THE Occasion of these words will be the best key to our Discourse: And that was this. Our Saviour now drawing fast upon the Catastrophe of His Life, and being in the last Act thereof, to express the Perfection of Self-denial, that the suddenness of the Tragedy might not drive his Disciples into an unwonted ecstasy,1 acquaints them often with it before-hand, well knowing, that the blow foreseen in time, when it came, would make the less impression. Yet Peter, it seems,2 somewhat moved above the rest, whether by the instinct of flesh and blood, or the suggestion of the Devil, or both, which is most likely, taking him aside, began to rebuke Him, saying; Sir! favour your self, this barme shall not befall you. Most strange audaciousness in a Disciple to his Master, ⟨p. 4⟩whether we look at his words, or his behaviour! No such thing shall befall you; and yet but just then, He had flatly affirmed the contrary? What else was this, but, with the Devil in Paradise, to oppose his own infallibility to his Masters, 3that is (in plain English) to give Him the Lye? An intolerable presumption. And yet, thereupon to infer, He ought to favour, that is, make much of, or seek Himself; this was no other, but a down-right Devilish Temptation: A true, but slyer, Copy of that Original one of the Serpent, who tempted our first Parents, by self-love, to affect a Deity. But lastly, the better to persuade this,4 to take Him aside, to put Him beside His course, and there earnestly to advise Him; this was just like the Devils tolling Adam from his Work, to the fatal Tree of Perdition. All which seriously considered, we cannot but (though with no small admiration) acknowledge Peter but even now made a Claviger of the Heavenly Kingdom,5 was herein the Devils Spokes-man. Such was the daring boldness, that by long practise he was grown to: No less Instrument could serve him to frustrate the Second Covenant, then the Senior Disciple of our Saviour's, who used but a despicable Serpent to do as much to the First. All that can be said in Peters behalf is, he meant no harm to our Saviour in those words; but good rather: the reason, as I suppose, why he made so bold with Him, as he did. But this, though the common pretence of blind zeal, is not enough to excuse it;
THE Occasion of these words will be the best key to our Discourse: And that was this. Our Saviour now drawing fast upon the Catastrophe of His Life, and being in the last Act thereof, to expresse the Perfection of Self-denyall, that the suddennesse of the Tragedy might not drive his Disciples into an unwonted extasie,1 acquaints them often with it before-hand, well knowing, that the blow foreseene in time, when it came, would make the lesse impression. Yet Peter, it seemes,2 somewhat mov'd above the rest, whether by the instinct of flesh and bloud, or the suggestion of the Devill, or both, which is most likely, taking him aside, began to rebuke Him, saying; Sir! favour your selfe, this barme shall not befall you. Most strange audaciousnesse in a Disciple to his Master, ⟨p. 4⟩whether we looke at his words, or his behaviour! No such thing shall befall you; and yet but just then, He had flatly affirmed the contrary? What else was this, but, with the Devill in Paradise, to oppose his owne infallibility to his Masters, 3that is (in plaine English) to give Him the Lye? An intolerable presumption. And yet, thereupon to inferre, He ought to favour, that is, make much of, or seek Himselfe; this was no other, but a downe-right Devillish Temptation: A true, but slyer, Copy of that Originall one of the Serpent, who tempted our first Parents, by self-love, to affect a Deity. But lastly, the better to perswade this,4 to take Him aside, to put Him beside His course, and there earnestly to advise Him; this was just like the Devils tolling Adam from his Worke, to the fatall Tree of Perdition. All which seriously considered, we cannot but (though with no small admiration) aknowledge Peter but even now made a Claviger of the Heavenly Kingdome,5 was herein the Devills Spokes-man. Such was the daring boldnesse, that by long practise he was growne to: No lesse Instrument could serve him to frustrate the Second Covenant, then the Senior Disciple of our Saviour's, who us'd but a despicable Serpent to doe as much to the First. All that can bee said in Peters behalfe is, he meant no harme to our Saviour in those words; but good rather: the reason, as I suppose, why he made so bold with Him, as he did. But this, though the common pretence of blinde zeale, is not enough to excuse it;
- 1Verse 21.
- 2Verse 22.
- 3Gen. 3.4. Jer. 5.12.
- 4Gen 3.5.
- 5Verse 19.
