Selected quad for the lemma: mercy_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
mercy_n	faith_n	grace_n	repentance_n	2,335	5	7.5639	4	false

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

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

easily be overcome as being weakest stop the fountaine close the windowes else thou shalt find it easier to get into the midst of sin then find the way backe againe Israel went at his owne pleasure into Egypt but could not come backe againe into Canaan when they would A man may leap quickly and nothing lets him till he come into the bottome of a pit but he shall get out with more leasure and difficulty Means 1. Therfore our Savior saith Watch and pray least you enter into temptation if once ye enter ye will not come out without a foyle much lesse move to sin and offer temptation 2. Buckle the feare of God unto thee which is the beginning of wisedome else thou goest headlong in sin experience we have of men that at first are ashamed somewhat of what they doe and get some Cloaks some covers to hide themselves under but by a little continuance grow to some boldnesse and cast away feare very shortly grow to impudency and hardned faces in their sins care not nor fea●e what men see or say of them and presently from not fearing man come not to feare God at all but as Nimrod was a mighty Hunter before the Lord so these mighty Drunkards before the Lord mighty Adulterers Usurers Swearers Cursers Raylers before the Lord no fear of God restrains them take heed therefore and feare If a Pillar a Rocke one chosen by Christ could fall so headlong let us not presume on our strength Psal. 4. 4. stand in awe and sin not Heb. 11. 7. By faith Noah being warned of God of the things which were as yet not seene moved with reverence prepared the Arke to the saving of his houshould through the which Arke he condemned the World 3. Consider thy danger to fall and so far so suddenly under prop thy selfe with good meanes afforded by God to up hold thee as 1. The preaching of the word many say what need so much preaching what need Preachers be so instant so earnest in threatning us God is mercifull for all that but God will make good their words against the soule of the wilfull Sinner seest thou no need of such earnest preaching thy blind eyes see not the danger before thee but Gods Seers do that notwithstanding their paines and labour thy sinne is a ripening and thou art running headlong or rather flying swiftly to thine owne damnation if the Trumpet will not awake thee I feare thou art de●● 2. Make use of the rods and crosses of God brought on thee to stay thee from the excesses of sin where the Lord cannot prevaile with the rod of his mouth he comes with the rod of his hand and lasheth him sometimes with the losse of Goods or Friends Wife Children c. sometime with shame and losse of good name and respect suffering them to fall into some notorious and shamefull sinne sometime with smart and pain in Body with lingring diseases c. and all to helpe them out of sinne if these be slightly passed by they are forerunners of mischiefe as thou makest haste in sin to come to the height so the curse hasteneth which will oppresse thee eternally as Elyes Sons regarded not their Fathers admonishions because God would destroy them 3. Let the mercyes and favours of God be so many Sermons of ●●●entance Rom. 2. 4. Knowest thou not that the bountifulnesse of God should lead thee to ●●●entance and a note it is of a wicked man not to be drawne to God by cords of love Isa. 26. 10. Let mercy be shewed to the Wicked he will not repent in the land of uprightnesse he will doe wickedly Hast thou any life in thy Soule and feelest not what great mercyes God offereth unto thy soule body thy selfe and thine Hast thou any sense and understanding in Scripture and seest not how the Lord still makes sin more grievous by mercyes received and despised Isa. 1. 2. 2 Sam. 12. 7. in David himselfe Gen. 49. 2. Rubens excellency gone because being excellent he gat up into his Fathers bed a fearfull thing to have meanes of repentance without the grace of repentance Register up the mercyes of God to thee as the ancient Beleevers did set up an Altar in thine heart to offer Sacrifices of praise and thankes take thy selfe to taske aske the question oh what have I done for all the benefits c. shall I do so still Let thy thankefull obedience be as a monument set up that others may see that Gods mercyes have deeply affected thee Doctr. Note 2. That Peter was not so assaulted by both the former temptations as by this nor is in so great danger The last temptation is commonly the worst and strongest and most dangerous and the most dangerous reserved till the last place Satan bids not Peter curse himselfe if ever he knew the Lord for this he would have detested but first follow aloofe and then goe into the high Priests Hall then sit among Gods enemies then doe as they did and having once denyed his Lord stands to it stoutly So Judas he doth not as first bid him betray his Lord for as wicked as he was he could not be tam repentè improbus but first to covetousnesse and blinded his eyes with the offer of thirty pieces and then struck up the matter by degrees and yet after the betraying of his Lord he must goe and hang himselfe He doth not usually tempt the Adulterer to cast himselfe upon the bed of his Harlot but first David must looke upon Bathsheba and that is a small thing then grow to liking then to familiarity and then to commit the hainous fact of Adultery He doth not usually tempt the cruell man to murther his Neighbour or Brother at first which is fearfull and desparate but first to dislike and fall out with him then to hate him then to kill him actually Reas. 1. This is Satans method in his temptations to begin with small things wherein so much blacknesse appeares not which are easily swallowed wherein men are more secure as not thinking them to need any great resistance but there he meanes not to stay experience of every day shewes that being to deale with melancholly dispositions he makes them discontent and impatient in some crosse or losse which is a great sinne but lyes close and hides it selfe as in a just sorrow then brings them to discontent themselves in Gods blessings they joy not in Husband Wife Children wealth nor any thing then to fall out with himselfe no joy of themselves and then the last temptation is worst to kill thy selfe or thy Children which was too blacke at first and needed a time to prepare them 2. Satans subtilty who knowes well by lesse temptations to make way to greater as a cunning Thief by a little hole can wrinch up and open a great Gate so this subtill Serpent can by a little hole winde himselfe into the heart and cast open the doores to all Robbers and

