a dish full of Water but he opens to her the water of life Note 3. How to come to know our owne weaknesse Christ here admonisheth Peter we never truly come to know our selves till Christ take us in hand to teach us as the Woman at the Well John 4. never came to know her selfe till Christ taught her The word is a square a glasse a ballance a light Christ in the Gospel discovereth to us the darke corners of our hearts letteth us see our hypocrisie pride earthlinesse errors and lusts How many can say they never saw themselves in ill case till the word came Rom. 7. 7. nay Paul was alive without the Law so every naturall man thinks himselfe alive in good case no feare of sin no terrors of conscience or feare of damnation but are happy and well their case being as a man sicke and near to death but complaines not tels how he is not sicke because his senses being overcome he feeles not his disease so is every unregenerate man But if Christ in his word cannot be beleived as Peter beleeves not he is so ill as Christ saith then there is another meanes to bring us to the sense of our own weaknesse and that is by Experience the Mistris of fooles and so Peter in this History Many say if all were true as the Minister saith we were in a miserable state but we cannot make men believe us calling them to the sight of themselves that they are so bad as they are To thee I say thou that belongest to God as Peter God will give thee up to some lust or other till experience beat this knowledge into thee as Peter but in mercy thou shalt see it in season Thou that doest not believe nor belongest to God shalt also have wofull experience of the malice of thy heart and wretchednesse of thy course but too late when thy state shall be remedilesse chuse you now whether you will believe the word or feele it one you must the word if it judge not in this day shall in the last day Joh. 12. 48. Note 4. This Day this night Note how suddenly even a good man is turned from good resolutions if but a little left to himselfe or he remit but a little of his owne watchfulnesse a few houres make so confident a Disciple of Christ who scorned to think of deniall of his Master to deny and forswear him too Reas. 1. We stand by grace which if it be not every moment renewed we must needs fal as a man upheld by a crutch remove the crutch and he fals down or set a staff upright withdraw the hand ye need not thrust it downe so we 2. The suddennesse of the temptation which cometh like a lightning and our pronesse to be kindled with the same David in the forenoone might be not onely chast but holily employed in holy meditations but in the afternoone on his Gallery spyes Bathsheba and is all enflamed and moyled in foule wantonnesse and lust 3. Freedome of the Spirit who cometh and goeth when he lists as the Wind which is a ground of humiliation in the most holy estate we can get into not every joy not any gracious estate may lift us up Nescis quid serus vesper vehat the Sunne may shut under a Cloud suddenly 2. To watch our graces well and forecast temptation 3. Depend on the spirit of God to perfect and accomplish his owne good motions and leave us not to our selves who can quickly quench them 4. No marvell if the righteousnesse of Hypocrites be as the morning dew their desires as flashes to make them inexcusable being in the spirit they delight not to dwell in that good frame but vanish into nothing Note 5. Deny me thrice Peter was most confident of all the Disciples and must fall more shamefully then they all he will dye with Christ ere he will once deny him but within foure or five houres he shall deny him thrice he would never deny him but instantly shall not content himselfe to deny him once and againe but thrice It commonly fals out that they who pride themselves above others even in good gifts that they are given up to fall more shamefully then others and why Reas. 1. God doth avenge pride of heart with sin and shame cannot abide it in any least in his Children 2. His wisedome tempers poyson to a remedy by these fals to abate the humour and let out the core If presence of grace puffs up absence of grace or presence of corruptions shall take them downe 3. Pride is a rocke against which grace makes Shipwrack walke therefore humbly before God for when pride commeth then commeth shame Prov. 11. 2. and where pride is there is folly and ignorance of a mans selfe and his owne estate so our proverbe calleth him a proud foole c. 1. David professeth his heart was not haughty but as a child Psal. 131. 1. 2. Humility is a seemely garment for outward carriage 1 Pet. 5. 5. decke your selves with lowlinesse of mind 3. There is no great fall from a low place one of the Fathers calleth it Coronam in tuto pinnaculum moenia ne quis ex alto decidat 4. Whatsoever may befall the humble-minded man the Lord will give grace unto him 1 Pet. 5. 5. grace of his Spirit grace of his favour and countenance grace of his Soule he will dwell with the humble soule Isa. 57. 15. and it with him a most happy cohabitation Vers. 31. But Peter said more earnestly if I should dye with thee I will not deny thee likewise said they all WHen Peter had heard our Lord and Saviour with his wonted asseveration tell him so heavy things of himselfe that he should deny his Lord that night thrice and so renounce his faith his profession and salvation by him this should have soundly humbled Peter and terrified him yea should have been as a dagger to his heart to have let out the life of his naturall pride and presumption 2. Whereas it was sufficient to have made him concieve modestly of himself at least to have entred into himselfe and consider of his weaknesse to take downe his carnall temerity and boldnesse one peg lower 3. Wheras it should have brought him to renounce himself and depend wholly upon the strength and grace of Christ his Lord which onely was sufficient for him 4. Whereas it had beene enough to make him beleeve the Word and affirmation of the Lord before his owne conceit for to all these purposes did the Lord Jesus so forewarne him of his fall yet he still blinded with vaine confidence in himselfe or carried away with preposterous zeale doth more vehemently persist in contradicting his Lord in which he heaps up a number of sins 1. The repetition and falling into the same sin after Christs admonition and asseveration but Peter said 2. The manner of his sin he said more earnestly 3. The matter of it I will
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 necâ—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. Settlâ—â—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
