Vol. 2

CHAPTER XIV.23Twhat judgment God will pass upon this conduct.The silence of a good man and a friend, is a piece oftreachery, which is sometimes. more prejudicial, and ofmore pernicious consequence, thanathe accusation ofdeclared enemy." 69. And a maid saw him again, and began tosay to them that stood by, This is one of them. 70.And he denied it again. And a little after, theythat stood by said again to Peter, Surely thou artone of them :for thou art a Galilean, and thy speechagreeth thereto."The experience of a first, and even of a secondfall, is not sufficient to convince a presumptuous person,or to make him sensible of his danger. Thedanger is never small, when the weakness is great,and a man depends upon himself. A silly woman, aword, or even a look, is able to overturn the chiefpillars of the church, if they are not well foundedupon the love of God, and the contempt of theworld, and of all its false advantages." 71. But he began to curse and to swear, saying,I know not this man of whom ye speak."Is this the man who said, " Lord, to whom shallwe go ? thou hast the words of eternal life. And webelieve, and are sure that thou art that Christ theSon of the living God." What knowledge, whatfaith, what zeal soever a man has, he may lose it allin a moment, and become like Peter. Presumptionwas the cause of his fall :conserve in us the gifts of God.let humility support us, and*'72. And the second time the cock crew. AndPeter called to mind the word that Jesus said untohim, Before the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny methrice. And when he thought thereon, he wept."