ds which passed between Christ and Peter since the latter had said,
"I know not the man," and the Lord had "turned and looked upon Peter."
He had his special token of lovingkindness at the Resurrection in the
message which the woman brought: "Tell His disciples and Peter," in the
witness given to himself, "The Lord is risen indeed, and hath appeared
to Simon," and in his participation in the blessing when the Lord stood
in the midst and said, "Peace be unto you"; but these are, I think, the
first recorded words addressed directly to Peter.

Peter had professed to be faithful above others; and now the Lord asks
him, "Lovest thou Me more than these?" and the question thrice repeated
can scarcely fail to remind us of the triple denial.

If we consider what must have been the state of Peter's mind after he
had denied the Lord, we shall see that the circumstances recorded
indicate a crisis in his life-history. How the enemy must have come in
like a flood! what desolation of spirit he must have experienced during
those lonely moments that followed the look of the Lord, when he went
out, and wept bitterly! the enemy was come against him in full force,
and legions of evil spirits had arisen to destroy his faith for ever.

One would say to him, "Thou hast sinned against special warnings; the
Lord said to thee particularly that Satan had desired to have thee that
he might sift thee as wheat. A little later on He said, 'Pray that ye
enter not into temptation;' and a sin against special warning is more
than twice a sin; and it was that sin which of all others thou didst
think to be so great that it was impossible for thee to commit it."

Then another spirit would say, "Thou hast sinned against special
promise; for thee the Saviour prayed; but now it is clear that thou
hast outsinned the Mediator's grace and the Intercessor's prayers"; and
at the thought black despair and utter hopelessness would enter his
soul, as if to make it their eternal abode.

Then a third spirit would suggest the thought, "I said, 'I know not the
man!' Dost remember, Peter, how He Himself said, 'I will declare unto
you, that I never knew you;' and again, 'Whosoever denieth Me before
men, him will I also deny before My Father in Heaven!' No word of
Christ shall be broken; yea, thou thyself hast in past time established
thyself on the faithfulness of His truth!"

Again would come the thought, "By thy words shalt thou be justified,
and by thy words tho