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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A64251	Peter his repentance shewing, among other things, these two points for edification I. what weakenes remaines in Gods owne children, especially in times of triall and danger, and to, what little cause they have to trust their hearts, or be confident of themselves, but get to be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. II. what is the power of Gods grace and covenant, for renewing His children by repentance, and so, what encouragement they have to return after every fall, and goe on in their course of watchfulnesse, humiliation, prayer, and magnifying of Jesus Christ / by Dr. Thomas Taylor.	Taylor, Thomas, 1576-1632.	1653 (1653)	Wing T569; ESTC R20311	101,739	76

thou belong to Christ. And why Esay 5. 10. Wonder not if so it fall out now a dayes Esay 58. 1. A presumptuous spirit is usually a ●imerous spirit And why Take heed of carnall confidence which will faile at last Phil. 1. 29. How to know true courage 2 Cor. 12. 10. Take heed to thy standing Rom. 11. 20. Satan either allures to sin or deales with terror Foulnesse of Peters sin Carnall courage will faile sooner or later Take heed to thy spirit True zeale what John 2. 17. Peters sin of an hainous nature Hard to confesse Christ in danger And why Study to confesse Christ in danger Necessity of it How we may doe this Not good to goe far into wicked houses And why Get out of the Hall yea and out of the Porch too Hard to leave ill company Never enter among such Or having entred return and never return back Luke 9. 62. Wicked in the night devise mischiefe And why Study thou in the night to do good Psal. 132. 3. Induration a fearful consequent of sin And why Culpa claudit oculos Greg. Beware of a sleepy conscience Worst still in the Wicked Like Master like Servant Why a good Master hath good Servants Why a bad Master hath bad Servants 1 King 12. 14. 1 Chr. 19. 3. 2 Chr. 12. 1● All should mind the reforming of their familyes Let the Master be first good himself Josh. 24. 15. Hester 4. 16. Mat. 7. 5. Or be humbled if not Servants should looke to their ●ule not bad example Eph. 6. 1. Ephes. 6. 12. Inst●uctions to Women Prov. 31. 26. And men● Luke 10. 42. What speech Women should use Heart hardned no means do a man good True cause of not profiting by preaching Rom. 1. 16. Hos. 13. 9. Hard heart a great plague of God Eph. 4. 19. Foolish Sinne●s thinke to keep all secret Deut. 33. 38. 1 Pet. 4. 4. Job 31. 36. How Christ witnesseth against the world Mat. 5. 20. Conscience once crackt a man adventures ●arther And why Keep sin out or drive it out quickly Good men too apt to helpe themselves by bad meanes And why In straights seek to God for enlargement Gen. 22. One sinbrings in another Conditions of an oath Brethren swear not at all Jam. 5. 12. Zach. 5. 4. Especiall to swear falsly Why Peters great sin is thus blazed forth In little time much evill may break out of a good heart Lessons in this respect Mat. 26. 41. Psal. 119. ● As security encreaseth temptation encreaseth All take part against a godly man And why Wonder not such partaking Godly should unite for good Luke 16. 8. Heb. 10. 24. Be of one minde in good things Mat. 18. 20. Rom. 15. 1. 2. Poor reasons hold cu●rant against godly men And why Receive not accusations of such easily Mat. 18. 7. Our speech should manifest us Christians And why Means so to frame our language Mat. 12. 36. One fall and fall apace And why Wisedome to stay beginnings of sin Mat. 26. 41. Psal. 111. 10. Particular means avayling thereto 1 Sam. 2. 25. Last temptation commonly the worst And why Resist first temptations Wisedome to stay beginnings of sin Mat. 26. 41. Psal. 111. 10. Particular means avayling thereto 1 Sam. 2. 25. Last temptation commonly the worst And why Resist first temptations Resist small temptations Feare not to be too precise Bad causes are thrust on by bad meanes Beware of base tricks to help thy selfe Little credit to be given to Swearers and Cursers Temptations limited to Gods People Voice of creatures a teaching voice Why God sets them to teaching man Heare their voyce and learne duty Mat. 10. 16. Prov. 6. 6. Luk. 12. 27. Jer. 8. 7. Much more the voyce of the Creator Jam. 5. 34. Hab. 2. 11. Elect have a time to repent Spira Repent of sin presently Meanes of Peters repentanc 1. Externall A second crow sometime necessary Pray for the Spirit to goe with the word Christs looke what it imports Vbi amor ibi oculus Psal. 63. 3. Esa. 57. 15. Looke to Christ as he to thee God sometime lets his be brought very low before deliverance And why To comfort Saints in great troubles Limit not the holy one of Israel Nothing can separate from and his love In main matters we are very forgetfull Offices of memory sanctified How to helpe our memory Sin will come to remembrance sooner or later And why Luk. 12. 19 20 Reproofe to them that will needs forget their sins Terror to this kind o● sinners Remember s●n timly how Due weighing of the Word helpes out of sinne Ponder the Word heard or read Why Peter went forth Threefold businesse he had now to doe Eph. 2. 2. Directions how to carry our selves in such company Of repentance it selfe see the tract Teares no certain signes of true repentance Whether required necessarily to true repentance

