A godly sermon of Peter's repentance, after he had denyed his lord and master Jesus Christ, as it is in his repentance, he wept bitterly for his sins. / ... by a godly pastor.

Mark 14.68, 70.

But he denied, saying, I know not, neither under∣stand I what thou sayest; and he went out into the porch, and the cock crew. And he denied it again. And a little after they that stood by, said again to Peter, surely thou art one of them, for thou art a Galllean, and thy speech agreeth thereto.

PEter is called Simon, an obdient hearer, he is also called Peter, confident, and strong in faith, like a Rock unmove∣able; Thou art Peter, and upon his Rock will I build my Church that the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. Matth. 16.18. He was pe∣nitent, the words now read unto you do prove the sins: for after he had sinned he went out: O that every Christian were qualified like Pe∣ter, those that craves repentance and faith, and obedience, are better welcome to God then the thr••e presents given by the Wise men unto Christ, Matth. 2.1. Precious about was not so much accepted a•• Peters Repentance. Gold, Frankincence, and Myrshe are not so precious

as Peters Repentance to Godward; for he wept bitterly for denying his Lord and master Jesus Christ: Mark 14.71. But he began to curse and to swear, saying, I know not this man of whom ye speak. So soon as he has learned to lye, he had learned to swear; they are inseparable companions, and as I may say sworn brethren, that alwayes meet together the sinful socie∣ty: We never read of Peters sweating any where else, yet hereupon a sudden, oathes, and curses she wed themselves. No sooner Ham spied Noahs nakedness, Gen. 9.22. Cursed be Canaan a servant of servants shall he be.

So he went out: This Text affords us thrée special Notes being very remarkable in Peters repentance, 1. Remembrance of sin. 2. Remorse of sin, 3. Sorrow for sin. All of which ought to accompany a godly and sincere Convert in turning from his evil wayes.

Thus having found out the mine, let us now dig for the treasure: So he went out: He was careless till the Cock warned him, thereby learning, that the first step to repentance is the remembrance of sin, and therefore David saith Psal. 51.3. My sins are before me. Moses charged the people to remember their sins, and there he put them in remembrance, how oft they pro∣voked the Lord, by that means calling them to repentance, Deut. 9.7. He went out: another

step of Peters Repentance, he first weighed his sin: mark Noah, and in the meditation thereof now onely naked and bare, but he was wakened from his former drowsiness and slumber of sin. He went out; wherein observe the effectual operations of Gods Spirit in the Children of God after we have sinned, spiritu∣ally the grace of God calleth us home again, and suffereth us not to rest; like the Dove that was sent out from Noah found no rest, Gen. 8.9. Nor can Peter now finde any rest, till he had found Christ by Repentance. whom he had loss by Denial: Peters sin was great, is was no small bait that Satan laid in his way, for great is the danger; for what greater advan∣tage could Satan else have wished then this, had not the assisting hand of Gods mercies staid him up after his fall for his own glory, and to the unspeakably comfort of the Godly, who though they fall, can never fall away; for the promise of God standeth sure, and hath this seal, God knoweth who are his. our Sa∣viour Christ saith, Of those whom thou hast gi∣ven me I have lost none of them, save the son of perdition. John 17.12. He went out as Isaac went out into the fled to pray. Gen. 24.63. so Peter went out to meditate and consider what, he had done, Luke 22.62. Peter went out and wept bitterly; the faithful soul when it is desirous

to enter into any holy consultation, or confe∣rence covets to be alone, like Christ in the de∣sart, Matth. 4.1. Jacob being alone wrestled with the Angel, and prevailed for a Blessing, Gen. 32.24. Jonah went out of the City Nine∣ve to mourn over it, as it is in Jonah 1.5. now Jonah preached in Nineve, that within forty dayes it should be destroyed, and they repented. Moses was bid to pull of his shooes when he passed over the flaming Bush, Exodus 3.5. so we must put off our shooes of carnality, and go out from our selves, as the Adder taketh his slough, if we will tread upon holy ground, and press to come where God is. Peter so long as he staid in the High Priests Hall among the Enemies of Christ; he became as one of them, and had quite forgotten that Christ was his master; or he was solitary, and so denied him whom a little before he promised to are for.

