l after Jesus had risen again, and
the Holy Spirit had come,--that the measure of rank in spiritual life
is the measure of self-forgetting service.

We get a serious lesson here in love and friendship. It is possible
for us to become Satan even to those we love the best. We do this when
we try to dissuade them from hard toil, costly service, or perilous
missions to which God is calling them. We need to exercise the most
diligent care, and to keep firm restraint upon our own affections, lest
in our desire to make the way easier for our friends we tempt them to
turn from the path which God has chosen for their feet.

Thus lesson after lesson did Simon have to learn, each one leading to a
deeper humility. "Less of self and more of thee--none of self and all
of thee." Thus we reach the last night with its sad fall. The denial
of Peter was a terrible disappointment. We would have said it was
impossible, as Peter himself said. He was brave as a lion. He loved
Jesus deeply and truly. He had received the name of the rock. For
three years he had been under the teaching of Jesus, and he had been
received into special honor and favor among the apostles. He had been
faithfully forewarned of his danger, and we say, "Forewarned is
forearmed." Yet in spite of all, this bravest, most favored disciple,
this man of rock, fell most ignominiously, at a time, too, when
friendship to his Master ought to have made him truest and most loyal.

It was the loving gentleness of Jesus that saved him. What intense
pain there must have been in the heart of the Master when, after
hearing Peter's denial, he turned and looked at Peter!

"I think the look of Christ might seem to say,--
'Thou Peter! art thou then a common stone
Which I at last must break my heart upon,
For all God's charge to his high angels may
Guard my foot better? Did I yesterday
Wash thy feet, my beloved, that they should run
Quick to deny me 'neath the morning sun?
And do thy kisses like the rest betray?
The cock crows coldly. Go and manifest
A late contrition, but no bootless fear!
For when thy final need is dreariest,
Thou shalt not be denied, as I am here.
My voice, to God and angels, shall attest,
"Because I know this man, let him be clear."'"

It was after this look of wondrous love that Peter went out and wept
bitterly. At last he remembered. It seemed too late, but it was not
too late. The heart of Jesus was not closed ag