AS there is nothing set downe in the worde of God which is not in his singular wisedome propounded vnto his children either to teache them the will of the Lord and the religion that they must professe or to furnish them with sufficient armour to conuince their aduersaries or to instruct them how to frame their liues and conuersation according to hys will or to reproue them that walke inordinately or lastly to comforte them being distressed and afflicted in this world so there is no example set before our eyes in the whole booke of God more necessary for vs continuallie to be meditated vpon then this of Peters fall For in the same is firste painted out vnto vs the miserable estate of man being left vnto himselfe then the excéeding mercie of God towards man Secondly we may sée in it the beginnings procéedings and manner how all men doo sinne whether it be the godly falling by infirmitie or the wicked transgressing thorough infidelitie and then how and by what degrées the godly be reclaimed and restored againe So that in this historie we haue two things offered to our considerations First Peters fall Secondly his rising againe In his fall we note the causes that mooued him therevnto and the maner how it was The causes be either in himselfe or accidentarie without himselfe within himselfe his presumption in departing from the word of God and leaning vppon his owne power and his slowe following the causes without himself be his companie the high Priests seruants and the place where he was y e warme fire The maner how he did fall is first in bare deniall then with binding it with an oth and lastly by curssing himselfe if euer he knew Christ. In his rising againe are likewise the causes and the maner how the causes without himself and within himselfe without himselfe the crowing of the Cocke the looking back of Iesus within himselfe his remembrance what Christ had said and what he had done the manner how he rise his going out and his sorrowing The firste cause of his fall as you sée was his presumption and that is also in two things The first is in not leaning vnto the wordes of his Lorde and maister For Christ told him that he should denie him But he notwithstanding being either blinded with the consideration of his owne power as hereafter shall appeare or else carried away with a preposterous zeale to follow him whether soeuer he went replyed that though all men should forsake him yet he would not And surely this is most worthy the consideration For if we beginne at the first man that euer was and continue thorough out the whole scriptures we shal finde that the little regarde giuen vnto the worde of God was the beginning of their fall The father of mankinde the firste founder of his misterie Adam hauing receiued this especiall commandement of the trée of knowledge of good and euill thou shalt not eate Yet this béeing put out of his heart partly thorough the subtiltie of Sathan wherewithall he was assayled partly by the prouocation of the woman whome greatly he loued and partly with the beautie and delicacie of the Apple with whiche he was allured He notwithstanding did take of it and eating of the trée forbidden fell from the Lorde his God and was cast out of that place of pleasure where before he dwelled So did Caine forgetting the commandement of God yea and the law of nature kill his brother Abell Lamech not considering that the Lord God had made man and woman to bée one flesh tooke vnto him two wiues and so fell from the Lorde Saule hauing receyued a precept to destroy Amalecke and all that pertayned vnto them that he should haue no compassion on them but shoulde slaie both man and woman both infant and suckling both Oxen and Shéepe and Camels and Asses yet directing not hys dooings according to hys commission but yéelding vnto hys owne fantasie in sparing the King Agag and the better Shéepe and fat Oxen to sacrifice as was pretended vnto the Lorde was rewarded with depriuation from his Kingdome The lyke may be said of the rebellious Israelites in the wildernesse who hauing the promise of Gods speciall protection yet murmured often times The same is playne in the rebellious Iewes in the tyme of the Prophetes and brieflie thorough out the whole booke of God that when soeuer the Prophetes be resisted the Apostles persecuted or any other sinne whatsoeuer committed whether it be of the godlie falling by infirmitie or by the wicked offending of obstinacie The first originall and beginning is this that the worde of the Lorde in that respecte is eyther not knowen or not remembred and therefore Sathan strooke verie déepe and in verie déede at the surest roote of mans safegarde when he put it into the head of his sonne and heire Antichrist the childe of perdition the Pope of Rome to keepe the people from the knowledge of Gods word for he knew well ynough that the worde of God béeing manifest vnto all the world as the instrumente to kéepe man from grosse sinnes for verie shame and feare of punishment and many in faith and obedience vnto the Lord for loue and zeale vnto his glory and desire of their owne saluation whiche otherwise shoulde wander in darkenesse and in the shadowe of death because that they béeing blinde for want of knowledge should haue swallowed many moates of iniquitie but to let him goe and come nearer vnto our selues what is the cause that euen in this light and glorious Sunne beames of Christ his Gospell so many be so softed and drowned in idolatrie and superstition that they are not ashamed with whorishe faces not blushing to maintaine and defend the heathenish fashion of worshipping of God in Images for theyr owne shame hath fomed out the worshipping of the Image it selfe but only this that the seconde Commandement is blotted out of theyr heart and also out of their bookes and the true exposition that our sauiour Christ giueth vnto the same that the true worshippers shall worship in spirit and truth that as he is a spirit requiring spirituall seruice is either not knowne or else misconstrued or what is the cause that the blasphemer of Gods name hath such delight and pleasure in swearing cursing and prophaning or rather renting in péeces the dreadfull name of the most glorious God but only this that the commandement is not before his eyes which is enioyned vnto all them that be or be desirous to be called the children of God that they neuer presume to take his name into theyr mouth without a singular reuerence of hys Maiestie or the threatninges therevnto annexed For GOD pronounceth them that sweare by those which were no Gods to be none of his for he saith they haue forsaken him in so doing also a man that vseth much swearing shall be filled with wickednes and the plague of God shall not departe
