Meditations on the fall and rising of St. Peter

MED. X.

IT is no wonder if Peter be tempted to forsake his Master, when he is far off from him. How can he choose but stumble and fall, who hideth himself from the Sun of Righteousness, who is absent from the Light of the World, who wanders out of the way of Life, who is beyond the voice of that word of Truth which only succoureth, directeth, leadeth, instructeth in Holiness and ⟨p. 37⟩Security? He which testifieth his Faith by following, and yet lays open his flesh and weakness by following afar off, shall be sure to meet with such an enemy as hates our Faith, and therefore takes advantage by our weakness to oppose it. Our Faith provokes him to enmity, for he is adversary to none so much as those that are out of his power; and our weakness invites him to an assault, for he trembles and flies from opposition. Had Peter abode in the company of his Lord, Satan ⟨p. 38⟩would not have dared to tempt him unto a Triple denial in the presence of such a power, whence he had formerly received such a Triple-overthrow, having been himself broken with those stones, and hurled down from that Pinnacle and Mountain, in which he thought to have battered and broken in pieces the Salvation of the World by the overthrow of its Saviour. Or if perhaps he would have been so impudent, or so venturous, as to thrust into the presence ⟨p. 39⟩of his Maker, and before him to issue forth his Temptations; yet this advantage should Peter have had, that he should have been directed with more light, and assisted with greater strength to resist so impudent an assault; his Faith haply should bave been confirmed, though his adversaries malice had not been abated. And we know the Devil never overcomes any, that is not first overcome of himself. What danger is there in fighting, where, there is no danger of falling? or what difference