Christ himselfe Reason saith they cannot be deare to God who are so afflicted and smitten the Spirit from thence concludes them Sons of God Heb. 12 6 7. Vse 1. Vnsafe therefore it is to follow our reason for our guide in divine things no be ordered by the word and rules of Religion 2. And we learne to deny our selves which is the first lesson in Christianity Mat. 16 24. I will smite the Shepherd WHO is the Shepherd Christ himself Iohn 10. I am the good Shepherd Christ hath as many names as Benefits 1. He redeemed us and thence called the Redeemer of Israel 2. He rules us by his Spirit and grace and thence called the King of the Church 3. He feeds us and called thence the Bread of life 4. He refresheth us and thence called the Water of life 5. He enlightneth us and thence called the Light of the World Iohn 8. 12. 6. He eternally appeaseth the Father so called our high Priest and here our Shepherd Quest. Why Answ. Because promised Ezek. 34. 23. I will set up one Shepherd over them and he shall feed them and accordingly performed all offices of a good Shepherd So here called a Shepherd a name of great love and sweetnesse 1. As descending of ancient Patriarks who were Shepherds and they Types of him Abel Jacob David Moses 2. He knows his Sheepe and markes them for his owne Iohn 10. 3. 14. And God sets his seale on them 2 Tim. 21. 19. knows them by name as Cyrus his Souldiers 3. He feeds their Soules and bodyes in greene pastures Psal. 23. and drives them to the sweet streames and waters of comfort by the paths of grace and righteousnesse 4. Defends them from the Wolfe and enemies being timorous simple weake shiftlesse creatures to flye resist or save themselves as David met the Lyon and Beare and slew them and saved the Sheepe 1 Sam. 17. 34. so this Shepherd goes on to meet the Adversaries and to give his life for the sheepe Oh wonderfull love and accordingly to be much magnified this good Sheepherd watcheth over his Flocke with his eye never absent day nor night sleepeth not by night as other Shepherds but keepeth our bones Psal. 34. 20. numbers the haires Mat. 10. 30. observeth Enemies and turneth them back Psal. 56 9. One Sheep may forget another as the Butler did Joseph but Christ cannot forget any of his Flocke 5. Nourisheth the young and tender Lambes Isa. 40. 11. breakes not bruised reedes suffereth not his to be tempted above their strength Seekes them straying rejoyceth in finding as in the Parable of the lost Sheep seekes and saves them that are lost cures the diseased if the diseased be contagious removes it till it be cured washeth them in the streames of his blood and every way saveth 7. He bringeth them to the Fold 1. Of grace 2. Of glory So of Christs Title 2. This Shepherd must be smitten namely with ignominy reproach grievous strokes death and the Sword so in Zachary Sword arise and smite c. Quest. What had he deserved Answ. He was fellow of the Lord not onely in familiarity of grace but conformity of nature for none can be Gods fellow which is not of the same nature what fellowship betweene abhorring natures therefore he was more pure then the Sun and no spot in him from top to toe but all perfection of grace he was not therefore smitten for his own sake but ours so Isa. 53. 5. he was wounded for our transgressions 3. Who smit him I will smite him Object The Original in Zachary saith Sword smile and rise upon the Shepherd Sol. The Evangelist or our Saviour respecting sense rather then words thus changeth them 2. The Prophet speaketh prophetically Allegorically obscurely in a compared sense But now the accomplishment of a Prophecy being the best Expositor he speâ—ks according to the accomplishment plainly and without obscurity 3. In both Phrases nothing else is signifyed but that all that trouble and persecution of Jesus Christ was moved according to the will and counsell of God as Act. 4. 28. Herod and Pilate met to doe whatsoever thy hand and counsell determined the Prophet in the commandement to the Sword expresseth the counsell of God the Evangelist the hand of God in the death of Christ. Object But he was smitten by the high Priests and Jewes who slue him Answ. The hand and action of God was in it latent the actions of the instruments were apparent Gods hand was secret and hid to them and therefore they sinned highly in bringing Gods purpose to passe Object That God had a counsell ordaining and permitting this sin we grant but that he had a hand in the sin is hard to say Answ. Saint Luke addeth also that God had a hand in this action but more improperly then counsell for this hand wrought not with them in the sin but moderated guided restrained and over-ruled the sin to his glory and Christs advancement Vse 1. In that Christ is the Shepherd comfort our selves in his 1. Love 2. Care 1. Love more Love is included in this word Shepherd then if he should call himselfe our Father Brother Kinsman the good Shepherd gives his life for his Sheepe which every Father and Brother will not doe 2. Care the Sheep need care for nothing but the Shepherds presence Psal. 23. The Lord is my Shepherd I shall want nothing that is nothing that is needfull and good Jacob was a carefull Shepherd as any was yet lost some Sheepe some lost some stolne some torne Gen. 31. 39 40. But the care of this Shepherd is such as he loseth none whom he hath chosen Iob. 17. 12. Moses was a carefull Shepherd of Gods People but sometimes weary sometimes grudged at the great burden and charge Numb 11. 11. But Christ was obedient even unto the death Vse 2. In that Christ was smitten with the Sword learne patience in all afflictions and crosses ordinary and extraordinary Heb. 12. 2. Run with patience the race before us looking at Jesus Are we smitten with tongues of men swords of men so was the greene Tree the dry may be contented 1. He suffered for no necessity or desert but by voluntary humility we deserve even fiery tryals 2. He not for his cause but ours and shall not we for his 3. He despised the shame and why should not we doe so 4. The end of his crosse was the exaltation at Gods right hand and we expect the same end Vse 3. Of admonition in that he was smitten for us see it affect us with sorrow that we by sin drew out the Sword against Christ Oh that we could cry out of our selves and sins who brought Gods companion and as the Apostle saith one who thought it no robbery to be equall with God to abase himself as a Servant as a Sinner to be smitten and suffer death as a malefactor Phil. 2. 6. how should it humble us looke on him
gloria Jer. 9. 24. the right glorying Vita aeterna Iohn 17. 3. this is eternal life We must know and acknowledge no voyce but his no word but his no unwritten traditions no determination of Popes Councels Fathers but his Scriptures a perfect guide Gal. 1. 8 9. If any man or Angel bring another word hold him accursed 3 Sheep presently heare the voyce of the Shepherd John 10. 27. my sheepe hear my voyce not the voyce of Satan calling from light to darkenesse not of Antichrist calling to traditions and superstitions But Christs voyce 1. Externall exhortationin the ministry 2. Internal inspirations by the motions of his spirit not quenched 3. Bountifull Largition Christ speakes in his mercies inviting to repentance Rom. 2. 4. 4. Corporal flagellation his hand is his voyce and cals to humiliation and conversion A good Christian heares all this Heare the Rod and who appointed it Mic. 6. 9. 4. Sheepe follow their Shepherd so the Sheep of Christ obey him a fruit of hearing and bring in abundant fruits of obedience abounding in good workes Nothing but profitable in Sheepe fleece flesh encrease profitable in life and death they be nowhere but enrich the Ground Thus did the Shepherd and thus must we So of the Sheepe Secondly How the Sheepe shall be scattered OUr Saviour expresseth it Ioh. 16. 32. Behold the houre commeth yea is now come that ye shall be scattered every one to his owne and leave me alone I shall be this night smitten with reproach ignomy and the sharpest sword of God and men even to the death and now whereas soundnesse of Faith would make you cleave unto me in life and death you shall forsake me some of you shall deny and forsweare me and all flye from me and be scattered every one his way as if you were deceived and deluded in me yea every one of you shall shift for his owne safety and fall both from me and one from another as Sheepe are dispersed and scattered when the Shepherd is slaine and taken from them And how this Prediction was accomplished see Mat. 26. 