, and I hope shall continue with me an important object. Glasgow, Oct. 13. 1819. JAMES MILler.

***The Author requests that the ollowing quotation marks be omitted in that part of his paper which appeared in ou last :-p. 410. after But this-p. 411. after Holy Spirit-in p. 409. for only read chiefly

453

REFLECTIONS ON PETER'S SIN AND REPENTANCE.

And the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter, and Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And Peter went out, and wept bitterly," Luke xxii. 61, 62. .

No books are read with more pleasure than those which contain an account of the lives of good men-of the dangers and temptations to which they were exposed, and the means by which they were enabled to be faithful unto death. Reflecting on their joys and sorrows, their hopes and fears, we behold as in a glass our own troubles and comforts; and we are animated and encouraged to imitate their example, and to be followers of them who, through faith and patience, inherit the promises. But it must be confessed, that in the lives of good men published by their friends, we have often a very partial account of their conduct. Their sins and imperfections are concealed; they are praised for virtues that were never visible till they appeared in print; and in perusing a memoir of this description, we are amused with fictions instead of facts, and almost excited to think that we are reading the life of an angel rather than an account of a weak sinful creature. The portrait is so well executed, that we are afraid to attempt an imitation, or to bring our own deformity into contrast with perfect beauty. We can never hope to bear even a faint resemblance to a copy that is so excellent, and are disposed to exclaim, "Unclean! unclean! God be merciful to us sinners!" If saints of the first magnitude scarcely be saved, where shall we appear? In many things we offend, and in every thing come short of the glory of God.

But in the oracles of truth, we see men of like passions with ourselves, in the common walks of life, described, not merely as they should be, but as they are. Whilst the good actions of those who lived to the glory of God, and died in the faith, are recorded, their sins and imperfections are neither concealed nor extenuated. The characters described by the Spirit of inspiration are uniform and impressive, but they are not in general above our level, or out of the line of our experience. The few hints we have respecting the character of Peter, are proofs of the truth of this remark. In the Bible, he appears always like himself-rash, intrepid and zealous, but he is not exhibited as a perfect character. At one time, we hear him bearing testimony to the character of Jesus by confessing that he is the Christ, the Son of God; but at another time, we hear him denying him with oaths and curses in the presence of his enemies.

This last circumstance is mentioned without any material dif ference by all the evangelists. Luke only has taken notice of our Lord's looking on Peter. "And the Lord turned, and looked on Peter; and Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And Peter went out, and wept bitterly."

I. Consider Peter's sin.-It was committed after he had been forewarned of his danger. We pity the man who has been hurried into the commission of sin by ignorance of his duty. It is true, ignorance is not in general a sufficient excuse for a man who has been guilty of any particular crime. But a person who sins through ignorance, and is destitute of the means of information, is not accounted so criminal as one who knows his Lord's will, who is acquainted with his duty, and who has been repeatedly admonished of the danger to which he was exposed. "I was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious, says Paul: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly, and in unbelief." And our Lord in praying for his murderers, says, "Father forgive them, for they know not what they do." Under the law of Moses, a distinction was made between those who sinned through ignorance, and presumptuous sinners; and whilst sacrifices were appointed for the former, none were appointed for the latter. The persons who sinned presumptuously were to be put to death-to be cut off from among the people. Now Peter's sin was of this description. He could not plead ignorance as an excuse for his conduct, as he had the most ample means of information, and our Lord had warned him of his danger. When Jesus said to the disciples, "All ye shall be offended because of me this night; Peter answered and said unto him, "Though all men should be offended because of thee, yet will I never be offended. Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, that this night, before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. Peter said unto him, Though I should die with thee, yet will I not deny thee."

Peter's sin was committed a short time after our Lord had admonished him of his danger. Had he been told some years, or even a few months before his fall, that he would deny his Master, the warning might have been forgotten by him. But he was told of it that very night-only a few hours before he fell. Young people often receive good advices from their parents whilst embosomed in their native home, which they forget after their lot is cast in a remote part of the world, and they begin to associate with the profligate and profane. Evil communications corrupt good manners. We pity the youth who has been the subject of many prayers, and who has received many