it is the mercy of wicked men to whip Christ and if any mercy indeed must be shewed it must be to Barrabas not Christ. Vse 1. Count it an hard case to be beholden to evill men Jacob knew the inconvenience and refused the kind offer of Esau who either himselfe or his Servants would guard him in his way Gen. 33. 13. Balaac will not inrich Balaam but first he must curse Gods people Vse 2. See thy favour benot mingled or poysoned doing harme and mischeife The Heathen Emperors would shew mercy if the Martyrs will cast but one graine into the fire their favour must be bought dea● The Witch will favour thee the Divell will cure thy Body but he must have thy faith thy soul the Father the Master will allow his Children or Servants sports recreations but on the Sabbath day when the refreshing of the Body is the corruption and destruction of the Soule Many Fugitives goe away and find favour and preferment in Rome Doway and in Popish Countryes but on condition they be come traytors to God in open Idolatry and to their Prince and Country in open rebellion and practice like Satans kindnesse to Christ all this will I give thee if thou wilt fall downe Note 3. By what manner of Tempter Peter fals a Woman not a man a silly Maid a very weake party Quest. Why Answ. 1. Peter presumeth that all men could not cast him downe Christ had denominated Peter for his solidity and firmnesse and he thought himselfe ●ure enough but now he shall see more evidently his frailty to be so suddenly cast downe by a fraile Woman he shall see now that the strength he boasted off is blowne away by the breath of a silly girle 2. To shew him the more as his pride was more then the rest a shamefull fall for so great a professor to fall before so vain a Woman Abimelech would rather kil himselfe then endure the disgrace to dye by the hand of a Woman but as pride goeth before shame so Gods justice will shame proud Peter that when he cometh to himselfe this circumstance shall kill him and touch him at the quick the shame shall be as ill as the hurt Vse 1. How easily God overthroweth the pride of man he need not come in his owne person he need not bring a Champion or man of War against him but the sillyest creature is strong enough to confound them a silly boy or girle shall be Tempter too strong for as presumptuous a Professor as Peter The Lord who resisteth all sinners is said often to resist the proud that is after a speciall and severe manner because they will draw Gods glory upon themselves he commonly so resisteth them as he turneth their glory into shame and confoundeth their pride by weaknesse hath God neither Angels nor men to command against Pharaoh yes but will rather confound him with an army of frogs flyes Catterpillars in derision of his pride the same God could have turned the dust of the Earth into Lyons Wolves Bears of strange greatnesse and fiercenesse to have met that fierce and cruell King that said who is the Lord and in spight of him oppressed the People but in scorne of his pride he turned the dust of the Earth into Lice who made him and his enchanters confesse it was the finger of God Proud Herod who assumed the glory of God to himselfe it is the voyce of God not of man the Lord consumeth him with lice the basest of the Creatures and not so much honoured as wicked Jezabel to be eaten of Dogs but of Lice Historians writes of a City in France that was depopulated and wasted and the Inhabitants driven away by Frogs A History reporteth of a Town in Thessalonica rooted up and overthrowne by Moles We read of Pope Adrian choaked with a Flye Thus the Lord playeth as it were with his Enemies scorneth to come himselfe in field upon them but armeth the meanest of his creatures against them Let this humble us under the mighty hand of God presume of nothing in our selves be proud of nothing least we know by wofull experience that a thing of nothing shall cast us down If our pride shall resist God Gods weaknesse shall resist us and we shall know to our cost that the weaknesse of God is stronger then man never was pride of heart unrevenged with fals sin and shame Note 4. The temptation is the same in effect with the former This man is one of them she accuseth not Peter for a Malefactor or a wicked Liver but onely that he is one of Christs Disciples and this is matter of accusation she thinkes sufficient Note what are the many quarrels of evill men against the godly and what are their accusations because they are of the number of Christs Disciples and Followers Act. 15. 19. the Accusers brought no crime of such things as I supposed but had certaine questions concerning their owne superstitions and concerning one Jesus c. Here they hate not Peter but so farre as he was with Christ. Reas. 1. Evill men cannot hate evill for it selfe but for sinister respects yea they love it and will not leave it and therefore evill men commonly accuse not for evill but for good Reas. 2. Darkenesse fights not against darkenesse but light and the greatest light most John 7. 7. because it testifyeth of Christ himselfe most and against the Members for the head sake a Thiefe hates the light Reas. 3. Wicked men lie still under the woe of them that call good evil and evil good through corruption of judgement not renewed by grace and therefore you shall still observe that the greatest fault objected by the wicked against the godly is for most part the doing their duty as here in Peter was it not Peters duty to be with his Lord what other cause in Prophets Apostles in Christ himselfe Vse In these dayes also to be with Christ is matter of accusation enough against a godly man John 9. 22. 34. the blind man was excommunicated because he had been with Jesus Papists after the same manner exercise deadly hatred against the Gospell and excommunicate as Heretiques all that stand to the Doctrine of justification by the only grace of Jesus renouncing merits of works of Papists and after a subtill manner out of the depth of Satan have laid under the reproach of Heretiques such as walke according to the Rules of Christ and his profession in their course renouncing the Libertine wayes of the World and watching more narrowly over their owne These at the first restoring of religion and casting out of superstition and Romish Idolatry Papists who gnashed their teeth for envy at the Lords great worke branded with the names of Puritans Precisians and holy brethren c. ever since and at this day more then ever what is the ordinary quarrell and scorne but the same taken out of the mouths of Enemies thou art one of

