The Life of Faith in Times of Trial and Affliction, Consideration 19
CONSIDERATION. XIX. Remember Peter's fall Mat. 26. vers 33, 34, 35.
IN a time of trials and temptations, as it is of advantage to be calling to minde, and presenting to ourselves the Christian, and commendable Carriage of such, as have been helped of the Lord, to witness a good Confession for Him, and for His Cause and Interest, before men; to the end we may thereby be encouraged to follow their example, and to adventure on the Promises with them, and not to fear the faces of men, in Christ's Cause; so it may be of use for us also, to present before our eyes, and to take notice of the faintings of others, in the day of Trial, that thereby we may learn, to walk in fear, and not to trust to ourselves, or to any thing within us; and to watch, lest we enter into temptation, when we are not in case to wrestle against it.
We have here before us a sad and an alarming Instance viz. the foule fall of an Eminent man, in the houre of Temptation, which may be Improven to advantage.
After Christ and His Disciples had been supping together, at that Instituted Feast, He tels them some sad and wakening newes vers. 31, 32. to Teach us (1.) That we are never more ready to grow secure, and to think that our mountain stands so strong, that it shall never be moved, than when we have had greatest Enjoyments of and Communications from the Lord, and nighest Access unto him. (2.) That there is never less cause of security, than at that time; for the higher we have come in our attainments, the Devil is the nigher with his storme. (3) That we should never be secure; but even, when we win neerest God, we should resolve upon and prepare for new assaults, and temptations. But withal it is remarkable, that the Lord delayed the signification of the sad things, that were to fall out, until the feast was ended, and they had sung a hymne; knowing that they would then be best in case to bear the sad report; and not loving to marre their mirth, at that feast of Love.
Though Christ had told them, that they should all be offended because of Him, that night; yet Peter, out of a piece of manly courage (as would appear) promising too much upon his own head, would not beleeve; but would rather make his Master a false Prophet, than suspect his own weakness: Therefore Christ tels him, that he should be more offended, than any of the rest; and that he should deny Him thrice, ere the next morning came vers. 34 But all this would not lay the high conceite, that Pet…r had of himself; for he resolved rather to die, than do that; and this he avowed openly, little knowing this own strength.
In this carriage, and in these Answers of Peter, there are some things good, and some things bad; and the noticeing of both may be of use to us. As for such things, as are good here, and may yeeld us some Instruction, we shall mention these three.
First, It was good, that Peter was convinced, & did acknowledge, that it was his duty, and the duty of all Christ's Disciples, to avow their Master, and not to be offended in Him, whatever came. And this is an undeniable truth, That upon all hazards, Christ should be owned and avowed by all, that would not have Him to be ashamed of them one day? And yet how little is this beleeved & beleevingly practised?
Secondly, It was good, that he was convinced, and that he confessed, that it was his duty, though all the rest should have left alone, yet notwithstanding to owne and avow his Master, and not deny him: For Christ and His truth and cause is worthy to be owned and avowed, how small so ever our encouragment from others be: And as we should not follow a multitude to do evil; so neither will the defection of many justifie our defection, and lessen our fault, if we depart from the faith.
Thirdly, It was good, that he saw, and acknowledged, that he was obliged to owne his Master, and stand at his back, be the hazard never so great; and that the very fear of death, should not cause him deny his Master. Thou…h (saith he) I should die with thee, yet will I not deny thee. And indeed all, that would be faithful Disciples to Christ, must not think their life dear to the death for Him; but must be dead to life and all that is dear to them.
But that which we would chiefly here take notice of is, that which was amisse in him; and which will ground some sad Truths for our use; As
First, He had too great a conceite of himself; and thought too much of what he had, & of what he was Hence obs. That Christians are too ready to be puft up with thoughts of themselves; and are in hazard to be carryed away with this evil of self conceite, and vaine thoughts of their owne worth and excellency. And this ariseth from these evils.
1. Unmortified Corruption, This is alwayes working against God, one way or other; and is as ready to work this way, as any other way.
2. Little self searching, and self examination, whereby we become strangers to the evil of our hearts, and know not what enemies are lurking there, and what wickedness aboundeth; and when we know not what is within, it is little wonder we be readily puft up with swelling thoughts of vanity.
3. Little real acquaintance with the treachery, deceitfulness and double dealing of our false hearts: If we saw that, and saw its activity for evil, we would see more cause of humiliation, than of pride and self conceite.
