of Christ I answere by distinguishing the natures in Christ. If you consider Christ in his diuine nature he is God of himselfe but not sonne of homselfe His persan is of the Father but his essence is of himselfe but I thinke that this is properly taken or meant of his humane nature for that he receiued from God by the mighty working and ouershadowing power of the holy Ghost And as he is the God of Christ so he is the Father of Christ his God in respect of his humane nature and his father in respect of his diuine nature such an high Priest it became vs to haue as was after the order of Melchisedech without father or mother For so was Christ without father as man without mother as God now in that he is here said to haue a father it is to be vnderstood of his diuine nature in respect of which by an eternall generation the person of the sonne was begotten of the Father dreadfull is this mysterie and most difficult to bee vnderstood or conceiued and the rather because nothing carnall or earthly is here to be imagined For the sonne was not begotten as sons amongst men are but after a more admirable and more excelling manner neither know I how to expresse a way of conceiuing of this generation better then by way of negation denying vnto it whatsoeuer hath imperfection There is a threefold generation The first is corporeall called in Schooles Logicall and predicamentall and this is of bodily things which by themselues and out of themselues and without themselues do beget The second is transcendent and metaphyficall and this is of spirits and is mentall For here the minde as an vncompounded subiect doth not out of it selfe but by it selfe and in it selfe beget and thus it begets contemplation or reason thoughts or affections The third is supreame and singular or diuine and that is that generation by which the Father in himselfe and by himselfe by nature not by faculty or power begets the sonne and this is that which in this place is to be conceiued of so that we must ascend higher then the geniture of bodies or soules and when we are come to the Ocean that is beyond and higher then either of those we must rest and wonder especially taking heed to our thoughts as in other things so that in three things we imagine no likenesse betweene the Father begetting the soâ—e in the Trinity and earthly fathers begetting their sonnes in the world First here is no prioritie in time betweene the father and the sonne as in some sense there is in corporeall generations For Christ is of the Father but not after the father Secondly there is no inequalitie the sonne is not lesser then the father For Christ is coequall as well as coeternall Thirdly here is no diuision the sonne is not diuided from the father For Christ is not only like the father 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but of the same substance with the father he is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The consideration of this doctrine that Christ is Gods soone may serue for diuers vses For as it may confirme vs in the detestation of the blasphemous wickednesse of the Iewes that would neuer receiue the doctrine that Christ was the sonne of God so it may diuersly both instruct and comfort It may instruct vs three waies For first here we may see that it is a matter of necessity to be beleeued and accordingly we should labour to enforme our selues aright in this doctrine as being a point should be illustrious in the Churches of the Christians and the rather because of that promise that whosoeuer shall confesse that lesus is the sonne of God God dwelleth in him and he in God Secondly we may hence gather our owne dignitie For if this be an honour vnto Christ to haue God to be his father then what reason haue poore Chriâ—â—ians to reioyce considering that whatsoever they are in this world yet they haue no worse then the true God the great Iehoâ—ab to be their father also Thirdly from hence by inference wee may learne our duty to God For by this doctrine we heare that God is the father of Christ now by other Scriptures we may obserue how Christ caried himselfe toward his father and from him wee may learne how to order our behauiour also Three things are memorable in Christ. 1. His obedience 2. His patience and humility 3. And his willingnesse to die all inferred vpon this consideration that God was his father For first If the father worke the sonne worketh also yea whatsoeuer the Father did the Sonne did also Yea Christ did not desire to be beleeued when he said he was God sonne further then hee proued it by doing the workes of his Father And for his patience and humilitie it was admirable This sonne of God had not whereon to lay his head he endured the impious contradictions of vile sunners hee would not tempt God by presumptuous trusting vpon extraordinary support when ordinary meanes was offred he was to be consecrated through afflictions and to learne obedience by what he suffred and when hee had suites to God his Father he doth in all humilitie pray and importune yea he vsed strong cries in the daies of his flesh and left his Father to expound the meaning of his prayer also by the good pleasure of his owne will euen to honour him as hee thought best for him And for his willingnesse to dye in the 13. of Iohn he vseth that as a reason why he could gladly goe out of the world because it was nothing else but to go to his father In all these wee that are yonger brothers should learne how to order our selues aright toward God If we call God Father wee should doe the workes of our father and neuer desire to be longer reputed the children of God then by our workes we could shew our generation to be of God by resembling his holines And for patience and humilitie wee are specially charged with it by Christ euen to learne of him to bee lowly and meeke and it is a great shame for vs to make so much adoe about our crosses when wee consider the patience of Christ or to thinke it much if wee be not heard in our prayers at the first or as wee would haue it in the letter of our desires when we obserue the cariage herein of God towards Christ the sonne of his loue And as this doctrine doth instruct so it doth comfort and that especially three waies 1 For first it may comfort vs against all the difficulties of sanctification and against all the power of Sathan For as this doctrine tells vs that Christ is the sonne of God so other Scripture doth assure vs that he will mightily proue himselfe to be the sonne of God by the spirit of sanctification shewing his power in throwing downe and dissoluing the
