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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

perill when so great a Disciple as Peter before any great danger so resolutely denyeth him Reas. 1. Satans malice he winnowes and tempts Peter here and the Saints to plucke them from this confession because he knoweth that God is greatly honoured by the confession of his Servants That the truth is notably confirmed which shakes the Wals and foundation of this Kingdome That confessing him before men notably incites and provokes others to the love and likeing of the truth and to the imitation of such holy examples and because he would hinder the happinesse of Saints well knowing that 〈◊〉 that denyeth Christ shall be denyed of him Reas. 2. Strength of corruption in us makes it very hard at such times 1. How hard is it to deny our selves and not denying our selves we cannot but deny him we not onely reason with flesh and blood but conclude with flesh and blood against the yoke of Christ Paul communed not with flesh and blood Gal. 1. 16. 2. How doe we blush at the Chaine and shame at the Crosse of Christ which indeed is the glory and crowne of a Christian he that is ashamed of Christ how can he confesse him 2 Tim. 1. 12. I suffer these things and am not ashamed for I know whom I have believed one cause why many among the Rulers beleeved and durst not confesse Christ was because they feared to be cast out of the Synagogue John 12. 42. 3. How are we glued to the love of the profits and glory of the World loth we are to be too great losers by Christ much lesse forsake all to follow him this maketh it hard to confesse Christ in cases of losse and disadvantage this cause is in John 12. 43. the Rulers confessed not Christ whom they knew because they loved the praise of men more then the praise of God Demas would not have his commodityes hindred and so forsooke the Apostles 2 Tim. 4. 10. Reas. 3. Weaknesse of faith and graces Peter had now true faith in his heart but weake and raked up in a heape of corruptions where is no faith is no confession a strong faith a strong confession Peter was now as a man in a sowne or qualme living but little shew or sense of life Nicodemus a Beleever a lover of Christ his faith made him come to Christ but the weaknesse of it made him speake little and low and not directly for him Joseph of Arimathia a Disciple and a Beleever but a secret one for fear of the Jewes John 19. 38. Vse 1. Conceive it no easie thing to confesse Christ in tryall nor a thing to be performed by our owne power but pray for the gift of the Spirit called the Spirit of strength Isa. 11. 2. which sustaineth us no cause shall daunt it 2. Pray for wisedome when and how to confesse that the Lord opening our eyes aud mouthes we may speak as we ought 3. Pray for Faith Psalme 116. I beleeved therefore I spake Rom. 10. 10. with heart beleeve 2. Resolve of the nec●ssity of confessing Christ being called thereto 1 Peter 3. 15. be ready to give an answer to every man that asketh a reason of the hope that is in you Philippians 2. 10. Every tongue must confesse Jesus Christ is the Lord to the glory of God Arg. 1. Consider here first the end of our being in the World to honour God and his truth and promote our owne and others salvation therefore not onely not deny but confesse 2. The excellency of the truth confessed and witnessed unto not by us onely but by the whole Trinity the blessed Augels the holy Prophets the inspired Apostles and constant Martyrs in all ages 3. It is Gods right thou shouldest confesse him even to thy utmost perill to whom thou art given of the Father by whose blood redeemed whose peculiar thou art how couldest thou brooke that servant to whom thou payest Wages that being ashamed of thee would deny thee his Master 4. Christians must be considered not onely as private men but in the communion of Saints glorifying the Gospell not onely by walking worthy of it but also suffering for it as lights not for it selfe but for others 5. Thou wouldest not be denied of him hereafter but desirest he should acknowledge thee in another life but if we deny him he will deny us 2 Tim. 2. 12. 6. Conversion produceth confession as in the converted Thiefe and confession is accompanied with salvation Rom. 10. 10. with the mouth confesse to salvation onely this man is of God 1 John 3. 4. 7. Thou canst not but confesse Christ nor keepe Faith at home it is as fire within and Christ saith He that is not with us is against us Quest. How shall I be able to confesse Christ in trials Answ. 1. Settl●●hy selfe in a sound knowledge and judgement of the truth unstable persons that hang between two Religions as Meteors will never abide the triall If trials should come many of our ordinary Hearers for want of setlednesse of judgement and sound measure of knowledge will prove as Potters Clay fit for any forme or as Wax ready for any stamp or impression so Meteors between two Religions enemies to Confession 2. Get sound love to the Truth else God will send strong delusions to beleeve lyes on them that receive not the truth in the love of it 2 Thes. 2. 