Spoylers Vse 1. Where Satan begins his temptations begin our resistance we are wise for our Bodyes to prevent diseases in the first grudgings so for our Soules kill the hellish Serpent in the shell Eph. 4. 29. Give no place to the Divell Wise Citizens keepe every Enemy without the Wals. Solomon first betakes him to Idolatrous Wives then to Idolatrous worship sin as we 〈◊〉 a good fellow one hangs to another as bars one sin cannot well be defended without another or covered 3. One faculty corrupted corrupts another imagination being corrupted by cogitation of sinne that corrupts the judgement the judgement corrupts the affection so as there is delectation in sin affections corrupts the will bringing it to consent the will corrupts the parts by repeating custome and habit thus sin in the Soul as a gangreene in the body eates up the next parts till it speedily mortifie the whole 4. The Lord in justice often punisheth sinne with sin as Pharaohs sin with obstinacy and hardnesse Exod. 9. 12. The Gentiles by giving them up to their hearts lusts Rom. 1. 23. Vse To stay beginnings of sinne sinne as an Infant at first may easily be overcome as being weakest stop the fountaine close the windowes else thou shalt find it easier to get into the midst of sin then find the way backe againe Israel went at his owne pleasure into Egypt but could not come backe againe into Canaan when they would A man may leap quickly and nothing lets him till he come into the bottome of a pit but he shall get out with more leasure and difficulty Means 1. Therefore our Saviour saith Watch and pray least you enter into temptation if once ye enter ye will not come out without a foyle much lesse move to sin and offer temptation 2. Buckle the feare of God unto thee which is the beginning of wisedome else thou goest headlong in sin experience we have of men that at first are ashamed somewhat of what they doe and get some Cloaks some covers to hide themselves under but by a little continuance grow to some boldnesse and cast away feare very shortly grow to impudency and hardned faces in their sins care not nor feare what men see or say of them and presently from not fearing man come not to feare God at all but as Nimrod was a mighty Hunter before the Lord so these mighty Drunkards before the Lord mighty Adulterers Usurers Swearers Cursers Raylers before the Lord no fear of God restrains them take heed therefore and feare If a Pillar a Rocke one chosen by Christ could fall so headlong let us not presume on our strength Psal. 4. 4. stand in awe and sin not Heb. 11. 7. By faith Noah being warned of God of the things which were as yet not seene moved with reverence prepared the Arke to the saving of his houshould through the which Arke he condemned the World 3. Consider thy danger to fall and so far so suddenly under prop thy selfe with good meanes afforded by God to up hold thee as 1. The preaching of the word many say what need so much preaching what need Preachers be so instant so earnest in threatning us God is mercifull for all that but God will make good their words against the soule of the wilfull Sinner seest thou no need of such earnest preaching thy blind eyes see not the danger before thee but Gods Seers do that notwithstanding their paines and labour thy sinne is a ripening and thou art running headlong or rather flying swiftly to thine owne damnation if the Trumpet will not awake thee I feare thou art dead 2. Make use of the rods and crosses of God brought on thee to stay thee from the excesses of sin where the Lord cannot prevaile with the rod of his mouth he comes with the rod of his hand and lasheth him sometimes with the losse of Goods or Friends Wife Children c. sometime with shame and loose of good name and respect suffering them to fall into some notorious and shamefull sinne sometime with smart and pain in Body with lingring diseases c. and all to helpe them out of sinne if these be slightly passed by they are forerunners of mischiefe as thou makest haste in sin to come to the height so the curse hasteneth which will oppresse thee eternally as Elyes Sons regarded not their Fathers admonishions because God would destroy them 3. Let the mercyes and favours of God be so many Sermons of repentance Rom. 2. 4. Knowest thou not that the bountifulnesse of God should lead thee to ●●●entance and a note it is of a wicked man not to be drawne to God by cords of love Isa. 26. 10. Let mercy be shewed to the Wicked he will not repent in the land of uprightnesse he will doe wickedly Hast thou any life in thy Soule and feelest not what great mercyes God offereth unto thy soule body thy selfe and thine Hast thou any sense and understanding in Scripture and seest not how the Lord still makes sin more grievous by mercyes received and despised Isa. 1. 2. 2 Sam. 12. 7. in David himselfe Gen. 49. 2. Rubens excellency gone because being excellent he gat up into his Fathers bed a fearfull thing to have meanes of repentance without the grace of repentance Register up the mercyes of God to thee as the ancient Beleevers did set up an Altar in thine heart to offer Sacrifices of praise and thankes take thy selfe to taske aske the question oh what have I done for all the benefits c. shall I do so still Let thy thankefull obedience be as a monument set up that others may see that Gods mercyes have deeply affected thee Doctr. Note 2. That Peter was not so assaulted by both the former temptations as by this nor is in so great danger The last temptation is commonly the worst and strongest and most dangerous and the most dangerous reserved till the last place Satan bids not Peter curse himselfe if ever he knew the Lord for this he would have detested but first follow aloofe and then goe into the high Priests Hall then sit among Gods enemies then doe as they did and having once denyed his Lord stands to it stoutly So Judas he doth not at first bid him betray his Lord for as wicked as he was he could not be ●am repentè improbus but first to covetousnesse and blinded his eyes with the offer of thirty pieces and then struck up the matter by degrees and yet after the betraying of his Lord he must goe and hang himselfe He doth not usually tempt the Adulterer to cast himselfe upon the bed of his Harlot but first David must looke upon Bathsheba and that is a small thing then grow to liking then to familiarity and then to commit the hainous fact of Adultery He doth not usually tempt the cruell man to murther his Neighbour or Brother at first which is fearfull and desparate but first to dislike and fall out with

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 ●ffliction for Christ shake the Faith of so great Apostles no marvaile if it quite overturne such as be uns●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

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

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 Ge● 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 Ez●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 de●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 eno●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 the● 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