and serious searchers in the nature of this salvation held forth in the Gospel the Prophets were who did foretell of a more clear manifestation of the Doctrine concerning is and of a more plentifull out-letting of the graces of the Spirit upon those who live after Christ's incarnation than had been upon those who lived before and this may be taken for an argument by it self to move those upon whom that grace is bestowed chearfully to adhere to the Gospel notwithstanding of sufferings for it Hence Learn 1. The way of salvation by Jesus Christ which is held forth in the New Testament is no new light broken up since Christs dayes in the flesh but is the very same in substance which was known to the Prophets under the Old Testament and by them made known to the Church then although the doctrine of salvation be now clearer and the gifts and graces of the Spirit more plentifully dispensed since the price of redemption is actually paid for which God gave out upon trust grace and glory to the Elect before yet the way of salvation then and now is one and the same for substance for of that salvation which Believers in Christ do by Faith now under the Gospel receive the Apostle here speaks Of which salvation the Prophets have enquired c. 2. So sweet and ravishing a study is that way of salvation through Christ incarnate that the more knowledg therof any attain unto they will still be the more and more inquisitive and diligent after a further measure of it so that those can know nothing of Christ savingly who satisfie themselves with any measure of the knowledge of Him that they have already attained unto for even the Prophets after some insight in that way partly by immediate revelation and partly by their former diligence were not taken off from the painfull use of ordinary means such as Reading Meditation Prayer and carefull prying into the meaning of those manifold Types which held forth that way of salvation through the Messiah to come and the benefits which the Redeemed have by Him but did renew and double their diligence as is imported by the several words here to one purpose Of which salvation the Prophets have enquired and searched diligently 3. All that deliver the mind of God to His People ought to be affectionate and serious students of it themselves that so they may make the Truths they are to deliver their own and have their hearts affected therewith Psal 45.1 So may they expect it shall be more blest to take impression and have effects upon the hearers for the words here expressing the Prophets pains in the study of that way of salvation through Christ do import that never did Hunters with greater eagerness and delight pursue their game nor those that dig in the earth where they know some rich treasure is to be had more seriously apply themselves to that exercise than the Prophets did insist upon this study Of which salvation the Prophets have enquired and searched diligently who prophesied before 4. The prime subject both of the Old and New Testament whereupon all the Ministers of Christ should insist with His People is the free grace of God manifested in giving Christ for sinners in his powerfull drawing of their hearts to close with him for pardoning grace and for renewing of their natures by inherent grace and so obliging and enabling them to walk worthy of that grace of God for the sum of the Prophets work in which the Apostles concur as the following words do make clear was to prophesie of the grace that should come unto us 5. Although this grace was made known and communicated to them who lived before Christs incarnation Act. 10.43 Yet it is in a special manner come unto those who live after in regard of a clearer manifestation of the Doctrine of Gods Grace 2 Cor. 3.18 a more plentifull communication of the gifts and graces of his Spirit Act. 2.16 and that both of these are extended to some of all Nations Col. 3.11 In which respects it is here called The grace come unto us Vers 11. Searching what or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signifie when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ and the glory that should follow The Apostle clears yet further the Prophets pains in the study of that way of salvation through Christ incarnate shewing that they were exceeding desirous and diligent to have known the particular time of his coming in the flesh and to have known more clearly than they did how happy those times behoved to be whereof the Spirit of Christ who was even then in an extraordinary way present with them did mean when he moved them to describe so long beforehand the humiliation or sufferings of the Messiah and his exaltation or the glorious effects that were to follow upon his sufferings to himself and his redeemed ones therefore they who lived after his incarnation ought chearfully and constantly to adhere to the Gospel notwithstanding of all their sufferings Hence Learn 1. It is the way which the Lord usually keeps with the dearest of his Servants to let out his mind to them by little and little to make plain some things to them and keep up other things from them that he may humble them quicken them to diligence and keep up correspondence betwixt himself and them for though it was made clear to the Prophets that Christ was to be incarnate that much grace should be in his dayes and more blessed times than any they had seen and however all of them had some intimation of the time of his incarnation by Jacob's prophesie Gen. 49.10 and those of them who lived after the Captivity by Daniel's prophesie Dan. 9.24 Yet they were kept dark concerning the particular time when he should come and the distinct quality of His times what form of Worship and way of administration of Gospel-Ordinances there should be then Therefore are they here set forth Searching what or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signifie c. 2. The holy Spirit is a person subsisting distinct from the Father and the Son proceeding from both Joh. 15.26 and true God equal to both to whom future events are known as if they were actually existing for here he is called the Spirit of Christ and is said to testifie beforehand the sufferings of Christ 3. Jesus Christ the second person of the Trinity hath been before his incarnation actually exercising the Office of Mediatorship revealing to the Church in all ages the way of salvation through his sufferings for it was the Spirit of the Son of God that dwelt in the Prophets and made known to them those things concerning the Mediator whereof they did prophesie The Spirit of Christ in them testified beforehand 4. The chief things which the Spirit of Christ did manifest to the Prophets and wherewith their prime study was taken up was the
