of the Apostleship. Therefore the libertie of teaching, and his autoritie
also are restored vnto him now, both which he had lost throgh his own
fault. And least the infamy of his fal shuld any whit hinder him, Christe
wipeth away and blotteth out the remembrance thereof. Such a kind of
restoring againe was necessary both for Peter, and also for his hearers:
for him, to the end he might the more stoutly do his dutie, being certein
of the calling, which was enioyned him againe: for thē, least the blot stic∣king
in his name, might be an occasion of despising the Gospell. It is also
very profitable for vs at this day, that Peter shuld come forth vnto vs, as
a newe man, whose shame was abolished, which might hinder his dig∣nitie..
Simon, the sonne of Iohn, louest thou me? Christ signifieth by these words, that
no man can serue the Church faithfully, and take paines in feedinge the
flocke, vnlesse he looke higher then vnto men. For first the office of fee∣ding
is of it selfe painefull and troublesome, seeing that there is nothing
more hard, then to keepe menne vnder Gods yoake, whereof many are
weake, many light and froward, some slow & sluggish, some hard, chur∣lish
& vnapt to be taught. Now Satan layeth in their way all the stum∣bling
blocks he can, that he may thereby discourag a good pastor. Here∣vnto
is added the vnthankfulnes of many: and other causes of wearisō∣nes.
Therfore no man shal euer go forward constantly in this office, saue
he, in whose heart the loue of Christ shal so reigne, that forgetting him∣self,
and addicting himself wholy vnto him, he may ouercome al impedi∣ments.
Paul declareth that he was so affected, 2. Cor. 5. 14. whē he saith,
the loue of Christ bindeth vs, considering this, that if one died for al, thē
were al dead. And although he meaneth that loue, wherewith Christ lo∣ued
vs and whereof he shewed a token in his death: yet he adioineth the
mutual affection, which ariseth by the feeling of so great a benefit. And
againe, he marketh the wicked & false teachers, which trouble ye church
with this mark, that they loue not the Lord Iesus, 1. Cor. 16. 22. There∣fore
let those which are called to gouerne the Church remember, that if
they couet to execute their office wel and rightly, they must begin at the
loue of Christ. In the meane season Christ doth testifie plentifully what
account he maketh of our saluation, whilst that he cōmendeth the same
vnto the pastors so singularly: and hee affirmeth that this is vnto him a
token and testimonie, how dearly they loue him, as if they care for the
same carefully. There could no more effectual thing be spoken, to encou∣rage
the ministers of the Gospel, thē when they heare yt no office is more
acceptable to Christ, then that which is emploied in feeding his flock. Al
the godly may draw no small comforte thence, when they heare that
they are so deare and precious to the sonne of God, that he putteth them
as it were in his roume. And the same doctrine ought to make the false
teachers not a litle afraid, who ouerturne the gouernment of the church:
because they shall suffer no small punishment at Christes handes, whoe
pronounceth that he is violated by them.
Feede my Lambes. The scripture applyeth this word feede vnto al manner
of gouernment, metaphorically: but because the spiritual gouernment of
the Church is handeled in this place, it is profitable to note, vppon what
partes the office of a pastour consisteth. For doubtlesse there is not anye
idle dignitie depaynted out vnto vs in this place: neither dooth Christe