Page:Spiritual Reflections for Every Day in the Year - Vol 2.pdf/242

 some would think Peter was sympathizing with the Lord, and expressing a hope that the sufferings to which he was alluding would not overtake him, he uses the strong language of condemnation, Get thee behind me, Satan. How is this to be reconciled, unless the names are representative of distinct qualities? Peter represents faith; and faith rejoices in the truth, is quite willing to enjoy the light, and to be called a child of light, but pays no attention to the duties which distinguish faith under the name of Simon Barjona. While faith is received simply as Peter, it is unwilling to endure, or even to hear of, the trials which must be passed through, in order to become regenerate. It is precisely analogous to the faith of the church in this our day; which holds that it is quite sufficient to know and believe, but sees not the necessity of doing and living. It is the faith which persuades us that we are not so entirely evil, but that we may continue to enjoy some of our sensual gratifications without guilt. It is, in short, the faith which holds the impossibility of keeping the commandments. We imagine, while under its influence,that we have many kind and generous feelings, many noble qualities, and are therefore not called upon entirely to relinquish our life's most cherished affections. With our knowledge of the truth, and our belief in it, we listen to the suggestions of the sensual principle, Ye shall not surely die. And when we hear the voice of the Lord himself, as the very eternal Truth, declaring what must be our course in order to become regenerate, we daringly rebuke the divine authority by saying, "Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee." But the Lord does not leave us under the influence of this dire false principle, or