A myrrhine posie of the bitter dolovrs of Christ his passion, and of the seaven vvords he spake on the crosse, composed by Ch. M.

THE FIFTH FLOVVER OF THE MYRRHINE POSIE OF CHRIST HIS PASSION.

Peters deniall of Christ his Master.

Mat. 26. Mar. 14. Luc. 22. Io. 18.

THis deniall added no small griefe to Christ his soule, which was but a litle before sad euen to death. yea peraduenture it added more greefe thē Iudas traiterous kisse did, because Christ loued S. Peter more then Iudas, and S. Peter had professed more loue to Christ then euer Iudas did, and Iu∣das denied Christ onelie in fact, Peter

euen in words and oathes, & not once onelie, but thrice; S. Matthew setteth downe Peters deniall in the words. But Peter sat without in the court, and there came to him one wench saying, thou also wast with Iesus the Gālilean; But he denied before them all saying, I wote not what thou saiest. This was his first de∣uiall, & as he went out of the gate another wench saw him, and she saith to them that were there, & this fellow also was with Ie∣sus the Nazarite; and againe he denied with an oath, sayinge, that I know not the man. This was his second deniall and a grea∣ter sinne then the first, which was not with an oath as this was. And after a litle while they came that stood by, and said to Peter surelie thou also art of them, for euen thy speech doth bewray thee. Then he begā to curse himselfe (as some vse to doe when they say, let me dye presentlie if it be soe) and to sweare that he ••••w not the man. This was his third deniall, and a greater sinne then the former two, be∣cause it was ioyned not onelie with an oath, but also with a curse. The like relation the other three Euangelistes doe make of this S. Peters deniall of his Master.

[ 2] O Peter the foure Euangelistes doe beare witnesse against thee, & doe testi∣fie to all the world, that thou hast de∣nied thy Master three times, according as he had foretold thee, what canst thou saie for thy selfe? Thou, who pro∣misedst a litle before that although all should be scandalised in thy maister, thou wouldst neuer be scandalized, yea though thou shouldst die with him thou wouldest not d••nie him. Thou, who deuouredst prisons, and deaths, and toldst thy Master, that thou wast readie to goe with him both to prison and vnto death: doest thou now so quicklie forget these thy great promises? Is thy courage and zele so quicklie coulde? O the incon∣stancie of mans heart! more wauering then a reede touched with the winde! O Peter, thou who in the garden of Gethsemanie wast so couragious that euen in the middest of the souldiers, and rheir clubs and swords thou cut∣tedst of Malcus eare in defence of thy louing master, doest thou now at the interrogation of a wench denie him, and sweare also that thou knowest not the man? If he for this thy deniall should at the moment of thy particular

Iudgement saie to thee, as he said to the foolish virgines, I know thee not, what would become of thee? he told thee heretofore that euerie one that should confesse him before men, he also will con∣fesse him before his father which is in hea∣uen. Thou Peter hast sworne that thou knowest him not, canst thou ex∣pect that he shall acknowledge thee▪ Thou hast denied him before men, what canst thou expect but that he shall denie thee before his Father and all the Angells in heauen?

[ 13] O Peter tell truth, doest thou not know him? thou hast good cause to know him, who hast followed him so long, & hast beene an eye witnesse of his miracles, good life, and good exam∣ples. Thou hast good cause to know him, who hast receiued so many bene∣fites at his hands, as his calling thee out of so many thousands, whom he left still in the world, in calling thee to be a disciple and an Apostle, and in shewing so many signes of his loue, euen this night bestowing on thee his sacred bodie and blood, the greatest guift he could bestow on thee.

[ 4] Thou once madst this glorious con∣••ession of him, thou art Christ the sonne ••f the liuing God; and for this confes∣••on he made this noble promise vnto ••hee. Thou art Peter, and vpon this ••ocke will I build my church. Thou a Rocke? a Reede rather, who art so ••asilie shaken. He promised thee also ••hat he would giue thee the keyes of heauen, ••o open and shut it to others: and ••ow shalt thou open Heauen to others, who by this shamefull deniall of him, hast shut it to thy selfe? If thou deniest thy Master at the voice of a mayde seruant, how wilt thou con∣fesse him before Kings and Tyrants? If thou Peter the Captaine and head of the Apostles and all Christians (for thou wast promised to be their head) deniest this thy so louing maister, in whom shall he put his confidence? what may he hope of the constancie of the rest, but that they shall runne away as thou didst, and denie him and for sweare him, as they see their cap∣taine hath done, before them? what will the Prelates of the Church, thy successours, doe after this thy so ill example?

