The History of the Reformation of the Church of Scotland

This fruit have we to gather (dear Brethren) of Peters down-sinking in the sea, (which was a secret knowledge and privy admonition, that he after should deny Christ) that we are assured by the voice of Christ, if in the time of trouble and extreme danger we cry with Peter, we shall be delivered as he was; and if we mourn for our denial of Christ, as he did, we shall find the same grace and favour at Christs hand, that he found.

This fruit have we to gather (dear Brethren) of Peters down-sinking in the sea, (which was a secret knowledge and privie admonition, that he after should deny Christ) that we are assured by the voice of Christ, if in the time of trouble and extreme danger we crie with Peter, we shall be delivered as he was; and if we mourn for our deniall of Christ, as hee did, we shall finde the same grace and favour at Christs hand, that hee found.

But now let us touch the third Note, which is this, That with Gods ⟨p. 73⟩Elect in their greatest fear and danger there resteth some small spark of faith, which by one means or other declareth it self, albeit the afflicted person in fear or danger, doth not presently perceive the same. As herein §3Peter is most clear and manifest.¹ For, perceiving himself to sink down, he cried, saying, Lord save me, which words were a declaration of a lively and quick faith, which lay hid within his afflicted and sore perplexed heart, whose nature is (I mean of faith) to hope against hope, that is: against all appearance or likelihood to look for help and deliverance, as the words of Peter witnesseth that he did. He saw nothing but the raging Sea ready to swallow him up. He felt nothing but himself sinking down in body, and sore troubled in heart, and yet he cried: Lord save me. Which words first declare,²