the necessitie of correction saith in the midst of his misery Blessed is the man whome God correcteth he maketh the wound and bindeth it vp he smiteth and hys handes maketh whole he shal deliuer thée in sixe troubles and in the seuenth the euill shal not touch thee The reason hereof is euident for that we by nature are of our selues so stout and so proude that without correctió we run on as an vntamed Heyfer Therefore the Lorde to reclaim vs vnto him vseth this school of his rodde to bring vs home with all least we should perish with the world And verilye if we had neyther example nor sentence in the whole booke of god yet our owne experience would sufficiently shewe this vnto vs moste plaine and euident For many there be that at the first when they are not setled in the warmth of this world but follow christ into woodes and desertes ouer Sea and lād neuer resting in one place then they be so zealous and forward in the cōbate against Sathā that they doo with great praise vnto Gods name and singular vtilitie vnto Christs Church procéede in their busines of godlines But when they come to sit downe at the warme fire of worldly wealth and be hedged in with promotions of this worlde then they be so clogged and cloyed therewith all that they séeme as far gone frō their integritie and zeale as Peter was when he sate by the fire But let them beware in what state they stand For when Peter came to that estate he was quicklye ouerthrowne And let all other that sée the same and be not guilty resist at the first entrāce of this cold stomach prouide preseruations restoratiues out of the worde of the Lorde Let vs pray The second Sermon Luke 22 56. And a certaine maide beheld him as he sat by the fire and hauing well looked on him saide This man was also with him c. ANd a certaine maid c. We haue séene the causes of his fall and howe by degrées he commeth to the fall it selfe For when once he had reiected Gods word was puffed vp in the perswasion of his owne power set amongst the wycked and swadled in the warmth of prosperitye what remayneth now for Peter but euen at al assaies and by euerye light occasion to denye his profession and forsweare hys maister And in trueth the first assaulte was not strong for it was but a woman a party very weak But indéed if she be bent to trouble Gods children very ready to compasse hir matters As we may sée in Iesabell Herodias Irene the Empresse and such like marke this well The highe Prieste persecuteth Christ his seruauntes apprehende him and bring him to their Maister yea and his maide also helpeth the matter forwarde Here we may sée the patron of a familie rightly disposed in his kind as is the maister so be his seruantes All agrée in this to persecute Christ and indéede it hath béene is and euer will bée that the wicked housholders yea the wicked Kinges haue had generally all their seruants and subiects of their own disposition Ahab being a wicked Kyng they did so generally follow him that Eliah thought onely himselfe to serue God and all the rest of the land to haue followed Baall So it was likewise in all the time of the wicked Kinges and so it is in all wicked housholders For if he be a Papist hys Seruantes be so or else they abide not wyth him long If he be a Neuter and care for no religion his seruantes are not kept in order and so they likewise become of the like condition so that the saying of Salomon is verified in this case if the Prince be giuen to lyes all his seruants are wycked And what haue we to learne by thys Surely a profitable doctrine for al them that haue gouernement of families that they fearing God and professing his Gospell beware that the chyldren of this world be not wiser in their generation than they that is that the wicked bée not founde more carefull to dispose their families to their owne humour than the Godly bée And I knowe not howe they can looke vnto thys better but by following the example of Dauid in choosing Seruauntes and of Abraham in teaching them For the prophet Dauid knowing that he should bée King casteth in his mynde a forehande what kynde of persons he wil retaine into his seruice Myne eyes saythe he shall bée vnto the faythful of the Land that they may dwell with me He that walketh in a perfecte waye he shall serue me There shall no deceitfull man dwell in my house he that telleth lies shall not remaine in my sight Thus we see what kinde of persons Dauid will haue This ought duely to be looked vnto of all them that doe professe the same God that he did but we shall sée it farre otherwise in the moste for so that he may serue his turne for that purpose wherevnto he will allot him It is not regarded whither he bée Papist or Atheist godlye or faythlesse whither his Religion be toward GOD or the diuell But Dauid had this consideration in hys mynde that none could do him faithfull seruice sauing they onely whose heartes were true to the Lord which is a thing most sure For well he may doo his duty for a time in hys calling but surely he will at length play the slipperye marchaunt wyth thée in one thyng or other Now to Abraham whome we must follow in instructing of our Seruauntes who at the commaundement of God did circumcise all the men children in hys familie they were no doubt of it wel instructed in the Religion of the Lorde that obeyed therevnto so willynglye without any resistaunce And therefore it is that the Lorde maketh this especiall reason why he should shewe the punishment intended agaynste Sodome and Gomorrah to Abraham because he knew that Abraham would commande his sonnes and his housholde after him that they kéepe the waye of the Lorde So that the thing whych we are to followe in Abraham is this that euerye householder be diligent to teach his seruants their duties out of Gods worde and trayne them vp in the feare of the Lord. It is a thing worthy to be marked that we finde diuers families in the scriptures conuerted vnto the Lord with their maisters as namely the captaine and the Jailer to shewe vnto vs that all the Seruauntes ought to bée taught the way of the Lord as well as their Maisters Well notwithstanding it was but a simple Gyrle yet Peter flatly saith I knewe not the man Peter had not such a politicke heade as the denyers nowe a dayes haue Those I meane that in harte and déede deny Christ but in worde deny him not For if you come to hym that is greatlye suspected of Poperye and knowne to haue béene of that stampe if he bée a formal fellow suche a one as will not stande to
