A Godly Sermon OF PETER'S Repentance, ●fter he had denied his Lord and Master Jesus Christ, as it is in his Repentance, he wept bitterly for his sins.  
〈◊〉 fourth Edition, Corrected and enlarged, and set forth for the good of all those that truly sear God: By a godly Pastor.  Matthew 26.75. 
●nd Peter remembered the words of Jesus, which he said, before the Cock crow thou shalt deny me thrice: So he went out and wept bitterly.  Matthew 5.4. 
Blessed are ye that mourn, for ye shall rejoice.  
London, Printed by B.W. and are to be sold by Eliz. Andrews in Little Saint. bartholomew's Court in West-Smithfield. 1666.   
Mark 14.68, 70. 
But he denied, saying, I know not, neither understand 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 unmoveable; 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 penitent, 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 Peter, those that craves repentance and faith, and obedience, are better welcome to God than the thr●e presents given by the Wise men unto Christ, Matth. 2.1. Precious about was not so much accepted a● Peter's Repentance. Gold, Frankincense, and Myrshe are not so precious as Peter's 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 lie, he had learned to swear; they are inseparable companions, and as I may say sworn brethren, that always meet together the sinful society: We never read of Peter's sweeting any any where else, yet hereupon a sudden, oaths, and curses she wed themselves. No sooner Ham spied Noah's nakedness, Gen. 9.22. Cursed be Canaan a servant of servants shall he be.  
So he went out: This Text affords us three special Notes being very remarkable in Peter's 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 ways.  
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 provoked the Lord, by that means calling them to repentance, Deut. 9.7. He went out: another step of Peter's Repentance, he first weighed his sin: mark Noah, and in the meditation thereof now only naked and bare, but he was wakened from his former drowsiness and slumber of sin. He went out; wherein observe the effectual operations of God's Spirit in the Children of God after we have sinned, spiritually 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 find any rest, till he had found Christ by Repentance. whom he had loss by Denial: Peter's sin was great, is was no small bait that Satan laid in his way, for great is the danger; for what greater advantage could Satan else have wished then this, had not the assisting hand of God's mercies stayed 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 Saviour Christ saith, Of those whom thou hast given 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 conference covets to be alone, like Christ in the desert, Matth. 4.1. Jacob being alone wrestled with the Angel, and prevailed for a Blessing, Gen. 32.24. Jonah went out of the City Nineve to mourn over it, as it is in Jonah 1.5. now Jonah preached in Nineve, that within forty days it should be destroyed, and they repent. Moses was bid to pull of his shoes when he passed over the flaming Bush, Exodus 3.5. so we must put off our shoes of carnality, and go out from ourselves, 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 stayed 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 rebellious sinner to deny him that framed me, and by his truth redeemed 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 transgressed my faith, by denying him that died for me; I that thought my saith strong enough to encounter with the whole world, most shamefully instored a woman, 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 join with the wicked? I denied him whom 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 only be mentioned, but his sins must be likewise here numbered. Jeroboam goes with his train, Jeroboam that made Israel to sin: And Peter desire u● to have his train too, Peter that denied his master; from henceforth Peter repent him of his heinous sins he committed in denying his Lord and Master jesus 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 sinneth crucifieth the Son of God again; so did Peter by denying his Lord and Master, Peter's 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 repent 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 cries 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 triumphant Conqueror of Hell, Hosea 13.14. the vanquisher of the Devil, Matth 4.10. the cenquerour and destroyer of death, 1 Cor. 15.55. and Redeemer 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 without paying any thing, Isa. 51.5. This is the water of life which springs out of the everlasting Rock, the Rock of def●nce to all that believes 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 confessed 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 Redeemer, who hath redeemed us from all evil, and looked upon Peter in mercy and love; for if Christ had not called Peter by repentance, Peter 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 heaven 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 agree in one point, so must our minds 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 Commandments of the most high God: Matth. 5.16. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify 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 see 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 repent with a faithful repentance; Then Peter said unto them, Repent And be baptised every one of you in the name of jesus 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 declare him to all people: here is the unworthiness 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 jesus 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 see 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 David's prayer, or Arithmetic, is thus termed: Teach us, O Lord to number our days, 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 jesus Christ, which made him for doing that heed say, Troubles have compassed me round about, my heart is vexed and troubles, my sins are always before mine eyes, which do grievously forment my conscience, and labour to beat me down to Hell, there is no peace for the terror of the Lord; I refuse to be comforted. I am troubled, and my spirit doth afflict me, I see no place where unto I may fly 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 man's Disciples? 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 whom 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, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie. When Satan had tempted Peter to swear, he tempted him to lie; if Peter had not speedily repent, he had been a lost man; but we read that Christ had mercy upon him, and called him from the error of his ways, 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 another; 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 how dost thou expect to have Christ thy Redeemer and Advocate, when thy Conscience tells thee, that thou hast seldom remembered 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 repent, he had fallen into Hell torments, where there is nothing but howling gnashing of teeth, misery, and lamenting 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 jesus Christ: That is your gross ignorance of the Scriptures, for the Scriptures teacheth us to fear God; for God expressly 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 God's throne, nor by the earth, for it is his footstool, nor by Jerusalem, 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 whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil: And then by his Apostle; Above all things my brethren 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 only 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 whatsoever we do invocate that Creature, and ascribe unto it Divine Worship: yea, whatsoever we swear by, that we invocate hath our Wittness, Surety, and judge, Heb. 16. and by consequence deiste it by ascribing and communicating unto it Gods incommunicable Attributes, 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 almighty in patronising, 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 committest Idolatry in an high degree, and thou spoilest and robbest God of his glory, the most impious kind of theft; and in a mamier dethronest him, and makest an Idol in his room. And as to swear by the Creature makes the sin more heinous; so the more mean and vile the thing is which you swear by, as by my faith, by Cock, and by Hare's foot, and by this Cheese, and such like childish oaths, 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 only  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 conscience, that you speak the truth, and lie not, which only 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 Prophet 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 risen again by faith.  
Neither are we to join any other with God in our Oaths, for in so doing we make Gods of the silly Creatures; for Peter wept sorrowfully for his sin and offence which he had committed against Christ his Lord and Master; and because he repent, God granted him mercy and forgiveness for all his offences, which he had committed against him by denying him with an oath, and cursing, and lying: so that Peter's Conscience told him, that he was a great sinner in so doing, but he repent with a tender Conscience, and he wept bitterly, Repentance goeth before salvation, and salvation worketh the souls everlasting joys 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 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 Galilean, and thy speech agreeth thereto; but he began to curse and to swear, saying, I know not this man of whom ye speak; and the second time the Cock crew, and Peter called to mind the words that Jesus said unto him before the Cock crow twice thou shalt deny me thrice: And he went out and wept biterly. Peter's 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 God's 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. Paul's everlasting Rule is, Rom. 12.2. Fashion not yourselves 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 acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father: But Peter denied God the Son, than 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 into the hands of the living God: For the coming of our Lord jesus Christ draweth nigh, when he shall come with his mighty Angels in Glory, Honour, and Power, and Majesty everlastingly to all. Consider what hath been delivered, and the Lord give you understanding hearts in all things. Amen.  
FINIS.