56. Then all the Disciples forsooke him and fled so soone as he was in his enemies hands and not onely they but other Disciples and followers of Christ as the two Disciples that were going to Emaus whose Faith was so shaken as they say We thought this should be he that should redeeme Israel and this is the third day but now they began to be of another minde Quest. Why were the Disciples thus scattered Answ. 1. In themselves carnall and excessive feare of themselves who were yet weake and had not received the Spirit to strengthen them as afterward they had not cast the costs of their profession nor accounted sufficiently the expence of this building as their Master had long before exhorted them Ans. 2. God in his wisdome would have Christ left of all his Disciples because he was to be knowne to tread the Wine-presse of Gods wrath alone without partner or fellow none must share in the Action or in the glory Ans. 3. Thus it behoved the Scripture to be fulfilled in regard of Christ himselfe who voluntarily undertaking the grievous burthen of our sinne must be forsaken of God and all other creatures and comforts for the time for so we had justly deserved and he must be left alone and comfortlesse Ans. 4. To teach us that all the safety and comfort of the strongest Christians were they as neere to Christ as his deare Disciples is in their relation and dependance on the chiefe Shepherd for without Christ the Shepherd of soules we lie dispersed ungathered and in a forlorne estate If he withdraw himselfe never so little as great Beleevers as the Disciples flye away from him and never come to him till he come to them Vse 1. Are the Disciples scattered when Christ is persecuted and smitten what marvaile if hypocrites be quite blowne away from their profession by perecution who onely as chaffe cleave to the Wheat If the godly be scattered for a time from Christ and from themselves as here the Disciples what marvaile if hypocrites be scattered from both If â—ffliction for Christ shake the Faith of so great Apostles no marvaile if it quite overturne such as be unsâ—tled and ungrounded This is one of the ends of affliction for the Gospell to try them that are sound for as the faire season of the Spring sets and ripens Fruits so the Winds and boysterous blasts of Autumn makes them fall off We may not therefore stumble when we see great Professors fall off in trials for some believe but for a time Luke 8. 13. and so of some 1 John 2. 19. that they went out from us because they were not of us Vse 2. Let no man presume of his owne strength to stand in triall nor be too confident in another in tryall Little knowes a man nor will beleeve the deceit and hollownesse of his owne heart Hazael will not beleeve he can prove such a Dogge and so vile as the Prophet speaks of Little knowes many a man who now continues wel-affected to sound Preaching how soone they should finde their inner disposition and outward too changed if outward occasions were changed but a little So a man would have promised as much as any of the Disciples of Christ as any in the world nay the Disciples would not beleeve Christ telling them how cowardly they should leave him they thought themselves wronged as their answer shewes yet how should a man have bin deceived in them how were they deceived in themselves who immediately after our Lord had forewarned them fall into this their weaknesse Vse 3. Arme our selves well against tryall it was nothing for the Disciples to sticke to Christ while in peace and we now while Christ is with us easily hold up the head but when Christ is smitten then is the tryall sound love to Christ is tryed by continuing with him in temptation Sound love to the Word Preachers and Professours is that which hath endured triall as that is sound Gold which hath passed the fire good Ground is knowne by enduring Arme we therefore our selves with resolution that we must suffer that the Shepherd shall be smitten and yet goe on so with sense of our owne impotency to stand with watching and prayer that we enter not into temptation also with sound love of Christ and Christian Religion or else if the Pastor be smitten thou shalt be scattered Vse 4. If godly Ministers or Professors in time of trouble be left and those that seemed to depend on them to affect them for the best things fall to the stronger side it was our Lords case we must be patient and contented Elias persecuted by Jezabel was left alone Paul himselfe for Christ in his bands had none to assist him 2 Tim. 4. 16. or stand with him it is no new case that faithfull Pastors especially should be conformable to the
chiefe Shepherd all times of persecution did ever confirme this truth that the Pastor was no sooner smitten then the Sheepe were scattered from him But let it comfort Ministers as Christ I am not alone but my Father is with me Vse 5. If the Disciples be scattered in dayes of trouble let us know the day of our peace our season the time of our visitation frequent holy Assemblies get hold of Christ encrease of Faith grow in wisdome enjoy our season our Sun our Summer our seed time not knowing our day forfeits it worke while we may doe in our peace what we would but cannot if triall come Ver. 28. But after I am Risen NOW followes Christs Consolation Wherein Note difference betweene Law and Gospell the Law pronounceth heavie things and there resteth But the Gospell still after heavie newes ends with good tydings the Law throwes downe a man and there leaves him the Gospell raiseth the humbled You shall be scattered but I will come againe Mat. 16. 21. I must goe up to Jerusalem to suffer heavie tydings Peter disswades him But I will rise againe the third day There is Gospell indeed So to the Church You shall be hated of all men for my names sake sad tydings but if you continue to the end ye shall be saved Mat. 10. 23. You must take up the Crosse and follow Christ but I will give refreshing to your soules Iohn 16. 33. In the Worlâ— ye shall have affliction but be of good comfort Vse 1. Lay hold upon the Gospel and sow in never so many teares thou shalt reap in joy Vse 2. Accept the condition of the Gospel be content to begin with the Crosse be weary laden lay a good foundation in Repentance mortification godly sorrow on this condition attaine the crowne of refreshing and entrance into the Kingdome by many afflictions Act. 14. 22. If we suffer we shall raign all true joy is fetched out of sorrow blessed are the mourners Vse 3. Let Papists sticke to the comfort of the Law they shall never hear a good word from Christ. Let prophane Persons shun the heavinesse of the Gospel they shall never have joy Christ wipes away no teares where none be shed he that will not be a weary needs no refreshing This by the way Ver. 28. But after I am risen I will goe before you into Galilee SUch a promise as was never heard off before and without exception that a dead man should rise within few dayes and promise so to do Having spoken of Christs admonitions now of consolation where the Lord sustaines them with many grounds of comfort 1. That there shall be a certaine end of this evill ready to swallow them up 2. There shall be a short end after a few dayes three or four 3. There shall be a happy end For 1. Christ shall rise again from the dead with power and glory 2. Whereas they are run from him he will come to them againe 3. Though they have left their Shepherd yet he will become their Shepherd againe and goe before them and guide them as a Shepherd goes before his Sheep For their full confirmation he declares both the time and place where he will and when he will meet them in Galilee a place fit for their estate for it signifyeth dispersing or scattering the Sea of Galilee forty miles from Jerusalem Quest. Why in Galilee Answ. 1. That they may more surely enjoy one another without feare of the Jewes and instruct them in the Kingdome of Christ. 