things and are greeued with the consideration thereof and are not spotted with the same brand to be so much the more carefull as the euill is common that they smell not of their abhomination that they depart from them and be not partakers of their sinnes that they hate the garment spotted by the flesh that they fashion not themselues like vnto thys world but that they be changed in their shape by the renewing of their mindes and that thereby their profession may be adorned and the truth thereof in their hearts and consciences forceablie established When I considered these things right Honorable and sought out of Gods booke which is the looking glasse discouering all enormities wherein the chiefe cause heereof should consist I perceyued so farre as my small knowledge could atteyne vnto that the lacke of the right vse of Gods word and heedefull care to be gouerned by the same did ingender these and infinite other abhominations and therefore for mine owne comfort and the instruction of others I dyd make choyse of the history of Peters denying of Christ to entreate vpon which being ended for certayne considerations heereafter mentioned I haue so neere as I could penned it according as it was spoken Most humblie beseeching your Honour that the same may proceede vnder the wings of your defence and protection which I doubt not shall be by that meanes of the godly sort the better accepted and of the cankered caterpiller the lesse touched so shall I be bound which notwithstanding is my dutie to pray vnto the Lord God of heauen for the encrease and continuance of the graces of his holie spirit vnto your honour to guide and direct the same in all your good and godly enterprises whatsoeuer that thereby Gods holie name heere vpon earth may be glorified hys children mainteined and cherished sinne and iniquitie cut downe and quenched Iesus Christ his Gospell promoted and aduanced and your owne conscience vnfaynedly comforted Amen Your Honours most humble to commaund IOHN VDALL To the Godly and well disposed Reader HAuing taken in hand to intreat of this place of Scripture according to my poore talent wherwith God hath enabled me I was very earnestly requested by some of my friendes such as feare God vnfainedlye to put the same in printe for the benefite as they said of others But considering with my selfe the greate number of learned and godly treatises already extant how vnnecessary it should be for my greene vntimely blossome to appeere in this age of the ripe Haruest and also howe readye mans nature is to cauill at the doings of others and like the spider to suck poyson out of the finest Flowers I was fully determined it should neuer shew it selfe in the worlde yet beeing mooued wyth their earnest suite and at length being ouercome with their forceable perswasions I haue penned the same as neere as I can remember Now good Reader if thou be desirous to knowe what benefite thou shalt reape by the same I am very loth to indent with thee before hand for if I should promise nothing I were to be blamed to trouble thee which else mightest be better imployed If I shoulde promise that which peraduenture thou maiest finde I might seeme to arrogate too muche vnto my selfe therfore I commit it to thy godly consideration and iudgement But for the place of scripture it selfe thus muche I dare say and that I trust with the consent of all the godlye learned that if thou desire to vnderstand how the wicked doe begin to fall from the Lord what causes doe concurre and in what order they proceede vnto the height of iniquitie If thou desire to know what it is that mooueth the godly to fall offend god And lastly if thou be willing to vnderstand what things bee necessary and expedient for thy selfe being fallen to returne vnto god to stand in his fauour when thou art in it I am sure thou maiest learne it out of this history Now if I haue not so fully discoursed of euery point as thou couldest wish nor so learnedly proceeded as the matter doth require I praye thee beare with me and praye to the Lord to encrease his beginnings in me supply my want concerning the last parte of al which is repentance I haue of purpose beene sparing in it because others haue learnedlye and at large intreated thereof whoseful intreaty if thou desire haue recourse vnto those their writings To conclude if any thyng doe here please thee giue God his due for it to whome all honour belongeth If ought be lacking helpe me I beseeche the with thy praiers to God our father that it woulde please him to direct al our indeauoures to the aduancement of his glory the benefite of his Church and comfort of our consciences that we may walke warily and circumspectly amongst this froward crooked generatioÌ„ Amen The Text out of Saint Mathevv and S. Luke conferred both togither IEsus said vnto Peter verilye I say vnto thee that this night before the Cocke crow thou shalt deny me thrice Peter saide vnto him though I shoulde dye with thee yet will I not deny thee And Peter followed a far off when they had kindled a fire in the middest of the Hall and were set downe togither Peter also sat downe amongst them And a certaine maÃde beheld him as he sat by the fire and hauing well looked on him saide this man was also with him But he denied before them al saying woman I knowe him not And after a little while another man sawe him and saide thou art also of them But he denied againe with an oth saying I knowe not the man Then after a while came vnto him those that stoode by and said vnto Peter surely thou art also one of them for euen thy speach bewraieth thee Then began he to cursse him selfe and to sweare saying I knowe not the man And immediately while he yet spake the Cocke did crowe Then the Lord turned backe and looked vpoÌ„ Peter and Peter remembred the wordes of the Lord how he had saide vnto him before the Cock crow thou shalt denye mee thrise And Peter went out and wept bitterly The Method and order of the whole matter in this booke Peter his fall the causes within himselfe presumption in forsaking Gods word 1. leaning to hys owne power 2. following a farre off 3. without himself the companye the hygh priestes seruantes 4. the place the warme fire 5. the manner how 1. By bare denying 6. 2. By swearing 7. 3. By execration rising again the causes without himself the crowing of the cocke 9. the looking backe of Iesus 10. within himselfe what Christ had saide 11. what he had done 12. the manner how his going out 13. his sorrowing 14. Math. 26 34. Iesus sayde vnto Peter verily I say vnto thee that this night before the Cocke crowe thou shalt denie me thrise c.