is but for a moment 2. Finall desertion were above their strength and so against his promise 3. It will not onely endanger the faith of the Elect but quite destroy it which is impossible against all the Gates of Hell it is their victory 4. Vnion betweene Christ and the Christian admits no finall desertion a fruit of it is in John 17. 24. to be where Christ is and see his glory 5. The Covenant is everlasting not to depart but do us good Jer. 32. 40. He marries us for ever in mercyes Hos. 2. 12. and is a perpetual covenant not onely on Gods part as Papists say but on our part also who will never breake finally with God because of his feare put in our hearts never to depart from him Jer. 31. 41. Vse Now as Christ would confirme the faith and confidence of the Disciples by setting before them a certaine end of the tryall so let us confirme our selves with these words If the Lord seeme to absent himselfe he will not doe it for ever his mercy cannot come to an utter end his mercyes are as the Ocean which hath no eb but a flow again sometimes he stands off the longer because his Children stand off with him and the case seemes desperate as Abraham for a Sonne but he will come at length to Abraham in the Mount but not till the third day to Jonas in the third day Christ may lie in the grave till the case seeme desperate but riseth the third day and appeareth to all the Disciples save Thomas the same day Iohn 20. he more glorifies himselfe in his long absence then presence Iohn 11. 6. Note 4. Note againe how Jesus Christ prevents us with his grace he promiseth the Disciples that before they can get to Galilee after they have kept the Feast at Jerusalem he would be there before them The Shepherd smitten will returne to the dispersed Sheep he will gather them againe and he will be found of them in Galilee the place of dispersion He saith not they shall come to him but they shall goe into Galile and there he will finde them surely we never come to him unlesse he come to us first he must come to the Disciples themselves or they cannot come to him much lesse we Note 5. Christ here both strengthens them in the Article of his Resurrection and tels them the end of his Resurrection which is to goe before them he will not onely rise againe but for this purpose to be their guide and leader and to take them againe as companions with him as if they had never sinned against him How this was performed see Mat. 28. 7. the Angels tell the Women Arise goe tell his Disciples he is risen behold be goeth before you into Galilee and Marke 16. 7. As he said unto you c. As Christ at first found them and began to be their guide and leader into Galilee so now after his resurrection he would manifest himselfe an eternall Shepherd Vse And this was their happinesse and ours purchased by his eternall Resurrection that we have an high Priest immortall and higher then the heavens They sled into Galilee to avoyd danger from their persons but he findes them there They goe thither because their Master was dead and betake them to their old Callings againe But their Lord findes them againe at the Sea of Galilee and makes them 〈◊〉 fishers of Men furnishing them with power from on high above all they could have expected Christ raised gives gifts unto men his Death merits them his Resurrection applies them as a great King gives great gifts on the day of his Coronation so Christ. Let us follow so worthy a guide in Faith and Obedien●e who rose from death to be our guide to eternall life We proceed Verse 29. And Peter said unto him Though all men should be offended yet would not I. HERE we have an instance as many elsewhere of Peters temerity and rashnesse not well considering his weaknesse and what spirit he was of For this holy Disciple bewrayeth great infirmity in arrogating much above that was in him 1. He directly contradicteth his Lord who said all yee Peter saith no not all he will not not this Night no never 2. Beleeves not the Oracle of the Prophet Zacharie but would shi●t it off with pompe of words not as concerning him he was none of the sheepe that should be scattered though the Pastor was smitten 3. He presumes too much upon his owne strength and of that which is out of his owne power never mentioning or including the helpe and strength of God by whom alone he should be enabled to stand he neither considered his owne frailty which will overthrow him nor yet the power of God which should sustaine and uphold him 4. He prefers himselfe too too vain-gloriously above all men as if all men were weake to Peter and Peter the onely champion if all men should deny thee I would not stronger in conceit then all the Apostles 5. He is bold hardy and vainely confident in a thing to come in which he had never tryed his strength he knew his present affection he will take no notice of his future perill nay he disclaimes and almost scornes the danger now when he is next to it and even falling into it and the difficulty expressed John 13. 