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…

Wherefore, when we see this, let us so much the more think of our selves, that it must needs be that God would pour out the infinite treasures of his goodness, whenas he made Peter to be a partaker of the fruit of the death and passion of his son. Here is then a miracle, to cause us all to be in an admiration, that Peter obtained forgiveness for so heinous an offence: as appeareth by his repentance. For this is most sure, that if a man be touched to the quick, after he hath fallen, and weepeth and groaneth before God for his pardon, it is a token that God hath already received him, and reconciled him unto him self. For repentance, is a singular gift proceeding from the holy Ghost, showing us that god is merciful unto us, & would not have us to perish, but draweth us unto him self. And this we see to be in Peter: wherefore it followeth, that the death and passion of our Lord Jesus Christ was already available unto him, after a wonderful manner, as hath been before said. But let us here in the first place note, that S. Peter abode still sleepy and blockish, until such time as he perceived the token which our Lord Jesus had told him of, to wit, that the Cock should not crow till he had denied him thrice, or else that the Cock should not crow the second time, before Peter had made his three denials. Since then it is so, if our Lord Jesus Christ had not forewarned him, he had stood stiff in his sin, & been plunged always in destruction, knowing that we had need to be still called upon whenas ⟨image 54⟩we have committed any offence. For if God should take away his grace from us, & not exhort us to turn unto him, without doubt, Satan would prevent us, and all our senses would become blockish, so that we should have no one good motion to return into the way of salvation. And this is it which we are over & besides, to behold in the person of Peter. But when S. Luke telleth ye Jesus Christ looked on him, we are hereby the better taught, that it is not enough that we be pricked forward, and be pulled by the ear to return unto God, but Jesus christ must also cast his look & countenance upon us. Now, this is true, that he speaketh not here, but of the look of the eyes: but although our Lord Jesus be not conversant with us in a visible manner:

Wherfore, when we sée this, let vs so much the more thinke of our selues, that it must néedes be that God would powre out the infinite treasures of his goodnesse, whenas he made Peter to be a pertaker of the fruite of the death and passion of his sonne. Héere is thē a myracle, to cause vs all to be in an admiration, that Peter obtayned forgiuenesse for so hainous an offence: as appeareth by his repentance. For this is most sure, that if a man be touched to the quicke, after hee hath fallen, and wéepeth and growneth before God for his pardon, it is a token that God hath already receiued him, and reconciled him vnto him selfe. For repentaunce, is a singuler gift procéeding from the holy Ghost, shewing vs that god is mercyfull vnto vs, & would not haue vs to perish, but draweth vs vnto him self. And this we sée to be in Peter: wherfore it foloweth, yt the death and passion of our Lord Iesus Christ was already available vnto him, after a wonderful maner, as hath bene before saide. But let vs héere in the first place note, that S. Peter aboad still sleepy and blockishe, vntill such time as he perceiued the token which our Lord Iesus had tolde him of, to wit, that the Cock should not crow till he had denied him thrise, or els that the Cocke should not crow the second time, before Peter had made his thrée denials. Since then it is so, if our Lord Iesus Christ had not forewarned him, he had stoode styff in his sin, & bene plunged alwaies in destructiō, knowing yt we had neede to be stil called vpon whēas