PETERS FALL ¶ Two Sermons vpon the Historie of Peters denying Christ. Wherin we may see the causes of mans falling from God and the manner how both of the wicked thorough incredulitie and of the godly by infirmitie and also the way that God hath set downe in his word to rise againe By IOHN VDALL Preacher of the word of God at Kingston vpon Temmes Prouerbs 24 16. A iust man falleth seauen times and riseth againe but the wicked fall into mischiefe ¶ Printed at London by Iohn Windet and Thomas Iudson for Nicholas Lyng Anno. 1584. To the right Honorable Lord Frauncis Earle of Bedford Knight of the noble order of the Garter one of her Maiesties most honorable priuie Counsell IOHN VDALL wisheth increase and continuance of vertue and godlines THE greatest difference that the Philosophers could finde right Honorable betweene man and beast was the rule of reason wherby they could perceiue that man could giue iudgement of things present and things past and comparing them together could after a sort prognosticate of things to come which moued them according to theyr power and vnderstanding to labour night and day in continuall meditation of the excellencie of the same to seeke the adorning and beautifying thereof with all those things which brute beasts for lacke of reason coulde not haue as namely the continuall searching out of naturall causes the daily consideration of the effects and operations of things in this world and the particular qualities of euery seuerall beast bird fish tree herbe worme fruite stone and euerie other creature whatsoeuer The benefite of whose diligēce redoundeth euen to our great good and consolation as the Physitian verie well knoweth and the diseased patient sensibly feeleth yea and which more is they stayed not themselues in this alone but labouring still to beautifie that same diuine part of mans mind I meane reason they inuented another kynde of flower whiche they called Morall Philosophie wherewithall their meaning was to haue the effects of reason rightly ruled to shine foorth most brightly in euery particular action of mans life putting all their contemplations by this meanes in assiduall and dayly practise wherein how excellent they were and how forcibly they vsed it in their conuersation and also how equally it directed all their deedes by iustice and equitie their owne writings remaining yet and their notable acts recorded in histories do better more plentifully declare then either I can or my present purpose may suffer me Onely thus much is to be saide that their vertues were so excellent that we aime stil at them and their common wealths so well ordered that we make them our continuall platforme patterne and the nearer we come vnto diuers of thē the better we thinke our gouernment established Now it is not vnknowne vnto your honor nor to any other that haue the true feeling of Gods grace working in their hearts and the Sunne of righteousnes shining in theyr consciences that the Lord our God the creator of all things our redeemer preseruer and sanctifier hath giuen vnto vs not only the knowledge of all these things in some measure which they had in great aboundance but which more is a farre surpassing and more excellent difference to seuer vs withall from the rest of his creatures then euer they had or once thought of to wit the knowledge of his loue and fauour towards vs in his Sonne Iesus Christ. For albeit it be true that reason is the essentiall and formall difference as they call it betweene man and beast yet we see euen in them some sparke and as it were some speciall kind of reason for to try the same in particular effects we see that a Dog can discerne his maister from another man yea though he be twenty yeares from him if it be true that Homer reporteth of Vlisses his dog him that vseth to hurt him he can shun and can fawne on him that cherisheth him The bird also can foretell whē raine wil fall The Emit in the time of sommer maketh prouision for winter Many there be such like as these which we reade of in Pliny Aristotle writing of the nature of beasts and whiche by our owne experience we daily see But this is so farre from seeming to be reuealed to any other creature that it is a paradox and a strange thing to many of vs that differ frō bruite beasts by reason therfore which is the drift of this whole discourse it standeth vs vpon which professe the name of Iesus Christ which do acknowledge him to be giuē of God the Father and sealed vnto vs by God the holy Ghost for our eternall saluation to haue an especiall care that as Christ sayth of the wicked that they be wiser in their generation then the children of light so it be not sayde of vs that the Paganes Heathen and Gentile Philosophers be not found in the sight of God more diligent in their humane profession then we in the profession of Iesus Christ I meane more glorious in shewing foorth the fruite of their Philosophy in their actions then we of our diuinitie in our life and conuersation And surely I would to God that we could truly and rightly follow their steps in one thing which is this I reade of them that the more knowledge they obteined in their Philosophy the more they abandoned themselues from the vanities of the world so that one casteth his gold into the sea another carried all his substance with him wheresoeuer he went another contented himselfe with a tub or tunne to dwell in in steede of his house all of them whatsoeuer they possessed they did willingly employ it to the encrease of knowledge in themselues and others But do we so no. We seeke how to serue God and Mammon too we labour to become religious in shewe and couetous in deede We desire to come to Christ by night with Nicodemus for feare of worldly losses we seeke to crie Lord Lord but we haue no care to do the works of the Lord. We make a shewe of godlinesse but we denie the power thereof we wish to sit at the right and left hand of Iesus in his kingdome but we are loth to drinke of his cup. All in one word We professe Iesus Christ but turne the grace of God into wantonnesse Hence it is that wickednesse doth so abound that Sathan hath preuailed so much and that so few endeuour a godly life euen for that the enemie can perswade them that profession will serue that a shewe is sufficient But howsoeuer it be that so many be drunke with this cup of Sathans poison against whome in truth the Heathen Philosophers that neuer knew God shall rise in the day of iudgement and condemne them for that they haue beene more carefull to shew the fruite of their profession in vpright dealing though it was in vaine then these haue bene yet it behoueth all them that see these