37. Cannot I follow thee now I will give my life for thee I will be so far from denying thee that I will confesse thee to the death perils dangers feares or death it selfe shall not seperate me from thee Alas man thou that canst not follow Christ canst thou goe before him Object But Peter had a Promise Mat. 16. 18. that the gates of hell should not prevaile against his Faith might not he be bold in this Promise Answ. 1. Promises of God make no man presume but stir up watchfulnesse and excite to prayer which Peter should have done being admonished of our Lord. 2. Though his Faith lwas not quite to be shaken and extinct yet he might for a time be so foyled as might bring him shame and sorrow enough 3. He had promised indeed before this the spirit of fortitude and strength but Peter anticipates the time they were to be endued with virtue from above but not till after the Resurrection which was no priviledge but that in the meane time they might fall dangerously 4. No Promise could crosse the word of the Prophet and Christ himself now applying it to the present occasion which ought to have bin believed Objec But might not Peter be bold of victory standing in so good a cause must Christians stand doubtfull and in suspense alwayes of their standing Answ. 1. Peter must not be bold against so expresse a word of Christ. Ans. 2. No Christian boldnesse may make a man confident in himselfe and neglect prayer to God that is a blame-worthy boldnesse for a Souldier to run into the fight without his

was but bewray themselves as the most rude and barbarous Heathens or as the curst Dogge scorne and barke and rage against God if any man cast a stone against him or crosse him never so little Verse 70. And anone after they that stood by said againe to Peter surely thou art one of them for thou art of Galilee and thy speech is like HERE is the third assault and temptation of Peter set downe First by the Time Anone after Secondly the moving Cause They that stood by Thirdly the Asseveration Surely thou art one of them Fourthly the Probation partly by The Countrey Thou art of Galilee The Language Thy speech is like Quest. Hath not Peter expressed weaknesse enough yet but he must rise to further sinnes and goe on like one given up to reprobate sence Answ. Christ had foretold Peter he must deny him thrice and hereby most justly punished his sin of presumption who three severall times contradicted his Lord saying 1. I will lay downe my life for thee 2. I will dye with thee before I denie thee 3. If all men yet not I. Now Peter shall better discerne his threefold presumption by his threefold denyall and be as soundly humbled as he was vainly puffed up and he that had no such cause to be proud shall have cause enough to be humbled Quest. Why doth the Evangelist and al the rest of his fellow-Disciples set down this most third and fearfull fall of their fellow Disciple that was to be so great a pillar in the Church of God Why doe they thus shame him to all posterity Answ. 1. These holy men guided by the holy Ghost in penning the Scripture looked neither at their owne nor other mens glory but the glory of God many of the Pen-men of Scripture set downe their owne infirmities and fals as David Matthew John his curiosity Paul in most vehement wise against himselfe and some thinke that Peter himselfe did dictate this Gospel and Marke writ it from him Had they bin guided by a humane spirit they would have favoured themselves and one another 2. They more respect the glory of the grace of Christ in raising him out of such a fall then the disgrace of Peter in so falling 3. More eye the consolation of the weake then his reputation teaching us in case of Gods glory neither to spare the reputation of others or our owne but let God be true and all men lyars let God arise and all flesh fall downe before his foot-stoole First for the time Anon after Luke 22. 59. determines the time and tels us that betweene the first and last temptation was the space of an hour a very small time to heap up so many foule sins as in Peters were Note How much evill will breake out of a good heart in a short space in one hour if Gods grace uphold it not Reas. 1. The godly are by nature the children of wrath as well as any and after grace have the seeds and spawn of al sin in them and that there is any difference in them from others and they breake not out into outragious Sinnes is onely by grace as Paul by the grace of God I am that I am 1 Cor. 15. 10. 2. Doe we not see how notwithstanding grace received we may discerne the naughtinesse of our nature in a pronenesse to all evill to which we are as headlong and naturally carried as a sparke to flye upward the best find in themselves a law of evill a law in their members rebelling against the Law of their minde Rom. 7. A weight of sin which presseth downe and hangeth fast on Heb. 12. 1. A rebellious flesh which lusts and fights against the spirit Gal. 5. 17. doe we see notwithstanding true grace received notwithstanding our watch and best endeavour we are carryed captive to sin and forced to doe things we hate how lamentable Slaves and Captives should we be how forlorn and forward unto all unrighteousnesse were it not for the Spirit of grace restraining and renewing Vse Take notice of the evill lying in the best of our hearts who knowes the gulfe of evill there we are like Hazaell we will not believe we can be such dead dogs to do thus or thus 2. King 8. 