Selected quad for the lemma: power_n
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A60148
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St. Peter's sin and true repentance amplified and improved in a discourse occasion'd by the publick profession of repentance made by T.W., who after eleven years slavery in Turkey renounc'd his baptism and Christianity there ... / by John Shower.
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Shower, John, 1657-1715.
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1692
(1692)
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Wing S3684; ESTC R10197
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15,206
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39
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confident in our selves The Instance of this Text should make us humble and cautious and fill us with a Holy Fear because they who are able to stand their ground against some sorts of Temptation may yield and be overcome by others 4. Let us all reflect with shame and sorrow upon our selves That in too great a degree we have imitated the Sin of Peter We have denied our Lord as well as he tho' not after the same manner yet with as high Aggravations and sometimes more criminal ones Have we not denied Christ by our Actions though not by our Words By having a form of Godliness but denying the Power of it Tit. 1.16 By professing to know God and Christ when in Works we deny and dishonour him 2 Tim. 3.5 We have not been scared from the Profession of his Name and Truth by threatening Dangers and the fear of Suffering yet have we not forsaken and disowned him by the Lusts of the Flesh the Lusts of the Eyes and the Pride of Life contrary to our Baptismal Covenant Though we are not Apostates by a formal Abjuration of his Holy Religion as to Doctrine and Worship yet do we not practically contradict the Principles and Rules of it Do you not deny him to be King by not kissing his Scepter submitting to his Authority and keeping his Commandments by not walking as his Servants and Subjects in universal Faithful Obedience according to the Oath and Covenant we are under Do you not deny him to be the Great High-Priest by not depending on his Meritorious Righteousness and prevailing Intercession as the Ground of your Acceptance with God for Pardon of Sin and Eternal Life Do you not Deny him to be the Great Prophet by chosen Ignorance and wilful unbelief under all the Teachings of his Word and Spirit Notwithstanding the bright Revelation of his Gospel that we injoy and have so long injoyed Do we not deny and disown him to be our Lord and Head and Captain and Saviour by thwarting his Example and refusing to walk in his Steps For Instance by Drunkenness and Gluttony when He was the greatest Example of Temperance and exact Sobriety By Haughtiness and Pride when he has left us a Pattern of the deepest Humility By Covetousness and Uncharitableness and want of Compassion to the Poor when Charity and Love and Kindness towards all was exemplified in his whole Course Yea there are many who profess themselves Christians who not only Deny Christ as Peter but betray him as Judas Who sell their Consciences for Temporal Profit and the gain of a little Money Who undervalue the Bloud of the Redeemer and all the Riches of his Grace for thirty pieces of Silver preferring their Ease and Honour and Wealth before his Presence and Favour c. Who is there my Brethren that has not in some sense sinned like Peter with the like Aggravations as his Fault was attended with Have we not sinned after the knowledge of the Truth after we have confessed that Jesus is the Lord after we have owned him to be our Lord and our Jesus after we have promised and protested by Baptism and frequently since by the repetition of that Covenant at the Lords Table that we would obey and serve him as long as we live Have we not denied and dishonoured him after we have been adopted into the Family of God and enjoyed the Priviledges of his House after eminent and special Mercies and peculiar Favours as well as Peter after we have been convinced and awakened and resolved and begun well and held out against Temptation for a little while Have none of us after this revolted from Christ and returned to folly Have you not retracted your vow contradicted your Experience dishonoured the Holy Name by which you are called and denied the Lord of Glory that so willingly was a Sacrifice for you Yea have you not been called to Repentance again and again by the Preaching of the Word as well as Peter by the crowing of the Cock and yet remain impenitent to this Day Nay further Many of our Sins are more aggravated than the Sin of Peter Peter denied Christ it is true but it was in the House of Caiaphas But some of us deny him even in his own House and Temple Peter denied him but it was in the midst of Enemies But we do so in his own Family amongst his Disciples and Children which is an higher Aggravation of our Sin than his * And this poor Man in Turkish Slavery under great and sore Temptations which he long resisted Peter denied him but it was when his Spirit was overwhelmed with fear and surprizing Trouble Whereas we deny and disobey him in the midst of Peace and Plenty Peter denyed him but it was under the Apprehension of a Temporal and cruel Death that might be the Consequence of Owning him But blessed be God we have no such Temptation On the contrary if we deny him it is in despight of the threatening of temporal and eternal Death So that our Apostacy from Christ and practical denyal of him is more criminal in several respects than the Fault of Peter Lastly Therefore as we have imitated his Sin let us imitate him in his Repentance too We have heard that the Second Call awakened him to Repentance when our Lord looked upon him But how many Calls from God have some of us had how often hath Christ looked upon and spoke to us and knocked at the Door of our Hearts by his Spirit Shall we not then obey his Voice to repent As soon as Peter remembred his Sin you have heard that he left the Place where he contracted his guilt he avoided the Company that had been a snare to him Oh imitate him in this continue not to frequent such Places and such Company where you have been ensnared and defiled and met with prevailing Temptations to sin Concerning Peter you have heard that he expressed his Repentance by bitter Weeping Oh imitate him in this and not only say you are sorry but give some convictive Sign and Evidence of it that you do in earnest Repent and bring forth fruits meet for Repentance Concerning Peter you have heard that he manifested the truth of his Repentance by his future zeal and Diligence by his extraordinary Love to Christ and Concern for his Honour and Fidelity in his Service O follow his Example if you would ever have the Comfort and Reward of unfeigned Repentance and not onely sin no more but be doubly diligent in circumspect and holy walking 'T is sad to consider how much formal superficial counterfeit Repentance there is in the World Men say they are sorry they have done amiss they acknowledge their Faults and it may be fetch a sigh or mutter a Groan or drop a Tear in a serious mood or upon some solemn occasion But in a few Days it may be sooner are the same again The Convictions and serious Impressions they had upon the Lords-day are very often lost and gone before the return of the next Sabbath The Vows and Resolutions they make at the Lords Table are not remembred and observed for an entire Moneth but there is sad work for a new Repentance before the monthly Season comes about After solemn Professions of Repentance they are as bold and venturous upon Temptation as ever as unmindful of their holy vows as ever as careless and fearless and so as easie a Prey to the Devil as before Have you not reason to reflect upon this and therefore to go home and weep bitterly as Peter did This would be a happy improvement of this Example The Lord grant it may have such Effects Amen FINIS