O what have I done miserable man that I am! how dangerously have I fallen in denying him the Lord of life, and my Lord. I a rebelli∣ous sinner to deny him that framed me, and by his truth redéemed me: and was I in wicked, if all the world were offended, yet would not I be offended; yea, I was ready to lay down my life for Christ my Lord: and yet before the Cock crew twice, I had denied him three times, Matth. 26.33 O perjured wretch that I

am! how heavy have I transgrest my faith, by denying him that died for me; I that thought my saith strong enought to encounter with the whole world, most shamefully instored a wo∣man, and the weaker vessel to discountenance me. Is not this to be offended? And is this to give my life to my master? Nay is not this to forsake him quite, and to joyn with the wicked? I denied him whome my soul loved best: for which my name deserves to go with the brand upon it, as that of Jereboam goes with his train, Peter confesseth his train of sins, and Jeroboam by name cannot onely be mentioned, but his sins must be likewise here numbred. Jeroboam goes with his train, Jeroboam that made Israel to sin: And Peter desir•• u•• to have his train too, Peter that denied his master; from henceforth Peter repented him of his hanious sins he committed in denying his Lord and Master Iesus Christ.

Let us all repent with Peter, that God may give us the earnest of his grace in our hearts for ever: St. Paul saith, Heb. 6.6. He that sin∣neth crucifieth the Son of God again; so did Pe∣ter by denying his Lord and Master, Peters faith was wadering faith, had not God looked again upon him with the eyes of mercy and tender compassion, heassured that Peter had fallen from light into utter darkness and

damnation, had not he truly repented with an unfeigned repentance; Psal 71.9. Cast me not away in the time of age, forsake me not when my strength faileth me: Here we may see how the Prophet cryes to God for mercy, as Peter did, cry and weep with a most exceeding weeping for denying his Lord and Master. Gen. 27.34. And when Esau heard the words of his Father, he cried with a great and exceeding bitter cry, and said unto his Father, Bless me, even me also, O my Father: These are the words of Esau the eldest Son of Isaac, but the youngest in faith to God-ward. Blessed be thou which art the trium∣phant Conquerour of Hell, Hosea 13.14. the vanquisher of the Devil, Matth 4.10. the cen∣querour and destroyer of death, 1 Cor. 15.55. and Redéemer of them that were in darkness, and in the shadow of death, Luke 1.79. All ye that be thirsty come unto the water, and you that have neither Gold nor Silver come and receive all these precious treasures free with∣out paying any thing, Isa. 51.5. This is the water of life which springs out of the everla∣sting Rock, the Rock of def••nce to all that be∣lieves in Christ our Lord, who is the enduring Rock of our Salvation in this world, and in the world to come. Amen.

But now Peter wept for his sins, and confes∣sed his faults before God by repenting of his

sinful actions which he had committed against God; he was taken for one of evil behaviour, and as one that kept evil company, for they said, he receiveth sinners, and eateth with them, Matth. 11.19. This of the lowliness and méekness of our Lord and blessed Redéem∣er, who hath redéemed us from all evil, and looked upon Peter in mercy and love; for if Christ had not called Peter by repentance, Pe∣ter had been a damned Creature for falling into so great a sin, for he did utterly deny Christ by lying and sinearing, which are great sins, and without Repentance cannot be forgiven. Christ hath commanded us to repent, Matth. 3.2. And saying, Repent ye, for the Kingdom of hea∣ven is at hand: And again ver. 17. At that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent, for the Kingdom of heaven is at hand.

My Brethren, here you may see how these places of Scriptures agrée in one point, so must our mindes be agreeable to the will of God; that we may walk in the light while we have light, and to walk in the Laws and Com∣mandments of the most high God: Matth. 5.16. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorifie your Father which is in heaven.

And let us make a good end by Repentance; I heard a voice from Heaven, saying, blessed are

they that die in the Lord, henceforth, even so saith they Spirit, that they rest from their labour and sorrow, and their works shall follow them, Rev. 14.13. Here we may sée that God blesseth those that fears him even unto death, that he might give them eternal life: When Christ who is our life shall appear then shall we also appear with him in glory: this is the hope of the Saints, and all the Elect People of God; Matth. 10 22. He that endureth to the end shall be saved. Rev. 2.10. Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a Crown of Life.

Peter was faithful unto death, by repenting him of his sins: And Peter went out and wept bitterly: So Peter repented with a faithful re∣pentance; Then Peter said unto them, Repent And be baptized every one of you in the name of Iesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive of the Holy Ghost. This Peter it was that denied Christ, but now doth plainly de∣clare him to all people: here is the unworthi∣ness of chose that look back by sin: And on the other side, No man that putteth his hand to the plough, and looketh back, is sir for the kingdom of God, Luke 9.62. But Peter looked back by denying his Lord and Master Iesus Christ; it is a most certain truth that God hath given unto us eternal life; to this is as certain, that this life is in his Son; and in the next verse.

