Antiquitates christianæ, or, The history of the life and death of the holy Jesus as also the lives acts and martyrdoms of his Apostles : in two parts.

SECT. II. Of S. Peter from his first coming to Christ, till his being call'd to be a Disciple.

Peter, before his coming to Christ, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Disciple (probably) of John the Baptist. His first approaches to Christ. Our Lord's communication with him. His return to his Trade. Christ's entring into Peter's Ship, and preaching to the people at the Sea of Galilee. The 〈◊〉〈◊〉 draught of Fishes. Peter's great astonishment at this evidence of our Lord's Divinity. His call to be a Disciple. Christ's return to Capernaum, and healing Pe∣ter's Mother-in-Law.

THOUGH we find not whether Peter before his coming to Christ was engag'd in any of the particular Sects at this time in the Jewish Church, yet is it greatly probable, that he was one of the Disciples of John the Baptist. For first, 'tis certain that his brother Andrew was so, and we can hardly think, these two brothers should draw contrary ways, or that he who was so ready to bring his brother the early tidings of the Messiah, that the Sun of righteousness was already risen in those parts, should not be as solicitous to bring him under the discipline and influences of John the Baptist, the Day-star that went before him. Secondly, Peter's forwardness and curiosity at the first news of Christ's appearing, to come to him, and converse with him, shew that his expectations had been awakened, and some light in this matter conveyed to him by the preaching and ministry of John, who was the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths streight, shewing them who it was that was coming after him.

2. HIS first acquaintance with Christ commenced in this manner. The Blessed Jesus having for thirty years passed through the solitudes of a private life, had lately been baptized in Jordan, and there publickly owned to be the Son of God by the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 solemn attestations that Heaven could give him, whereupon he was immediately 〈◊〉〈◊〉 into the wilderness to a personal contest with the Devil for forty days together. So na∣tural is it to the enemy of mankind to malign our happiness, and to seek to blast our joys, when we are under the highest instances of the Divine grace and favour. His enemy being conquered in three set battels, and fled, he returned hence, and came down to Bethabara beyond Jordan, where John was baptizing his Proselytes, and endea∣vouring to satisfie the Jews, who had sent to him curiously to enquire concerning this new Messiah that appeared among them. Upon the great testimony which the Bap∣tist gave him, and his pointing to our Lord then passing by him; two of John's di∣sciples* 1.1 who were then with him presently followed after Christ, one of which was Andrew, Simon's brother. It was towards Evening when they came, and therefore probably stayed with him all night, during which Andrew had opportunity to inform himself, and to satisfie his most scrupulous enquiries. Early the next morning (if not that very evening) he hastned to acquaint his brother Simon with these glad tidings. 'Tis not enough to be good and happy alone; Religion is a communicative principle,* 1.2 that like the circles in the water, delights to multiply it self, and to diffuse its influen∣ces round about it, and especially upon those, whom nature has placed nearest to us. He tells him, they had found the long-look'd for Messiah, him whom Moses and the Prophets had so signally foretold, and whom all the devout and pious of that Nation had so long expected.

3. SIMON (one of those who look'd for the Kingdom of God, and waited for re∣demption in Israel) ravished with this joyful news, and impatient of delay, presently follows his brother to the place: whither he was no sooner come, but our Lord to give* 1.3 him an evidence of his Divinity, salutes him at first 〈◊〉〈◊〉 by name, tells him what, and who he was, both as to his name and kindred, what title should be given him, that

that he should be call'd Cephas, or Peter; a name which he afterwards actually con∣ferr'd upon him. What passed further between them, and whether these two bro∣thers henceforward personally attended our Saviour's motions in the number of his Disciples, the Sacred Story leaves us in the dark. It seems probable, that they stay'd with him for some time, till they were instructed in the first rudiments of his doctrine, and by his leave departed home. For it's reasonable to suppose, that our Lord being unwilling, at this time especially, to awaken the jealousies of the State by a numerous retinue, might dismiss his Disciples for some time, and Peter and Andrew amongst the rest, who hereupon returned home to the exercise of their calling, where he found them afterwards.

