104 Peter's Denial of his Mailer, S E R M. fhould die with thee, yet will I not deny thee. V. So he had a fpecial warning of his danger, nay he was exprefsly told of the great par- ticular tranfgreffion he would fall into, with all the molt material circumftances of it. Ver. 34. Verily Ifay unto thee, that this night before the cock crow, (i. e. in that watch of the night, which was commonly call'd by the Jews the cock crowing ; from midnight to three in the morning, or before the fi- nifhing it, that is before three) thou (halt deny me thrice. And accordingly he was by providence permitted, to be in this fignal inflance a memorable an inftrutive exam- ple of human weaknefs. We muff at the fame time obferve, that with Chrift's fore - fight of his frail fervant's defeâion, there was mix'd a gracious care for his recovery, which was even intimated to him ; for to the fame event refer thefe words of our Lord, Luke xxii. 31, 32. Simon, Simon, firtan bath f ug ht to have you, that he may fft you as wheat ; but I have pray'd for thee, that thy faith fail not, (that thou may'ft not alto- gether apoftatize from my religion, but ob- tain mercy to repent, and return to thy duty : ) and when thou art converted, flrengthen
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