work any good motion or inclination in a sinners heart that is the work of the Spirit of God alone for sanctification which comprehends all gracious qualities is here called the work of the Spirit 8. Jesus Christ our Mediator hath both obeyed the Law perfectly for us that he might make up the defects of our imperfect obedience Col. 2.10 and cast us a perfect copy which we are bound to aim at in conformity Heb. 12.2 and likewise hath born all that wrath which was due to all the Elect for their breach of the Law that so deserved wrath might passe over all his redeemed ones as the destroying Angel passed by those whose doors were sprinkled with the bloud of the Paschal Lamb to which the Apostles expression here alludes for both these which are commonly called Christs active and passive obedience are here expressed by the Apostle while he saith Elect c. unto obedience and sprinkleing of the bloud of Jesus Christ 9. All the Elect will certainly partake of all that Christ hath purchased by his doing and suffering for them the first fruits whereof they get in time and the full harvest afterward none of them can fall short of what they are from eternity destinated unto for the Apostle saith here they are chosen unto obedience and sprinkling of the bloud of Christ which is nothing else but to be chosen to lay hold on both by faith and at last fully to enjoy what both hath merited for them 10. Although Christs fulfilling of the Law and suffering for our breach thereof which is here called his obedience and the sprinkling of his bloud be in order first imputed to us for justification before our sanctification Rom. 8.30 Yet our assurance and comfort of our interest in his obedience and sufferings is not had till after our sanctification See Joh. 14.21 for to be elect through sanctification of the Spirit unto obedience and sprinkling of the bloud of Jesus Christ is to be from eternity chosen to come by the way of holinesse to the full participation of what Christ hath purchased by his obedience and sufferings to wit peace and joy in the holy Ghost here and the full enjoyment of God hereafter both which are the purchase of his obedience and sufferings to which we are elected Elect unto obedience and sprinkling 11. When we consider that great work which concerneth the salvation of lost sinners we are to look upon all the Persons of the blessed Trinity as concurring therin that so we may have the higher esteem of the work which hath such agents and may have our hearts raised to give equal glory to all the Persons for though our Election Redemption Sanctification and Glorification be each of them the work of the whole Deity and none of the Persons are to be excluded from any of these Yet the Scripture alloweth us to have such thoughts anent the order of the Persons in working as we may have anent the order of their subsistance for here the Apostle sets forth the Father out of his good pleasure electing sinners to grace and glory the Son by his obedience and suffering purchasing the same for them and the Spirit by his vertue and power working grace in them and so preparing them for that blessednesse which the Father hath appointed and Christ hath purchased for them Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father through sanctification of the Spirit unto obedience and sprinkling of the bloud of Jesus Christ From the salutation Learn 1. The Ministers of Christ while they are dealing with the Lords People should labour for enlarged desires after their welfare so will they be the more serious and affectionate in dealing with them their pains will be the more sweet to themselves and the more acceptable to and succesful with the people for the Apostles ordinarily begin their Epistles with such ample expressions of their desires after the good of those to whom they writ as this Apostle doth here Grace and peace be multiplied unto you 2. No lesse than a continual encrease of the proofs of Gods favour and of all saving graces together with true quietness of spirit and every blessing of God necessary for the same is the Lord's allowance to his redeemed and sanctified ones whatever measure of this allowance any of them have received there is still more of it to be had and still more of it will be given unto them except their unbelief and other sins obstruct the outletting thereof for all this and much more the Apostle wisheth unto them and pronounceth upon them in this salâ—â—ation Grace and peace be multiplied unto you 3. It is only those who are fled to Christ's merits and are begun to be changed by his Spirit who can expect this comfortable allowance to be letten forth to them and those only Christ's Ministers may in his Name certifie of it for it is only those who are described in the former part of the Verse to whom this is spoken and this is not only a favourable wish of the Apostles but a definitive sentence of the Spirit of God passed in their favours That Grace and peace shall be multiplied unto them Vers 3. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead Here the Apostle enters upon the first part of the Chapter wherein he sets forth the excellency of the state of Believers in Jesus Christ that thereby he may confirm them in the Truth comfort them under their sufferings and inforce upon them the study of holinesse which are his principal scope in the whole Epistle And this part he begins with a song of praise to God which all Believers should follow in their hearts the reasons of which song contains their priviledges whereof every one doth prove their state to be most excellent and that therefore they ought to be constant sufferers and holy walkers The first reason is That they had a new spiritual life and nature communicated to them in their Regeneration whereby they were now made Children of God and this priviledge is described and commended 1. From the Author thereof that it is God and the Father of such a Son as Christ who hath made us his children 2. From the impulsive cause moving him so to do to wit nothing in us but mercy in him which is commended from the plenty or abundance of it 3. This priviledge of Regeneration is commended from the effect of it that thereby the Regenerate are made to hope for those excellent things spoken of in the following words The nature of which hope is cleared 1. From the propertie or effect of it it is lively quickning the soul that hath it And 2. From the ground of it which is the cause of its livelinesse to wit that our Cautioner who died in our room is risen to apply his purchase and to possesse us
incarnation of Christ and the clearer out-breaking of the light of the Gospel which reveals Him should think the Lord hath had a special respect to them and hath in a peculiar manner designed Christ for them and manifested Him to them that they may be more eminent in holiness and thankfulness to Him for to this end the Apostle speaks thus of Christ Manifested in these last times for you 5. Although experience hath proven that there was a considerable part of time to be after Christs incarnation yet all that is but the last time in regard it is to be much shorter than the time that was before and because after that time though there be a continual increase of knowledge and grace to be expected Ezek. 47.1 c. Yet there is no more change of that way of Worship and Ordinances which Christ setled before He left the world Mat. 28.18 19 20. for which cause among others the times after Christs incarnation are here called The last times Vers 21. Who by him do believe in God that raised him up from the dead and gave him glory that your faith and hope might be in God Having commended Christ the Redeemer he describeth those for whose sakes He was appointed and manifested to wit those who do by Faith flee to God thorow Him and that they may be the more encouraged so to do he leads them to consider the Father as one fully satisfied with the ransom paid for sinners by Jesus Christ seing after the payment of it He hath exalted and glorified Him for this very end That the Faith of sinners may safely and comfortably rest upon God as now pacified toward all that flee to Him thorow Christ Which purpose doth contain the ninth argument to the study of holiness That since the Father hath exalted and glorified our