4. Little mindeing & considering aright the failings and falls of others, who seemed to be as fast at the root, as we: If we thought upon this, we might have cause to feare, that we should also not be able to ride out a storme.
5. Trusting too much unto our own present good disposition and frame, as if this would alwayes continue with us, and we needed to feare no change.
6. Trusting too much to our Resolutions, Purposes and earnest Engagments, considering little the treachery and deceitfulness of the heart, nor remembering our own Changeableness and Unconstancy, and that our good fits may be soon off us.
7. Little considering how we must depend on the Lord & His Influencing grace, for through-bearing in all our duties; and how we can do nothing without Him, and His supplies of grace and strength.
This should be a warning to us to guaird against this evil of pride and self conceite: and to study more humility of minde; knowing better what we are, and where our strength lyeth, that we may promise less upon our own head, and undertake noth ing in our own strength. And it should teach us to mourne over this body of death, and to guaird against its riseings & motions, and to strive against it, in all its appearances and actings.
Secondly, The foretold defection and fainting of all the rest of the Disciples maketh not him the more afrayed; but for all that he keepeth fast his high and presumptuous thoughts of himself. Which tels us, that there is such an evil among good Persons, as not to suspect themselves, and fear their fall, notwithstanding of the supposed and foreseen fals and failings of others. And this floweth from the same evil root of pride, and self confidence. We remember not that the same evil heart of Unbeliefe, Unconstancy, Treachery and Backsliding, that is in others, remaineth in us.
Whence we should learne to bewar of this evil, and to know our hearts better, and suspect the evil of them more. Let us not think of ourselves more highly than we ought Rom 12: 3 but Let him that standeth take heed lest he fall 1 Cor. 10: 12. And let the examples of others put us to watchfulness & fear, lest we fall after the same example of unbeleefe. Heb 4: 11.
Thirdly, He would not fear, though Christ told him, and that with a doubled asseveration, verily, Verily that himself in particular, as well as the rest, should deny him. Whence we see, how …ard it is to lie open to Convictions of our own weakness, & readiness to decline in an evil day. And this floweth from the same evils of Pride, Self-confidence, & Ignorance of our hearts and wayes.
This should teach us to observe and notice the strength and activity of this piece of Corruption, which yet remaineth in the best: And to hate and strive against this evil and proud humore: As also to be jealous of ourselves, and to lye open to Convictions from the Word, and be ready to take warnings, and to tremble before the Lord, and at his Word.
Beside these things that were good, and that were bad in Peter. We may consider this Prediction of Christ's, and the intertainment that Peter gave it, whereof we have heard, with the event, and other circumstances here recorded, and thence finde some matter of Instruction.
1. Then, we may observe. That a Person may be convinced of his duty to stand by Christ and his Cause and Interest, in a day of trial, and yet deny Him, when it cometh to the point of tryal. Peter's Conviction of his duty to owne Christ, come what could come, did not keep him from a foule fall, in the hour of temptation: And the reason is manifest, for (1.) Convictions may evanish, or lose their force & edge: Light may grow dark, truths become questioned; or (2.) suppose Convictions should remaine in their force; yet it is only fresh supplies of Influences of grace, & strength, that will cause the man stand, without which he may be carried over the belly of Light, Conscience and all Convinctions, in a day of temptation.
Hence we see Light and Convictions are not enough to keep us sted fast, in a day of tryal; we must look-out for something more, and not lean to that which will not carry us thorow, more than it did Peter.
2. A Person may be throughly convinced, that he should stand by Christ and his Cause and Interest, though the defection were never so great, yea though he should be left in that quarrel alone; and yet deny Christ and his Truth, in a day of tryal: Peter was convinced, that he should not deny Christ, though all others should do it; and yet fell foully. And the grounds of this are the same, with the grounds of the former truth: Deep Convictions are one gift, and stability in a day of tryal is a distinct gift. Light is one thing, but grace to follow that light, is another thing.
Wherefore the deeper our Convictions be, we ought the rather to feare the more, and depend the more by faith on Christ for actual Assistance, Influence and Grace to follow Convictions, and abide by Duty, in the day of tryal.
