THE KING'S MIRROR 



to have sinned. But Jesus said to the woman: " Woman, 

 since none of those who accused thee has passed judg- 

 ment in thy case, neither will I condemn thee to die; 

 go in peace, but henceforth beware of sin." There is an- 

 other instance which is like those that I related earlier, 

 and which happened in the night when Jesus was seized. 

 His apostle Peter had boastfully protested that he would 

 never forsake him, though all others should leave him, 

 and that he would suffer death with Jesus before he 

 would desert him like a coward. But in the same night 

 when Jesus was seized, Peter denied three times that 

 he had been with him, and the third time he confirmed 

 the statement with an oath that he had not been Jesus' 

 man. Then he went away out of the hall where Jesus 

 was held and immediately began to repent his sin and 

 all his words and wept bitterly. Nevertheless, after 

 Jesus had risen, Peter's sins were forgiven, and he re- 

 tained all the honors that had been promised him before. 

 There is still another event which came to pass a few 

 days later when our Lord was crucified. Two thieves 

 were crucified with him, one on either side; both had 

 been guilty of the same crimes, murder and robbery. 

 But while they hung on the cross, one of them took 

 thought to repent and implored mercy of Jesus, though 

 he, too, like the thieves, hung on a cross. His sins were 

 pardoned and he was given sure promise of paradise on 

 that very day; but his companion was condemned ac- 

 cording to his deeds. 