He that hath the Son hath life, and he that hath not the Son hath not life, 1 John 5.11, 12.

Now we may sée how blessed a thing it is to have the Son of God in our hearts by fasting, and prairs, and by faith and truth; he that hath faith hath life eternal for evermore in the Kingdom of Heaven. The Prophet Davids prayer, or Arithmetick, is thus termed: Teach us, O Lord to number our dayes, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom, Psal. 90.12.

Peter wept, because for the weight of grief and sorrow, in denying his Lord and Master Iesus Christ, which made him for doing that héed say, Troubles have compassed me round about, my heart is vexed and troubles, my sins are alwayes before mine eyes, which do grie∣vously forment my conscience, and labour to beat me down to Hell, there is no peace for the terrour of the Lord; I refuse to be com∣forted. I am troubled, and my spirit doth af∣flict me, I see no place where unto I may flye and seek a remedy for my sins.

But Peter denied his Master for frar, Peter then denied again, and immediately the Cock crew: Then said the Damsel that kept the door unto peter, are not thou also one of this mans Dis∣ciples? He saith, I am not; but denied, saying, I know not the man neither understand I what thou sayest: And he were our into the porch, and the

Cock crew, but he began to curse and to swear, saying, I know not this man of whome ye speak. When Peter had gotten some feeling in his Conscience, he went out and wept bitterly. 1 Cor. 15.34. Awoke to righteousness, and sin not: for some have not the knowledge of God, I speak this to your shame. Ezek. 16.63. That thou mayest remember and be ashamed, and never open thy mouth more.

Thus Peter is rejected for his swearing and lying, as it to in Rev. 21.27. And there shall in no wise enter into it anything that defileth, nei∣ther whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lye. When Satan had tempted Peter to swear, he tempted him to lye; if Peter had not speedily repented, he had been a lost man; but we read that Christ had mercy upon him, and called him from the errour of his wayes, and from that sinful deed.

Repentance is a turning to men, we must not be ashamed to acknowledge our faults one to another, James 5.16. Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another; and in so doing men may know that ye are my Disciples: So that we ought to pray for one another, and on the contrary, we had rather curse one an∣other; but woe unto them that do so, for Hell fire is prepared for the tormenting of their souls, being in that gulf of woe everlastingly 〈1+ pages missing〉〈1+ pages missing〉

how doest thou expect to have Christ thy Re∣deemer and Advocate, when thy Conscience tells thee, that thou hast seldom remembred him but in thy Oaths to blaspheme him; and oftener named him in thy Oaths and Curses, then in thy Prayers; surely if I did swear faith & troth, this swearing made many sinful souls to fall into Hell headlong; and if Peter had not speedily repented, he had fallen into Hell torments, where there is nothing but howling gnashing of teeth, misery, and lament∣ing for ever.

It is said in Levit. 19.17. Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thine heart, thou shalt in any wise rebuke him, and not suffer sin upon him: So Peter was rebuked of his Conscience, it tells him that he had wickedly sinned by denying his Lord and Master Iesus Christ: That is your gross ignorance of the Scriptures, for the Scriptures teacheth us to fear God; for God expresly forbids swearing, and that upon pain of damnation: James. 5.12. My brethren swear not neither by heaven, neither by earth, neither by any other Oath, but let your yea be yea and your nay nay, lest you fall into condemnation. First, our Saviour Christ in his own person forbids it, Matth. 5.34, 35, 36, 37. I say unto you swear not it all, neither by heaven, for it is Gods throne, nor by the earth, for it is his footstool, nor by Jeru∣salem,

for it is the City of the great king: neither shalt thou swear by thine head, because thou canst not make on hair white or black; but let your Communication be yea, yea, nay, nay: for what∣soever is more then these commeth of evil: And then by his Apostle; Above all things my bre∣thren swear not, neither by heaven, nor by earth, nor by, any other oath, but let your yea, be yea, and nay, nay lest ye fall into condemnation, Jam. 5.12. Where mark the Emphasis in the first words, Above all things swear not: and the greater danger of it in the last words, left ye fall into condemnation: for woe and sorrow will be in the end.