doth 〈…〉 to further our preseruation 123 How many kindâ—s of faith will not preserue vs. 125. 126 Difference betweene temporary faith and iustifying faith 130 What we must doe to be souted 131 Saluation prepared already fiue waies 132 How many waies saluation is hid and to whom it is reâ—ealed and how 134. 135 Of the last time and about the day of iudgement diuers things 138. 139 Nine wayes by which it may appeare that a Christians 〈◊〉 is a 〈…〉 144 Nâ—ne wayes of reioâ—cing for Gods seruants 145 What wee must doe to preserue the ioyes of God in our hearts 147 How far forth a Christian may ioy in earthly things 148 Rules and obseruations about sorrow in affliction 149 Foure kindes of tentations 151 Fiue wayes Sathan tempts men 153 Thirteene degrees of tentation How tentation may bee discerned from our owne corruption 157 Comforts against tentations 158 Twelue rules against tentations 160 Six wayes God tries man 164 Seauen wayes God tries man in affliâ—tion 165 Comforts in our tryalls 166 How we may shew our faith in affliction 171 Seauen things should moue vs to rely vpon God in affliction 172 Afflictions better then gold in diuers respects 175 Grace better then gold in many respects 175. 176 In six respects Christ is hid till his second comming 181 Seauen signes of the loue of Christ in the sparkle and 7 signes of the loue of Christ in the flame 185. 186 What we must doe to get the loue of Christ and to keepe our selues in it when we haue it Pag. 188 Six kindes of ioy and three kinds of diabolicall ioyes 190 Eight things by which the ioyes of the Holy Ghost may be discerned from all other ioyes 187 Whether the ioyes of the Holy Ghost be felt of euery Christian 192 What we must doe to get the ioyes of God 193 What we must doe to preserue them 194 Foure signes of a true perswasion of saluation 196 What the soule is 198 Such as haue the assurance of saluation should looke to eight things 200 Eleuen prerogatiues of the Christian Church 205 Foure things to be done that we faile not of the grace of God 207 Foure sorts of men inquire about times 214 What we must doe that God might answer vs. 220 Distinctions about reuelations and of six sorts of reuelations vnder the Gospell 223. 224 About traditions diuers things 231 About the Gospell diuers things 234. 235. 236. c. Eight things required in euery one that would haue part in the Gospell 236 Of the Holy Ghost diuers things 239. 240. 241 Many things about Angells 248. 249. c. Fourteene internall lets of godlinesse 262 Eight rules for girding vp the loynes of our minds 264 Of sobriety in six things 266 Rules about recreations and apparell 268 Against drunkennesse 270. 271 Fiue things in a perfect hope 275 Nine waies to shew our hope 276 Fiue things to be done that we may attaine full assurance of hope pag. 277 In seauen things we should imitate Gods mercy in shewing mercy 282 Of those that thinke they feele â—ore hardnes of heart after assurance 288 Our obedience must be like the obedience of children in six things 289 Sorts of lusts hatefull after calling and eight reasons to auoide them p. 291. 292. and foure preseruatiues against them 293 Seuen things in fashioning our selues to sinne 293 Seuen signes of a presumptuous sinne 294 Diuers things about ignorance 294. 295. c. How ignorance in vnregenerate men differs from that in the godly 299 Of the imitation of the holinesse of God 300. 301 Diuers things about effectuall calling 305. c. Distinctions about holinesse 310 Helps to holinesse 312 Twelue motiues to a holy conversation 313 Seuen things in the manner of our conversation to be obserued 315 About the day of iudgment at large 321. 322. c. We are soiourners as the Israelites were in Aegipt many allusions from thence 335 Of a conversation with feare 341 Of redemption many things 343. c. 353. 363 About a vaine conversation diuers things 354. 355 Fiue degrees of redemption froÌ„ a vaine conversation 356 Seuen signes of redemption froÌ„ a vaine conversation 357 Six waies of deriuing sinne 359 How many wayes children are infected by the traditions of their fathers pag. 359 Seauen niles for Parents in ordering their children 361 About the blood of Christ. 368. 370. 371 Christ like a lambe in six things 372 Of Christ like a lambe in ix things with their signification 373 Of Gods statute-bookes diuers things pag. 377. and of fore-ordination 380. c. Christ manifeted fiue waies 385 Fiue things concerning faith 391. c. Seauen rules for the daily vse of faith 400 The glory giuen to Christ after his resurrection in eight things 403 Of faith and hope diuers things 405. c. Ten things that assault faith 407 A large expplication of the ceremoniall law about the clensing of the â—eper as it concernes the sanctification of a sinner 413. c. â—ight things to be done to get a cleane heart 440 Eight things for the discouery of Hipocrites 444 How men may know their obedience is right 445 In eight things the spirit worketh our obedience 446 Nine signes of â—nfained loue 452 Of puritie of heart 454 c. Seauen signes of feruent loue and nine causes of the want of it 457 Of the new birth and immortulitie 460. c. Eight things in hearing the word as the word of God with other things about the word 476 Of mans mortalitie of the body at large 483. c. FINIS AN EXPOSITION of the first Epistle generall of PETER CHAP. I. verses 1 2. 