[ 5] Thou wouldst needs follow th•• Master euen to the houses of Anna an•• Cayphas, presuming to much on th•• owne forces; but it had beene bette•• thou hadst runne away with thy fel¦lowes, then to follow him to deni•• him: for in thus following him tho•• forsakest him worse then they di•• and to thy Masters great griefe an•• dishonour, to thy owne great sinne•• and the euill example of thy fellowes•• O Peter what h••st thou done? Tho•• hast denied thy Master to saue a tem¦porall and short life, and hast los•• (asmuch as in thee lieth) an eternal•• life. An ill marchant thou art, Peter•• and much vnaduised.

[ 6] Peter at this time of his denial stood by the fire to warme him, and indeed he was cold and frozen euen at the heart: but he mistooke his fire. He should haue approached to his Master, who is the fire descended from heauen to earth to set all the world on fire with zeale and charitie, and be∣cause he approached not to this fire, he had not the heate and zeale to con∣fesse his Master: if he had approched to his master, he had neuer denied him.

[ 7] But because Peter approached not ••o his Master, he approacheth to Pe∣••er, and with a glaunce of his eye dis∣••olueth the cold ice which had congea∣••ed Peters heart. Et conuersus Dominus, ••espexit Petrum, and our Lo••d turning, ••ooked vpon Peter: And looking vpon ••im did, as the sunne doth (when he ••isplaeth his hot beames or rayes ••n the snow and ice) dissolue and melt ••eters heart into teares. O Peter ••appie thou: thy Master turneth ••owards thee, and vouchsafeth to be∣••old thee, who hadst so shamefullie ••enied him. Speake Peter, for this his ••ouing looke may imbolden thee to speake. Speake Peter, it is like if thou aske pardon he will giue it thee, for he looketh on thee. But Peter at this looke was so confounded, that he went ••ut of dores and wept bitterlie, & could not speake for weeping; yet his eyes ••ending forth a streame of teares, ••pake better for him then his tongue could haue done, for that teares are the best oratours: and his teares had neuer offended his Maste••, his tongue had. And no meruaile that Peter who was so frozen before, is now melted

into teares, the raye and beame of Christ his eye was so hot, thar it dissol∣ued him, and so he may sing that verse.

Nix ego, sol Christus, radiorum ar∣dore liquesco; Nil mirum ex oculis si fluat vnda meis. I am the snow, & Christ the sunne, that meltes me with his beames; No meruaill then if from mine eyes the waters flow in streames.

[ 8] O happie looke of Christ, o hap∣pie regard, ô how potent is his eye in drawing; moouing, and alluring But Christ hath three eyes: the one corporall of the bodie, the other spiri∣tuall of the soule, the other diuine of his diuinitie, and with all these three eyes he looked on Peter, but the se∣cond eye was more potent in moouing then the first, and the third more po∣tent then the two others.

[ 9] But Christ, as he is our Father, so he is our Iudge, and he looketh on some with the eye of a Iudge, on some with the eye of a Father: his eye of a Iudge is terrible, and the looke of it is seuere, with this eye he looked vpon the Citie

and Tower of Babell, which the chil∣••ren of Adam before their dispersion, ••nd whilest all spake one language, ••uilt and intended to reare it vp so ••ight that the top should reach to heauen; and with this eye God con∣founded their tongues that they could ••ot vnderstand one an other; with this ••ye God looked on Core, Dathan and Abiron, and consumed them: with the eye of a Father he looketh vpon th•• hum∣ble, with the same eye he looketh vpon them that feare him: both these eyes Dauid mentioneth saying: the eyes of our Lord vpon the Iust, behold his Fa∣therlie eye, but the countenance of our Lord is vpon them that do euill. See the eye of a Iust Iudge.

[ 10] VVith this eye Christ looked not on Peter, for then he would haue sent Peter to hell to receaue iust punish∣ment for his denyall, but he loo∣ked vpon him with the mercifull and louing eye of a Father, and so mooued him to pennance; with this eye he saw S. Matthew sitting in a custome house and made him leaue all: with this eye he saw Simon, and Andrew, Iames and Iohn, & they by and by followed him.