from his house vntill it be vtterly wasted and consumed The whoremaister goeth on in his filthines because he forgetteth the commaundement of God Thou shalt not commit adulterie and the threatning that whoremongers and adulterers God will iudge To conclude the like is truly to be thought of all other sinnes that the casting off the worde of God behinde their backs and treading Gods vengeance threatned against sinne vnder theyr féete is the first step vnto that iniquitie whiche they commit Nowe if we will applie this to our edification and benefite we must learne by the harmes of other men to be more warie and circumspecte If we sée that others begin their transgressions by neglecting the word of God that we must begin our obedience in imbracing it in learning meditating and exercising our selues in the same continuallye For the Prophet Dauid maketh it the onely ioye and delyght that Godlye men can finde in thys worlde Whereunto appertayneth it that the Lorde appointing vnto his seruaunt Iosua the gouernement of his People in steade of Moses saith let not thys Booke of the Lawe departe out of thy mouthe but meditate therein daye and nyght that thou maiest obserue and doo accordyng to all that is written therein Where you sée that he setteth meditation and continuall exercise therein to goe before the seruice of the Lord and indéede by very good reason for the worde of God being his will and the thyng that he enioineth vs to doe howe can it bée that we shall doe it before wée learne it and how can wée learne it if wée neuer giue our selues therevnto nor regarde it Well howsoeuer the wicked of the worlde care not for it nor the preaching thereof because through the hardenes of their hartes it séemeth foolishnes vnto them yet surs we are it is the power of GOD vnto saluation vnto all those that beléeue it It is the sworde of the Spirite that cutteth away the bonds of sinne it is the grayne of mustarde séede that at firste is verye small but taking roote and increasing in the children of God it groweth vp to suche an height that it possesseth the whole harte and mynde It is the fire which burneth and cōsumeth the dregs of iniquitie It is also that Honye the swéetenes whereof doth bothe delyght the soule and also temper the troubles of thys worlde that they become tollerable and easie it is the raine showers and dewes moistyng the stonye heart And lastlye it is the séede whose rootes doe take so déepe holde and are so surely fastened that it neuer ceasseth from growyng vntyll it bryng the Soule whiche it possesseth into the kingdome of heauen Thys beyng so precious and yet not beléeued to bée so by them that are not called vnto the Faythe of Iesus Christe Therfore the Lord God to allure them whome he hath elected and to take all excuses from them that bée reiected hathe set downe moste excellente and singular allurementes and swéete speaches vnto them to inuite them vnto a loue and lyking of the same The wyse man Salomon bringeth in the Lorde speaking or rather speakyng hymselfe in the name of the Lorde sayth let thyne harte holde faste my words kéepe my commandements and thou shalt lyue get wisedome get vnderstandyng neyther declyne from the wordes of my mouth And there he sheweth what the word of GOD shal bryng vnto the louers thereof namely honour ryches long life and suche like which indéede figureth vnto vs al ioyes whatsoeuer whyche the Godlye shall haue in the lyfe to come if I shoulde stande vpon this I might shewe many moste excellente places for thys purpose as the excellencye thereof described by the Prophete Dauid and the greate benefites that he professeth hymselfe to haue receyued by the same As that he had perished in his troubles if the comforte thereof had not supported hym and thinketh it no bragge to saye he hath more vnderstandyng than his teachers because hys meditation was in the worde of God and vnderstoode more than the auncient because he kept Gods preceptes and he was made wiser than hys enimies because Gods preceptes were alwayes wyth hym The whole 119. Psalme is concerning thys argument And was it so excellent so precious and so fruitfull in Dauid for him selfe only no but it is also for our instruction that wée myght be stirred vp by the example of Dauid to take so great delight in it as he dyd For God is the same he was and hys worde of it selfe as forcible if not more forcible then it was So that we néede not to dispaire of gods goodnes in this cause For sure the cause why we come so farre behinde Dauid in zeale and godlines is our owne carelesnesse and hardnesse of harte and our presumption in that we wyth Peter here perswade our selues better of our selues than indéede we either néede or shoulde Let vs then awake and shake off the drowsines of our soule let vs vnlode our selues of all that presseth downe let vs looke vnto that whyche GOD commaundeth and not to that small procéedyng which we haue made and so muche the rather my déere beloued Brethren because wée sée the worlde more lulled in securitye than euer it was before that we can eyther reade or heare of The worde of God hath no more force wyth the greatest number than if they were stockes or stones whereas the threatenyng of Gods vengeaunce agaynste Sinne shoulde pricke their heartes and mooue them vnto repentaunce it bryngeth them a sléepe whereas the Preaching of the Gospell shoulde bring them to Fayth in Chryste it séemeth vnto them a Fable and a méere inuention of men nowe the case standyng desperatelye wyth them for thys is the cause why I speake it it behooueth vs to bée more circumspecte and carefull that the looue and likyng and continual exercise and obedience in and vnto the word of GOD doe so possesse vs that we neuer bée drawne from the same but so surelye fasten our soules hartes and wyls therevnto that we may therby haue a sure testimonye in our consciences that we bée the Children of GOD because we kéepe his commandementes Whereas contrary the wicked haue wythin them a note of condemnation in that they regarded not Gods worde neyther haue any regarde in hearyng or learnyng or practising the same in their life and conuersations The seconde braunche of Peters presumption consisteth in thys that he sayeth I am readie to go with thee into prison and vnto death Peter thought he was strong inough to be a Martyr when indéede he had scarce learned the principles of hys faith nor that whyche is most necessary for all men to knowe namely his owne power and hability and howe he muste learne to stande before the Lord. Here you sée Peter thynking him selfe a valiant Soulder and yet is not so out of whyche we note the pryde of mans hearte and confidence that fleshe and bloud conceiueth of