Cautioner in our nature for this very end that we may confidently draw near to Him as to our own reconciled God we ought therefore to live to the honour of the Father and the Son in the study of holiness Hence Learn 1. When ever the Ministers of Christ hold forth the ransom paid by Christ for sinners and the benefits purchased thereby to them they ought also to design and describe the persons who may appropriate the same to themselves and ought not to propose that which is peculiar to some Joh. 10.15 as common to all So shall the few that have right to apply the benefits of His Redemption be the more sure and comforted and others shall not be disappointed for so doth the Apostle here while having described Christ the Redeemer and set forth some of the benefits of His Redemption he comes next to describe what manner of persons they are who may comfort themselves in that Redemption purchased by Him even those who by Him do believe in God 2. Although our Faith may close with any one of the blessed Persons of the Trinity providing we do not divide in our thoughts the Divine Essence which is One in all the Three 1 Joh. 5.7 Yet God the Father considered as the fountain of the Deity to whom we come thorow the Second Person cloathed with our flesh being helped by the holy Spirit the Third Person is that full and most satisfying object with which saving Faith closeth when it acts most distinctly for such an object is here proposed with which the Faith of the Redeemed doth close to wit the whole Godhead in the Father apprehended as ours by the Son incarnate thorow the help of the Spirit as the next verse compared with this makes clear 3. There is no closing with God as ours but by the Mediatour Christ in whom God trysts with sinners who hath merited Gods favour to them the power to believe the same and actually works that Faith in them Who by Him do believe in God 4. Although Jesus Christ being the same God equal with the Father Philip. 2.6 did by His own proper vertue raise Himself from the dead Joh. 2.19 and 10.18 Yet to assure us of the Fathers full satisfaction with the price paid by our Cautioner and because the power of all the Three Persons is one and the actions ascribed to any of them in reference to the creatures are common to all His raising from the dead and exaltation is here as frequently elswhere in Scripture Eph. 1.20 Philip. 2.9 attributed to the Father who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory 5. Gods justice is fully satisfied in the behalf of all that flee to Him through Jesus Christ because their Cautioner is liberate and glory is insured to all such their Head being already possessed in it for in testimony that His satisfaction for the Elect is accepted God hath raised Him from the dead and as a sure pledge that His Members shall be glorified He hath given Him glory that your faith and hope might be in God Vers 22. Seing ye have purified your souls in obeying the Truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the Brethren see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently The tenth motive to presse upon Believers the study of holiness is taken from the former progress they had made therein whence the Apostle infers an exhortation to that particular duty of holiness to wit love to the Saints The sum of both is That since by the power of Christ's Spirit enabling them to obey the Gospel they had gotten their heart-corruptions so far purged out as to attain unto some sincere affection unto the rest of the Lords People Therefore they should study to grow in grace particularly in love to the Saints and that they should labour to have such love to them as sloweth from a sincere desire of their good and by the effects of it doth prove it self to be such Hence Learn 1. The fairer beginnings and further progress any have already made in the way of holiness they should find themselves the more strongly obliged to hold on in that way lest they lose the fruit of their former pains 2 Joh. 8. and prove more dishonourable to God and offensive to others than if they had never entered or made such progress in that way 2 Pet. 2.22 for the Apostle here makes former progress in holiness a motive to further progress therein Seing you have purified your souls c. see that ye love c. 2. As all those whom the Lord hath savingly enlightened and renewed will discern in their souls many filthy and unclean roots besides any that have broken out so their great work should be to have their souls purged from those knowing that from the polluted fountain of the heart flows all the pollution of the life Mat. 15.19 and that except the heart be in some measure cleansed all the purity of the outside is loathsom to God Mat. 23.27 for the Apostle thus describeth the Regenerate that they have purified their souls 3. Although it be the alone work of God as the principal efficient cause
eye-witnesses of the Son of God's personal presence in our flesh and of much glory breaking through it in His Miracles and Transfiguration Hence Learn 1. There is as much atheism and unbelief natural to all as to look upon the mysterie of Salvation through Christ incarnate as upon a fable invented to kyth the quicknesse of mens wit and please the ears of people so much is imported in this negative part of the commendation of the Apostles preaching We have not followed cunningly devised fables 2. The main subject of the preaching of the Gospel is to point out Christ's coming in our flesh such an errand as to Redeem and Save and his furniture for that work which is encouragement enough for every lost sinner that hears it to fly to Him for salvation since He is come to seek and save such and hath power to save to the utmost all that come to God through Him for this is here made the substance of the Apostle's preaching To make known the power and coming of Christ 3. As Jesus Christ doth not use all His Servants alike familiarly in everything but oftentimes those most whom He mindes to try most So any special honour any of them getteth should never be forgotten but minded especially when trials are near and brought forth only to commend Christ and His Truth and encourage against suffering So doth the Apostle here near death mention that special honour put upon him and other two upon the Mount and maketh it an argument to commend the Doctrine and prove the certainty of it We were eye-witnesses of His Majesty 4. The Lord hath used all means that can be expected to make us look upon the businesse of our Redemption and Salvation through His Son incarnate as the most certain and real businesse of any other therefore though He might have only imployed men to write the Gospel who had never seen Christ in the flesh and commanded us to believe Yet hath He condescended for our further satisfaction to make use of such men to write the most part of the New Testament as saw with their bodily eyes Christ glorious in flesh and so were eye-witnesses of His Majesty Vers 17. For He received from God the Father honour and glory when there came such a voice to Him from the Excellent Glory This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased 18. And this voice which came from Heaven we heard when we were with Him in the holy Mount In the next place the Apostle commendeth Christ as our Cautioner and Mediatour from the high esteem He hath with the Father and from the full satisfaction the Father hath with the price of Redemption paid by Him of both which the Father gave a publick Declaration