If the matter be light and vain we must not swear at all, if weighty, that we may lawfully swear; as before a Magistrate being called to it, when we must onely use the glorious name of our God in a holy and riligious manner, as you may see in Deut. 6.12. Isa. 45.23. & Isa. 65.16. Joshuah 23.7. Exodus 23.13. Jer. 5.7. And the Reasons are weighty if we look into them; for in swearing by any creature what∣soever we do invocate that Creature, and ascribe unto it Divine Worship: yea, whatso∣ever we swear by, that we invocate hath our Wittness, Surety, and Iudge, Heb. 16. and by consequence deiste it by ascribing and commu∣nicating unto it Gods incommunicable Attri∣butes,

and his omnipresence, and ominiscienty, of being every where present, and knowing the secret thoughts and intentions of the heart; and likewise an omnipotency, and as being al∣mighty in patronizing, protecting, defending, and rewarding us for speaking the truth, or punishing us if we speak falsely: all which are so peculiar to God, as that they can no way be communicated or ascribed to another; so that in swearing by any of these things, thou com∣mittest Idolatry in an high degree, and thou spoilest and robbest God of his glory, the most impious kinde of theft; and in a mamier de∣thronest him, and makest an Idol in his room. And as to swear by the Creature makes the sin more hanious; so the more meane and vile the thing is which you swear by, as by my fey, by Cock, and by Hares foot, and by this Cheese, and such like childish oathes, which are so much in use with the ignorant and superstitious people the greater is your sin in swearing such an oath, because you ascribe that unto these the basest of Creatures, which is onely propper to God, namely, to know the heart, and to be a discerner of secret things; why else should you call that Creature as a wittness unto your con∣science, that you speak the truth, and lye not, which onely belongeth to God: and therefore the Lord calls it a forsaking of him, as you may

see what he saith, Jer. 5.7. How shall I spare thee for this? thy children hath forsaken me, and sworn by them that are no gods: And to make it a small matter to forsake God, and to make a god of the Creature, will you believe the Pro∣phet Amos? if you will, he saith speaking of them that swore by the sins of Samaria, that they should fall, and never rise again, Amos 8.14. a terrible place to vain swearers. But Peter fell and rose again by faith.

Neither are we to joyn any other with God in our Oathes, for in so doing we make Gods of the silly Creatures; for Peter wept sor∣rowfully for his sin and offence which he had committed against Christ his Lord and Ma∣ster; and because he repented, God granted him mercy and forgiveness for all his offences, which he had committed against him by deny∣ing him with an oath, and cursing, and lying: so that Peters Conscience told him, that he was a great sinner in so doing, but he repented with a tender Conscience, and he wept bitterly, Repentance goeth before salvation, and sal∣vation worketh the souls everlasting joyes in the Kingdom of Heaven for evermore.

And a maid saw him again, and began to say unto them that stood by, this is one of them; and he de∣nied it again, 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, say∣ing, I know not this man of whom ye speak; and the second time the Cock crew, and Peter called to minde the words that Jesus said unto him before the Cock crow twice thou shalt deny me thrice: And he went out and wept biterly. Peters heart misgave him, he sinned in so doing, and he wept for it bitterly; we have a command from God to shun all devices of evil works: Saint Paul saith, Rom. 6.23. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Neither must we swear at all in our ordinary communication, if we will obey Gods word, as you may see, Matth. 5.34, 35. 36, 37. James 5.12. And as it is in Exod. 23.2. Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil And St. Pauls everlasting Rule is, Rom. 12.2. Fa∣shion not your selves according to this world, for this world passeth away, and the glory thereof: For as St. John saith, Whosoever denieth the Son, the same denieth the Father; but he that ac∣knowledgeth the Son hath the Father: But Peter denied God the Son, then he must needs deny God the Father, and God the Holy Ghost; for as Christ saith, He that sinneth against the Son of man it shall be forgiven him; but he that sinneth against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him; neither shall there be any remission of

sins for that poor soul: 'Tis a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. Heb. 10.31. Stand in awe therefore, and sin not, Psalm 4.4. 2 Tim. 2.22. Let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall. And therefore flee from youthful lusts, for it is a fearful thing to fail in∣to the hands of the living God: For the cōming of our Lord Iesus Christ draweth nigh, when he shall come with his mighty Angels in Glory, Honour, and Power, and Majesty everlast∣ingly to all. Consider what hath been de∣livered, and the Lord give you understanding hearts in all things. Amen.

FINIS.