wicked come into such consideration of themselues very often and the Lord may worke so that it may be the beginning of their conuersion whereas if we kéepe them companie if we banquet eate drinke with them and shew them a familiar countenance we kéepe them secretly in their sinnes and so we being hinderers of their repentance by this meanes are partakers of their sinnes Then let Lot goe out of Sodome least he be burned let Noah get him into the Arke least he be drowned let them that feare the Lord God of heauen go out from the companie of the wicked least they be partakers of their sinnes and so consequentlie of their punishment I knowe what this worketh in the reprobate and how they account of the godlie for so doing they say they be proude straunge and disdainefull persons but I had rather they should thinke and speake so of me falsely then being familiar with the wicked to prouoke the Lord my God vnto anger wilfully Peter also sate downe c. Now followeth the last cause which is the place to wit the warme fire a verie forcible thing to ouerthrowe the strongest seruant of God vnlesse Gods especiall fauor do support him for what a gret tēptation was this Peter whē he followed Christ at his héeles did suffer hunger colde much trouble But now when he followeth a far off he cōmeth to the warme fire no doubt satās deuise was to bring him to this mind Is it true y t when I do but slack a little frō my vsual zeale my condition is so much bettered Doubtles if I leaue it altogether I shall come to some excellent estate And surely satan hath vsed this tēptation to many of Gods children doth also vse it daily For he y t is poore shall haue the diuell put these things in his hart I stand now in néede I want many things that others haue I might haue the same if I would leaue off this precisenes in following Gods word in al points and what néed is it y e I should do so did not Christ die for sinnes c. Then when he is come to this his tempter will not leaue him til he haue brought him to the depth of vniust dealing So the lecherous mā he wil tempt with the swéetenes of y e sin the ambitious man with excesse of honor y e proud man with brauery of raiment to say al in one word he tempteth all men eyther with that that their corrupt affections do lust after or else with y t whiche they séeme to want in this world For so was the beloued seruant of God Dauid tempted he saith plainly that whē he did sée the wicked prosper not being in trouble as other men were hauing all things at their hearts desire and yet setting their toungs déeds euē against heauen the hiest that his foot was almost gone his steps had welnie slipt that he had then cleansed his heart in vaine washed his hands in innocencie for he was daily punished Let vs weigh this diligētly sure it is a sore temptatiō if we cōpare y e state of y e wicked the condition of the godly in this together haue no further respect we shal surely be brought to say it is a vain thing to serue God Dauid being pressed with this distresse was very carèfull to search out the cause of it But though he did beate his braine neuer so much yet it was too painefull a thing for him to search out by naturall reason for it is a thing that mans wit can not reach vnto what did he then vntill I went vnto the Sanctuary saith he then did I vnderstand their end Then we sée how Dauid was tempted how he auoided it the which thing we must apply to our selues in this case for Satan doth euen at this day vse this engine to batter the faith of man but we must go into the Sanctuarie of God that is into his word and praie to God that his spirit may be our guide and then we shall sée that they shall stand in slippery places and perish as a dreame and florishing as a flower be quickly cut downe and cast into the fornace of eternall condemnatiō contrariwise the godly being troubled héere for a time shall quietly be released and enioy the sight of God for euer This being that shield wherewithall many of the children of God haue driuē back y e blowes of this temptation yet notwithstanding diuers haue béene ouertaken with it for the warmth of worldly promotion is a swéet poison very delicate at the first so was this fire very pleasant and preuailed with Peter The lyke is plaine in Dauid who when hée was troubled did fight the Lords battaile most valiantly and ouercome the Philistians triumphantly and doubtlesse framed his conuersation according to Gods word verie sincerely But being setled in the Kingdome of Israell and fighting against his enemies by hys Lieutenants and Captaynes and he quiet at home committed those two most grosse sinnes of murther in killing Vriah and adulterie in taking vnto him Bethsabe his wife His sonne Salomon at the first serued God very deuoutly and God blessed him with all wisedome honour wealth and dignitie that his heart could desire But being besotted in the sléepe of securitie fell from the Lord into maine idolatry from which it is not read in the worde of God whether euer he departed by repentance or no. King Asa in the beginning was very zealous for the glorie of the Lorde God and broke downe Idolatrie and did that whiche was good in the sight of the Lorde But afterwardes forgetting Gods goodnesse towardes him and sléeping in worldly delightes forsooke God and put his trust when he was sicke in Phisitians Vzziah sought the Lorde in the daies of Zachary the Prophete and prospered But in the same Chapiter it is reported that when hée was strong his heart was lifted vp to hys destruction So hard it is to flow in the prosperitie of the world and enioy the warmth of worldly delights without reuolting or at the least slacke procéeding in the seruice of the Lord. And to this purpose is that of the Prophete speaking of the backsliding of the Israelites they were filled sayth he and their heart was exalted therefore haue they forgotten me The consideration héereof mooued the wise man Salomon or rather the Prophet Agur to pray vnto the Lorde that he woulde neither giue him pouertie nor riches least saith he I be full and denie thée and say who is the Lord and least I bée poore and steale take the name of my God in vaine It mooued Dauid to saye It is good for me that I haue béen afflicted that I may learne thy statutes For before thou didst humble me I went astray but now I kéepe thy worde Iob likewise séeing both the inconuenience of continuall successe and also