from His glorious residence in Heaven before three witnesses who were with Christ upon a Hill where He did manifest Himself to be God glorious in holinesse Hence Learn 1. The Glory of the Son of God incarnate was so obscured for our sake that He needed a Declaration from Heaven to shew the Father's esteem of Him and to beget a high esteem of Him in the hearts of His own This is imported in Christ's receiving from the Father honour and glory which was not an addition of any glory to Christ which as God He had not but a manifestation of the glory which He had but obscured under the vail of our infirm flesh 2. As Glory is so excellent a thing that they that get but a little glimpse of it cannot but remember it and commend it as worthy to be contended and suffered for as here the Apostle doth So Christ as our Mediatour hath not only much Glory given Him as the fruit of His obedience to the death for sinners and a pledge to His Members that they shall share of the Glory of their Head whereof this upon the Mount was a little fore-sight and tast given Him for His and His Followers encouragement under suffering But also He is in such power and credit with God the Father that He can do in Heaven and Earth what He pleaseth for the good of His Redeemed Ones and nothing can be done without Him All which is imported in Christ receiving from the Father honour and glory by a voice from that Excellent Glory 3. God the Father is so fully satisfied and compleatly paid by the Mediatour Christ for all that flie to Him for refuge that He seeketh no further mends for all their wrongs nor further price for what they need only that they do receive Him freely as He is freely offered and that as the Father speaketh down this of Christ to sinners He is my beloved Son in Him I am well pleased Hear Him So sinners should answer back again with their hearts Christ is our beloved Redeemer in whom we are well pleased Let the Father hear Him for us 4. It is not easie for wakened sinners who are oftentimes much unsatisfied with themselves to believe and take comfort from this That God is well satisfied with Christ for them Therefore though Isaiah preached and wrote this Truth the Father spoke it down from Heaven twice before witnesses three Evangelists have recorded it and some of them have set it down thrice Isa 42.1 Mat. 3.17 and 12.18 and 17.5 Mar. 1.11 Luk. 3.22 and 9.35 Yet the Apostle setteth it down here and to make it take impression saith again This voice we heard when we were with Him 5. It is no sin nor superstition to esteem and speak of things that can have no inherent holinesse and may have no religious worship so as may most testifie our respect to His Holinesse who doth manifest Himself in or by these things for which cause the very Ground and House where He manifesteth Himself is called Holy Exod. 3.5 Isu 64.11 though they can have no more than a relative holinesse And several other things such as the Day for His Service the written Word c. and here the Hill where the Lord who is glorious in Holinesse did shew much of His Glory is called The Holy Mount Vers 19. We have also a more sure word of prophesie whereunto ye do well that ye take heed as unto a light that shineth in a dark place until the day dawn and the day-star arise in your hearts In the third place the Apostle commendeth the whole written Word 1. from the certainty of it He calleth it A Word of Prophesie giving to the whole the name of one principal part most of the Old Testament being a fore-telling of these things concerning the Messiah and His Kingdom which the New cleareth to have their accomplishment in Him that was born of the Virgin Mary and calleth it A more sure Word comparing it with the Voice from Heaven whereof he spoke immediatly before not as if there could be any uncertainty in the Lord's Voice speaking from Heaven but because it is a greater matter to have fore-seen and fore-told things to come than to have seen and
ver 8 9. 8. The excellency of the Doctrine of Salvation for which they did suffer which is proven by the great pains and delight of the Prophets Apostles and Angels in the study thereof ver 10 11 12. In the second part are contained several exhortations to the study of holiness with motives pressing the same As 1. Seing they had those excellent priviledges formerly mentioned they should therefore study perseverance and growth in grace ver 13. 2. Considering that they were now made Children they should therefore study their Fathers obedience and not live as they had done formerly ver 14. 3. Seing their Calling was to be holy And 4. the holiness of God did oblige them to that study ver 15 16. 5. Since their Father was to be their Judge And 6. themselves were but strangers in the world Therefore they should live in fear of offending him v. 17. 7. Considering that they were bought from their former sinfull courses with a most excellent price ver 18 19. 8. That their Redeemer was from eternity designed for them and more clearly manifested in their time than formerly ver 20. 9. Seing the Father hath exalted Christ after his sufferings that Believers may be the more confident that Justice is fully satisfied for them ver 21. And 10. seing they had already made some good progress in mortification therefore they should study to grow especially in love to the Saints ver 22. 11. Considering that their spiritual original was so excellent ver 23. And lastly that their spiritual estate was not fading as the best things in nature are ver 24. but behoved to endure for ever as the Word which is the principle of it doth ver 25. Therefore they ought to live to their Fathers honour in the study of holiness Vers 1. Peter an Apostle of Jesus Christ to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus Galatia Cappadocia Asia and Bithynia IN this part of the Inscription the Pen-man of the Epistle doth first make himself known by that new name which Christ gave him Joh. 1.42 and by his Office common to him with other Apostles who had immediate Commission and extraordinary Assistance from the Son of God to preach the Gospel and to work Miracles for confirmation of the same and were not fixed as ordinary Ministers are to any particular Charge Mat. 10.1 and 28.19 Next he describeth the persons to whom this Epistle was first directed from their afflicted external condition to wit that they were banished from their own Country and wonted priviledges and scattered in many places of the world whereof some are here mentioned From the Apostles description of himself we may Learn 1. When the Ministers of Jesus Christ are entring upon any part of their publick Employment it is then especially necessary for them to have in their hearts the sensible consideration of what honour Christ hath put upon them what engagements to be faithful to Him what warrant they have from Him to go about their Employment and what an one He is from whom they have their Calling that so they may carry along in their hearts some holy fear of slighting the work of such a one as the Son of God to whom they must give an account Heb. 13.17 and may have much encouragement considering that their Commission is from Him who hath all fulness Col. 1.19 to furnish them and supply the peoples necessities for the Apostle entring upon this part of his employment to wit the writing of this Epistle hath had in heart the consideration of that new name wherewith Christ honoured him and whereby He would have him constantly mindful of his duty that he should be according to the signification of his name interpreted by Christ Joh. 1.42 steadfast as a Rock or Stone in his Masters service and likewise of his Commission from so honourable and glorious a Master as the anointed Saviour of Sinners while he writes Peter an Apostle of Jesus Christ 2. When the message of Christs Ministers is much slighted and opposed and their Calling much questioned it is necessary for them openly to avow and assert their Authority from Him that people perceiving Ministers not afraid to avow themselves and their Calling from Christ upon all hazards may be encouraged to imbrace and adhere to the Truths they deliver and having their minds raised above instruments the Truths delivered may have the greater weight with them for upon these grounds we may safely conceive the Apostle to prefix his name to this Epistle and to avow his Office even in a time of persecution Peter an Apostle of Jesus Christ. 