PAR. 14.
THe exact keeping of the Passeover was not so strictly appointed, but many oc∣casions might cause it to be differred; Christ was not bound to cast himselfe into the mouth of danger, whilest they ravenously thirsted for his blood; but, as sometimes he withdrew himselfe, by disappearing, and passed through the mid∣dest of them, so here he thought fit, not so much as to come among them. Nor is our spirituall passeover so meerely necessary, or so absolutely commanded, but it may be omitted sometimes, though never neglected, much lesse contemned; Sickenesse, locall distance, danger, and the astonishing, or stupifying considerati∣on of sins unrepented of, may excuse one from receiving, for a while: I dare not pronounce that profound humility to be sin, When Peter fell downe at Iesus knees, saying, depart from me, for I am a sinfull man, O Lord,c Luk. 5.8, I suppose Christ was seldome nearer joyned to him in love: And I have knowne him, who in holy thoughts of his owne unworthinesse sinlesly (as I conceive) abstained. Want of Charity is a sinne; not receiving, when men want Charity, is not sin; to receive then, were a double sin:d Math. 8.8. The Centurion said, Lord, I am not worthy, that thou shouldest come under my roofe; yet none in Israel had so much faith, as he: To the woman of Canaan, who accounted her selfe as a dogge (unworthy to eate bread at the Table) content with the crummes which fell from the Masters Table,e Mat. 15.27. Christ said, her faith was great, and, be it unto thee as thou wilt, ver. 28. Subjecting his power to her desires. And thus much of the third passeover, during Christs publicke manifestation, by our blessed Saviour, or omitted, or pri∣vately kept.