close to Christ, this is the proof of love and friendship: and as Christ makes an honourable mention of their constancy towards him, so he presently assures them of an honourable reward: Iappoint unto you a kingdom. Learn hence, That such as are sharers with Christ in his sufferings, shall certainly communicate with him in his glory: If we suffer with him, we shall also reign with him." And whereas our Saviour promises his apostles to sit upon thrones with him judging the twelve tribes of Israel; we may gather, That such ministers as do most service for Christ, and forsake most to follow him, and continue in temptation and tribulation with him, shall in his kingdom partake of most honour and dignity with him and from him: You shall eat and drink in my kingdom, and sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel: possibly the apostles, and all the zealous, faithful and laborious ministers of Jesus Christ, shall be nearer his throne in heaven, than either saints or angels; nearer than the angels, because by Christ's assuming the human nature, they are more nearly allied to him; he is their friend, but our brother; and nearer than other saints, as having done more eminent service for Christ, and brought more honour and glory to him by a laborious diligence in their place and station, Dan. xii. 3. They that turn many to righteousness, shall shine, &c.

The particular matters contained in these words, are these; a Christian's danger, a Christian's safety, and a Christian's duty. 1. A Christian's danger, Satan hath desired to sift you. Where observe, 1. The person particularly warned of the danger, Simon, Simon: the doubling of the word, doubtless carries a special intimation with it: it denotes the greatness and nearness of Peter's danger, his own security and insensibleness of that danger, and the great affection of Christ his monitor, to give him warning of his danger. Observe, 2. The warning itself, and that is, of a devilish conspiracy against himself and all the apostles, Satan hath desired to have you; to have you for his own, if it might be; to have you as believers, rather than other men; to have you as eminent believers, rather than other Christians; and to have you as apostles and ministers, rather than other eminent believers. And as Satan has desired to have you, so to sift you too, to winnow you as wheat; not to fetch out the chaff, but to make the chaff. Here note, That Satan has his winnowing winds of temptation, and his tempestuous winds of persecution, for the sifting of God's children. Note farther, That it is the wheat, the good corn, that Satan winnows; not chaff, nor dross; sinners, that are all chaff, and nothing but dross, Satan will not be at the pains to sift and winnow them. But what is this sifting? An31 And the Lord said, Simon, Si-1. the agitation, shaking and tossing of the swer, In sifting, two things are performed; mon, behold, Satan hath desired to corn from side to side. The separation have you, that he may sift you as of the corn from the chaff and dust; Satan wheat: 32 But I have prayed for thee, intends the former, God effects the latter: that thy faith fail not: and when cribratione non perditur, sed purgatur fruthou art converted, strengthen thyed, by winnowing. The saints of God mentum; The corn is improved, not impair

brethren.

Here I shall give, 1. The general sense of the words. 2. The particular matters contained in them. 3. The special observation from them. The sense of the words is this; as for you my disciples in general, and for thee Peter in particular, I must tell thee, that Satan hath accused you all before God, and desires that he may have the sifting of you all by his winnowing winds of temptation and persecution, that he may shake your faith, and weaken your confidence; but I have prayed for you all, and particularly for thyself who art in greatest danger of falling, because so confident of thine own strength and standing, that thy faith, though severely shaken, may not utterly fail; and when by repentance thou art recovered from thy fall, be careful to confirm and strengthen others, that they may not fall in like manner.