3. There hath never been any supremacy over the rest of the Apostles conferred upon Peter neither did he ever assume any such thing to himself and consequently did never cast a copy to any Minister to usurp or affect any such thing over their fellow-labourers for if there had been any such thing of so great concernment as the Church of Rome makes it it cannot be thought but this Apostle would have found himself bound to assert it which if he had done any where it could not be expected in a fitter place than in the entry of his Writings where the Prophets and Apostles usually assert to themselves as much dignity as the Lord allows them And yet neither here nor in the following Epistle is there any such thing but at the most Peter an Apostle or Messenger of Jesus Christ From the first branch of the description of those to whom the Epistle is directed we may Learn 1. That exile and separation from outward comforts and priviledges may be the lot of the people who are dearest to the Lord of any on earth besides even those may be corrected and humbled for the abuse of their mercies Psa 89.30 and by their means in their exile and scattering the Lord minds to spread the seeds of saving knowledge among strangers to Him Micah 5.7 Zach. 10.9 for which and the like causes the Christian Hebrews to whom the Apostle writes were called here strangers scattered c. 2. Although the Lords afflicted people by reason of their ignorance and unbelief are very prone to conclude themselves forgotten and forsaken of him Isa 49.14 Yet those who under their affliction are humbling themselves for sin and cleaving to the Truth and way of God may be confident that the Lord not only takes notice of their sad condition and of all the places of their sufferings but that He will provide some subsistance for them there while He hath service for them and will also as iâ— needfull follow them through all those places and all their miseries with real testimonies of His love and respect whereof He giveth here a proof while by the hand of this Apostle He sendeth to those Christian Jews who though they were justly for their sins shut out of their own Land yet wanted not means of subsistance in all the places of their exile so sweet and seasonable a message as this Epistle directed to the
further motives The one is That since the Lord had vouchsafed to call them from an estate of sin and wrath to a state of holinesse and happiness they ought therefore to walk answerably to their holy calling The other is That there should be a conformity between the Holy Lord and all His Children and therefore holiness which is His property ought to be studied by them and manifested in all the particular passages of their christian course And this last argument the Apostle confirms from the Scripture whereof though there be no particular place here cited yet the substance of the words are to be found in several places Lev. 11.44.19.2 and 20.7 Mat. 5.17 Hence Learn 1. They that would prove themselves to be truly holy and so to be the Children of the Lord must not satisfie themselves with the negative part of holiness which consists in abstenance from what is unsuitable to the relation of Children but they must also labour for the positive part of it which consists in some measure of conformity to their heavenly Father in His holinesse for after the Apostle hath prest that study negatively that they should not conform themselves to their former lusts in their ignorance he urgeth here the positive part thereof But as he which hath called you is holy so be ye holy 2. They who have found the Lord powerfully calling them from that estate of sin and wrath wherein they are naturally to a blessed condition of grace and happiness should think themselves thereby strongly obliged to the study of holiness whereby Christians in heart and practise are alienated and drawn from things earthly and are set apart for the use of their Lord and so do evidence to themselves their effectual calling 2 Pet. 1.10 for as a motive to the study of holiness the Apostle here suggests to Believers their calling But as he which hath called you is holy so be ye holy 3. Although it be altogether impossible for any Man or Angel to be conform in holinesse unto God who is essentially immutable and infinitly holy 1 Sam. 2.2 Yet there is no absolute unerring patern lower than the holy One to be set before the eyes of the Children of the Lord who ought not to make the holiest on earth a sufficient copie to them but being still ashamed of their defects in holiness and unsatisfied with their present measure thereof must still be aiming at a nearer conformity with Christ the Lord and daily making use of Him who is their sanctification 1 Cor. 1.30 to cover their defects and to sanctifie them more fully for this is the example and patern of that holinesse to which all the called Children of God should aspire As he who hath called you is holy so be ye holy 4. Although internal holinesse be mainly lovely to the Lord Psal 51.6 and the external without it be loathsom to Him Mat. 23.27 Yet none should satisfie themselves with that holinesse which they imagine to have within but should labour to manifest holiness in their external conversation by shewing themselves in their visible actings mindful and respective of all the Commands of God Lev. 20.7 8. Psal 119.6 whereby they glorifie Him before others and evidence themselves to have true holinesse Joh. 15.8 for this conformity to our Father in holinesse must be manifested in the conversation 5. There is no part of a Christian's conversation which ought not to favour of holiness and true piety not only his religious but even his common and civil actions ought to be done in the Lord and for his glory 1 Cor. 10.31 And under all the various dispensations of God with him he ought still to prove himself a hater of sin and a lover of what the Lord approves which is the thing here pressed to be holy in all manner of conversation 6. The strictest of moral precepts in the Old Testament are binding to Believers under the New the substance of all of them which is That reasonable creatures should love their Maker and their fellow-creatures being of perpetual equity obliging both Angels and Men and nothing being required of us in any of them to be done by vertue of our own strength or that we may be justified thereby but only what the Regenerate are enabled to aim at and to attain to such a measure of as through Christ shall be accepted as if they had attained to what is required Col. 2.10 for here one of the strictest of