2. Because Christ had more Disciples and Favorites in Galilee to whom he would familiarly offer himselfe and manifest his resurrection then in Judea 3. Themselves were of Galilee he would bring them backe were he found them 4. They must follow their calling till Christ came and for the time before they can get into Galilee he will be there before them expecting them note here Note 1. The wonderfull lenity and meeknesse of Jesus Christ he was going to dye for his Disciples they fly from him and doubt the truth of his whole proceedings his Person his Doctrine his miracles sufferings the event of all his course He now doth not sharpely rebuke them for their infidelity inconstancy and â—emerity after so long being with him but uses them gently and with great and loving affection as the Titles of Shepherd and Sheep import not only forewarneth them of their danger but furnisheth them with grounds of comfort and promiseth them most loving and kind entreaty even after their flight as if they had never forsaken him Vse A Rule to carry our selves toward Brethren that faile let them be restored by the spirit of meeknesse yea if the offence concerne our selves wherein we are hottest to be most coole and calme Christ casts not off for ever no more must we breake affection but imitate him with all moderation Note 2. Christ never with-draws himselfe from his Members but he leaves some comfort behind him something to bring them in love with him or to stay them in his absence or to make them desire and seeke after him againe yea something instead of his presence or promise Iohn 14. having told his Disciples he must goe away and leave them yet ver 18. he promiseth not to leave them comfortlesse for he will send the comforter to supply his absence and still God ordinarily takes not away one mercy but he gives another as Christ here removes his personal presence but supplyes it with a double blessing 1. Protection of their persons in his absence 2. Promise of his presence to rest their faith on in the meane time Cant. 5. the Church would not open unto Christ when Christ called he goes away in displeasure at her unkind answer but he left behind him drops of Myrth some sweet worke of the spirit that made her spirit yearn within her which wrought compunction for her offence and quickned her to seeke him ver 25. His desertions are never totall Vse Which may comfort poore souls affected in sense of Christs absence feelest thou a want of Christs presence he hath left some pledge behind him and he is perhaps nearer then thou thinkest 1. He hath given thee a promise he will not leave thee long 2. He hath given the spirit which hath wrought some grace of trembling for offending him some grace of fainting and longing after him some grace of seeking him as him whom thy soule loveth some grace of prayer breathing earnest and inward desires not satiate without him some grace of fortitud sustaining the heart for the present and enabling to undergoe many troubles for his sake yet abiding and waiting for him this sweet hunger and thirst shall be satisfyed Mat. 5. 6. Note 3. That Christ will shortly come againe after his smiting within a very few dayes learne that as Christs desertions are not totall so neither sinall Christ never goes away but he will see us againe Iohn 16. 22. 1. His displeasure
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 Obedienâ—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 shiâ—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
weapons or against the word of his Captaine Ans. 3. He should have considered the infirmity of his Faith which yet was weake and suspected if not for the truth yet strength of it not knowing the strength of the imminent temptation Ans. 4. He should have considered that the strength of Faith of the Saints hath bin shaken in temptation as Abraham Paul David and why not he Objec Christians are to come with courage to the battaile assured of victory Ans. 1. But by his strength that hath loved us Rom. 8. 37. 2. With the best diligence in using the means which Peter layes off Faith Prayer Watchfulnes 3. With mixing Faith and Feare together certainly beleeving the Promise of God but fearing and suspecting our own weaknesse so Phil. 2. 11 12. Worke out your salvation with feare and trembling there is feare for it is God that workes the will and deed there is Faith the temper of Faith and Feare upholds us in the triall when our eye is cast both on our weaknesse and Gods strength Objec But Gods children are as bold as Lyons Prov. 28. 1. Answ. 1. There is boldnesse of Flesh. Faith 2. Boldnesse in the strength of God and love of our Father not of our strength and love of him Peter presumed to stand because of the love Christ. 3. A boldnesse upon the assured Promises of God and infinite merits of Christ foyling both carnal feare and presumption Peters boldnesse was not with the Word but against it 4. Boldnesse not suffering to feare damnation but to extinguish the feare of transgression 5. A boldnesse banishing feare to fall away into perdition but not the feare of falling into finne and offence of God which his owne Children are often too bold in Note The vaine presumption of mans heart in Peter see our selves our nature is as confident we thinke if all should flye from Faith and Religion sure we would not But were the Sword shaken a little and the Scepter swayed but a little another way many would see their mould and temper they that now spit at the name of the hatefull Idoll of the Masse would easily conceive it a better Religion and we should not want some Catholike Moderators who would say These two Religions with a little yeelding each side might be brought into one We are as strong before the Battle as Peter and when danger seemes farther off whereas the sight of one adversary would make a whole Army of us run away as Iâ—rael at the sight of Goliah But Peter should have remembred and so should we the Answer of the King of Israel to Benhadad 1 King 20. 