150 "DESPISED AND REJECTED OF MEN."

a cock crow. At the table that very night Jesus had said
to him, Before the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny me
thrice." But Peter answered, "Though I should die with
thee, yet will I not deny thee ;" yes, he said more, I am
ready to go with thee to prison and to death." Had Peter
forgotten that? He stayed in the porch awhile and an-
other maid saw him, and she said to the others, "This
fellow was also with Jesus of Nazareth." Peter denied it
again, for with an oath he said, I do not know the man."
 An hour after, a man who was a relative of the one
whose ear Peter had cut off, said to him, Did not I see
thee in the garden with him ?" Peter was angry that the
third time he was known as a disciple, and the third time
he denied again, with swearing, I know not this man."
Again came the shrill clear sound of the crowing of the
cock, for the morning hours were coming after that terri-
ble night. A face turned toward Peter. It was the One
whom he had cruelly denied-OrOe he loved, whose words
he had listened to every day, there in the court-room with
hands bound like a thief, standing before men with faces
of scorn and hearts of hate! Peter saw that holy Master
abused by enemies, forsaken by friends, denied by his own
disciples. He turned and looked upon Peter." That
look and that shrill voice of even a fowl who could not
speak fulfilled the Lord's word, when even His own ser-
vant forsook and denied him. Do you wonder that Peter
went out and wept bitterly? Tears of blood could not