ut
whole hogsheads of mere words. When you are spiritually asleep and
morally stupid you can utter platitudes in the form of prayer
endlessly. But when the sword of genuine conviction has passed through
your soul, when you are doing business in great waters, then you fling
aside your platitudinous petitions and call out in solemn earnestness
for help.

That prayer was a confession. It was a confession of failure, a
confession of defeat. It was also a confession of need. Some men
would have been too proud to have made it. What a terrible thing is
pride, that damning pride that makes us unwilling to confess our sin
even to God. "For he that covereth his sin shall not prosper." But
"if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins
and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

Peter was different. That was his salvation. He blurted out the whole
pitiful story and threw himself on the mercy of Jesus. And what
happened? That which always happens when men thus pray. "Immediately
Jesus stretched forth His hand and caught him." And Peter, who had
walked and had sunk, rose and walked again. And so may you and so may
every single sinking and floundering and failing soul here. All you
need to do is pray as Peter prayed and to believe as Peter believed.

And now, my brethren, do you not agree that we need more of the faith
that made Peter undertake his mad enterprise? Isn't the tragedy of the
Church to-day just this, that the average Christian is not walking by
faith, but by sight? That is the reason we have so little of that high
spirit of daring that marked the early Church. That is the reason that
life for many of us is so dull and prosaic. What we need is faith.
For faith is not a tame and spineless thing that dares nothing. Real
faith dares something, something big and brawny, beyond the human.
Hence it brings into life the thrill of finest romance.

"Come," said Jesus, and Peter gave an instant obedience. May you and I
be as wise. For our Lord is inviting us just as He invited Peter. Are
you thirsty? He says, "Come to me and drink." Are you hungry? He
says, "Come and dine." Are you tired and burdened? He says, "Come and
I will give you rest." Are you eager to be of service? He says,
"Come,--and out of your inner life shall flow rivers of living water."
Brethren, all our needs are met in Him. He is our sufficiency. He is
summoning us even now to venture upon Him. "Will