shall be no losers in the end by Satan's temptations, how many and how strong soever they may be in the way. Observe, 2. The Christian's safety: But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not. Where note, 1. The care that Christ had for Peter, and in him of all believers: 1 have prayed for thee; for thee, as a believing Christian, and for thee as a tempted Christian; and 'tis not said, I will pray for thee, but I have prayed for thee. Christ prayed for Peter, before Peter understood that he had need of Christ's prayer; Christ prayed for Peter as soon as ever Satan desired to sift Peter. Our intercessor is full as nimble and speedy in his suit for us, as Satan is in his accusations against us: he has desired, but I have prayed; he is a potent assailant, but thou hast a powerful assistant. Observe, 2. The subject matter prayed for, that thy faith fail not;

not that thy faith be not assaulted, not that thy faith be not shaken, but that thy faith may not fail by an absolute and total deficiency. The third particular is the Christian's duty: When thou art converted; strengthen thy brethren. When converted, that is, when recovered from thy fall, when restored upon thy repentance to the divine favour. This conversion is not from a state of sin; Peter was converted before; but it was from an act of sin, into which he should lapse and relapse; Strengthen thy brethren; that is, establish others in the faith, from which thou art shamefully fallen thyself. Now the lessons of instruction from the whole are these: 1. That temptations are like siftings: God sifts to purge away our dust and dross; Satan sifts, not to get out the chaff; but to bolt out the flour; his temptations are levelled against our faith. 2. That Satan has a continual desire to be sifting and winnowing God's flour; Satan's own children are all bran, all chaff, these he sifts not: God's children have flour mixed with bran, good wheat mixed with chaff; these he desires to sift, winnow, and fan; not to separate the bran and dross, but to destroy the flour. Learn, 3. That the intercession of Christ gives security, satisfaction, and encouragement to all believers, that though their faith may, by temptations, be shaken and assaulted, yet, that it shall never be finally vanquished and overcome: I have prayed that thy faith fail not. 4. That lapsed Christians, when recovered and restored, ought to endeavour to restore and to recover, to strengthen and establish others: When thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.

33 And he said unto him, Lord, I am ready to go with thee, both into prison and to death. 34 And he said, I tell thee, Peter, the cock shall not crow this day. before that thou shalt thrice deny that thou knowest me.

St. Peter's resolution to accompany Christ both to prison and to death, was holy and good; but his too confident opinion of his own strength and ability so to do, without a divine aid and assistance, was his failing and infirmity. Self-confidence is a sin too incident to the holiest and best of men. Little did St. Peter think what a feather he should be in the wind of temptation, if once God left him to himself, and to Satan's assaults. Learn farther, How hard a matter it is for a Christian to excel in gifts, and not to be overconfident and conceited. To see a man eminent in gifts, and yet exemplary in hu

'mility, is a rare sight; if we stand in the evil day, 'tis an humble fear of falling that must enable us to stand.

35 And he said unto them, When I sent you without purse, and scrip, and shoes, lacked ye any thing? And they said, Nothing. 36 Then said he unto them, But now, he that hath a purse, let him take it, and likewise his scrip; and he that hath no sword, let him sell his garment and buy one. 37 For I say unto you, That this that is written must yet be accomplished in me. And he was reckoned among the transgressors: for the things concerning me have an end. 38 And they said, Lord, beAnd he hold, here are two swords. said unto them, It is enough.

As if our Lord had said, "Hitherto I have been with you, and you have had my special protection and careful provision, though you went without purse, scrip, or sword: but the time is now at hand when I must leave you; when your friends will be few, and your enemies many; therefore make such provision for yourselves, as prudence shall direct. Indeed, my sufferings will be first; I must be numbered with the transgressors, and all things that are written of me must be accomplished, and will suddenly be fulfilled; and after me you will next come upon the stage, therefore prepare and provide for it." Learn, That Christ having forewarned his members, but especially his ministers, of the dangers, distresses, and difficulties that they are to conflict and encounter with; it is their duty, by faith and patience, with courage and Christian resolution, to be well armed and prepared against them.

