"THO' all forsake thee, master, yet not I; "I'll go to prison with thee, or to die," Said Peter—yet how soon did he deny! A striking proof, that, even to good-will, The help of grace is necessary still, To save a soul from falling into ill. His Master told him how the case would be, But Peter could not see himself,—not he; Till grace withdrew, that he might come to see. Peter, so valiant on a selfish plan, Quite frighted by a servant maid, began To curse and swear, and did @3not know the Man.@1 'Twas thus that @3satan sifted him like wheat@1, And made him think his courage was so great; While JESUS pray'd that he might see the cheat. High-minded in himself, he fell—how low, The cock instructed him, foretold to crow: His real self then Peter came to know. He that would @3die@1 with him, tho' all forsook, Dissolv'd in tears, when JESUS gave a look; And learn'd humility by love's rebuke. Lesson for us is plain from Peter's case, That real virtue is the work of @3grace@1, And of its height @3humility@1 the base. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...MIDSUMMER FROST (1) by ISAAC ROSENBERG SHADOWS: 2 by RICHARD MONCKTON MILNES THE LIGHT OF OTHER DAYS by THOMAS MOORE THE MOON by ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON IN PRAISE OF A COUNTRY LIFE by PHILIP AYRES |