A journal of meditations for every day in the year gathered out of divers authors / written first in Latine by N.B. ; and newly translated into English by E.M. in ... 1669.

Of S. Peters denying Christ. Part 1.

* 1.1COnsider 1. S. Peter having followed our Lord into Caiphas his house, and standing with the rest at the fire, There came to him one wench, saying, thou also wast with Jesus the Galilean; but he denyed before them all, saying, I wot not what thou sayest, &c. He who but some few houres before said Though I should dye with thee I will not deny thee, now at the first word, and that of a woman,* 1.2 out of shame and fear, fouly denyeth that he ever knew him. O how many are there now a days, who not out of humility, but out of a shameful ••ear of what the world would say or think of them,* 1.3 dare not own any Christian or Vertuous action, nor profess themselves disci∣ples and followers of Christ! See you be none of these.

* 1.4Consider 2. Peter being still in the same com∣pany, and ta••ed by divers of being Christs Dis∣ciple, he persisteth in his denyall, the second and third time: neither minded he the first cock crow∣ing; or at least, cared not, but Began to curse and to sw••are that he knew not the man. Observe the different effects of good, and evill company. Peter among his fellow disciples, was so fervorous, as to offer to dye for his Master; in this lewd company he disoweneth even to know any such man. Learn hence to avoid evill company and conversation; for as the Apostle,* 1.5 saith Evill communications cor∣rupt good manners.

Consider 3. Some particular circumstances of

S. Peters fall, which all the Evangelists doe set down at large, to teach us to be warie by others harmes. 1. The occasion or cause of this fall was that vaine presumption of himself.* 1.6 Allthough all shall be scandalized in thee, I will never be scandalized. 2. His Negligence in prayer, yeelding to sleep, when he should have watched in prayer, by Christs express command,* 1.7 Watch ye and pray, that ye enter not into temptation. 3. The instrument of this fall was a Woman, as was that of Adams first Sin. Admire and tremble to see the pillar of the Church cast down at the voice of a Woman. 4. His sin increased by degrees, passing from a simple denyall to execration, and open Perjury. Learn to resist the very beginnings of evill, and to be greatly con∣cerned for small defects;* 1.8 for he that contemneth small things, shall fall by little and little.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Mat. 26.69.
• * 1.2

  Ibid. v. 35.
• * 1.3

  Luc. 22.57.
• * 1.4

  Mat. 26.74
• * 1.5

  1 Cor. 15.33.
• * 1.6

  Mat. 26.33.
• * 1.7

  Ibid. v. 41.
• * 1.8

  Eccli. 19.1.