39 And he came out, and went, as he was wont, to the mount of Olives; and his disciples also followed him. 40 And when he was at the place, he said unto them, Pray that ye enter not into temptation. 41 And he was withdrawn from them about a stone's cast, and kneeled down, and prayed, 42 Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done. 43 And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him. 44 And, being in an agony, he prayed

more earnestly: and his sweat was as it
were great drops of blood falling down
to the ground.
45 And when he
rose up from prayer, and was come to
his disciples, he found them sleeping
for sorrow, 46 And said unto them,
Why sleep ye? rise and pray, lest ye
enter into temptation.

them. Observe, 3. The manner of our Lord's prayer in this his agony: and here we may remark, 1. It was a solitary the hearing of his disciples. The compaprayer; he went by himself alone, out of ny of our best and dearest friends is not always seasonable; there are times and seasons when a Christian would not be

willing that the most intimate friend he has in the world should be with him, to hear what passes in secret betwixt him and his God. Again, 2. It was an humble prayer; that appears by the postures in which he cast himself, sometimes lying prostrate upon his face, he lies in the very dust, and lower he could not lie, and his heart was as low as his body. 3. It was a vehement, fervent, and importunate prayer; such was the fervour of his spirit, that he prayed himself into an agony. O let us blush to think how unlike our praying frame of spirit is to Christ's. Lord! what coldness, dead

Our blessed Saviour being now come to the mount of Olives, and having entered with his disciples into the garden near it, whither he used to retire and pray; in this place he falls into a bitter and bloody agony, in which he prayed with wonderful fervour and importunity; his sufferings were now coming on a great pace, and he meets them upon his knees, and would be found in a praying posture. Learn thence, That prayer is the best preparative for, as well as the most powerful support under, the heaviest sufferings that can befall us. As to this prayer of our Sa-ness, drowsiness, formality, and laziness, viour, in his agony, many particulars are are found in our prayers! How often do very observable. As, 1. The time when he prayed thus extraordinarily; it was the still! Observe, 4. The posture which the our lips move, when our hearts stand evening before he suffered, just before disciples were found in; when our Lord Judas with his black guard came to ap- was praying in his agony, they were fast prehend him; and when he did come, he asleep. Good God! could they possibly found him in a praying posture; our sleep at such a time as this? when Lord teaching us by his example, that Christ's soul was exceedingly sorrowful, when imminent dangers are before us, escould their eyes be heavy? Learn thence, pecially when death is apprehended by That the very best of Christ's disciples us, it is our duty to be very much in may be, and ofttimes are, overtaken with prayer to God, and very fervent in our great infirmities, when the most imporwrestlings with him. Observe, 2. The tant duties are performing; Then cometh subject matter of our Lord's prayer, That, he to his disciples, and findeth them sleepif possible, the cup might pass from him; ing. Observe, 5. The mild, meek, and that is, that he might escape the dreadful gentle rebuke which he gives to his diswrath, at which he was so sore amazed. ciples for their sleeping; he said unto But what! did Christ now begin to re- them, Why sleep ye? Could ye not watch pent of his undertaking for sinners? did with me one hour? "What, not watch he shrink and give back, when he came when your Master was in such danger! to the pinch? No, nothing like this; but Could ye not watch with me, when I was as he had two natures, being God and going to lay down my life for you? Man, so he had two distinct wills; as What, not an hour, and that the parting Man he feared and shunned death, as hour too?" Learn hence, That the hoGod-man he willingly submitted to it. liest and best resolved Christians, who The divine nature and the human spirit have willing spirits for Christ and his of Christ did now assault each other with || service, yet in regard to the meekness of disagreeing interests. Again, this prayer the flesh, and the frailty of human nature, was not absolute, but conditional: "Fa- it is their duty to watch and pray, and ther, if it may be, if thou wilt, if it please thereby guard themselves against temptathee, let the cup pass; if not, I will drink tions: Rise and pray, lest ye enter into, &c. it." The cup of sufferings we see is a very bitter and distasteful cup, a cup which human nature abhors; yet doth God ofttimes put this bitter cup of affliction into the hands of whom he does sin

cerely love; and when he doth so, it is their duty to drink it with silence and submission, as here their Lord did before