11. Let not him that putteth on his Armour boast as he that puts it off Let us not crow before the Victory We are ready to promise our selves successe and events as he was which are out of our power he might promise and purpose watchfulnesse endeavour strive against this temptation which was all he could doe but to promise of the event and issue was not his part nor to dispose of We can as easily promise to our selves above that God hath promised as he nay against the word of God as he that we shall be safe and stand and conceive some singular prerogative or strength in our selves while yet we forget to use meanes to grow in knowledge awaken our Faith provoke our watchfulnesse we can be as proud and bragging in our speech as he was forgetting modesty and humanity promising Mountaines and should our actions swell to our words we would doe wonders but away with these brags and learne to speak humbly warily and modestly as knowing what befell this Apostle Vse Beware of Pride of heart which is so hatefull to God as robbing him of his glory and so prejudicial to our selves for if nature onely and the pride of it quicken our resolutions and not Faith they will dye and deceive us if flesh onely incite our courage it will suddenly be cold as in Peter Objection But I have great gifts of knowledge and speech and zeale and love and faith Answ. 1. Let no gifts puffe thee up suppose thou hadst gifts Apostolicall Peter had all these gifts but pride of heart foiled them all and the more and better the gifts be it is so much the worse where they be abused or corrupted 2. Never pride thy selfe above any man who mayest see those corruptions and evils in thy selfe which thou never sawest in any other man Vse 2. Thou standest by Faith Rom. 11. 12. be not high-minded but feare Peter that was now so forward had no small cause to feare and we want not more cause as 1. The weaknesse of flesh and pronenesse to sinne yea weaknesse of spirit in the best being borne of God but yet as children 2. Satans malice ever seeking to cast us downe winnowing us also as Wheat 3. Naughtinesse of our bad workes and imperfections of our best in them unprofitable 4. Perfection of Gods Law strictnesse against the least disobedience and in giving up of our Accounts Objection But what need the Saints feare or how may they having against the former Gods power Gods promise Gods intercession and seeing nothing is more contrary to Faith then fear and doubting Answ. When the Apostle Peter 1 Pet. 1. 17. wisheth Christians to passe the whole time of their dwelling here in feare he implyeth both the possibility and necessity But we must distinguish of feare which is of Humility Infidelity The former is a reverent feare of Gods presence whom we would not offend a feare of falling into sinne or making matter of unkindenesse between him and our selves The latter a hatefull feare of his presence which we would avoid a fear of faling into hell and suffering according to our deserts The one is a despaire of Gods goodnesse because sinne lyes at doore and wrath hangs over their heads and their Couscience is restlesse and death is ready to overtake them in sinne and hell is open and the Divell reaching at them to eternall confusion The other is a feare of reverence by which we feare the corruption of our Nature and treachery of our owne hearts we feare the commiting of the least sin and make conscience of all known evils we feare least we be called to account before the reckoning be ready we feare to offend God and godly men or grieve his holy Spirit we feare to be infected by evill men and carried into their errour The former cannot stand with Faith but is utterly against it and being a feare of diffidence makes men even distrustfull The latter is not against Faith but stablisheth it and makes our hearts watchfull and attendant to good meanes both of continuance in the estate of grace and worke of it and increase of Faith that we may be upheld to the end Let us therefore nourish this feare in us Motive 1. This feare is loves keeper and preserver of graces fear of fals temptations occasions of offending 2. It smiteth
with conscience of our owne infirmities and drives out to the spirit of strength and fortitude 3. It restaines us from evill as the Midwives Exod. 1. 17. and Joseph Geâ— 39. 9. and Job c. 1. 1. 4. It hath all the Promises made good to it of prosperity and blessednesse Blessed is he that feareth alwayes Prov. 28. 14. We proceed Ver. 30. Jesus said unto him verily I say unto thee this day even this night before the Cocke crow twice thou shalt deny me thrice OVR Saviour perceiving the corruption of Peter notably checkes and reproves it in this verse with this asseveration Verily I say Wherein 1. He admonisheth Peter of his fall thou shalt denie me 2. He gives him a signe by which he shall take knowledge Cocke crow twice 3. The time this day even this night double for certainty 4. The determinate number of fals or denials deny me thrice As if he had said otherwise thus Oh Peter thou attributest and ascribest too much to thine owne strength and knowest not the present danger for verily I say unto thee the more seriously I speake it the more neerly it concernes thee to consider it that thou who art confident above all thy fellowes and thou who singlest thy selfe as more constant unto me then all the rest even thou Peter shalt denie me Besides that thou shalt flye away from me with the rest thou shalt denie me thou shalt deny me that ever thou knowest me or ever hadst any reference or dependence on me and thou shalt doe this this night thou sayest thou wilt never at any time doe so but thou shalt this present day doe it while yet thy promise is yet in thy mouth and thou canst not well forget it I many dayes and nights thou mightest forget me or thy promise but even this day this night shall not passe till thou hast denyed me And that thou mayest consider the truth of this my Prediction both before and after it is come to passe I will give thee a signe or marke as a remembrance betweene us Before the Cocke crow twice A Cocke ordinarily crowes two times iu one night 1. About midnight called Gallicinium 2. Towards morning called Colicinium Both times after But before the morning Cocke crow or before the Cocke have done that crow thou shalt perceive the truth of my words and the vanity of thine own And because thou hast more confidently boasted of thy strength then all the rest of my Disciples thou shalt more shamefully fall then all the rest for thou shalt not content thy selfe to deny me once but in that small time thou shalt deny me thrice and that in such a manner as now thou wouldest scorn to hear but thou shalt not shame to doe John 2. 25. He knew what was in man Whence Note 1. The Divinity of Jesus Christ who knew things to come in the particular circumstances he foretels a fact which Peter must presently doe while he is even protesting against it and thinkes it most unlikely and impossible he discovereth the time the manner the repetition how often and all circumstances by which he is distinguished and discerned from all creatures and false Gods Isaiah 41. 23 26. Bring forth your Gods let them tell us what is to come Men may see events as Peter did this but Christ foreseeth them men see imperfectly by consequents and effects Christ seeth and knoweth by the causes he soundeth the depth of Peters heart which Peter himselfe could not gage he saw the backe and deceitfull corners of it and discerned how it must needs serve him being left a while of Grace Vse 1. To live in his sight with feare and trembling to whom all our wayes are knowne long before no sin we can commit but it is foreseen as Peters was his eyes are upon the wayes of man Prov. 5. 21. for as there is no sinne committed but the eye of the Conscience is upon it above a thousand witnesses so there is none to be committed but the eye of the Lord is upon it which is above a thousand Consciences Vse 2. Never thinke to carry sinne so close but it shall come to reckoning Luke 12. 2. Nothing is so covered which shall not be revealed no darknesse can hide the workes of darknesse as the Prophet to Gehezi Did not my spirit goe with thee so doth not the eye of the Judge goe with thee Ezâ—ch 35. 