A Golden Chain

Peter answered, Thou art the son of the living God, as though Peter had bin as perfect as an angel. But immediately after when Christ preached unto them of his death and passion, Peter was angry and rebuked Christ, & thought earnestly that he had raved, and not wist what he had said: as at another time in which Christ was so fervently busied in healing the people, that he had no leisure to eat, they went out to hold him, supposing that he had bin beside himself. And one that cast forth devils in Christs name they forbade, because he waited not on them, so glorious were they yet. And though Christ taught alway to forgive, yet Peter after long going to school, asked whether men should forgive seven times, thinking that eight times had been too much. And at the last supper, Peter would have died with Christ, but yet within few hours after he denied him both cowardly and shamefully. And after the same manner, though he had so long heard that no man must avenge himself, but rather turn the other cheek to the smiter again, yet when Christ was in taking, Peter asked whether it were lawful to smite with the sword, and tarried no answer, but laid on rashly. So that although we be once reconciled to God, yet at the first we be but children and young scholars, weak and feeble, and must have leisure to grow in the spirit, in knowledge, love, and deeds thereof, as young children must have time to grow in their bodies: and so in like manner the sting of the serpe•• is not pulled out at once, but the poison of our nature is minished by little and little, and cannot before the hour of death be wholly taken away.

Peter answered, Thou art the sonne of the liuing God, as though Peter had bin as perfect as an angel. But immediatly after when Christ preached vnto them of his death and passion, Peter was angrie and rebuked Christ, & thought earnestly that he had raued, and not wist what he had saide: as at another time in which Christ was so feruently busied in healing the people, that he had no leasure to eate, they went out to hold him, supposing that he had bin beside himselfe. And one that cast forth diuels in Christs name they forbad, because he waited not on them, so glorious were they yet. And though Christ taught alway to forgiue, yet Peter after long going to schoole, asked whether men should forgiue seuen times, thinking that eight times had beene too much. And at the last supper, Peter would haue died with Christ, but yet within few houres after he denied him both cowardly and shamefully. And after the same manner, though he had so long heard that no man must auenge himselfe, but rather turne the other cheeke to the smiter againe, yet when Christ was in taking, Peter asked whether it were lawfull to smite with the sword, and taried no answer, but laide on rashly. So that although we be once reconciled to God, yet at the first we be but children and young schollers, weake and feeble, and must haue leisure to grow in the spirit, in knowledge, loue, and deedes thereof, as yong children must haue time to grow in their bodies: and so in like manner the sting of the serpe is not pulled out at once, but the poison of our nature is minished by little and little, and cannot before the houre of death be wholly taken away.