47 And while he yet spake, behold a multitude, and he that was called Judas, one of the twelve, went before them, and drew near unto Jesus to kiss him. 48 But Jesus said unto him, Judas, betrayest thou the Son of

man with a kiss? 49 When they which were about him saw what would follow, they said unto him, Lord, shall we smite with the sword? 50 And one of them smote the servant of the high-priest, and cut off his right ear. 51 And Jesus answered and said, Suffer ye thus far. And he touched his ear, and healed him. 52 Then Jesus said unto the chief priests, and captains of the temple, and the elders, which were come to him, Be ye come out, as against a thief, with swords and staves? 53 When I was daily with you in the temple, ye stretched forth no hands against me: but this is your hour, and the power of darkness.

them. Lord! how dangerous it is to allow ourselves in any secret sin! None can say how far one sin may in time lead us. Should any one have told Judas that his covetousness would at last make him deny his Lord, and sell his Saviour, he would have said with Hazael, Is thy servant a dog, that I should do this thing? Observe, 4. The endeavour made by his disciples for their Master's rescue. One of them (St. Matthew says it was Peter) drew a sword, and cut off the ear of Malchus. But why not the ear of Judas rather? Because, though Judas was most faulty, yet Malchus might be most forward to arrest and carry off our Sa viour. O how does a pious breast boil with indignation at the sight of an open affront offered to its Saviour! Yet, though St. Peter's heart was sincere, his hand was too rash; good intentions are no warrant for irregular actions; and accordingly, Christ, who accepted the affec tion, reproved the action. To resist authority, even in Christ's own defence, is rash zeal, and discountenanced by the gospel. Peter did well to ask his master, If he should smite with the sword? but he ought to have stayed his hand till Christ had given him his answer. However, Peter's sin occasioned a miracle from our Saviour; Christ heals that ear miraculously, which Peter cut off unwarrant. ably; yet the sight of this miracle converted none. O how insufficient are all outward means of conversion, without the Spirit's inward operation!

It was the lot and portion of our blessed Saviour here, we find, to be betrayed into the hands of his mortal enemies, by the treachery of a false and dissembling friend: and in this sad relation before us we have observable, The traitor, the treason, the manner how, and the time when, this treasonable design was executed. Observe, 1. The traitor, Judas: all the evangelists carefully describe him by his name, Judas, Judas Iscariot, lest he should be mistaken for Jude, the brother of James; and by his office, one of the twelve. Lord! now ought the greatest professors to look well to themselves, and to the grounds and principles of their pro- 54 Then took they him and led fession: for a profession begun in hypochim, and brought him into the highrisy will certainly end in apostasy. Observe, 2. The occasion of the treason, covetousness, or the inordinate love of worldly wealth; and accordingly the devil lays a temptation before him exactly suited to his temper and inclination, and it instantly overcame him. Learn hence, That persons are never in such imminent danger of falling into sin, as when they meet with temptations exactly suited to their master lust. O pray we, that God would keep us from temptations suited to our predominant lust and corruption. Observe, 3. The treason of Judas,

he led on an armed multitude to the

place where Christ was, gave them a signal to discover him by, and bids them luy hands upon him and hold him fast; which treason of Judas was attended with these black and hellish aggravations: he had

been a witness of our Saviour's miracles,

and hearer of our Lord's doctrine; what he did was not by solicitation; the chief priests did not send to him, but he went to

priest's house. And Peter followed afar off. 55 And when they had kindled a fire in the midst of the hall, and were set down together, Peter sat down among them. 56 But a certain maid beheld him as he sat by the fire, and earnestly looked upon him, and said, This man was also with him. 57 And he denied him, saying, Woman I know him not. 58 And after a little while another saw him, and said. Thou art also of them. And Peter said, Man, I am not. 59 And about the space of one hour after, another confidently affirmed, saying, Of a truth this fellow also was with him; for he is a Galilean. 60 And Peter said, Man, I know not what thou sayest. And immediately, while he yet spake, the cock crew. 61

And the Lord turned and looked upon | beginning; for then we have most power, Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. 62 And Peter went out, and wept bitterly.

