Divers sermons of Master John Calvin, concerning the divinity, humanity, and nativity of our…Diuers sermons of Master Iohn Caluin, concerning the diuinitie, humanitie, and natiuitie of our…

And thus we see what profit we are to prick out of this doctrine. Now, we hear not these things, to the end we should judge Peter, and condemn his cowardliness. Yet may we in trueth justly do it: But yet by the way, we must in the first place learn, that in knowing our weakness, we might likewise understand that there is nothing in us, and not be proudly puffed up, by attributing to our selves through a vain and foolish opinion, any power or strength. And in the mean while, let us also know, that for so much as the devil hath so many ways, to devise our destruction that he will soon compass us, seeing S. Peter fell when there was no show of it. And besides, let us at last understand that our Lord Jesus hath compassion upon us, when he will not suffer us to be tempted above our strengths. For it is certain, that the mischief will be so much the more seen, and we shall understand that after we have committed one offence, we shall be ready to redouble it, and never have end, except he, through his goodness hold us in. And thus we see all the things which here are to be observed. But by the way it is said,¹ That after Peter heard the Cock crow and (as S. Luke reciteth it) after that Jesus Christ had looked upon him, he went out and wept bitterly. Upon this conclusion, it is showed us (as I have before said) that the death and passion of our Lord Jesus Christ had presently brought forth her effect & power, ⟨p. 47⟩for so much as Peter was raised up from so horrible a fall. For, was not this a miracle, that God should have compassion on him, and that he had already obtained mercy, after he had committed so detest able a fault? we have said that it could not be excused by ignorance, as if it had been a small fault? to deny Jesus Christ: for it was said, and told him, that if he rendered not a reason and a testimony of his faith before men, he was worthy to be altogether razed from before the Angels of God,² and his name blotted out of the book of life: and yet he made no reckoning to redeem this miserable and transitory life, with so villainous and strange a denial: not being called to come before the judges. He was not extremely questioned withal, for it was but a Maid that spoke to him:

And thus wee sée what profyt wee are to prick out of this doctrine. Now, we heare not these thinges, to the ende we should iudge Peter, and condemne his cowardlynesse. Yet may we in trueth iustly doe it: But yet by the way, wee must in the first place learne, that in knowing our weakenesse, we might likewise vnderstande that there is nothing in vs, and not be proudlye puffed vp, by attributing to our selues through a vaine and foolishe opinion, any power or strength. And in the meane while, let vs also know, that for so much as ye deuil hath so many waies, to deuise our destructiō yt he wil soone compasse vs, séeing S. Peter fel whē there was no shew of it. And besides, let vs at last vnderstande that our Lord Iesus hath compassion vpon vs, when hee will not suffer vs to bée tempted aboue our strengthes. For it is certayne, that ye mischiefe wyll be so much the more séene, and we shall vnderstand that after we haue committed one offence, wee shall be ready to redouble it, and neuer haue ende, except he, through his goodnesse holde vs in. And thus we see all the thinges whiche héere are to bee obserued. But by the way it is saide,