12. would David have believed the day before or that forenoon that his prayers praises Psalmes all should be turned to wantonnesse foule Adulteryes outragious Murthers other sins so quickly afterward 2. Acknowledge it is not of our selves that we stand or fall not so soulely as others our hearts being as slippery and ready to play false play but by grace we stand Rom. 11. 14. Thou standest by faith be not high minded Rom. 6. 14. sin shall not raigne because ye are under grace 3. Pray not to be led into temptation as Christ counselled Peter and the rest and with David Lord forsake me not overlong arme thy selfe with Gods armour of pro●fe beware of vaine confidence promise nothing of thy selfe as Peter did depe●d on Gods strength a staffe stands no longer upright then the hand holds it 4. Learne to beat downe pride of heart many thinke themselves in good case no Thieves Adulterers Murtherers but strangers at home looke not into their sinke within which may make them so and worse then so in as short a time as Peter Secondly the moving causes of this denyall They that stoood by said to Peter SAint Luke 22. 29. saith that a certaine other affirmed verily this man was with him for he is also a Galilean and Saint John 18. 26. describes him to be the high Priests Servant Cosin to him whose eare Peter smote off our Evangelist speakes in the plurall number and so Mat. 26. 73. they that stood by Answ. Both are true many now set upon him and many speake to him But one especially followed the temptation who was Malchus his Cosin and to him they all consented and agreed and in Scripture what one among a Rout of wicked men speakes all are said to speake for they are commonly all of one minde and have all one voyce as crucifie him crucifie him Note 1. Peter was set upon before by one now by many at once for sin and security encreaseth temptation encreaseth and groweth more dangerous for Satan draweth evill men from evill to worse and even good men to the highest evill he can both for Gods highest dishonour disgrace of goodnesse shame of the Gospell and sorrow of their owne hearts Note 2. In that this multitude of men take the Maids part against Peter if one wicked man have a quarrell against a Disciple of Christ all wicked men further then outward respects restraine them combine with him against such an one they will speak all one thing Reas. 1. They are all of one heart and mind and nothing differ against the feare of God 2. All led by the same Spirit that rules in the world 3. All cunning to unite their strength against God and his

children yea let them be never such enemyes among themselves all of them can be friended and agree against Christ and his Disciples Luk. 23. 10. 4. All of them Lovers of darkenesse and bent to set forward every sin or work of darkenesse and contrary Haters of the light 5. Experience shewes us how Birds of a feather do flock together in wicked combination as Prov. 1. 12. 14. and what is done to one is taken as done to all Vse 1. Not to think it strange if it be with us as with Peter a lewd lying fellow cannot de●ise a quarrel against a godly man professor or preacher but h● shall be abetted in his courses of malice countenanced pleaded for preached for perhaps why so not for the goodnesse of the cause or Person but because his Opposite hath some goodnesse some light which the Owle-light of carnal men cannot abide if he have beene with Christ it is cause enough to combine against him Vse 2. Let godly men learne hence to unite themselves and joyne in good things bestirre themselves to set forward good motions and actions least the wicked prove wiser in their generations then the Children of light Alas how comes it that in good motions so many doubts and inconveniences are cast so many Lyons in the way till opportunity be cut off amonst godly men when as not any wicked motion but growes an end and a number of hands carryes it lightly away May we not be as bold for God and good causes as they against them should not the fire of Gods spirit I meane the coales of zeale from the Altar be as hot and burning within us as the sparks of Hell in them Is not our cause as good have we not the better end of the staffe serve we not as good a Master expect we not better wages therefore let us provoke one another to love and good workes and the rather because the time is short Vse 3. Godly men learne and should labour to be of one minde in good things a Pet. 3. 8. to consent in the truth to be of one judgement will and affection in and for the truth and 1 Cor. 1. 10. that all speake one thing that there be no dissention but knit togeher in one minde and in one judgement with one minde and one mouth glorifie God Rom. 15. 6. And rather Mot. 1. Because Sathan seekes to combine evill men in evill seekes to breake off unity and make division in good things well knowing what a glory and grace it is to Religion to consent in one He brings in division betweene Jewes and Samaritans betweene Papists and Protestants all Christians betweene Puritans and Formalists all Protestants this opens the mouthes of Adversaries and weakens the forces against the common Adversary 2. Consider what a seemely thing it is for Brethren to dwell together in unity we professe and beleeve communion of Saints and shall we not knit in this Communion take example by the first Christians who were all of one heart and mind● Acts 2. 3. God is a God of peace the most simple unity in himselfe a lover of unity in verity 1 Cor. 14. 