PAR 6.
THe Dialogue betweene S. Peter, and our blessed Saviour, before Peter yeelded to be washed, is this: Lord dost thou wash my feete? Christ answered; What I doe thou knowest not, but thou shalt know hereafter: thou knowest the matter, thou knowest I wash thee, but thou knowest not mine intentions. And this affordeth one Doctrine necessary for these times.
Obedience must be performed (if required) though we know no reason why it is appointed, much more when we see reason: Cornelius Tacitus Historiae 1. Vbi jubeantur, quaerere singulis liceat, pereunte obsequio, imperium etiam intercidet. If it were lawfull for every one to aske a reason of their Superiours commands; obedi∣ence would perish, and Authority would fall to the ground. It was spoken by a rude blunt souldier in Lucan, at the Garboyles of the civill warre
—Rheni mihi Caesar in undis, Dux erit: Hîc socius facinus quos inquinat, aquat.
Caesar my Captaine is at Rhene, But in the civill broyles, He is my fellow: They are like, Whom the same sinne befoyles.
Julius Caesar regarded not the tongues, or taunts of his Souldiers, so long as he had their armes, and swords for him. He let fall the strictnesse of discipline, and was (as a Generall) over-familiar with his Souldiers, calling them Commilitones, fellow-souldiers: Augustus disliked him for it; yet if it be well weighed, Iulius Caesar forbore his souldiers at the time of triumphs, and rest, more, than in the time of warre; where he observed most strict discipline.
A late Writer calleth S. John Baptist a foole, for denying to Baptize Christ: I say, a foole must not judge a wise man: and a religious man would finde in the Baptist, heavenly humilitie, rather than stile it folly; But Wisedome is justified of her children.
Likewise, I doubt not of S. Peters holy, humble intention; either when he refused to be washed, or when he accepted of it; for, till Peter was refractary the second time, Christ did not chide him: but perhaps, because of his double refusall to be washed, and because of his selfe-trust, he was deserted, to deny Christ at his passion thrice.