moral precepts that are in the Old Testament is pressed upon Believers As he who hath called you is holy so be ye holy for it is written Be ye holy for I am holy 7. The Ministers of Jesus Christ ought to have His Word so richly dwelling in them that they may be able to confirm what they deliver to the Lords People from clear and expresse testimonies thereof especially when they presse such Truths as natural hearts are most averse from for even this extraordinary Minister the Apostle whom people had lesse reason to suspect than any ordinary Minister while he presseth this high pitch of holinesse to wit the study of conformity to the Holy One he thus confirms his doctrine by Scripture Because it is written Be ye holy for I am holy 8. Although it be the duty of Ministers sometimes to point out to people the particular place of Scripture whereby they do confirm their doctrine Act. 13.33 yet ought the Lords People to be so well acquainted with the written Word that upon the hearing of any sentence of it they may acknowledge it to be the Lords mind that so there may be no necessity for Ministers to spend time and burthen peoples memories with multiplied citations for every Truth they deliver especially where the words of Scripture are remarkable and frequently to be found for so the Apostle citing this remarkable Scripture which is frequently to be found in the Old Testament doth not name any particular place but only saith It is written Be ye holy for I am holy Vers 17. And if ye call on the Father who without respect of persons judgeth according to every mans work passe the time of your sojourning here in fear Follows the fifth and sixth motives to the study of holiness The one is That even those who take the Lord for their Father and themselves for his Children will find Him an exact and impartial Judge of them and all their actions The other is That His Children are but strangers and sojourners and so living in the midst of many hazards and temptations both which should move them to study holiness whereof this is a special part to carry along in their hearts through their pilgrimage some fear of offending their heavenly Father who is to be their Judge Hence Learn 1. The more acquaintance with the Lord and confidence of His fatherly affection Christians attain unto the more are they obliged to the study of holiness and particularly to walk in fear of offending Him who will
that are freely bestowed upon them 1 Cor. 2.12 for the Apostle suppones this while he saith Forasmuch as ye know that ye were redeemed 6. The more confident Christians be that they are of the number of the redeemed Ones by Christ the more should they be moved to study holiness for the honour of their Redeemer considering that the study thereof is the very end of their Redemption Luk. 1.74 and the evidence thereof both to themselves and to others Isa 62.12 for this is brought in here by the Apostle as an argument to the study of holiness and particularly to passe the time of our sojourning here in fear Forasmuch as ye know that ye were redeemed c. 7. The ordinary way how the Redeemed of the Lord attain to the knowledge of their Redemption is by discerning in themselves a real and gracious change made upon their heart and life by vertue of Christs death for the Apostle suppones that those who knew themselves to be redeemed behoved also to know that they were liberated from their vain conversation 8. While men are not changed in their heart and life by the application of the merit of that price which Christ paid all that they can do whether in religious performances or in their ordinary practises is altogether vain and such as can bring no true comfort or profit to themselves or honour to Jesus Christ for so the Apostle designs the way wherein the Redeemed walked before their Regeneration calling it a vain conversation which may comprehend both their religious and common performances 9. Although there be both a pronenes in fathers to transmit to their children that wickedness wherein their fathers have rooted and hardened them and in children to receive and transmit the same to their of-spring again Yet neither is the example nor precepts of fathers a sufficient warrant to their posterity for any practise whatsoever for the Apostle imports that those to whom he writes had received from their fathers what they had received from theirs before although it was vain and reckons it a great advantage that they were now delivered from that vain conversation although it was received by tradition from their fathers 10. No lesse could be a sufficient ransom for lost sinners than the bloud of Jesus Christ the favours to be purchased for them to make them eternally blessed being of infinite value and the sentence of everlasting death being past upon all Adam's posterity either all behoved to die or one worth all the rest and such an one had never been found if God had not given His Son to be a man that so man might be redeemed with the precious bloud of Christ 11. The bloud of Jesus Christ considering the excellency of His person the greatness and freedom of His love in shedding for such as we are and the worth of the favours merited by it to Believers such as the favour of God and eternal life ought to be in high esteem with all the Redeemed for to work this in their hearts the Apostle thus commends it The precious bloud of Christ 12. It behoved Him who was to be our Redeemer to be altogether free of the defilement of sin for which He was to satisfie in the behalf of others as being the truth and signification of the Paschal Lamb to which the Apostle here relates and other spotless Sacrifices which typified Him under the Law that so as man He might be compleatly lovely and acceptable to God and be a perfect patern of holiness to all His Redeemed Ones Therefore the Apostle thus commends Him As a Lamb without blemish and without spot Vers 20. Who verily was fore-ordained before the foundation of the world but was manifest in these last times for you To the end there may be yet a higher esteem of the Redeemer wrought in the hearts of the Redeemed and that they may be the more engaged to the study of holiness that so He may be honoured by them the Apostle goes on to describe Him further 1. That He was from eternity appointed by the Father to be the Saviour of sinners And 2. That He was now more clearly manifested after His incarnation than He had been before both which make up the eight motive to the study of holiness that seing Christ had been from eternity designed Mediatour and now more clearly than ever manifested with a special respect to the good of those lost sheep of the house of Israel to whom the Apostle writes Therefore they were bound to live to His honour in the study of holiness Hence Learn 1. When ever we attain to any serious thoughts of that great business of our Redemption by Christ incarnate and crucified we should not suffer our hearts to be soon diverted from them but should labour to dwell upon them and to search out more and more considerations of that sweet subject every one of them being worthy to take up our affections and to engage us to the study of holiness for the Apostle in the former words having fallen upon the mentioning of our Redemption as a motive to holiness he doth in this and the following Verse run out in expressing the thoughts he had of the Lords everlasting purpose about that work of the glory that Christ now possesses in our nature and of the Father's intention in exalting