4. IT was now somewhat more than a year, since our Lord having entred upon the publick stage of action, constantly went about doing good, healing the sick, and preach∣ing* 1.4 the Gospel of the Kingdom, residing usually at 〈◊〉〈◊〉, and the parts about it, where by the constancy of his preaching, and the reputation of his miracles, his fame spread about all those Countries; by means whereof multitudes of people from all parts flock'd to him, greedily desirous to become his Auditors. And what wonder if the parch'd and barren Earth thirsted for the showers of Heaven? It hapned that our Lord retiring out of the City, to enjoy the privacies of contemplation upon the banks of the Sea of Galilee, it was not long before the multitude found him out; to avoid the* 1.5 crowd and press whereof he step'd into a Ship or Fisher-Boat, that lay near to the shore, which belonged to Peter, who together with his companions after a tedious and unsuc∣cessful night, were gone a-shore to wash and dry their Nets. He who might have com∣manded, was yet pleased to intreat Peter (who by this time was returned into his Ship) to put a little from the shore. Here being sate, he taught the people, who stood along upon the shore to hear him. Sermon ended, he resolv'd to seal up his doctrine with a miracle, that the people might be the more effectually convinced, that he was a Teacher come from God. To this purpose, he bad Simon lanch out further, and cast his Net into the Sea: Simon tells him, they had don't already, that they had been fishing all the last night, but in vain; and if they could not succeed then (the most proper season for that imployment) there was less hope to speed now, it being probably about Noon. But because where God commands, it is not for any to argue, but obey; at our Lord's instance he let down the Net, which immediately inclosed so great a multitude of Fishes, that the Net began to break, and they were forced to call to their partners, who were in a Ship hard by them, to come in to their assistence. A draught so great, that it loaded both their Boats, and that so full, that it endangered their sinking before they could get safe to shore: An instance, wherein our Saviour gave an ocular demon∣stration,* 1.6 that, as Messiah, God had put all things under his feet, not only Fowls of the Air, but the Fish of the Sea, and whatsoever passeth through the paths of the Seas.

5. AMAZ'D they were all at this miraculous draught of Fishes, whereupon Si∣mon in an 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of admiration, and a mixture of humility and fear, threw himself at the feet of Christ, and pray'd him to depart from him, as a vile and a sinful person. So evident were the appearances of Divinity in this miracle, that he was over-powred and dazled with its brightness and lustre, and reflecting upon himself, could not but think himself unworthy the presence of so great a person, so immediately sent from God; and considering his own state (Conscience being hereby more sensibly awaken∣ed) was afraid, that the Divine vengeance might pursue and overtake him. But our Lord to abate the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of his fears, assures him that this miracle was not done to amaze and terrifie him, but to strengthen and confirm his Faith; that now he had nobler work and imployment for him; instead of catching Fish, he should, by perswading men to the obedience of the Gospel, catch the Souls of men: And accordingly commanded him and his brother to follow him: (the same command which presently after he gave to the two Sons of 〈◊〉〈◊〉.) The word was no sooner spoken, and they landed, but disposing their concerns in the hands of friends (as we may presume prudent and rea∣sonable men would) they immediately left all, and followed him; and from this time Peter and the rest became his constant and inseparable Disciples, living under the rules of his Discipline and Institutions.

6. FROM hence they returned to 〈◊〉〈◊〉, where our Lord entring into Si∣mon's house (the place in all likelihood where he was wont to lodge during his residence in that City) found his Mother-in-law visited with a violent Fever. No priviledges* 1.7 * 1.8 afford an exemption from the ordinary Laws of humane Nature; Christ under her roof* 1.9 did not protect this Woman from the assaults and invasions of a Fever: Lord, behold,* 1.10 he whom thou lovest is sick, as they said concerning Lazarus. Here a fresh opportunity

offered it self to Christ of exerting his Divine Power. No sooner was he told of it, but he came to her bed-side, rebuked the Paroxysms, commanded the Fever to be gone, and taking her by the hand to lift her up, in a moment restored her to perfect health, and ability to return to the business of her Family, all cures being equally easie to Om∣nipotence.

Notes

• * 1.1

  John 1. 37.
• * 1.2

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. sub 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉.
• * 1.3

  John 1. 42.
• * 1.4

  〈◊〉〈◊〉. 4. 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.5

  〈◊〉〈◊〉 5. 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.6

  〈◊〉〈◊〉. 8. 6, 7, 8.
• * 1.7

  〈◊〉〈◊〉. 8. 14.
• * 1.8

  Mark 1. 29.
• * 1.9

  Luke 4. 38.
• * 1.10

  John 11. 3.