12. Thou shalt know the Lord hath heard all thy blasphemies which thou hast spoken against the Mountaines of Israel so thou shalt know the eye of the Judge hath seene all thy drunkennesse the times places manner how often so thou blasphemer thou railer thou deâ—ier of good men shalt know to thy cost and torment yea Men and Angels shall know Lastly Christ is as ready to take notice of the least good to reward it 1 King 14. 13. the little good in Abjah mentioned and recompenced Note 2. The humanity and meeknesse of our Lord and Saviour Peter had already grievously sinned in contradicting his Lord in despising the Prophetical word in advancing himselfe presumptuously against the expresse word yet our Lord is not severe in rebuking nor so sharpe in checking or reproaching him as he had deserved but patiently heares him passeth by the infirmity and onely most lovingly and plainly forewarns him of his present danger not reproaching him for future denials 1. Our Lord breakes not the bruised Reed nor quencheth a smoaking weke 2. The Spirit in Peter even in the midst of infirmity making request for him gets a cover and acceptance 3. There was a graine of Faith and sparke of love in Peters heart which was more in Christs eye then all his frailty the Lord in mercy looks more on his worke in us then ours against him 4. Christ was now to leave them as weaklings and children which was griefe enoâ—gh to them and would not so much discourage them especially at this time measuring the tryall they were to undergoe 5 He saw them now out growing their weaknesses and therefore thought fitter to beare with them for a time there was a good worke begun which himselfe was to perfect and it is notably exprest in John 13. 37. setting downe the Story thou canst not follow me now but hereafter shalt follow me namely in bearing crosses and suffering to the death hereafter when the Spirit is come to strengthen theâ— Vse Which must be a patterne of our imitation on the like grounds to provoke our selves to meeknesse gentlenesse towards our Brethren offending if we must reprove let them see our love if we can spy the least good in them let that qualifie our heat for the present if we cannot spy any for the present hope what they may be they may receive the Spirit and outgrow the weaknesses How ever we should not forget our Saviours meeknesse nor that our selves may be tempted as Peter nay to good for evill The Woman of Canaan refuseth him
Disciples themselves in Christs presence shew great imbecillity and weaknesse Matter of comfort which concernes us in our fals Matthew was one of them that said so yet Matthew records for our comfort how he among the rest was vainly confident Note 2. How quickly sin spreads it selfe Peter drawes all the Disciples after his sinne when all Christs perswasions cannot stay them The same of the same Apostle after he had received the spirit Gal. 2. 14. by not walking with a right foot drew the Gentiles and Barbarians also into his dissimulation and compelled the Gentiles to Judaismâ— not by teaching any Doctrine to that purpose for they could not erre in that but in the authority of his example Example in sinne is a kinde of compulsion Vse 1. Take heed of sinning least thou bring many sins upon thee as Peters sinne here heavie both in regard of his Master and fellow Disciples 2. Beware also of the company of sinners example is become a kinde of Law and thy selfe as tinder to receive such sparkles We proceed now to a passage in another part of the Chapter Marke 14. 66. And as Peter was beneath in the Hall there came one of the Maids of the high Priests Ver. 67. And when she saw Peter warming himselfe she looked on him and said Thou wast also with Jesus of Nazareth Ver. 68. But he denyed it saying I know him not neither wot I what thou sayest Then he went into the Porch and the Cock crew c. WEE have heard in the former Story how much Peter had promised of himselfe he would not be offended he would not flye if all should he will dye with Christ before he would deny him We have heard how our Saviour forewarned him of his weaknesse and predicted his fall and how stoutly he contradicted his Lord. Now we come to his performance in this Story which in generall shewes that he was not so good as his word but the Lords word was fully accomplished Non factum quod Petrus dixerat sed quod Christus praedixerat In the Story we have first Peters Sin Secondly Repentance Peters Fall Rising 1. Peters deniall of his Lord 2. his sorrow for it his Aversion Conversion The sinne and fall of Peter was the foulest and shamefullest of all the Disciples except Judas they all forsooke him and fled so did he none of them denyed him once but he thrice none forswore him but he who with cursing and swearing abjured himselfe if ever he knew him Quest. The Lord foresaw this sinne foretold it might have prevented it and sustained him in the temptation why should he suffer his dear Disciple so farre and so fouly to fall Answ. The Lord Jesus who might have prevented it neither would nor did for many Reasons 1. He would give us and the whole Church an example of infirmity and weaknesse by the fall of such a man 2. The strongest must learn feare and watchfulnesse and while they stand take heed least they fall that the enemy suddenly oppresse them not as Peter 3. To crush presumption of men and to teach to attribute more to the Word of Christ then their owne strength which had Peter done he had not so shamefully fallen 4. The Lord foresaw that in the last times men transported with the spirit of error should transforme Peter into an Idoll and grow to that madnesse as to lift him up into the place and office of Christ giving unto him the headship of the Church and make him the head of the Antichristian Romish Synagogue and therefore the Lord set Peter apart above all other Disciples in whom should breake out such weaknesse as he might be acknowledged not a God but a fraile man not a Lord but a weake and sinfull servant so in his life Acts 3. 12. 10. 15. Carnall men worship him but Peter refused And by the way observe how accurate the Scriptures are to set downe not this fall of Peter in the particular circumstances but many more above all the Disciples As 1. His curiosity desiâ—ing to walke on the Waters presently punished with an other sin of infidelety Mat. 19. 28. 2. His horrible sin oâ— disswading Christ from his suffering at Jerusalem Master pitty thy selfe Mat. 16. 22. for which Christ called him a scandall or Divel that is a speciall instrument of the Divell 3. His inconsiderate rashnesse Mat. 17. 4. Let us make three Tabernacles the Text saith he wist not what he said he to enjoy that glory neglected all his fellow Disciples yea cares not for the Salvation of the whole World for if he must ever dwell there with him he must not come downe to dye which was against his word 4. That he among the rest contended for Primacy Mat. 18. 2. that he among the rest could not watch one hour with him Mat. 26. 40. Though Christ had specially warned him and the two Sons of Zebedee of great tryall ver 43. that he among the rest fled from Christ. 5. That fact of temerity and rashnesse in cutting of Malchus his eare against his calling and without warrant condemned by Christ. 6. That he walked not with a right foot to the truth of the Gospell Gal. 2. 14. but dissembled with the Jewes and brought Barnabas in for which Paul reproved him to his face All which we note not to exprobate to that holy Apostle but to shew that the councell of God in particular noting these failings would prevent the blasphemous doctrines and doings of the Church of Rome One of the Popes themselves Leo Epist. 