faithful admonitions from his parents, when we see him walking in the paths of folly, and despising every thing that is good. In this case we are disposed to say, "Young man, what would thy father think were he permitted to behold thy conduct? He has given thee many good advices-he has often prayed for thy salvation-he has taught thee both by counsel and exampleand wilt thou bring down his grey hairs with sorrow to the grave?" The thoughtless youth has forgotten all the kind admonitions he received; and the impressions formerly made on his mind have been obliterated. But Peter was apprized of his fall a very short time before it happened; and his Master's warning had hardly left his ear, and his own promise of fidelity had scarce escaped from his lips, when he denied the ever-blessed Redeemer. A man may fall into a pit, or over a precipice, and break his bones, because he is not aware of the danger to which he is exposed. But every person will be disposed to blame the man, who with his eyes open, stumbles and falls at noon, immediately after his friends have warned him of his danger, and entreated him to be on his guard. This was Peter's situation, and all believers are in a similar state. We are not indeed favoured with the personal presence of Christ, but he speaks to us in his word. My sheep, says he, hear my voice. And what does he say to us? Be not high-minded, but fear. Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall. Let him that thinketh he standeth, take heed lest he fall. He that hath ears to hear let him hear.

Peter's sin was great, and complicated. A good man may be "overtaken in a fault," and by the force of temptation depart from God; but as soon as he begins to reflect on his conduct, we expect to see him humbled in the dust, and to hear him confessing his guilt, and pleading for mercy. Should he commit the same sin again and again, we begin to suspect that there is no fear of God before his eyes. But what shall we say ? Who can tell how far a believer may depart from God? Who can prescribe the exact limits, and say, Hitherto he may go and no further? Who is this that begins to curse and to swear, whilst he declares in the most solemn manner, a second, and a third time, that he knows not the man? Wonder, O heavens! and be astonished, O earth! these oaths and curses proceed from the mouth of Peter, a servant, and an apostle of Jesus Christ. What is man? In his best state he is altogether vanity. Lord, lead us not into temptation. How soon will the best of men fall if they are left to themselves! Make thy grace sufficient for us, and perfect thy strength in our weakness.

II. Consider the means by which Peter was convinced of his guilt. The expression, "The Lord turned and looked

upon Peter," is beautiful and affecting. We may conceive, but we are not able to describe, the effect that this look had on Peter. Like a sword it pierced him to the heart.

It was a look of compassion. Our Lord was at this time "led as a lamb to the slaughter," standing before the tribunal of his enemies, with all the sufferings and miseries he had to endure full in his view. Behold him forsaken by his friends, and surrounded by his inveterate enemies, who are thirsting for his blood, and resolved to put him to death. In the midst of this band of murderers, he stands with the dignity of an innocent person, and the fortitude of a martyr. He looks around on the multitude-not that he may discover if there be any way of escape, but that he may behold the situation of his poor weak apostle, overcome by temptation. The merciful and faithful High Priest sees him, and he is moved with compassion. Many instances of the Saviour's compassion are recorded in Scripture. Almost the whole of his actions were works of mercy. Pity for our misery brought him down from heaven-to bind up the broken hearted and to comfort all that mourn. He was moved with compassion, when he saw men as sheep not having a shepherd. He was moved with compassion when he healed all manner of sickness-when he groaned, and wept at the grave of Lazarus-when he wept over Jerusalem, and when he prayed for his murderers on the cross. And at this time, instead of speaking to Peter in his wrath, he remembered him in his low estate, for his mercy endureth for ever. No wonder though lightning had darted from the eyes of the much injured Saviour, and pierced Peter to the heart. No wonder though he had stood up before the multitude and said, "Peter, thou hast denied me before men, I also will deny thee before my Father, and before his angels. Depart from me thou accursed apostate. Thou hast rendered thyself unworthy of any share in the blessings of my kingdom. I will save others, but I will not save thee. Thou shalt be excluded from the regions of felicity, and thy portion shall be in that place where hope can never enter, with the devil and his angels. For thee there remains no more sacrifice for sin.” But the compassionate Saviour commiserated the state of Peter, and preserved him from sinking into the gulf of despair. He hath no pleasure in the death of sinners.

This was a look of reproof. When a parent sees a child, whom he loves as his own soul, doing any thing in company, unbecoming his character, unwilling to expose him to public view, he reproves him by an earnest and significant look. Peter had thrice denied Jesus in the presence of his enemies, and he looked at him to remind him of his sin. "I know not the man," said Peter; and this look seemed to say, "What