33. the Author of peace and not of confusion binding his presence to two or three consenting in any thing in his name Besides Christ is one and not divided his Coat without seame and his members aptly joyntd both to the head and within themselves 4. By this thou expressest the humility and charity commended to Christians laying aside selfe love and vain-glory when thou followest the truth in love not seeking to please thy selfe but thy Brother for edification Thou art also one of them for thou art of Galilee and thy speech is like OF the Asseveration before of it and the Probation joyntly Peter is now hard beset not onely by many at once but by apparent circumstances and signes 1. His Countrey 2. His Speech 3. Malchus his Kinsman tels him of the Garden where he had newly commited a riot and struk off his Kinsmans eare ● He is an eye-witnesse and appeales to Peter Did not I see thee with him in 〈◊〉 6. ●den Peter could not now but know his falshood was knowne and yet 〈…〉 himselfe in that which all see but himselfe and after the manner of impu●●nt Malefactors thinks to outface all still Note 1. It seemes the Galileans speake no other tongue then the Jewes but in another Dialect or pronounced otherwise by which pronunciation they gathered him to be a Galilean As in our Nation the same speech is in the Southern and Northerne Countries but the pronunciation and dialect differ that they shall easily know a Northerne man by his speech if he continue there from the Southerne such difference it seemed was betweene them of Galilee from them dwelling about Jerusalem This was indeed but a poore Reason and no strength in it for Peter might well have excepted against it and have quitted him of it farre better and handsomer then he did for will this prove him a Disciple because he was a Galilean or because he spake as a Galilean for were there not many of Galilee and which spake as they which were no Disciples must every one of Galilee be a Disciple presently hath Christ on the sudden a whole Countrey of Disciples Note 2. What poore Reasons and weake Arguments goe currant against Christ and his Disciples Mat. 11. 19. Christ eats with Publicans and sinners he is invited to mens houses therefore he is a good Fellow a Glutton a drinker of Wine John Baptist came in austere and abstinent manner therefore he hath a Divell in consequent but enough to refuse their person and their doctrine 1 Sam. 22. 9. Abimelech refreshed David therefore a Traytor the same at this day let a Preacher come as John Baptist be strict in his Doctrine in his life be rough to remove high holds of sin oh he is so precise so singular so tart and rough he preacheth onely damnation he preacheth the law therefore no good Preacher comes neere the sins of Persons a factious Preacher or Puritan let him come milde gentle converse familiarly and freely with men oh he is a flatterer a Companion Time-server thus shall a godly Preacher every way be turned off Reas. 1. Let a good man by doctrine or life disgrace sin justly sinners will be ready to disgrace them unjustly whatsoever comes to hand will serve their turne as a stone to fling at goodnesse a slander a suspition nay a necessary duty thou wast with Christ an Hearer of Sermons therefore an hypocrite 2. A desire in the wicked any way to blemish such as take more notice or any way discover their foule spots and therefore will assault their names if not for great things for smaller if not for evill for good if not for substance for shadowes and trifles they must keepe themselves doing Paul mad Disciples Divels 3. They hope to discover their owne faults by clamour against them

pluckt out of the fire miserably smeared scorched and in that burnt but pluckt out Reas. 1. To try our faith and obedience as in Isaac who must not be delivered till the knife be at his Throat When Jonas was wrapt in Waters in the bottme of the Sea then came deliverance 2. To see our inability to help our selves therefore our Lord would not hold Peter from sinking nor help him till he cryed Master save I perish 3. To set forth his mighty power which sets in when all meanes faile Lazarus must not be raised till the fourth day when it is impossible to the power of nature nor Christ himselfe till the case was hopelesse after the third day and Disciples faith somewhat quailed 4. Sore crosses drive to God and make us seeke him diligently Hos. 5. 15. upon which search he will be found Manasses out of Fetters would never seeke the Lord that is the Lords season to be found of him David will cry out of Deepes and Moses at the red Sea when there is no way of escape cryes to the Lord and the Lord cuts out a way 5. It is Gods ordinary dealing with Sinners when they come to extremity ●ecoms either to Conversion as Peter Confusion as Judas Vse 1. Comfort to the Saints in their great troubles seeing the Lord departs not for ever but departs for a season that he might returne for ever Nay his comforts are the nearest when affliction is at the height as in the Body the disease come to the height is most raging most hopelesse but presently there is a change and recovery but not before the disease have beene desperate so here Josephs Brethren were in great extremity and knew not what way to turne themselves and even when Joseph must needs discover himselfe unto them after he had long dissembled his affections So the Lord seemes not to know us when we are knowne well enough and hides his affections when they yearne within him toward us Psal. 9. 