with these ante-passions, the three apostles, whom he had left at some distance from him, being tired out with watching, and disposed by the silence of the night, were fallen fast asleep. Our Lord, who had made three several addresses unto heaven, that, if it might consist with his Father's will, this bitter "cup might pass from him," (expressing herein the harmless and innocent desires of human nature, which always studies its own preservation,) between each of them came to visit the apostles; and calling to Peter, asked him, "whether they could not watch with him one hour?" advising them "to watch and pray, that they entered not into temptation;" adding this argument, that "the spirit indeed was willing, but that the flesh was weak," and that therefore there was the more need that they should stand upon their guard. Observe here the incomparable sweetness, the generous candour of our blessed Saviour, to pass so charitable a censure upon an action, from whence malice and ill-nature might have drawn monsters and prodigies, and have represented it black as the shades of darkness. The request which our Lord made to these apostles was infinitely reasonable, to watch with him in his bitter agony, their company at least being some refreshment to one under such sad fatal circumstances; and this, but for a little time, one hour, it would soon be over, and then they might freely consult their own ease and safety it was their dear Lord and Master whom they now were to attend upon, ready to lay down his life for them, sweating already under the first skirmishes of his sufferings, and expecting every moment when all the powers of darkness would fall upon him. But all these considerations were drowned in a profound security; the men were fast asleep, and though often awakened and told of it, regarded it not, as if nothing but ease and softness had been then to be dreamed of: an action that looked like the most prodigious ingratitude, and the highest unconcernedness for their Lord and Master, and which one would have thought had argued a very great coldness and indifferency of affection towards him. But he would not set it upon the tenters, nor stretch it to what it might easily have been drawn to: he imputes it not to their unthankfulness, or want of affection, nor to their carelessness of what became of him, but merely to their infirmity, and the weakness of their bodily temper, himself making the excuse, when they could make none for

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themselves, "the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak." Hereby teaching us, to put the most candid and favourable construction upon those actions of others, which are capable of various interpretations; and rather with the bee to suck honey, than with the spider to draw poison from them. His last prayer being ended, he came to them, and told them, with a gentle rebuke, that now they might “sleep on" if they pleased; that "the hour was at hand that he should be betrayed, and delivered into the hands of men."

V. While he was thus discoursing to them, a band of soldiers, sent from the high-priests, with the traitor Judas to conduct and direct them, rushed into the garden and seized upon him; which when the apostles saw, they asked him whether they should attempt his rescue? Peter, (whose ungovernable zeal put him upon all dangerous undertakings,) without staying for an answer, drew his sword, and espying one more busy than the rest in laying hold upon our Saviour, which was Malchus, (who, though carrying kingship in his name, was but servant to the high-priest,) struck at him, with an intention to despatch him; but God overruling the stroke, it only cut off his right ear. Our Lord liked not this wild and unwarrantable zeal, and therefore entreated their patience, whilst he miraculously healed the wound. And turning to Peter, bade him put up his sword again; told him, that they who unwarrantably used the sword, should themselves perish by it; that there was no need of these violent and extravagant courses; that if he had a mind to be rid of his keepers, he could ask his Father, who would presently send more than twelve legions of angels to his rescue and deliverance: but he must drink the cup which his father had put into his hand : tor how else should the scriptures be fulfilled, which had expressly foretold, "that these things must be?" Whereupon all the apostles forsook him, and fled from him; and they who before in their promises were as bold as lions, now it came to it, like fearful and timorous hares, ran away from him: Peter and John, though staying last with him, yet followed the same way with the rest, preferring their own safety before the concernments of their Master.

VI. No sooner was he apprehended by the soldiers, and brought out of the garden, but he was immediately posted from one tribunal to another: brought first to Annas, then carried to

Caiaphas, where the Jewish Sanhedrim met together in order to his trial and condemnation." Peter having a little recovered himself, and gotten loose from his fears, probably encouraged by his companion St. John, returns back to seek his Master; and finding them leading him to the high-priest's hall, followed afar off, to see what would be the event and issue. But coming to the door, could get no admittance, till one of the disciples, who was acquainted there, went out and persuaded the servant who kept the door to let him in. Being let into the hall, where the servants and officers stood round the fire, Peter also came thither to warm himself; where being espied by the servant-maid that let him in, she, earnestly looking upon him, charged him with being one of Christ's disciples; which Peter publicly denied before all the company, positively affirming that "he knew him not;” and presently withdrew himself into the porch, where he heard the cock crow: an intimation which, one would have thought, should have awakened his conscience into a quick sense of his duty, and the promise he had made unto his Master. In the porch, another of the maids set upon him, charging him that "he also was one of them that had been with Jesus of Nazareth:" which Peter stoutly denied, saying, that "he knew not Christ; and the better to gain their belief to what he said, ratified it with an oath. So natural is it for one sin to draw on another.