[ 11] This looke which Christ vouchsafe•• S. Peter, as it comforted S. Peter, so it was a tacit check and reprehension vnto him, for Christ looking on Pee∣ter, said, as it were tacitlie vnto him: doest thou not know mee Peter? For so thou saidst and swearedst? I know thee well enough and thy thrice denial of mee, and therefore I turne my face and eye to thee. Are thy great pro∣mises Peter come to this? Thou saiedst thou wast readie to goe with mee both into Prison and vnto death, and yet thou seest thou hast denied mee. Thou seest what it is to trust to thy owne forces: yet because thou repentest, I pardon all, and I do receaue thee into as great, ot greater grace then euer: for I shall giue thee the grace by which he••eafter thou shalt confesse my name before Iewes and Gentils, yea before the Kings and Tyrants of the world. O Peter thou wast vnhappie in de∣nying thy Master, but thou wast as happie in weeping so aboundantlie & bitterlie for denying him.

[ 12] Two causes there were of Peters teares and repentance, the first was the glaunce of Christ his eye vpon him, for

the eye being a principall organ & the cheefe of the senses, hath great force in moouing, because our affections of loue and anger, ioy and greefe, doe especiallie appeare in the eye, and so euerie mans eye mooueth much, and especiallie the eye of Christ who was the perfectest man, and had the most perfect complexion, w••i h giues force and spirit to the eye; and besides the glaunce of Christes corporall eye, he gaue a glaunce on Peter with the eye of his diuinitie, which sent out a ray and beame of preuenient grace, which not ōel••e mooued his heart, but melted and consumed it into those aboundant teares which he shed. The second cause or occasion as the crowing of the Cocke, for Christe hauing fore∣told Peter, that in th••t night before the Cocke crewe he should denie him thrice: he hearing the cocke crowe, and thereby remembring Christes words, went forth a dores and wept bitterlie. But as the Preachers preaching without God his grace conuerteth no man, so this crowing of the Cocke could not, haue moued Peter to repentance, had not Christ sent from the eye of his diui∣nitie

a raye of preuenient grace, and by the heate of it, resolued his heart into teares.

[ 14] As Peter now wept at the crow of the Cocke, so did he euer after remem∣ber this so well, that, as Clemens Ro∣manus affirmeth, so oft as he heard the cocke crowe, he kneeled downe on his knees and shedded teares aboun∣dantlie for this his denial of his Master. To this S. Ambrose alluding in the Hymne ad laudes saith. Hoc ipsa Petra Ec∣clesiae canente culpam diluit. When th•• cocke croweth, the rocke of the Church himself, washeth away his fault.

[ 15] But why o B. Sauiour didst thou permir Peter to fall thus shamefullie, who loued thee so well, and was so well beloued of thee, who was to be head vnder thee of the Church & was to suffer the same Kind of death on the Crosse for thee (though with his feete vpwards) as thou sufferedst for him and all the world? He permitted this for Peters and thousands others grea∣ter good; that Peter might see how fraile he is whē he relieth onelie on his owne forces, that he might hereby

be humbled when he should remember ••his his fall, as S. Paul was, who be∣••ause he had persecuted the first Chri∣••tians, did alwaies, when that came to his mind, esteeme himself an aborte, & not worthie to be called an Apostle; That by Peter who was to be head of the Church, all his successours might learne not to presume too much of their hight state and dignitie, but might, know that without God his speciall grace, they are subiect to falling aswell as others: That Peter when he should come to be head of the Church might take compassion of others falles seeing he himself fel so shamefullie; that when Christians see their Pastours fall by euill life, they be not scandalized at thē seeing that the cheefe Pastour after Christ, tooke such a fall; that no sin∣ner should despaire of remission of his sinnes, seeing that Peter, who had de∣nied and forsworne his Master, had obtained that grace; that all the world might see how fraile he and the Apo∣stles were before the comming of the holy Ghost, how couragious they were after the holy Ghost had inflamed them with zele and charitie, and how they