10 11 12. 3. Expresse the power of Religion now in dayes of peace for he that denyeth the power of Religion now in the time of peace God will never give him the honour to professe in time of persecution he that will deny by a warme fire will deny more easily in a fiery triall 4. Arme thy selfe against the sweet and sower the best and worst of the world beware of preferring of the best things as better and sweeter then Christ and the glory of heaven God is not so prodigal of his glory nor of the gracious merits of Christ as to bestow it on such as love earth better then himselfe or his Sonne neither gaze with both eyes upon outward things never so little but on the power of God which is manifest in weaknesse 5. Set thine eye upon the glory of being confessed by Christ before his Father and his Angels oh this my servant was more willing to dye for me then deny me and the terrour and disgrace that Christ should deny us when our own consciences are up in armes against us then he shall proclame and disclame us in that we preferred every trifle before himselfe c. 6. Looke on examples of Saints keeping the profession without wavering in losses and crosses Heb. 10. joyfully enduring the spoyling of Goods Pauls life not deare compare thy selfe with these c. Then he went out into the Porch and the Cocke crew PETER having denyed his Lord beginneth to perceive himselfe in some danger for he seeth that better then his sinne and seeing it was not safe for him to be there he

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 so 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 ROM 11. 12. Be not high minded but fear Non proponitur tibi exemplum cadendi sed si cecideris resurgendi Ambros. in Psal. 51. Sit casus majorum tremor minorum LONDON Printed for John Bartlet dwelling at the signe of the guilt Cup neere St. Austins Gate 1653. PETERS REPENTANCE MARKE 14. 27. And Jesus saith unto them All ye shall be offended because of me this night for it is written I will smite the Shepheard and the Sheepe shall be scattered Vers. 28. But after that I am risen I will goe before you into Galilee Ver. 29. But Peter said unto him Although all shall be offended yet will not I. Ver. 30. And Jesus said unto him Verily I say unto thee That this day even in this night before the Cocke crow twice thou shalt denie me thrice Ver. 31. But he spake the more vehemently If I should dye with thee I will not denie thee in any wise Likewise also said they all IT hath beene said of old that the Patriarkes and holy men of God instructed the Church as well when they erred and fell into sinne as when they delivered wholsome and sound Doctrine Which may be particularly instanced in the Apostle Peter who in his two Epistles hath left us very good instructions for our Faith and Obedience and against Deceivers and in these passages of the Gospell is propounded to us as a Patterne of humane frailty in his fall and of Divine power in his rising and repentance both which instruct Believers concerning the strength of corruptions remaining in them concerning the weaknesse of their graces their need of renewing faith and repentance their need of humility feare and watchfulnesse the mercy of a pardoning God what thankfulnesse they should returne for that mercy and for the certainty of persevering in the estate of grace though with many failings and hoblings in the way But first in generall concerning all the Disciples we have here a Prediction of their dispersion ver 27. all of them offended in him together with a confirmation of it by a testimony of the Prophet Zacharie the Shepheard smitten and the Sheepe scattered ver 28. To which Christ subjoynes a consolation namely that he and they should have a joyfull meeting together againe after his Resurrection with the place where in Galilee Particularly of Peters fall first we have the occasion of it that is his rashnesse saying once or twice he would sticke to Christ though all should leave him ver 29. Then our Saviours checke thereto ver 30. first admonishing him of his fall thou shalt deny me secondly the determinate number of his fals thrice thirdly the time this day even this night Fourthly the signe he gives him before the Cocke crow twice Whereunto Peter replyes more stifly ver 31. to dye with him rather then deny him Afterward when this prediction is to be acted we have first the Occasion of Peters fall partly in his going into the Priests Hall and warming himselfe by the fire partly in the Priests Maids who charged him with adhering