9. He is a present refuge in time of affliction he steps in to Abrahams comfort not till the third day not till Isaac was bound on the wood and the deadly stroake a fetching he steps in for Peter not till the night before he was sl●ine Act. 12. Vse 2. Not to be too hasty to limit the Lord for time or manner of deliverance whose helpe comes never too late 2 King 5. 11. Naaman would be cured by his owne devised meanes I thought he would in the place have called on the Lord and touched and healed the Leprosie and John 11. 32. Mary would have had Christ there before her Brother was dead as if now he had beene come too late But in these and such like examples we are taught to shut up our own eyes and leave all to him who knowes times and seasons and meanes of our good Vse 3. Nothing can keepe God from his Elect nor them from him Peter here was not onely in an exceeding strait of affliction but led away in temptation and swallowed up in the quicke sands of a number of hainous sins yet being the Lords the Lord lookes on him and fetches him out The Belly of the whale could not keep Jonas from God nor God from Jonas but he must deliver him againe The hellish Behemoth may seeme to swallow up Peter or any other of Gods Children but he must deliver him again In Peters example Act. 12. we see the strongest prison watch chaines cannot keepe the Lord from him nor here a stronger prison and chaine of sin cannot still bind him but the Lords very look looseth him David rescues the Sheep out of the mouth of the Lyon and Bear the true David rescues his out of the Divels jawes and mawes death itselfe cannot keepe the Elect from God nor him from them but at the second resurrection the Grave the Sea the fire water and all elements shal give up their dead to Christ and even not sin which is the death of the Soul nor the Grave of sin which is continuance and rotting in it shall still hold the Elect but this first resurrection of grace shall deliver them up to Christ and give up their dead unto the life of grace c. Which doctrine must not encourage to sin but stir up to repentance and the life of God that thou mayest have some good testimony thereby of thy Election The inward meanes of Peters repentance 1. Remembred 2. Weighed the words of Christ. Note 1. A strong forgetfulnesse in Peter who had forgotten the words of his Master so nearly concerning him spoken a very few houres before yea almost the last words of his loving Master unto him yet he forgets them quite as not spoken Because the corruption of our memoryes in things that are good as unable to retaine good things as a five to hold water and who can deny this to have beene the beginning of all the sinne and misery we are wrapped in that Adam suffered to slip out of his memory the words which God himselfe had spoken a little before and the cause why Peter here was foiled that his memory was corr●pted in all the acts of it The memory sanctified hath four actions 1. To commit and place in the mind needfull things 2. To retaine them as in a store-house 3. To recall them on occasion 4. To apply them to our owne needfull uses Peter now doth none of all these and so fals foully Vse 1. See in our selves the same corruption and such forgetfulnesse as we have lost what Peter speaks to us as Peter often before the Preacher have done speaking Quest. What is the cause Answ. 1. Want of estimation old men remember things they care for Psal. 119. 129. thy testimonyes are wonderfull therefore doth my soule keep them 2. Want of affection Psal. 119. 16. I will delight in thy statutes and I will not forget thy word 3. Earthlinesse for things Heavenly and earthly cannot be minded together the same eye cannot looke Upward Downeward 2. See how many errors we are given up unto by reason of this corruption which did we remember the severall lessons we heard we durst not we would not venture upon Vse 3. The remedy of helping our memoryes 1. Often hearing a continuall Monitor 2. Meditation holds things as our owne 3. Godly conference a whe●stone of grace 4. Prayer gets the Spirit whose office it is to bring things to our memory Use these conscionably as seeing in Peter how a corrupt memory corrupts the whole man heare the word carelesly as Peter his Lord no marvell if thou run as far as Peter who had never returned had not the Lord looked upon him And as into sin so into smart and punishment Deut. 18. 19. joyned with Judg. 3. 7 8. When Peter remembred his Lords words THEN when the sin was done and he in so fearful manner denyed his Lord but not before so men forget the word of Christ while they

went to them and so fell by them Prov. 1 10. If Sinners entice consent not 2. Consider who thou art Peter should have remembred himselfe to be a Disciple by grace separated from this gracelesse company so thinke with thy selfe I am distinguished and severed from the world by grace of Adoption and a Son of God oh what an honour to Peter or for thee to shew thy selfe a Son of God in the midst of a naughty generation 3. Look upon ungodly examples to detest them to grieve at the dishonour of God to grieve at the wickednesse of man made to the Image of God how did good Lot vex himselfe at the uncleane conversation of Sodome 2 Pet. 2. 8. What a paine was it to David to see the transgressors Psal. 119. And make this use of it to blesse God that thou art not so far given up whose nature is as vile as theirs 4. See them to stop them if it be possible if there be hope of doing good admonish them 1 Thes. 5. 