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were stronger then all the tormente•• and deaths that the persecutour could deuise; that Peter might take occa∣sion by this fall, to rise to greater grace, z••le, and Charitie then euer he had: for as the ball the lower it falleth, the higher it reboundeth, and sometimes reboundeth higher then it fell; so many times the lower sinners fall by sinne, the higher they doe rise by a great repentance, in God his grace & fauour; as King Dauid, S. Peter, S. Paul, S. Matthew, S. Marie Magdalen did, who had neuer beene so great Saints if they had not beene so great sinners; not that sinne by it selfe con∣duceth to perfection, but that God manie times taketh greater compassion where he seeth greater sinnes, & there vpon giueth greater grace; that as Iob was and is to this daye an example of patience, and by it hath induced thou∣sands to patience, so Peter might be a pattern to all sinners, & induce them by his teares to heartie repentance; lastlie that we might know the force of teares and Contrition, which wash away the foulest sinnes that are, heale the greatest wounds of the soule, re∣store

vs from spirituall sicknes to spiri∣••ual health, yea from the death of mor∣••all sinne to the life of grace, which ••eares, contrarie to the nature of other waters, ascend to heauen and there doe mollifie God his heart, appease his ••nger, and yet descend also to hell and ••here do extinguish Hell fire, kill all ••vice in our soule, and make it bring forth all maner of vertue, which takes away all enmitie betwixt God and vs, and of enemies, makes vs his friends and fauorites.

[ 16] O my soule how often hast thou in fact, though not in words, denied God, disclaimed from Christe? as oft as thou hast committed mortall sinnes. For thou hast beene one of those, who con∣fesse that they know God, but in their workes denie him. And if for feare of losse of life, or goods thou hast denied thy faith, thou hast denied Christ in words, as S. Peter did, and hast seemed with S. Peter not to know Christ nor his religion: Peter denyed his Master at the interrogation of a wench: and how often for a lesser trifle, or for a vaine pleasure of the body, for a litle trash of the world, for a passion of

the mind, as of hatred, enuie or anger, hast thou sinned mortallie and denyed Christ.

[ 17] As thou hast denied Christ with Peter, so weepe for thy sinnes with Peter. Christ on his part is not wan∣ting, he looketh on thee with the eye of his diuinitie, and from this his eye he sendeth vnto thee, as he did to Pe∣ter a raye or beame of his preuenient grace, and not one onely cocke, but as many cocks, as Preachers, or good Counsellers, or good books, do dailie crow & crie vnto thee to doe pēnance. Thou hast denyed Christ with Peter, thou hast gone forth and runne astray with Peter, but thou hast not yet wept bitterlie with Peter. Goe out of ill companie, as Peter did, when he left Cayphas and the rest, which were there assembled against Christ, leaue all occasions of sinnes, and as hereto∣fore thou hast taken delight in sinne, so now do thou detest th•• sinnes, abhorre them, and be sorrie for them.

[ 18] The Iewes lamented their dead, and mourned for them; do thou lament thy soule dead by mortall sinne, all the dayes of thy life, as Peter did; let

thyne eyes Weepe, or at least let thy ••eart weepe and lament so often as ••hou thinkest on thy sinnes. Thou ••weepest too easelie for temporal losses, euen of monie, and in vaine also, be∣cause weeping will not recouer such losses; weepe then for thy sinnes, which despoile thee of God his grace and his fauour, and euen of the Kingdome of heauen, which are the greatest losses that can be, and which by weeping and teares of contrition are alwayes re∣couered.

[ 19] O my soule harken to Hieremie his Counsell which he gaue to the Iewes, and as thou hast sinned with them, so do thou as Hieremie Counselled them shed teares as a Torrent day and night, giue no rest to thy self, nether let the aple of thyne eye cease from teares. If S. Peter as oft as he did heare the cocke crowe, did shed teares for his sinnes, do thou all thy life, weepe and be sorrie at least in heart for thine, and with King Eze∣chias recount to God all thy yeares in the bitternes of thy soule. And as Peter after his denial confessed Christe boldlie and publicklie before Iewes and Gentills, and euen before the Persecutours and

Tyrants, vnto death, and euen to the death of the Crosse; so doe thou (ô my soule) confesse Iesus by word and deed, that weeping with Peter thou maist find mercie and grace with Pe∣ter, and confessing Christ with Peter, Christ may confesse thee and acknow∣ledge thee as he hath done Peter before his Father in Heauen.

Notes

• Mat. 26.
• Mat. 26.
• Mar. 14. Luc. 22. Ioa. 18.
• Mat 25.
• Mat. 10.
• Mat. 16.
• Mat. 16.
• Gen. 11.
• Num. 16. Eccles. 34. Psal. 112. Psal. 39.
• Mat. 9. Mar. 2. Luc. 5. Mar. 1.
• Mat. 26.
• Clem. Rom. vide Maldo. in c. 26. Matth.
• 1. Cor. 15.
• Tit. 1.
• Hiere. 2.
• Esa. 38.
• Alt. 4.
• Matt. 8. Luc. 12.