Section 5

Fifthly, the fifth thing is to show that it is the duty of all true Christians to love this unseen Christ. This will appear if you look into (John 21:15-17). Peter was one of the boldest and most forward of all Christ's disciples, but he had been also too self-confident, which was the introduction to and laid the foundation for his fall and three times shameful denial of his Master; a look from his Lord put him in remembrance, and brought him to repentance with bitter weeping for his sin so soon as it was committed. After our Savior was risen from the dead, he appears to Peter with other of his disciples, and in this place he asks the same question in the same words three times, 'Simon, Son of Jonah, do you love me?' Whereby as he does tacitly upbraid him for his great sin in his three times denial of him (which had there not been a defect in his love, he would never have done), so he does also give a signification that love to himself is the great duty, and the great thing which he does look for in all his disciples.