The rule of faith, or, An exposition of the Apostles Creed so handled as…

Thus he was denied by Peter.

3. He was ill entreated by them that kept him bound: for as Saint Luke shows chapter 22. they mocked him and smote him, and when they had blindfolded him, they stroke him on the face, and asked him, saying, Prophesy unto us, who it is that smote thee. And many other things blasphemously spake they against him. Here we may behold a lamentable spectacle, of that disorder into which wretched men fall, when they give the reins to their wicked malice, and think they may do it without punishment. What woeful indignities are these, these base Jews offer to our blessed Saviour? They blindfold and buffet that face, which their godly Forefathers and Prophets so longed to behold, even that face that was fairer than the children of men. And what was of more authority than the sacred Prophesying of Jesus, who spake as never man spake, and confirmed it by miracles, and yet see how this base vulgar scorns his Prophesying? They that before persecuted the Prophets of the Lord, now blaspheme and deride the Lord of the Prophets. Thus it is still with us in places where the wicked multitude dare oppose the Messengers of Christ, with opinion they may do it without punishment. When Magistrates are wicked & haters of goodness, these things fall out amongst ⟨p. 356⟩the multitude. There are two signs of a child of God: The personal love of the Lord Jesus, 1 Pet. 1. 8. and the high estimation of the word of Christ. Now on the contrary, there cannot be more palpable signs of a wicked or reprobate heart, than to loath Christ, and despise Prophesying. Again, note another madness and folly in these beasts: They think they can hoodwink Christ: What, can their base covering hide the eyes of the Son of God, that had so often made them know that he could see into their very hearts? Will God be blindfolded? Thus foolish are wicked men: and this mad folly is not out of the hearts of such men amongst us, that think they have the skill still to hoodwink God, that he should not see their hypocrisy, and know their secret corruptions. But some one may say, it was wonder Christ would endure such mean usage: I answer, we must look higher than the wickedness of these men: Christ as our surety suffers all this, that he might make expiation for our sins, that had lost the face or image of God, and that he might deliver us from those contumelies might justly follow us for our sins: