Matthew Poole and continuators on Matthew 26:74

74 Then began he to curse, and to swear, saying, I know not the man. And immediately the cock crew.

Mark, Ch. 14. v. 70, 71. saith, And a little after, they that stood by, said again to Peter. Surely thou art one of them, for thou art a Galilean, and thy Speech agreeth thereto. But he began to Curse and to Swear, saying, I know not the Man of whom you speak, Luke hath it, Ch. 22.59, 60. And about the space of an hour after, Another Confidently affirmed, saying, Of a Truth this fellow also was with him, for he is a Galilean. And Peter said: Man I know not what thou say[illegible: 1 letter]st. And immediately the Cock crew. One spake in the Name of the rest, that were gathered about Peter, and he Chargeth Peter Confidently, and he might well, for Iohn saith, Ch. 18.26. That this was one of the Servants of the High Priests, being his Kinsman, whose Ear Peter cut off, he said, Did no[illegible: 1 letter] I see thee in the Garden with him? Temptations always grow upon us, in the Company of wicked Men. Here Peter adds to his Lying, Swearing, and Cursing; all Confirming of what he had said, in the denial of his Master. All in an exact fulfilling of what Christ had told Peter, v. 54. tho he was then Difficult to believe it, to teach us all, not to presume too far upon our own strength, but to Pray, that we be not led into Temptation. While we stand to take heed lest we fall, and in Order to it, to avoid the Society of wicked Men, and places in which we probably may be Tempted. To teach us also Charity to lapsed Brethren, and not too hastily to Condemn our Brethren, for falling a second and a third time, into the same sin; especially, while the same fit of Temptation holdeth. It is added, and immediately the Cock crew ▪ That is, the second time: So saith Mark, Ch. 14.72. who had mentioned the Cocks first Crowing, v. 68. upon Peters first denial of his Master.