and sin has least. Observe, 4. The of St. Peter's sin; and they are these: 1. heinous and aggravating circumstances The character of his person; a disciple, an apostle, a chief apostle, a special favourite, who with James and John had the special honour to be with Christ at This paragraph of the chapter gives us his transfiguration: yet he denies Christ. an account of the fall and rising of Peter: 2. The person whom he denies; his of his sin in denying his Master, and of Master, his Saviour, and Redeemer. He, his recovery by repentance; both must be that in great humility had washed Peter's considered distinctly. First, touching his feet, had eat the passover with Peter, had sin and fall; there are four particulars given but just before the holy sacrament observable relating thereunto; namely, the to Peter; yet is this kind and condescendsin itself, the occasion of that sin, the re- ing Saviour denied by Peter. 3. Consiiteration and repetition of it, and the ag- der the persons before whom he denied gravating circumstances attending it. Ob- Christ; the chief priest's servants. O serve, 1. The sin itself, the denial of Christ how surprising, and yet very pleasing was Jesus his Lord and Master, I know not the it to them, to see one disciple betray and man; and this backed with an oath, he sell his Master, and another disown and sware that he knew him not. Lord, how deny him! 4. Consider the time when he may the slavish fear of suffering drive the denied him; it was but a few hours after holiest and best of men to commit the he had received the holy sacrament from foulest and worst of sins! Observe, 2. The Christ's own hands. How unreasonable occasions leading to this sin, and they were then is their objection against coming to these: 1. His following Christ afar off the Lord's table, that some who go to it To follow Christ was the effect of Peter's dishonour Christ as soon as they come faith; but to follow him afar off at this from it: such examples ought not to distime, was the fruit of fear, and the effect courage us from coming to the ordinance, of frailty. Woe unto us when temptation but should excite and increase our watchcomes, if we be far from Christ's gra- fulness after we have been there, that our cious presence and assistance. 2. His after-deportment may be suitable to the being in bad company, amongst Christ's solemnity of a sacramental table. Obenemies: would we escape temptations serve, 5. What a small temptation he lay to sin, we must then decline such com- under thus shamefully to deny his Lord pany as would allure and draw us into sin. and Master: a damsel only at first spake Peter had better have been acold by to him. Had a band of armed soldiers himself alone, than warming himself at a appeared to him, and apprehended him: fire which was encompassed in with the had he been bound and led away to the blasphemies of the multitude; where his judgment-hall, and there threatened with conscience, though not seared, was yet the sentence of an ignominious death, made hard. Another grand occasion of some excuse might have been made betPeter's falling was, a presumptuous conter for him: but to disown his relation to fidence of his own strength and standing: Christ upon a word spoken by a sorry Though all men forsake thee, yet will not I. maid that kept the door; the smallness of O Lord! to presume upon ourselves, is the temptation was an high aggravation the ready way to provoke thee to leave us of the crime. Ah Peter: how little didst to ourselves; if ever we stand in the day thou answer thy name at this time! of trial, 'tis the fear of falling must enable Thou art not now a rock, but a reed, a us to stand. We soon fall, if we believe pillar blown down by a woman's breath. it impossible to fall. Observe, 3. The O frail humanity, whose strength is weakreiteration and repetition of this sin, he ness and infirmity. Note here, That in denied Christ again and again; he denies most of the saints' falls recorded in scriphim first with a lie, then with an oath,ture, the first enticers to sin, or the acciand next with a curse. Lord, how dan-dental occasions of it, were women; witgerous is it not to resist the first beginnings of sin! if we yield to one temptation, Satan will assault us with more and stronger. Peter proceeded from a denial to a lie; from a lie to an oath; from an oath to an imprecation or curse. It is our wisdom vigorously to resist sin at the VOL. I.-51

ness (besides the first fall, that of Adam's, where the woman was first in the transgression) the fall of Lot, Samson, David, Solomon, and Peter; these are sad instances of the truth of what I speak. A weak creature may be a strong tempter; nothing is too impotent or useless for the 2 L 2