Peter hauing before bragged of his constancie, lately admonished by his Maister Christ, almost euē in ye presence of his master, wittingly & willingly denyed, not once, but thrice, yea bitterly forswore him: which fault no doubt was as gréeuous as any kind of Idolatrie: and therfore if you stand with me in that matter neuer so long, you can not greatly trouble me. for the circumstances beyng considered, there is nothing to ex∣euse Peters denyall.
As Christ in the heate of Paules persecution, dyd choose him to be an Apostle, and called Peter also to that function, after he had thrice denyed him, euen so doth he still conti∣nue his mercie, neither is it one whit streightened: and these examples hath he set be∣fore vs that we should at no time dispaire of his mercy and goodnesse: so saith S. Paule 1. Tim. 1. Verùm ideò misericordiam consecutus sum. &c. Notwithstanding, for this cause was I* 1.1 receiued to mercie, that Iesus Christ should first shewe on me al long suffering, vnto the ex∣ample of them, which shall in time to come beleeue in him vnto eternall lyfe.
Although these examples of our sauiour Christ are not at all times, & in al poyntes to be followed, yet doe they sufficiently declare, that no man for any crime is to be se∣cluded from any lawfull vocation, if he repent him and become a new man. And there be no generall commaundements contrarie herevnto, but this doctrine is consonant to the whole course of the Gospell.