greatlie detested so likewise when he goeth about to perswade any man to adultery he will not at the first throw him into the harlots bed but bring him to behold her then to haue a liking of her then to haue familiarity with her then lastly to commit the hainous fact of whoredome if he go about to bring one man to murther another he doth not bring him vnto it at the firste but beginneth by sowing of discord then of hatred last of all to actuall murther his practise is the like in all other sinnes especially if he deale with those that séeme to make some conscience of sinne and haue in their heart anie detestation of iniquitie Such was his dealing in erecting vp the kingdome of Antichrist for it was a thousand yeares at the least in patching before it came to his height and top of iniquitie Therefore let all them that desire to auoide the actuall sinne endeuour also to cut off all occasions of his beginning If thou wilt not commit adultery cut off thy wanton lookes If thou be loth to murther any man pull downe thy haughtie heart and roote out the affections of disdaine from thy mind and learne out of Gods worde how to apply thy selfe to singlenes and humilitie let the example of yong Daniel neuer go out of thy remembrance who refused euen the portion of meate that was allotted vnto him by Nabuchadnezar which of it selfe was lawfull to be receiued with giuing of thanks because the King shoulde not entice him thereby to forsake the true God and leane to his religion so it is our duty not only to kéepe our selues vndefiled from euery sinne but also frō euery thing that may be a meanes to bring vs vnto it Thus we sée the causes that moued Peter to fall and indéede they be the same that moue all mē to sinne whether it be the godly that fal through infirmitie or the wicked that procéede on in sinning daily and neuer returne vnto the Lord. And we sée also by what steps and degrées Peter came to the height of his offence whose trace we doo all treade so oft as we fall although euerie one go not so farre as he did because Gods grace preuenteth him sooner beholde then in him thine owne frailtie But now we come to make a separation betwéene them that fall and neuer rise againe and them that be renued by repentance And immediately while he was a speaking c. Nowe we come to the beholding of the excéeding mercie of oure good and gratious God who though he suffer vs for a time to goe after our owne fantasies yet at the last his out-stretched arme will helpe those that be his he suffered Peter to fall into sinne yet he is readie to help him vp againe yea euen when Peter was a curssing God entended towards him a blessing and surely it is not without the speciall prouidence of the spirit of God set downe héere by Luke that while Peter yet spake or was a speaking the Cocke did crowe because the enemies of Gods grace and their owne saluation the Papistes who will play at small game rather then they will sit out when they can not wring it from vs that man hath frée will to do well or merit his own saluation yet they must haue it graunted that we be copartners with GOD in that worke I hope they will graunt vnto vs that Peter who was called and nowe is fallen had as muche power and did as muche further his restoring againe as they that haue neuer tasted of the swéetenesse of Gods worde and grace Now Christ did begin Peters conuersion when the Cocke did crowe and what was Peter then doing helping yea helping himselfe to hell-warde for he was then curssing himselfe So that if Peter coulde not helpe himselfe into Gods fauour againe sure it is that none can away then with that fonde imagination that any thing is in man to further his owne saluation for God must first conuert vs and then we shall be conuerted God must be mercifull vnto vs and then we shall be saued The cock crew c. This is y e first cause that God setteth forward towarde the conuersion of Peter For the Lord beholding in what desperate case he was went about to deliuer him out of it and that in all haste for God knewe verie well that if he should continue any space in the swéetenesse wherein sinne had swadled him for it is swéete to all them whose hartes God hath not called from it by the grace of his holy spirite he had béene hardened in the same as the wicked sorte of the world be who tasting thereof and finding their corrupte and sicke senses delighted with it committe the same with gréedinesse and doo so greatly please themselues with it that they conceiue an earnest lothing of all godlinesse and vertue and that is the cause that many of whome we may reade who hauing once tasted of the swéete word of God and after reuerted from the same haue become the greatest enemies that euer the Churche of God hath had at any time and if it were Gods will I would we felt it not in present experience and therefore the Lord God as he is most carefull for his children maketh haste to deliuer Peter quickly This crowing of the Cocke was the same vnto Peter that the preaching of Gods Ministers is vnto vs. For God doth not alwaies vse his ordinarie meanes so that when soeuer we haue the word of God preached at what time soeuer we heare our sinnes laid open before vs and rebuked we must thinke with our selues that God doth with vs as he did to Peter namely vseth meanes to call vs frō sinne bring vs to repentance amendmēt of life This meanes the Lord vseth generally vnto all for his Gospell must be preached throughout the whole world for a witnesse vnto all nations and yet we knowe though many be called yet few are chosen Therefore it behoueth vs to know whether y e Cocke doo crowe vnto vs to our saluation or no and the first triall consisteth in this that the Cocke of Gods word croweth vnto all men and yet onely they imbrace his sound aright that shall be saued if then thou féelest thy selfe to heare the same with all due reuerence if thou beléeuest the promises therof to belong vnto thée with all stedfastnes and endeuourest to frame thy life according to the same with al diligence thou maist assure thy selfe that thou art the child of God for they be of God that doo thus heare his word contrariwise if thou hearest the word preached and perceiuest thy secrete sinnes thereby laid open and thy owne conscience in thy selfe is witnes that thou art conuinced and yet art so farre from beléeuing it or framing thy life according to it that thou doest both mocke it as manie nowe a daies delight to doo and also séeke to pull the cocke downe from the pearch that