Him who verily was fore-ordained before the foundation of the world 2. Our Mediatour was from all eternity designed unto the office of Mediatourship in that everlasting Covenant of Redemption wherein the Father gave the Elect to His Son Psal 2.8 and appointed Him to assume humane nature therein to suffer for their Redemption Heb. 10.5 and Christ accordingly undertook to satisfie His will Psal 40.7 8. So that we who have Christ offered to us in the Gospel are invited to feed upon those dainties that were prepared for us from all eternity And who are we that the thoughts of God should have been so long since taken up about us while He appointed His own Son for us who verily was fore-ordained before the foundation of the world 3. Although Christ was made known immediately after the Fall Gen. 3.15 and ever since hath been sufficiently manifested for the salvation of the Elect in all Ages Act. 10.43 Yet there was a more clear manifestation of Him reserved for the time after His incarnation the more to heighten the esteem of that great mysterie of His incarnation in the hearts of all His People Therefore the Apostle speaks of Him here as more clearly held forth to the Church than before But now made manifest in these last times for you 4. The more clearly Christ be held forth in any time the more strongly are they that live in that time and have that clearness obliged to live to His honour in the study of holiness considering that the more unanswerable mens walking be to the light they have the greater will their condemnation be Joh. 3.19 and 15.22 they that live since the
ought to have the written Word so richly dwelling in them that they may be able to confirm every Truth they deliver from that Word and the Lord's People ought to be so well acquainted with the same that though Ministers do not spend time to cite particularly every Chapter and Verse where every passage they bring forth is to be found they may notwithstanding upon the hearing of it faithfully and for the substance repeated to them acknowledge and receive the same for the Lord's mind for even the Apostle here as frequently elswhere doth confirm his Doctrine by Scripture and yet supponing those to whom he writes well acquainted at least with the letter thereof he doth not condescend upon the particular place judging it sufficient to say Wherefore it is contained in the Scripture Behold I lay c. 2. True Faith can have solid footing no where but upon the written Word of God nor should any of the Lord's People be satisfied with the most pleasant notions about Christ Jesus till they see them grounded upon and drawn from that Word therfore the Apostle having in the former words commended Christ as the object of saving Faith doth here repeat again the same commendation of Him from the Old Testament that so Faith might rest safely upon Him as such a one Wherefore it is contained in the Scripture Behold I lay in Sion a chief corner-stone c. 3. Jesus Christ and He alone is that to the Church and to every soul that flees to Him which the chief corner stone whether the lowest or the highest is to the building He is the stone first laid in regard He was and behoved to be actually exercising His Mediatory Office before any sinner could attain to union or communion with God Col. 1.18 He is the stone laid lower than any of the rest in His humiliation Psal 22.6 He bears the weight of the whole Church and of every believing soul Heb. 1.3 He is more curiously wrought than any of the rest of the stones of the building as the chief corner-stone useth to be and engraven by the art of His Father adorning Him with all perfections suitable for the necessities of poor sinners Zech. 3.9 He is the bond whereby most differing Nations such as Jews and Gentiles are united in one building Eph. 2.16 as the foundation corner-stone knits the two side-walls of the building together He is the perfection of the whole in whom the building and every lively stone thereof is compleat Col. 2.10 as the highest corner-stone and as that also He is the glory and ornament of all the building Isa 22.24 In all which He is resembled by that whereby the Spirit of the Lord here sets Him forth to our capacity The chief corner-stone 4. We have this great blessing Christ for the chief corner-stone of this spiritual building with the Father's great good will who hath laid Him first In His eternal Counsel or Decree as the word used by Isaiah chap. 28.16 and here translated to lay doth signifie Psal 2.2 Secondly In His actual exhibition of Him to the Church as Mediatour first in the promise of Him Gen. 3.5 and next visibly in our flesh for so this word is also used to signifie the publishing or execution of things formerly decreed 2 Chron. 9.23 Prov. 3.19 And thirdly in His exalting of Him when He had perfected the work of Redemption so much of it as concerned Him to do in the state of his humiliation for so this same word used Psal 8.2 is translated Mat. 21.16 to perfect a work In all which respects the Father layes Christ the foundation or chief corner-stone in the Church and calls all to behold what pleasure He hath in so doing Behold I lay in Sion a chief corner-stone 5. The Father's condescendency to give His own blessed Son for the above-mentioned uses to His Church and Believers in Him which this similitude here made use of holds forth is worthy of our most serious consideration and Christ this chief corner-stone is much to be admired as differing from all other corner-stones He being one stone who is both the lowest and highest of the building Philip. 2.6 7. who hath immediate connexion with the least stone or meanest Believer as well as with the greatest or most eminent whether Prophets Apostles or even the virgin Mary Joh. 17.20 21. who communicates an influence of life and growth to every stone laid upon Him Eph. 2.21 and who never suffers any that are built upon Him to fall totally and finally off Him Joh. 10.28 In all which respects we are here called to admire Jesus Christ and to give our most serious attention and consideration to the Father in giving Him by this word which serves both to draw attention and admiration Behold I lay in Sion a chief corner-stone c. 6. Though Christ be God's gift to the whole Church made up of Jews and Gentiles Eph. 2.14 which often hath the name of Sion in Scripture Obad. 17. Yet with a special reference to the Church of the Jews who first had that name He is said to be laid in Sion being first preached publickly and held forth in Promises Sacrifices and Types to them Psal 147.19 20. being come of them according to the flesh Rom. 9.5 and first offered to them after His incarnation Matth. 10.5 6. from whom the news of Him is come to the rest of the world Mica 4.2 and by whom Christ shall yet have a great part of His publick glory in the world Hos 3.5 Rom. 11.12 15. All which should make us pity their present case and pray for their conversion for with a special eye to them is this spoken Behold I lay in Sion a chief corner-stone c. 7. Christ's fitness for this great work of our Redemption evidenced by the Father's choosing of Him for it from among all others as the word elect signifies and by His high esteem of Him as our Mediator should strongly draw the hearts of sinners in to Him and move them to dwell much upon the thoughts of His worth and of the Father's esteem of Him as He is the receiver of all that come to God through Him for the Apostle having commended Christ before from these two Epithits that He is chosen of God and precious as motives to draw sinners in to Him repeateth them here again as delighting to write and think of so sweet a subject as Christ Elect precious 8. That which builds sinners upon Christ this chief corner-stone is that grace of believing which according to the signification of the word in the Hebrew whence the Apostle translateth this Text is the fixedness or stayedness as this same word is translated Exod. 17.12 of the soul in the expectation of salvation through Christ offered in the Gospel and whereby the soul is fed and nourished upon Him as its necessary food which is also in the signification of the word in that Language for the Apostle instead of insisting further upon the