14. warne them that are unruly warne them of the wrath of God coming on them that do such things win them and pray for them and their amendment 5. If there be no hope to win them yet by thy godly carriage convince them checke them confute shut their mouthes Let thy light shine in despite of their darkenesse to glorifie thy Father and at least let them see thy watch and godly care to preserve thy selfe from their contagion 6. If thou hast beene a little tainted and drawn aside by them go forth quickly like Peter and bewaile thy sin to which sorrow of Peter now we come And Peter wept bitterly PETER as he had chosen a fit place so he expressed his repentance by an excellent token and signe of it which is abundance of tears both salt and dry Quest. Whether is weeping alwayes true repentance for sin Ans. No for then Esau and Judas had beene truly penitent but where is true sorrow it will often wring out teares which are not repentance it selfe but an effect of true repentance Quest. Whether are teares necessarily required in sorrow for sin Ans. In true sorrow of sin must be allwayes a deep displeasure with himselfe sighs and groanes of a broken and bleeding heart for the displeasure of God which is a supernatural motion of the heart But as for that bodily and sensible motion of the heart which produceth tears and crying it is always cōmendable where it is but not always simply necessary for sundry things may hinder teares and yet true sorrow be with dry cheeks As Reas. 1. Abundance of griefe may stop teares as a man may weepe for his friend and cannot at the death of his owne Son 2. Sometimes the constitution of the body will afford none when the consolation of the heart desires to ease it selfe by them 3. Sometimes the Spirit of God supplyes joy and comfort in the midst of their heavinesse which abates the sensible smart although it abates not the displeasure of our wils against sin but enlargeth it 4. Teares proceed from many causes outward as excessive joy excessive sorrow anger compassion and in a word both from fained repentance and unfained as we may not count them among the infallible signes of true repentance and sorrow for sin FINIS Instruunt Patriarchae tam erran●es quam docentes Parts of this History 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 quum animadvertisset Bez. Many offended in Christ and how 1 Coa 1. 23. 1 Cor. 1. 〈◊〉 James 5. Mat. 5. Rom. 12. Ephes. 5. 16. Holy profession offends at this day Acts 24. 14. Comfort to godly Preachers and professors Mat. 7. 29. Offend none justly A trial of true religiousnesse Scope Divine conclusions differ from humane Luke 2. 34. Mat. 7. 14. 1 Cor. 1. 26. Christ according to his many benefits hath many names Christ why called a Shepherd Zech. 13. 17. How Christ is Gods fellow By whom he was smitten Comfort in Christ our Sheepherd Be patient in all smitings Mourn for sin which caused Christ to be smitten Sudy to be thankfull to Jesus Christ. Not all hated of God who are smitten by him The liker to God the more smitten Jer. 18. 18. Comfort because Gods hand is in it Church called a Sheepfold why Christians why called Sheep 1 Pet. 5 8. Note thy weake disposition even after grace received Imitate Sheep and wherein 1 Cor. 2. 2. Of the scattering of the People Luk. 24. 11. Esay 63. 3. No marvell if unsound fall quite away Let none trust trust his own heart 2 King 8. 13. Arme against shaking trials Mat. 26. 41. Thinke not much to be left alone in a good cause John 16. 32. Make muc● of the 〈◊〉 season of grace and peace Gospell upon sad news soon yeelds comfo●t Why Christ would meet them in Galilee Wonderfull gentlenesse of Christ. Gal. 6. 1. He never quite leaves his Desertions neither totall nor finall Psal. 30. 5. 1 Cor. 10. 13. 1 Iohn 5. 4. Comfort thy self with the assured end of every tryall Christ prevents his with loving kindenesse Christ an everlasting guide to his See hence our happine●●e Peters rashnesse in five particulars Noact of faith in a Promise Prov. 28. 1● Note and watch pride of heart Fear of humility and of infidelity Holy fear to be ever cherished Paraphrase Christs divinity he knows s●crets that are to come 2 King 5. 26. Christs humanity he reprocheth not Peter for denials foretold Grounds of it In like cases do as Ch●ist did We never know our selves aright till Christ teach us Suddenly we are apt to fall from very good resolutions Hos. 6. 4. Prouder then others falworse then others Motives to humble walking with God Cumulation of sin in Peter Four here observed Godly apt to fall into the same sin And why 〈◊〉 Comfort to troubled spirits Repetition of sin makes sin the stronger We are apt to over-ween the good that is in us Jam. 1. 17. Sin is of an infectious nature Parts Why God prevented not this fall of Peter Many other sins no●ed in Peter more then in other Disciples Peters sin in ●oing into the Hall John 18. To avoyd sin avoyd occasions To avoyd occasions keepe close to the word Suffer not for Christ till called Phil. 1. 29. Nature no sufficient in divine matters How we are to shew love to a friend Good men quickly the worse for bad company And why Abhor sinfull society Psal. 16. 3. Psal. 120. A sinful indifferency to run into all company James 3. 10. Gen. 6. 2. Joyne to godly company Peter had one end God another Warming the body sometime chilleth the Soule When by a warme fire take heed of temptation Occasion of Peters sin by the Priests maide When a man tempts God a Tempter soon meets him Favors of wicked deare bought An ill case to be beholden to wicked men Weak tempeters can foyle stout men Judg. 9. 54. Mans pride easily overthrowne Jam. 4. 6. Acts 12. Accusation enough if