he crowe no more thou maist assure thy selfe for sure it is thou art in the way of destruction a necessarie meditation for all men The Lord looked backe c. The seconde cause followeth the cocke had crowen and yet Peter had not remembred himselfe neither was he awaked out of his sinfull sléepe vntill the Lorde turned backe his countenaunce vpon him but when once he looked vpon his face whose knowledge he had denied then began he to remember himselfe and consider that things were amisse But was it the turning backe of his face that wrought this in Peter No for then it might haue conuerted Iudas whome he looked vpon when he betraied him But it was his grace and holie spirite which did mercifully fall downe into his heart when the cocke did crowe Whereby we sée plainely that it is not the outwarde ministerie of the word of God onely that bringeth saluation vnto mankinde for Paule planteth Apollo watereth but God giueth the increase and this is the reason that so many heare the word and so few profit therein because it belongeth to the Lorde to shew mercie to whome he will shewe mercie And therefore when the Gospell was preached to them of Antioch by S. Paule it is said that so many as were ordained to saluation beléeued so that if thou hearing or reading Gods word doest desire that it may worke to thy saluation pray earnestly vnto the Lord that it would please him of hys infinite mercie to looke backe vpon thée with the eies of his grace and so framing thy selfe in a true faith and a single heart to applie it vnto that ende wherefore it is giuen thée thou shalt surely féele in thy soule an especiall operation of the spirite of God to thy greate comforte Thus much briefly concerning the first two causes of Peters conuersion where note by y e way that the two first causes of his fall were within himself but the first that worke to his rising againe are without himselfe to teach vs that all our sinnes procéede of our selues and come from our selues but all goodnesse not of vs but from the Lord that his name only may be praised for all good things and we our selues blamed for all euill Peter remembred c. Now followe the causes within himselfe but marke this first the Cocke did crow no doubt of it more did heare him then Peter but because he was ordeyned as a meanes to call Peter home therefore he only being guilty was pricked in heart and none else moued So God hath ordeyned the Preaching of hys worde to be an instrument to put all men in minde of their faults and that they mighte amend And such is the force thereof that the worde preached generally doth mooue euery mans conscience which is guiltie of that crime whiche is reprooued And therefore there be manie wicked men of the worlde that doo imagine the Preacher to harpe onely vppon them because they be guiltie as if he speake against Papistrie euerie massemonger thinketh he pointeth at hym if he inneigh againste Swearers Usurers whoremaisters or théeues euery swearer Usurer Whoremaister and théefe thinketh his owne doinges to bee touched And in déede though they turne it to a fault in the Preacher this sheweth vnto vs the wonderfull vertue of Gods word that can speake so to euery mans heart and thought Therefore when thou hearest thy owne faults rebuked euen that which thou thoughtest all the world had not knowen openly reuealed doo not thinke that he speaketh it of choller or hath learned it of thy trustie familiars but thinke rather that Gods spirite whiche searcheth all mens thoughtes doth speake vnto thée that thou shouldest amende it For as Peter béeing guiltie alone was onely pricked in conscience and did repent so it is thy duetie to consider thy owne estate and repent thée of thy fault that God may be mercifull vnto thée Peter remembred c. The worde preached and Gods grace working inwardly doo bring Peter to remēbrance First that Christ had sayde Before the Cocke crowe thou shalt deny me thrise c. And secōdly that he had so doon in déed for they must be handled together let vs then note this diligently before the crowing of the cocke and the looking back of Iesus there was no such thing in his minde but they two comming together doo bring him into consideration of his estate Adam and Heuah when they had transgressed the lawe of the Lord made no care of it at the first But when the word of the Lorde and his spirite said VVhere art thou he remembred what God had said that he should not eate of the trée of knowledge of good and euill and that he had eaten of it King Dauid when he had committed those hainous sins of murther and adultery slept quietly therein vntil the Prophet Nathan came to rebuke him and the spirite of the Lorde withall wrought in his heart then he remembred his grieuous sinne and the law of the Lord God to the contrarie Manasses the son of godly Ezechiah thought Idolatrie no Sinne and to make the stréets of Ierusalem swymme with the bloud of innocentes no offence But when the troubles that he sustained in the time of his captiuitie which were in stead of the preaching of gods word did pintch him and the Lorde stretched forth the hands of his mercy to receyue him then he saw the horriblenes of his sinne The like is euident in S Paule who before his conuersion thought he did god good seruice in séeking the vtter extinguishing of the saincts of god But when the light did shew him the blindnes of his mind and the voice of Christ did aske him why he did so persecute him he was stroken downe in consideration of his offence To leaue off to recken anye more examples out of Gods word The same is most true in all mākinde euen in our selues For before we be called vnto the trueth in Iesus Christ we walke in the waies of our owne imaginations we liue without god be strangers from the couenant of the promise of GOD. But when it pleaseth him of hys goodnesse to call vs vnto the knowledg of his grace by preaching his word vnto vs and that he look backe vpon vs with the eies of his mercye Then we see plainelye what is the rule of righteousnes that God hath inioyned vnto al the sonnes of Adam and comparing the same with our déeds we sée how great is our debt that we haue vnpayed howe many be our Sinnes that we haue committed and how vain our former conuersation hath béene whereas before this be reuealed vnto vs we procéede securely in our owne iniquity and as all worldlings doo think our owne wayes to be right and honest Wherefore if this be the way and firste entrance into the schoole of Christe to wit the word of God preached to shewe vs our sins What a great care ought we