disappear as the Lord willed. All this is full of marvel, I grant you; but
probably far more intelligible to us in a further state of existence than
some of the most simple facts with regard to our own bodies are to us now,
only that we are so used to them that we never think how unintelligible
they really are."

"But then about Peter, papa? What you have been saying will not apply to
Peter's body, you know."

"I confess there is more difficulty there. But if you can suppose that such
power were indwelling in Jesus, you cannot limit the sphere of its action.
As he is the head of the body, his church, in all spiritual things, so I
firmly believe, however little we can understand about it, is he in all
natural things as well. Peter's faith in him brought even Peter's body
within the sphere of the outgoing power of the Master. Do you suppose that
because Peter ceased to be brave and trusting, therefore Jesus withdrew
from him some sustaining power, and allowed him to sink? I do not believe
it. I believe Peter's sinking followed naturally upon his loss of
confidence. Thus he fell away from the life of the Master; was no longer,
in that way I mean, connected with the Head, was instantly under the
dominion of the natural law of gravitation, as we call it, and began to
sink. Therefore the Lord must take other means to save him. He must draw
nigh to him in a bodily manner. The pride of Peter had withdrawn him from
the immediate spiritual influence of Christ, conquering his matter; and
therefore the Lord must come over the stormy space between, come nearer to
him in the body, and from his own height of safety above the sphere of the
natural law, stretch out to him the arm of physical aid, lift him up, lead
him to the boat. The whole salvation of the human race is figured in this
story. It is all Christ, my love.--Does this help you to believe at all?"