to Christ ver 66 67. Secondly his fall it selfe ver 68. whos 's particulars with the circumstances and aggravations we shall meet in treating of the words Lastly for his Repentance we have first the time then secondly the meanes both externall the crowing of the Cocke and Christs looking backe upon Peter and internall Peter remembred the words of our Lord and weighed them well thirdly the manner of his Repentance he went out and wept bitterly In all which we shal finde usefull notes and instructions for the use of edifying that we may avoyd the like falling into like dangers or if we fall we may at least recover all by the like repentance And first of our Saviours Prediction All yee shall be offended because of me this night c. ● HE predicteth both their fall and rising their sinne and his grace that they might not despaire though their sinne were great but come againe by repentance and take hold of his grace Note 1. How Christ is a rocke of offence he saith not you shall be offended by me but in me In my infirmity humanity and base estate for Christ was never a cause active of offence never gave just cause but passively an occasion of offence as a rocke offends no man but a blinde Man fals and offends at the rocke Not properly and Actively but accidentally and Passively so Christ offends none but so many are the scandals about and concerning Christ as he pronounceth him blessed that is not offended in him 1. Some are offended at the basenesse of his Birth Is not this the Carpinters Sonne 2. At the place of his Education Can any good come out of Galilee 3. At his Doctrine these are hard sayings who can beare them 4. At his Miracles he casts out Divels by Belzebub 5. At his conversation as too licentious Mat. 11. Johns Disciples Fast c. A Wine-bibber Glutton 6. At his Company He converseth with sinners Luke 5. 7. At his Allegiance that he payes not tribute Mat. 17. 8. At his Crosse and Passion We Preach Christ crucified a scandall to the Jews But what marvaile of all this that Scribes and Pharisees blinde guides and blinde People led by them take offence by Christ when even his Disciples and all they take offence at his lowe estate and Passion immediately before warned by his own mouth But see how prone we are to offend our selves in Christ say not as the Jewes Had we lived in the dayes of our Forefathers we would not have slaine the Prophets so had we Christ among us we would not be offended for every one almost is offended in him Thus Christ comes in the Preaching of the Word but that is a breach and foolishnesse yet without this foolishnesse of Preaching you shall never be saved thou wouldst have heard Christ on earth hadst thou lived no He that heareth you heareth me and contrary Whatsoever Christ speakes thou wouldest not be offended but nothing the Minister speakes but offends thee If Christ should bid thee leave thy Usury thou wouldst not be offended at him If his Minister in his name bid thee it offends thee If Christ should say to thee sweare not at all loue your enemies in giving honour go one before another redeem the time play it not away put off

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

them a Disciple a Puritan a Professor a Brother all one with this of the Maid thou wast also with him now weake things and small goe for currant to bring good men into danger as Peters here being with Christ even looking toward good men is ground enough and evill men can make great noise of it as Jewes against Christ he is a friend of Publicans and Sinners As Spyders can turn every thing into poyson so wicked men turne wholsome things into poyson and malicious accusations Acts 21. 28. Oh men of Israel helpe this man c. Paul gave the Law his due onely denyed justification by it nor spoke against the Temple but their hypocrisie who could discover all by coming to the Temple nor dishonoured their place but all their faire shewes in that place would not serve but it was as the offering of a Dog without faith or Repentance this was his duty to teach nor brought he Gentiles into their Temple but they supposed so and suspition is enough for evill men and helpeth them well I thought it had beene thus but what if he had now the Temple was free for all Moses Law ceremonial was at an end so as when these wicked men had said all they could equity could find no substance in their accusation yet these grounds were enough against Paul to draw him to death ver 31. Let a godly Preacher come and lift up his voyce as a Trumpet against sin oh he is an intolerable man he is so sowr so tart so judging he preacheth nothing but damnation he makes Reprobates of us all when all this while he doth hi● duty in telling Israel her sin and Judah of her transgressions Let him preach often and be more diligent then some idle drones so that the word