Because he had doubted, his faith had failed him.
So he found out the weakness of courage without faith. Then, again, he
tells our Lord, "Though all men shall be offended of Thee, yet will I
never be offended. I am ready to go with Thee both into prison, and to
death." And shortly after, his mere animal courage breaks out again, and
does what little it can do, and little enough. He draws sword, single-
handed, on the soldiers in the garden, and cuts down a servant of the
high priest's, and perhaps would have flung his life away, desperately
and uselessly, had not our Lord restrained him. But when the fit of
excitement is past, his animal courage deserts him, and his moral courage
too, and he denies his Lord. So he found out that he was like too many,-
-full of bodily courage, perhaps, but morally weak. He had to undergo a
great change. He had to be converted by the Holy Spirit of God, and
strengthened by that Spirit, to have a boldness which no worldly courage
can give. Then, when he was strong himself, he was able to strengthen
his brethren.
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