3. Clear, Plaine, Peremptour and Particular Warnings, will not be enough to keep us sted fast in an evil day: Peter had such here, and yet he fell in the day of temptation: And the reason is because (1.) These warnings may weare away, and be forgotten, And (2.) Pride and Corruption may so puff up, that all these shall not once pick upon the man: And so he may forget himself, and take little notice of them
The consideration of which should teach us to be Jealous of our heart, to keep humble, and feare alwayes; and to improve warnings, to a stirring of ourselves up to Diligence, Watchfulness, Acting of faith upon Christ, and Living nigh to Him.
4. A present good frame and disposition, or a fit of warmness and affection to Christ, will not be enough to secure us from a fall, in the day of tryal. As we see here in Peter; He seemed to be in a very good frame, at present, and full of affection, when he would rather die than deny his Master; & yet when the temptation came, he yeelded The reasons are (1.) Such frames and fits do not usually stay, nor leave any deep impression on the heart. (2.) Grace actuated, & blown upon one way, will not be sufficient to make grace lively another way, or for other work; but the habite must have new Influences for every new work: For (3.) without Christ we can do nothing: All our strength is in Him; in Him we must move, as well as live; and He must work in us both to will and to do, of his own good pleasure.
This should learne us, not to think much of any present fit of tenderness, or flash of affection; for that may soon wear off; nor think that that will be sufficient to carry us thorow new straits and difficulties. It were better to be learning & practiseing the way of faith, and of dependance upon Christ, that we may be strong in Him, and in the power of His might Ephes. 6: 10. That we may live in Him, and bring forth fruit in Him. Diffidence of our selves, and of any thing we have, even when we are at the best, would be more suitable and useful for us, than building too much upon such slender and slippery grounds: And the consciousness of our own Unconstancy, and Instability should make us live closer to Christ.
5. Strong Purposes and Resolutions to stand fast, in a day of tryal, will not keep us from reeling and staggering in a stormy day: Peter had brave Purposes and stout Resolutions; yet he fell notwithstanding, in the hour of temptation. And the reason is because: (1.) These Purposes and Resolutions are oft ill founded with us; we ground them too oft upon something within ourselves, on our Partes and Abilities, our Light and Knowledge, and upon our Grace and Receivings from God, or upon former thorow-bearings, and the like; which may prove but a sandy foundation. (2.) The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperatly wicked; and so may faile us, in a day of strait and difficulty. (3) These purposes may soon be forgotten and laid by.
Which should learne us, not to deceive ourselves with those specious and promiseing flourishes of Purposes and Resolutions, even when they are real, and without the reproachings of our heart; for these are not strong enough to carry us thorow a sad storme, that may come.
6. A Person may resolve on death, in avowing Christ, and yet not stand out against a smaller temptation: Peter resolved to die, rather than deny his Master, and yet the word of a Damsel made him deny Christ. And that because (1.) Presupposed hazard is not so terrible to nature, as what is present, a small trouble present is more frightful to nature, than a greater trouble afar off, (2.) We oft make our Resolutions without Christ, and resolve not in Him, but in ourselves. (3.) Oftentimes these Resolutions are not deliberat, but done in a fit of a good mood and warm frame; and when that is off, the Resolutions animated thereby wax cold and faint.
The Consideration of which should make us feare alwayes, and not to trust the highest and strongest of Resolutions. Happy such as abide in Christ, and depend upon Him, for their daily Food, Strength, Courage and Activity; and undertake nothing without Him.
7. All these fast and firm-like Purposes, Vowes and Resolutions will be so far from keeping a person from a fall, in a day of temptation, that they will not, some time, keep him even for a few houres. So was it here with Peter; for that very night he denied his Master. And that because (1.) A Christian, when left to himself is not able to stand-out a storme, even a very little time. (2.) Their adversary the Devil is active, subtile, and vigilant. (3.) After Vowes and fast Purposes they become secure, as thinking their hazard less, and trusting to their owne strength; and so the Devil gets most advantage, when they are gone from their watch-towr, and are fallen asleep in their security. (4.) The Lord may see it good to suffer this, to punish them for their Pride and Self-Confidence, and to let all see, that he that glorieth should glory in the Lord.
This may let us see, What an Unconstant Creature a beleever is, when he is left to himself, and how inconsistent he is with himself. And should teach us to fear most, and be most upon our guard, when we think ourselves best and saifest. And to know, that our Strength and standing is in the Lord.