which is the particular trial here spoken of for having comforted them against fiery trials in the former Verse he here comforteth them against reproach If ye be reproached for the Name of Christ happy are ye 3. Even those who are not put to the hottest kind of sufferings are ready to miscarry and be discouraged under the lesser because the best are not easily brought to deny their own strength till they be under some extremity 2 Cor. 1.9 for this is imported in the Apostle's guarding and comforting against reproach If ye be reproached for the Name of Christ happy are ye 4. The consideration of the greatness of the reward which the Lord graciously bestoweth upon the least degree of suffering for Him should make His People joyfully undergo the greatest and most fiery of their trials If it be a happinesse to be reproached for His sake it must be a great happinesse to be killed for his sake for the Apostle makes this a reason why they should rejoyce under fiery trials that to be reproached for Him was a happy thing If ye be reproached for the Name of Christ happy are ye 5. It is not the sufferings of Christians but the cause for which they do suffer which makes them happy to wit their suffering for the profession of the Name of Christ for adhering to His Truth and their duty to Him and out of respect to His glory for this is the qualification of a right sufferer who may count himself happy in his sufferings If ye be reproached for the Name of Christ happy are ye 9. The third Person of the blessed Trinity is glorious in Himself being God equal with the Father and the Son 1 Joh. 5 7. and worketh glorious effects in the hearts where He dwelleth such as the bestowing and encreasing of grace which is begun glory 1 Cor. 3.18 giving clear fore-sights of glory Eph. 1.17 and sometimes sweet fore-tasts thereof Rom. 8.23 In which respects He is here called The Spirit of glory and of God 7. As the Spirit of the Lord doth constantly abide in the hearts of all Believers in regard of some of His operations Joh. 14. â—6 especially in regard of His preserving the seeds and habits of grace and keeping the Saints from final apostasie 1 Joh. 3.9 So He hath ordinarily a more glorious and more constant residence in regard of His comfortable and supporting operations in the hearts of sufferers than of others and though he have not tied Himself to fill the hearts of his suffering-people alwayes with sense and comfort but may withhold the same from the dearest of them under their sharpest sufferings and put them to live by Faith as it was with David and Christ himself Psal 22.1 2 c. Yet oftentimes their allowance of comfort is larger and their enjoyment of sensible presence longer than what others have who are not put to suffer and sweeter than what themselves have had before suffering for this is here held forth as an encouragement made out in a special way to sufferers The Spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you 8. The true happinesse of Believers standeth in their enjoyment of the presence of Christ's Spirit residing in their hearts and proving Himself to be there by His gracious operations which may be had in the midst of sharpest sufferings the consideration whereof ought to make great joy in the hearts of sufferers for the Apostle having pronounced such happy he doth explain their happinisse which is the reason of their joy under their sufferings That the Spirit of glory and of God resteth upon them 9. The more glorious and constant the residence of Christ's Spirit in the hearts of His suffering-people appeareth to be the more inraged will their profane persecutors be to speak evil of that Spirit that dwelleth in them which they will be esteemed to do though they do not expresly blaspheme the Spirit when they father the operations of the Spirit upon Satan Mat. 12.24.28 or when they wilfully resist and oppose His known mind delivered to them by His suffering-people Act. 7.51 for though the Spirit of glory and of God rest upon these persecuted Saints Yet upon the part of their persecutors He is evil spoken of 10. It may allay to the Godly the bitternesse of reproaches and disgraceful expressions against them to consider that by those the Spirit of the Lord counteth Himself evil spoken of and taketh as done directly against Himself those wrongs which are done to His People who are His Temple and His workmanship and will punish wicked men accordingly for this may be taken as a particular encouragement against reproach that even the Spirit of God was upon the part of them that did reproach His Followers evil spoken of 11. The Lord doth esteem Himself much glorified by His Peoples constancy in suffering for Him while His terror sweetnesse power and other properties are proclaimed and commended by that practice of His People in choosing of affliction rather than sin against Him and His esteeming so of it should be a strong motive to chearfulnesse and constancy in suffering for Him for this the Apostle expresly asserteth as an argument to constancy and chearfulnesse under suffering On your part He is glorified Vers 15. But let none of you suffer as a murderer or as a thief or as an evil doer or as a busie-body in other mens matters Here is a third direction for attaining to a right carriage in a time of persecution the sum whereof is That as they desire to find the sweetnesse of the former consolations which the Apostle had held forth to sufferers they would keep themselves free of those evils which even Heathen Magistrates under whose power they lived would readily punish such as wronging the persons or estates of their neighbours medling with things without the bounds of their calling and other wickednesses of that sort So should they be the lesse moved with their sufferings Hence Learn 1. It is the duty of those who have power and authority over others to prove themselves keepers of both the Tables of the Law of God by punishing without respect of persons not only the grosser sorts of transgressions such as murder and theft whereby men injure the persons or estates of their neighbours but also those more subtil and specious sins such as invading the rights of others going beyond the bounds of folks calling which often are vailed with the pretences of zeal for God and the publick good Numb 16.3 which kind of sins the Apostle understands here by being busie in other mens matters Yea all other known iniquities whether against the first Table such as idolatry Job 31.26 27 28. blasphemie Lev. 24.11 Sabbath-breaking Numb 15.32 Or against the second such as disobedience to parents Deut. 21.18 c. adultery Job 31.11 All which and the like are iniquities to be punished by the Judge and are comprehended here under this general clause evil doers for the Apostle supposeth here that