Meditations on the fall and rising of St. Peter

MED. XIII.

Peter hath no sooner denied his Master, but he goes out farther from him. See what a concord there is between our Members in sinning! how the action of the Foot bears witness to the apostasy of the Tongue! But why should Peter get him out for fear of an Attachment, and farther Examination, having already by his denial cleared himself, and (for ought he sees) satisfied ⟨p. 46⟩his adversary? Surely there is no security to be expected from the denial of our Lord. He which thinks to gain ease by sinning, misseth of his end, and shall be more afraid after he hath cleared himself by Apostasy, than he was before. 'Tis not the way to avoid the storms of danger, by making shipwreck of a good Conscience; and to free our selves from the hands of men, by running upon the wrath of God. He which hides himself in the hedge of wickedness from danger, ⟨p. 47⟩shall meet with a Serpent instead of safety; and shall be so much the more suspicious of other mens fury and persecution, by how much the more he is sensible that he hath deserved it. Peter sate boldly amongst them while he was in danger; he hath no sooner made his Apology, but he is gone straight. The same that befell Peter here in denying his dependence on his Saviour, did once befall Adam in denying the Truth of his Maker; the next news which you hear of them, is ⟨p. 48⟩their flight, their fear. Sin is ever deceitful, and pays nothing less than what it promiseth. The first thing that ever painted it self, was Sin.

PEter hath no sooner denied his Master, but he goes out farther from him. See what a concord there is between our Members in sinning! how the action of the Foot bears witness to the apostacy of the Tongue! But why should Peter get him out for fear of an Attachment, and farther Examination, having already by his denial clear'd himself, and (for ought he sees) satisfied