8. When Persons think themselves most sure, they may be nearest to a fearful fall: Peter thought now his mountaine stood so strong, that he should never be moved, as David did Psal. 30. And all the warnings he gote did not make him once fear a fall: And yet w… know, what a fearful fall followed upon this. And the reason is, because (1.) They oft judge by sense and carnal reason; and so think because they finde themselves, in a good mood at present, that all is well, and they need to fear nothing. (2.) They grow then most secure, and self confident, and therefore neglect their watchful, and circumspect walking, and are not in the fear of the Lord all the day long. (3.) Satan observing this watcheth his time, and finding them secure setteth on, & cannot but prevaile. (4.) Self-confidence blindeth the eyes, that they see not their owne weakness, and where Satan may have advantage against them. (5.) The only Wise God ordereth it thus, to let us see, that all Flesh is grasse.
Therefore we should never resolve to quite our Watch-towr, but alwayes minde watchfulness and circumspection, and guard against Security. Let us fear most, when we think we are saifest, and beware of promising saifty and immunity to ourselves, in whatsoever condition or frame we be into. Let him that standeth take heed, lest he fall.
9. Such as have an higher conceite of themselves, than of others, may come to fall fouler than any. Peter thought more of himself, than of all the rest; and that he should stand by his Master, though all the rest should shamefully turn their back upon Him; and yet none among them all did, as he did. And the Lord wisely ordereth matters thus, that (1) All Flesh may lye low in the dust, be humble, tremble and feare. (2.) That the best may be jealous of themselves, and fear a fall. (3.) That He may chastise the pride of some, who thought there were none comparable to them.
Which is a warning to all, to have humble and low thoughts of themselves, and to beware of proud imaginations and loftie thoughts.
10. A Person may have true Grace, and yet sinfully and shamfully shun suffering for Christ. As we see in Peter, who had the root of the matter in him: For to beleeve is one gift, and to suffer is another distinct gift, and they go not alwayes together. See Phil. 1: v. 29. of which we spoke above.
To teach us to depend upon Him for the one, as well as for the other; and not to think, that if we have grace, we need no more to carrie us honestly thorow a day of temptation. We would remember, that it must be given us in that very houre, to suffer stedfastly, and to stand to the truth.
11. A Child of God may fall into this grievous sin of denying his Lord and Master in all His Interests, in His Person, Offices, Attributes and Works. This was no small sin, in which Peter fell, at this time: It had a long tail of direful and sad Consequences. There is no sin, which Beleevers are exempted from, but the unpardonable sin unto death, final impenitency, and final and total Apostasie. And Satan, in all his temptations, driveth at this, to have them denying, quiting and renouncing Christ.
Which should teach us (1.) To have charitie to some, that fall in a day of temptation; seing some, in whom is the root of the matter, may, being left of the Lord, fall very foulely. (2.) To be humble and watchful all our dayes, not knowing what may befal us ere we die: We may ride thorow one, or two, or moe stormes, and yet fall shamfully, ere we go off the stage. (3) To remember what a strong and violent Body of Death we have within us; lest we turn secure and careless. (4.) To be thankful to God, if we be keeped stedfast at any time; for that is not of ourselves; the Grace and Power of God have done it. Therefore let God have the Glory, and not we ourselves.
12. When once a Beleever, in a day of temptation, beginneth to fall, and loseth a foot, he may fall very foulely, ere he recover himself. Peter lost his foot, and spoke an untruth at first, simply denying his Master; but it came to fearful Oaths, Cursings and Execrations, ere all was done. For (1.) The way down-ward is very easie (2.) Satan is at hand, to drive forward; and who can stand, when the Devil driveth down ward? (3.) Conscience being once wounded will be easily made worse: If once a little hole be made in the Conscience, it is easily made wider; for tenderness and watchfulness go away.
Which should serve as a loud warning, to beware of the very beginning of a defection, and to guard against the very first breaking-in of waters, It is not saife to say, such a length I will go, and so far I will yeeld, to save a staik, and to keep my peace; but I will go no further. It were more wisdom, to hold further off the brinke and precipice, lest, if our foot slip, we recover not ourselves so easily againe: And we know not, what a providential Commission the Lord may give Satan, to drive us, by his temptations, forward to that, which we never dreamed of, because of our rash and sinful ventureing, and bold hazarding upon sin and known dangers. It is Wisdom to resist the beginnings of evil; then are we strongest, and best able to withstand; whileas, the more we cede and yeeld, the weaker we become, and the weaker we are, we are the more easily driven downward, and carried away of the winde of temptation.