word of a woman, from shame and fear he denies that he ever knew Him. How many are there now in existence who, not from any humility, but from mere apprehension of what the world will say, are afraid to own any Christian or virtuous action and to profess themselves followers of Christ!
II. Peter remained in the same company, in which he had first denied his Master, and being accused by others of being Christ's disciple, he persisted in his denial a second and a third time. "He began to curse and ta swear that he knew not the man" (Matt. xxvi. 74), unmindful of the first crowing of the cock. Observe the different effects of good and evil company. When Peter was with his Master and fellow Apostles, he was so fervent as to offer to die with Christ, but in the evil company in which he afterwards was, he protests and swears, that he never knew the man. Learn from this melancholy example to avoid evil company and conversation; and always bear in mind the oracle of St. Paul: "Evil communications corrupt good manners." (1 Cor. xv. 33.)
III. Some of the particular circumstances which attended the fall of St. Peter are recorded by all the Evangelists. 1. The occasional cause of his fall was his vain presumption and confidence in himself. " Though all men should be scandalized in Thee, I will never be scandalized." 2, He neglected prayer, and fell asleep, after his Master had told him, "Watch ye and pray, that ye enter not into temptation." 3. A woman was the instrument of his fall, as well as of the fall of Adam. Tremble, when you see the pillars of the Church overturned by the voice of a woman. " Tarry not among women." (Ecclus. xlii. 12.) His sin increased by degrees, passing from a simple denial to execration and open perjury. Learn to resist the beginnings of evil, or fatal experience
