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Peter not thinking of his power, for, if he had seriously considered the power of Christ, he would not have denied him by swearing, cursing, and lying.
Swearer, alas! though I did swear, yet, I thought no harm. O fool! what prince, hearing himself abused to his face, by the reproachful calumnies of his base subjects, would admit of such an excuse; that whatsoever he spake with his mouth, yet, he thought no ill in his heart. And, shall God take this for a good answer, having told us before hand, Deut. xxviii. 58. 59. 'If thou will not observe to do all the words of this law, that are written in this book, that thou mayest fear this glorious and fearful name, the Lord thy God: Then the Lord will make thy plagues wonderful, and the plagues of thy seed, even great plagues, and of long continuance, and sore sickness.'
Besides, how frequently dost thou pollute and profane God's name and our Saviour; the Jews grievously sinned in crucifying the Lord of life, but once, and that ignorantly, so Peter ignorantly denied Christ, but wisely repented him of that sin: but they are innumerable, that thou dost commit every day in the year, every hour in the day, although thy conscience be guilty; Repentance maketh peace between God and your conscience for Christ's sake. Amen.
And the holy Spirit of grace hath rebuked thee for it a thousand, and a thousand times; how dost thou expect to have Christ thy Re-
