George Hutcheson
18 And the servants and officers stood there, who had made a fire of coales, (for it was cold) and they warmed themselves: and Peter stood with them, and warmed himselfe.
The first branch of the first part of this Chapter, is here closed with an account of Peters carriage after this his slip: Namely, that he continued still warming himselfe among the rest in a place so full of snares, which also did occasion his repeated denials of his Master. He had been standing there at his first denial, Mark. 14.67. but having withdrawn a little into the porch, where he heard the cock crow the first time, Mark. 14.68. he return: back again and continueth with them, till he is assaulted of new, as we find here, v. 25. Doct. 1. Such as are carnal persecutors of Christ, may yet be furnished with store of outward accommodations, that so Saints may not doat upon these things which are so frequently cast to dogs; for, the servants and officers (who had taken Christ) had a fire of coales, to warme themselves, for it was cold. See Joh 18.18. 2. One given up to a tentation of fear, may have large more vexation and tossing with shifting of trouble, then a resolute sufferer with enduring it; for, so appeares in Peters carriage, who sometime shifts himselfe from among the crowd (as is marked by the rest) and again, fearing lest that might render him suspect, he cometh among them, and stands with them, either that he might be hid in the throng, or might bear out his denial with his confident carriage. 3. The conscience of 2 childe of God may be strangly deaded and laid by for a time, by a sinne against light, and not become soon tender again; for, though he had denied his Master, and the cock had crowed once (as is elsewhere recorded) to give him warning, yet he stood with them, and went not out to mourn. Thus was it with David in the matter of, Bethshabe and Uriah: And in Peter it is especially to be observed, that his care and tossing about his own preservation, hindred his conscience to do its duty, which testifieth that that care was a snare unto him. 4. The children of the Lords refreshments and accomodations are, many time, so dear bought, that it were far better to want them, then to go out of Gods way to finde them; for, Peter stood and warmed himselfe, but the high Priests fire was a snare to a disciple, and he was forced to vomite up that morsal, when he left the fire, and went out and wept bitterly.