VII. About an hour after, he was a third time set upon by a servant of the high-priest, Malchus's kinsman, whose ear Peter had lately cut off: by him he was charged to be one of Christ's disciples; yea, "that his very speech betrayed him to be a Galilean." For the Galileans, though they did not speak a different language, had yet a different dialect, using a more confused and barbarous, a broader and more unpolished way of pronunciation than the rest of the Jews, whereby they were easily distinguishable in their speaking from other men; abundant instances whereof there are extant in the Talmud at this day. Nay, not only gave this evidence, but added, that he himself had seen him with Jesus in the garden. Peter still resolutely denied the matter; and to add the highest accomplishment to his sin, ratified it not only with an oath, but a solemn curse and execration, that "he was not the person," that "he knew not the man.' It is but a very weak excuse which St. Ambrose

m Matt. xxvi. 57. Mark xiv. 53. Luke xxii. 54. John xviii. 12.

and some others make for this act of Peter's," in saying, "I knew not the man." "He did well (says he) to deny him to be man, whom he knew to be God." St. Hierom takes notice of this pious and well-meant excuse made for Peter, though out of modesty he conceals the name of its author, but yet justly censures it as trifling and frivolous, and which, to excuse man from folly, would charge God with falsehood: for if he did not deny him, then our Lord was out, when he said, that "that night he should thrice deny him," that is, his person, and not only his humanity. Certainly the best apology that can be made for Peter is, that he quickly repented of this great sin; for no sooner had he done it, but the cock crew again; at which intimation our Saviour turned about, and earnestly looked upon him: a glance that quickly pierced him to the heart, and brought to his remembrance what our Lord had once and again foretold him of, how foully and shamefully he should deny him: whereupon, not being able to contain his sorrow, he ran out of doors to give it vent, and wept bitterly, passionately bewailing his folly, and the aggravations of his sin; thereby endeavouring to make some reparation for his fault, and recover himself into the favour of heaven, and to prevent the execution of divine justice, by taking a severe revenge upon himself: by these penitential tears he endeavoured to wash off his guilt, as indeed repentance is the next step to innocence.

SECTION VI.

of ST. PETER, FROM CHRIST'S RESURRECTION TILL HIS ASCENSION.

Our Lord's care to acquaint Peter with his resurrection. His going to the sepulchre. Christ's appearance to Peter, when, and the reasons of it. The apostle's journey into Galilee. Christ's appearing to them at the sea at Tiberias. His being discovered by the great draught of fishes. Christ's questioning Peter's love, and why. "Feed my sheep," commended to Peter, imports no peculiar supereminent power and sovereignty. Peter's death and sufferings foretold. Our Lord takes his last leave of the apostles at

n Bene negavit hominem, quem sciebat Deum. Ambr. in Luc. xxii. vid. Hilar. comment. in Matt. c. xxxii. s. 5.

• Hier. in Matt. xxvi. vol. iv. par. i. p. 132. vid. August. in Joan. Tract. lxvi. s. 2. vol. iii. par. ii. p. 676.

Bethany. His ascension into heaven. The chapel of the ascension. The apostles' joy at their Lord's exaltation.

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WHAT became of Peter after his late prevarication, whether he followed our Saviour through the several stages of his trial, and personally attended as a mourner at the funeral of his Master, we have no account left upon record. No doubt he stayed at Jerusalem, and probably with St. John, together with whom we first find him mentioned, when both setting forwards to the sepulchre which was in this manner. Early on that morning, P whereon our Lord was to return from the grave, Mary Magdalen, and some other devout and pious women, brought spices and ointments, with a design to embalm the body of our crucified Lord. Coming to the sepulchre at sun-rising, and finding the door open, they entered in, where they were suddenly saluted by an angel, who told them that Jesus was risen, and bade them go and acquaint his apostles, and particularly Peter, that he was returned from the dead; and that he would go before them into Galilee, where they should meet with him. Hereupon they returned back, and acquainted the apostles with what had passed: who beheld the story as the product of a weak frighted fancy. But Peter and John presently hastened towards the garden;a John, being the younger and nimbler, outran his companion, and came first thither, where he only looked, but entered not in, either out of fear in himself or a great reverence to our Saviour. Peter, though behind in space, was before in zeal, and being elder and more considerate, came and resolutely entered in, where they found nothing but the linen clothes lying together in one place, and the napkin that was about his head wrapped together in another; which being disposed with so much care and order, shewed (what was falsely suggested by the Jews) that our Saviour's body was not taken away by thieves, who are wont more to consult their escape, than how to leave things orderly disposed behind them.

II. The same day, about noon we may suppose it was that, our Lord himself appeared alone to Peter; being assured of the thing, though not so precisely of the time. That he did so, St. Paul expressly tells us; and so did the apostles to the two disciples that came from Emmaus, "the Lord is risen, and hath

P Mark xvi. 1.

r1 Cor. xv. 5.

9 Luke xxiv. 12. John xx. 2.

s Luke xxiv. 34.