89. saying that Peter was assumed into the fellowship of the individuall unity plainely deifying him which blasphemy were rather to be buried with stones then defended as Bellarmine goeth about to doe 5. In Peters rising the Lord would give a singular example of mercy that he might raise up great sinners in the hope of mercy that they might not despaire but trust confidently in the same grace For these Reasons the Lord would have all the Evangelists with one mouth and pen and in one manner to record this grievous fact of their fellow Apostle nay if it be true as some of the Ancients record that the Gospell of Saint Marke was declared and uttred by Peter and written from his mouth by Saint Mark that providence so overruled the matter that Peter himselfe most ingenuously for the former Reasons did publish to the World both his sin and repentance In the first of Peters fall consider the Occasion Fall it selfe In the occasion partly in Peter himselfe Maid of the high Priest In Peter As Peter was beneath in the Hall warming himselfe Here first marke how Peter â—un upon temptation for what had he to do there in the Hall of the high Priest his Lord had set him about other businesse 1. Christ had now told him he could not now follow him John 13. 26. yet he will follow him afar off and though Christ had told him he was not able to
beginning Note also the contrariety of the wicked from God himselfe he provideth safety for his Children by night Esau was admonished by night not to speake roughly to Jacob. The Wicked alway tend to destruction of themselves and others And the Cocke crew NOTE 1. It appeareth it was in the Night that Christ was apprehended â—nd in that how watchfull and diligent Christs Enemies were to worke malice and mischiefe against him so were the Sodomites busie all Night to abuse themselves and doe mischiefe Gen. 19. Solomon saith wicked men cannot sleep till they have done evill Prov. 4 16. and sleepe departeth from them unlesse they cause some to fall Judas will watch an opportunity against Christ even in the night to betray him Reas. 1. Because they are carried wholly and naturally unto evill without any inward restraint it is a sweet morsell and perhaps the Lord seeth them not 2. Darkenesse maketh them more bould and fitter for a worke of darkenesse as Judas apprehends and Soldiers lead him away 3. Malice against Christ and his Members in the wicked never sleepeth but watcheth occasions against them they resemble Satan their guide 4. Having got occasion they will not slip it but execute presently though at midnight they breake their sleep for it 5. Yet God overruleth that it should be typifyed by a Paschall Lambe killed by night Exod. 12. 6. as himselfe was slaine in the evening of the World Vse Good men on the contrary learne to watch in the Night for good and gracious purposes let thy reines teach thee Wisedome in the Night David professeth he will not go up to his Bed nor suffer his eye lids to slumber till he have found out a place for God Tully saith it were a shame for him that Catiline should be more watchfull for the destruction of the Common-wealth then he for the safety and preservation of it In sparing sleep for good purposes is a recompence Gen. 19. 4 29. Consider that Night-sins have day plagues 2 Sam. 12. 12. consider Job 35. 10. God giveth Songs in the Night and his mercyes walke round about thee all night long he keepeth watches for thee he thinketh on thee and doth for thee that thou doest not for thy selfe keepeth thy house Body Goods Soule while thou sleepest and therefore in the night do thou thinke of him Psal. 119. 55. In the night season oh Lord I thought on thee In the night commune with the Lord by prayer meditation and confession Psal. 77. 60. In the night I commune with my heart and search out my spirit in the night desire after the Lord Isa. 26. 9. so the Church with my Soule have I desired thee in the night yea with my spirit within me will I seeke thee early in the night praise the Lord at midnight I will rise and praise thee Examine thy imployment of thoughts in the night when thou goest to bed and risest whether thy thoughts run after money and mucke world and businesse whether on revenge pride hatred sports or whatsoever A good heart hath a better treasury within it selfe and without it for thee to feed on meditate and be serious and remember still how diligent we should be in Gods woâ—ke cursed is he that doth Gods worke negligently Jer. 48. 10. Note 2. God would admonish Peter according to his word by the Cocks crow if so be Peter will take knowledge of himselfe but Peter doth not Quest. Why it may be being midnight he was sleepy and could not hear Answ. But Peter had got his first sleepe before Christ went thrice and found them sleeping besides Peter was now afraid and feare and danger kept him waking enough and therefore the cause was 1. His heart was asleepe and regardlesse of his sin and so long all the Cocks in the World cannot wake him 2. The time appointed for his wakening was not yet come he had denyed but once as yet he must deny thrice let the Cock crow never so often Note A fearfull consequent and Companion of sinne is induration and blindenesse here we see even the godly themselves sleep fearefully after sin how did David cast hit conscience asleep after he had committed Adultery his heart is hardened and after the Adultery he falleth into Murther and yet along time he is not wakened till the Lord by his Prophet wakeneth him Gen. 37. 24 25. when Josephs Brethren had taken him and stript him and cast him into a pit then they sat-downe to eat bred a man would have thought they should have sat downe to weepe for their sin but their sin hath so blinded them they rejoyce together as if they had nothing offended nay now almost twenty yeares they carry their sin and never take notice of it Reas. 1. Because mans heart naturally is hard being infected with the poyson of originall sin and this hardnesse is increased by our owne sins conceived or consented to or committed or repeated or continued there was no deadnesse or dulnesse in Adams conscience in innocency 2. Sinne hath a property to stun and benum the conscience and Soul of man for as a man falling from an high place lieth a great while in a swoon or trance and cannot help himselfe so the Children of God in their fals of Sin David afteâ— his Sinne was a dead man without sence of sinne or of comfort he had lost his heart his joy his feeling till God created and restored him againe Psal. 51. 3. The supposed pleasure of sinne doth drowne Judgement disturbe Reason and blinde Conscience so as it can sooth it selfe and thinke his owne sinnes lesse or scarce sinnes every man thinkes his owne breath sweet and delight in sinne brings on custome and custome in sinne taketh away the sense of sinne Vse 1. Beware of a sleepy heart and benummed conscience a most fearfull fruit of sinne and far worse then sinne it selfe most men are in love with their Consciences when they lye still and quiet and this is the case and conscience of the common Protestant who takes that for quietnesse and peace which is indeed death it selfe or a deadly lethargie of Conscience But this dead Conscience is like a dead body layed in the grave sleepes lyeth still and is cleane forgotten but shall awake and rise again be more active then ever it was either in Mercy and in season as in the godly when they shall sustaine sorrow enough and taste the soure sauce of their sweet meats and out of deepe sorrow recover their joy as in Peter Or in Justice and too late as in Judas who slept all the while he conspired against his Lord but no sooner wakened but he went and hanged himselfe here was the most fearefull wakening because his denyall of his Lord was of maliciousnesse Peters of infirmity Many living in grosse sinnes thanke God they never were troubled in Conscience proclame their shame and misery Vse 2. If a Conscience renewed in part can be so blinded