prevaile with men and they begin to taste the soundnesse and the sweetnesse of it and frequent it with more gladnesse then the eye of envy would they should oh then he is factious draweth Disciples is popular if we let him alone all men will beleeve him say the Pharises Let him preach with authority and not as the Scribes and convince evill men and seeke to pull their lusts out of their hearts and hands and now they perceive the word too strong for them then they fetch another windlace Christ teacheth wonderfull well and he is Teacher from God and teacheth the way of God truly but he healeth on the Sabbath day or breaks some traditions of the Elders a good man otherwise but his Disciples wash not fast not and the failing in some idle tradition or Ceremony is enough to hate Christs own Doctrine and to hurt him in his owne person to the unmost extremity Secondly the Temptation Thou wast also with Jesus of Nazareth or as John 18. 17. Art thou one of this mans Disciples Belike both asking the question and affirming that he was THE Tempter light not Caiphas himselfe but his Doore keeper and that not a man but a silly Maid The Temptation as light she doth not scorne him or his Master she saith not belongest thou to this Seducer nor art thou a follower of this factious fellow who is now brought in question for his life but in simplicity and gently enough Art thou one of this Mans Disciples yet Peter is too weake for so weake a temptation Note He that is presumptuously confident where he should not is basely fearfull where he need 〈…〉 ●●rist foretels Peters fall but Peter feares nothing but a silly Damsels 〈…〉 him an unkinde word and fear hath oppressed him 1. It is a just reveng●●hat he that feareth not God should feare every thing else and if the feare of God be shaken out of the heart the feare of man yea of a veery worme shall be let in had Peter retained the fear of God he had not here so feared but now must fear where no fear is 2. God in this kinde punisheth the presumption and boldnesse which a man hath in himselfe by turning his carnall courage which resists true feare into terrours of heart and vaine feares that were there nothing without him to fear he shall not want terrors of minde that shall leave him but a little rest Herod is told enough to behead John and no man can feare him for it but his owne thoughts fear him O John whom I beheaded is risen now he fears where no fear is Prov. 28. The wicked flye none pursuing his own fancy shall fear him Vse Peter shrinkes not before Caiphas but his Maid asking but a question see that carnal confidence and human strength will leave a man in the suds at length this courage of flesh and blood had carried Peter a great way in the cause of Christ in resisting his apprehenders following him to the high Priests Hall brings him to the ●ire but now leaves him If a man had all the courage we read of among the famous Roman Warriers it will not carry him after Christ whethersoever he goeth it might carry him to contemne death for his Countrey for his credit c. but for Christ it will faile him It is given as well to suffer for Christ as to believe Vse 2. Examine well thy boldnesse whether it be for God or Man ere thou trust it the boldnesse of flesh will make us couragious before the Battle but when the Alarum is sounded then the shaking of a Pike or report of a Musket feareth him as a Childe out of the field Quest. How shall I know Answ. If thou beest strong in the power of Christs might then thou art strong in thine infirmities that is hast a strong sence of thine owne weaknesse and findest thy frailty and art driven out of conceit with thy selfe and having no strength in thy selfe leanest onely on the strength of thy Captaine Stand in this strength and in question of thy life thou shalt have boldnesse as John before Herod Elias before Ahab when poore Peter stout in himselfe shall fall before a poor Maid almost unquestioned Vse 3. Let him that stands take heed least he fall 1 Cor. 10. 12. Thou sayest thou lovest Christ so did Peter else he would not have followed now thou mayest account of strength to stand if all other should fall so did Peter but thou seest a Pillar here shaken with a Wenches word that thought all the threats and tortures of the Rulers could not make him shrinke Seest thou the foreman of the Apostles so neere and deare unto Christ who would have confirmed his brethen so foulely to fall be not thou high-minded but feare Mot. 1. Consider thy selfe a childe weake and feeble soone cast downe and being ready to stumble and fall get to a stay as fast as thou mayest 2. The Adversary is strong and flesh is weake Mat. 26. 41. and is onely supported by strength of grace the Lyon of the Tribe of Judah foyles the roaring Lyon 3. Hypocrites not fearing to fall fall fearefully but the godly