Solomon tells us of some, that lye down on the top of a mast in the middest of the sea, Prov. 23. 34. Men overborne by security in the mouth of destruction. If ever poor souls lay down on the top of a mast in the middest of the sea, these disciples with our Saviour in the Garden did so. Their Master at a little distance from them, was offering up prayers and supplications with strong cries, and tears; Heb. 5. 4. being then taking into his hand, and beginning toa taste that cup that was filled with the curse and wrath due to their sins. The Jews armed for his▪ and their destruction, being but a little more distant from them, on the other hand. Our Saviour had a little ⟨p. 3⟩before, informed them, that, that night he should be betrayed, and be delivered up to be slain; They saw that he was sorrowful, and very heavy vers. 37. Nay he told them plainly, that his soul was exceeding sorrowful even unto death: vers. 38. and therefore entreated them to tarry, and watch with him, now he was dying, and that for them. In this condition, leaving them but a little space like men forsaken of all love towards him, or care of themselves, they fall fast asleep. Even the best of Saints, being left to themselves, will quickly appear to be less then men, to be nothing. All our own strength is weakness, and all our Wisdom, folly. Peter being one of them, who but a little before, had with so much self-confidence, affirmed, that though all men forsook him, yet he never would so do; our Saviour expostulates the matter in particular with him, vers. 40. He saith unto Peter, could you not watch with me one hour: as if he should have said; Art thou he Peter ⟨p. 4⟩who but now boastedst of thy Resolution, never to forsake me? Is it likely that thou shouldest hold out therein, when thou canst not watch with me one hour? is this thy dying for me; to be dead in security, when I am dying for thee? And indeed it would be an amazing thing, to consider, that Peter should make so high a promise, and be immediately so careless and remiss in the pursuit of it; but that we find the root of the same treachery abiding and working in our own hearts, and do see the fruit of it brought forth every day. The most noble engagements unto obedience, quickly ending in deplorable negligence, Rom. 7. 18.
Solomon tells us of some, that lye downe on the top of a mast in the middest of the sea, Prov. 23. 34. Men overborne by security in the mouth of destruction. If ever poore soules lay downe on the top of a mast in the middest of the sea, these disciples with our Saviour in the Garden did so. Their Master at a litle distance from them, was offering up prayers and supplications with strong cryes, and teares; Heb. 5. 4. being then taking into his hand, and beginning toa tast that cup that was filled with the curse and wrath due to their sinnes. The Jewes armed for his▪ and their destruction, being but a litle more distant from them, on the other hand. Our Saviour had a litle ⟨p. 3⟩before, informed them, that, that night he should be betraid, and be delivered up to be slaine; They saw that he was sorrowfull, and very heavy vers. 37. Nay he told them plainely, that his soule was exceeding sorrowfull even unto death: vers. 38. and therefore entreated them to tarry, and watch with him, now he was dying, and that for them. In this condition, leaving them but a litle space like men forsaken of all love towards him, or care of themselves, they fall fast asleepe. Even the best of Saints, being left to themselves, will quickly appeare to be lesse then men, to be nothing. All our owne strength is weaknesse, and all our Wisdome, folly. Peter being one of them, who but a litle before, had with so much selfe-confidence, affirm'd, that though all men forsooke him, yet he never would so do; our Saviour expostulates the matter in particular with him, vers. 40. He saith unto Peter, could you not watch with me one houre: as if he should have said; Art thou he Peter ⟨p. 4⟩who but now boasted'st of thy Resolution, never to forsake me? Is it likely that thou shouldest hold out therein, when thou canst not watch with me one houre? is this thy dying for me; to be dead in security, when I am dying for thee? And indeed it would be an amazing thing, to consider, that Peter should make so high a promise, and be immediately so carelesse and remisse in the pursuit of it; but that we find the root of the same treachery abiding and working in our owne hearts, and do see the fruit of it brought forth every day. The most noble engagements unto obedience, quickly ending in deplorable negligence, Rom. 7. 18.
- aHeb. 2. 9. Gal. 3. 13. 2 […]. 5. 21.Heb. 2. 9. Gal. 3. 13. 2 〈…〉. 5. 21.