Sun and would pull the Sun of out Heaven because it draws out the stink of a Dunghill so the word because it discovers evill is the cause of evill How are good and godly men and Women Brethren and Sisters of Jesus Christ members of his body and one of another reproached and reviled at this day and charged to be the worst of all sorts of People that live and the common cry runs against them as Sectaryes hypocrites and worse then Idolators why but saith Pilate what evill hath he done you charge him with many severall things but I see no evill in him nay say they as if we would have brought him to thee if he were not an evill doer Pilate must take their word for that other sufficient matter can he wring none Oh but there be great matters against these precise Professors they be Runners to Church great Hearers of Sermons nay they carry Bibles under their Armes they repeat Sermons when they come home and sing Psalmes in their houses can goe about no worke till they have solemnly prayed nor goe to bed without reading and praying so great is their hypocrisie They be Jewes in keeping the Sabbath they must doe nothing nor speake but holy things scarce make their Beds dresse any meat or eat it when dressed Nay they have beene accused sometimes in Pulpits sometimes on Stages that they would not sweare nor suffer an oath in another unreproved nor they will not be drunke nor abide to run to Tavernes or Ale-houses they are so strict as they will not indure any merry company nor be merry themselves as Israel a People that dwelt alone and numbred not themselves among the Nations and are not these proper accusations or are there any other greater justly cast upon them so as our Saviour concluds the matter if ye were of the world the world would love her owne and Peter because ye run not with them to the excesse of errour but stand with Christ in your owne duty and station and therefore they hate you This so being let godly men be so much the more wary of themselves and courses as small things are made great matters in them Judge your selves in small things let the righteous smite you and the word of God wound your infirmityes least you fall into their hands Oh that Professors would so walke as all their accusations would vanish into shadowes and smoake oh that you would by innocency thus dull and blunt all their keen Weapons the wisdome of a man will make a benefit of an Adversary much more the wisedome of God in his Servants Lastly this may be a comfort and incouragement to godly men if they have nothing but thy profession to upbraid thee for thou mayst take the Adversaryes booke and weare it as thy crowne make account if thou in thy life testifie of the evill of the World it will accuse thee if not for evill yet for good Christ witnesseth against the World 1. By unweariable paines in doctrine that their workes were evill calling it to repentance to mortification remission of sins and newnesse of life 2. By accusing the hypocrisie of it except your righteousnesse exceed the Pharisee a faire righteousnesse must they thinke they had that shut them out of Heaven 3. By condemning not onely their Adulteryes Vsurers Oppressions Thefts murthers but even their prayers Almes Fasts Chastity and piety abstracted from faith and repentance could the World endure this 4. By innocency of life opposed to their corruptions he made both shine cleare 5. By separating from their company in their evill plainely declaring what he thought of them and their courses and do thou the like be sure thou shalt heare of the World on both sides Ver. 70. But he denyed it againe WHERE 1. Repetition 2. Manner with an oath Mat. 26. 72. Peter had first denyed his Lord for feare now he denyes againe for shame least having lyed he be found a Lyar Peter was better contented to be a Lyar then so accounted and therefore stood still in denyal Beware of acquainting thy tongue with the least untruth least it easily come to be repeated and into a custome Note He that once crackes his conscience will not much straine at it the second time see it in good Jacob Gen. 27. 12 19. he is at first very fearfull to seeme a mocker to his Father and to delude him with a lye but coming unto his Father maketh a long speech and professeth himselfe boldly and securely his eldest Son Esau and after when Isaac suspected his voyce and asked him ver 29. But aâ—t thou my Son Esau he answered againe yea Good Joseph Gen. 42. 15. 16. to shew his vehemency to his Brethren rapt out one oath after another as it seemes was the manner of the Court of Egypt as now of England but not fit for Joseph or seemely nor fit for Joseph or seemely nor lawfull for any Reas. 1. Sin is very bold where once it is bid welcome if it once enter it knowes the way againe and once admitted will plead not possession but prescription an army is easier kept out then beaten out 2. The Sinner is lesse able to resist the second time then he was the former so Peter here for grace is weakned and decayed by yeilding to the first temptation and the strength of God which onely makes the way of grace easie plucked away by grieving his holy spirit Therefore Peter here denyes as often as he is tempted and would have denyed a thousand times if the Lord by his prediction had not limited the temptation and returned with new strength 3. The way of sin once set open is as the Gates of a City cast open for the Enemy by which Satan bringing in his forces strongly plants them and quickly so fortifieth them as a great strength shall hardly raze or remove them Every sin admitted not onely weakens but corrupts the facultyes of the Soul by which it is upheld it darkens understanding corrupts the will disturbs the affections and raiseth a cloud of passions to dazel reason as Peter here in feares and perplexityes and doubts marvelous blind for a time Vse Be exhorted to give sin no entrance at all or if thou canst not keepe it out drive it out presently by repentance as the wise Mariner carefully keeps his Ship from leaking and if he cannot ever prevent but it will take in some water he emptyes and pomps it out at the beginning because then it is easier emptyed then afterward A wise man is carefull to prevent a disease and preserve his health but if he cannot alway do it he will run to the remedy betime knowing that an old disease troubles the Physitian which not distemper onely but age and continuance hath confirmed It is a folly to taste of Sin and the sweet meates of it but to sit downe to feed upon it is madnesse to him that knowes he must vomit up every morsell
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 â—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 slâ—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 corrâ—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 wheâ—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