effective plan for terminating the mischief seemed to be to put Him to death. This would appear to strike the evil at the root. When this was done, public excitement would soon subside, and the feeling of the people soon flow back to its old level, and roll on monotonously in its old channel as heretofore. It was anyhow plausible. Secondly: Though seemingly adapted to the end, it was radically wrong in principle. What right had Caiaphas to propose the death of any man, however criminal that man might be? And even assuming his right as a governor, to put a criminal to death-a prerogative, however, which we deny to all but God,-certainly there was no show of right in proposing the death of one who, like Christ, had never violated any law, who had wronged no one, but blessed all. The

apparent fitness of a measure to an end does not make it right. The only standard of right is the will of God. Thirdly: Their policy being radically wrong, was últimately ruinous. Did the putting of Christ to death avert the dreaded calamity? Did it secure Judea from the invasion of the Romans? Did it serve in any way even the temporal interest of the country? No, no; it hastened the flight of the Roman eagle, it brought upon them judgments which speedily broke up their commonwealth, and beneath which the Jewish people had been groaning to this hour. Ah! what seems expedient to-day may prove in the future to have been most disastrous. Eternal principle is the only pillar to guide shortsighted creatures in their endless path. Let governments study the policy of Caiaphas.

OF

ANOTHER DISCIPLE: THAT DIS-
CIPLE WAS KNOWN UNTO THE
HIGH PRIEST, AND WENT IN WITH
JESUS INTO THE PALACE
THE HIGH PRIEST. BUT PETER
STOOD AT THE DOOR WITHOUT.
THEN WENT OUT THAT OTHER
DISCIPLE, WHICH WAS KNOWN
UNTO THE HIGH PRIEST, AND
SPAKE UNTO HER THAT KEPT
THE DOOR, AND BROUGHT IN
PETER. THEN SAITH THE
DAMSEL THAT KEPT THE DOOR

UNTO PETER, ART NOT THOU
ALSO ONE OF THIS MAN'S
DISCIPLES? HE SAITH, I AM NOT.
AND THE SERVANTS AND
OFFICERS STOOD THERE, WHO
HAD MADE A FIRE OF COALS;
FOR IT WAS COLD: AND THEY
WARMED THEMSELVES: AND
PETER STOOD WITH THEM, AND
WARMED HIMSELF." John xviii.
15-18.

I. HERE is true courage NOBLY DISPLAYED. "And Simon Peter followed (was following) Jesus, and so did another disciple." This in all probability was John, so well known that his name is not given. These two disciples were

often found in special connection with each other, they now followed Jesus" into the palace of the High Priest," or the court. Here is heroism. To follow One who was cursed by the nation, and being dragged in bonds by Roman ruffians to undergo a mock trial, and who in a few hours would, amid the fury of a maddened multitude, undergo the agonies of a terrible crucifixion, revealed a bravery of heart of no mean character. They stood firm and faithful to Him in whom they believed, although they knew that the spirit of their age and the rulers of their country were against Him.

II. Here is true courage TEMPORARILY FAILING. "But Peter stood at the door without. Then went out that other disciple (John) which was known unto the High Priest." How John

was known to the High Priest is not stated, although in Acts iv. 6. his name appears amongst the kindred of the High Priest. "And spake unto her that kept the door, and brought in Peter." It would seem that at this stage Peter's courage began to fail, for he halted at the door, so that John had to go and take him in. As he entered he was recognised by the portress who said to him, "Art not thou also one of this man's disciples? He saith, I am not." Here is fear seeking to protect itself by falsehood. "And the servants and officers stood there (that is, in the quadrangular court), who had made a fire of coals, for it was cold, and they warmed themselves, and Peter stood with them and warmed himself." Probably the "other disciple," John, had gone farther and followed Christ up, and entered the house.

But fear had taken possession of Peter, and to protect himself, he halted by the fire and mingled with the servants and officers who stood there, desiring, it may be, that he should be regarded as one of them. (On Peter's denials see my "Genius of the Gospel," under Matt. xxvi. 69).

Now here is a failure of courage which led to a terrible falsehood thrice repeated, even with curses. Fear, perhaps, is one of the most prolific parents of lies. Greed is a parent of lies, it fills the market with fallacies. Vanity is a parent of lies, it fills all social circles with misrepresentations. Malice is a parent of lies, it hatches the slanders that destroy reputations and often break hearts. But perhaps fear is the most fruitful source of lies, though these lies in my judgment are not the most

venal. They are not aggressive, but defensive. Still they cannot be justified, although some good men have sought to justify them. Their influence is pernicious. The influence of Peter's falsehood upon John, his fellow disciple, must have been most distressing, and the influence upon himself was to injure his self respect, and to sting him with remorse. But this fear was only temporary, his failing

courage was soon restored. The look of Christ rallied the drooping forces of his moral manhood, and ever afterwards he appears as a hero amongst heroes in the cause of his Master. Witness his conduct before the Sanhedrim when he said to his accusers, "Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto man rather than unto God, judge ye." Witness his sermon on the day of Pentecost, &c.

CONCLUSION:-Learn (1) The liability of a good man to moral reactions. Here is Peter, who was almost constitutionally bold and courageous-so that He who knew what was in man called him a "rock" struck with cowardice and trembling before the breath of a silly maid. So it often happens, men of great faith have sceptical moods, men of great hope desponding seasons, men of geneous natures have misanthropic feelings. Learn (2): That whatever the moral reactions, the good element will ultimately prevail. The cowardice cf Peter was only a passing mood, courage lay at the root of his nature, and this courage came out in his after life in many a form sublimely inspiring. In his martyrdom, too, as given by tradition, the heroism of his soul came out in splendour.

"JESUS ANSWERED THEM AND SAID, VERILY, VERILY, I SAY UNTO YOU, YE SEEK ME, NOT BECAUSE YE SAW THE MIRACLES, BUT BECAUSE YE DID EAT OF THE

LOAVES, AND WERE FILLED." John vi. 26.

AFTER the miraculous feeding of the people, the disciples were commanded to cross over the sea of Tiberias, and during the storm that night Christ walked on the sea to their assistance, was taken on board the little ship, and they soon reached the other side. On the morrow as Jesus was teaching in the Synagogue, a multitude of those who had been fed the previous day came to Him. When He saw them He addressed them in the words of the text. We offer the following remarks

I. Here we have Christ REJECTING THE FALSE POPULARITY OF MEN. These

persons were very enthusiastic, they were ready to crown Him their king when on the other side of the water, and now they were ready to offer the crown and follow Him to meet any foe. It was a grand opportunity, according to human calculation; if He would but comply with their wishes, they would go from place to place and make His fame known throughout the whole country, and He would become the most popular of men. But He would have none of it, because it was false in principle. He had no need to catch the fickle popularity of men in order to disseminate His truths; inasmuch as they were righteous and divine, He could wait for their gradual but certain growth and extension.