1. Peter an Apostle of Iesus Christ to the strangers that dwell here and there throughout Pontus Galatia Cappadocia Asia and Bithynia 2. Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father vnto sanctification of the spirit through obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Iesus Christ Grace and peace be multiplied vnto you THE purpose of the Apostle in this Epistle is to confirme the Christians to whom he writes in the faith and to assure them that it was the true grace of God they had receiued and to perswade them to all possible care of sinceritie of life becomming the Gospell and to constanâ—ie in tryalls The Epistle stands of three parts 1. The salutation Chap. 1. ver 1 2. 2. The body of the Epipistle ch 1. v. 3. to ch 5. v. 12. 3. The Epilogue or conclusion ch 5. v. 12. to the end These two verses then containe the salutation where obserue 1. The person saluting 2. The persons saluted 3. and the manner of the salutation it selfe 1. The person saluting is described 1. By his name Peter 2. By his office an Apostle 3. By the author of his calling Iesus Christ. 2. The persons saluted are described both by their outward estate and by their spirituall estate For their outward estate note both what it was and where it was they were strangers
workes of the Deuill 2. Secondly it may comfort vs in all our suites to God For as by other Scriptures we know that Christ is our aduocate and hath taken vpon him to present our praiers to God so by this doctrine we may gather the successe We are sure to speede well when we haue the Kings sonne to put vp our petitions and the rather because Christ doth desire to shew his greatnesse with his Father by obtaining our requests at his hands For thereby the Father is glorified in his sonne and God loues vs so much the better because we loue Christ and beleeue that he came from his father and shew it by vsing him as our Mediator and indeede what neede we any other to the King then the Kings â—onne And thirdly it may comfort vs in respect of the hope of preferment by his seruice wee cannot serue a more honourable Lord. Many times if we serue earthly Princes they may neglect vs. For wee seldome see all the Followers of the greatestâ— Princes come to preferment but if Princes on earth were neuer so honourable that they did purpose to exalt euery one of their seruants yet vnder that hope men may consume all their meanes and in the end dye beggers because the Prince may dye before they get their preferment but it is not so with Christians in their seruice of Christ. For as for greatnesse he is the king of all Kings and himselfe Lord of all Lords â—o for will hee neuer neglected any that serued in truth and sincerity and besides he cannot die For he hath life in himselfe and therefore blessed are they that serue him and trust in his goodnesse For he euer liucth to make request for them till hee haue gotten them to himselfe that where he is there they may be also Thus of the manner of propounding The places or arguments of Consolation follow The first is taken from their regeneration which is amplified Verse 1. Pâ—TER an Apostle of Iâ—sus Christ to the strangers scaâ—trâ—d throughout Ponâ—us Gâ—latia Capadocia Asia and Bithâ—nia Vâ—rse 2. Elect accâ—rding to the foreknowledge of God the 〈◊〉 through 〈…〉 vnto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Iesus Christâ— Grace vnto you and peace be multiplied Verse 3. Blessed be the God and Fâ—ther of our Lord Iesus Chrâ—st which according to his aboundanâ— mercy hath begotten vs againe vnto a liuety â—ope by the reâ—urreâ—ction of Iesus Christ from the dead 〈◊〉 4 To an inheâ—itance incorruptible and vndeâ—iled and that 〈◊〉 not away reserued in heauen for you Verse 5 Who are kept by the power of God through falâ—h vnto saluation ready to be reuealed in the last time Verse 6. Wherein yee greatly reioyce though now for a season if neede be you are in heauinesse through manifold tentations Vâ—rse 7. That the tryall of your faith being much more precious then of gold that 〈◊〉 though it be tryed by the fire might be found vnto praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Iesus Christ. Verse â— Whom hauâ—ng not seene yee loue in whom thogh now 〈◊〉 see him not yet beleeuing yee reioyce with ioy vnspeakable and full of glory Verse 9 Receiuing the end of your faith euen the saluation of your soules Verse 10. Of which saluation the Prophets haue inquired and searched diligently who prophesied of the grace that should come vnto you Verse 11. Searching what or what manner of time the spirit of Chriâ—â— which was in them did signifie when it testâ—fied before hand the suffâ—â—ings of Christ and the glory that should follovv Verse 12. Vnto whom it was reuealed that not vnto themselues but vnto vs they did the things which are now reported vnto you by them which haue preached the gospell vnto you with the Holy Ghost sent downe from heauen which things the Angels desire to looke into Verse 13. Wherefore girde vp the loynes of your minde be sober and hope to the end for the gâ—ace that is to be brought vnto you at the reuelation of Iesus Christ. Verse 14. As obedient children not fashioning your selues according to the former lusts in your ignorance Verse 15. But as he which hath called you is holy so be yee holy â—n all manner of conuersation Verse 16. Because it is written Be yee holy for I am holy Verse 17. And if yee call on the Father who without respect of persons iudgeth according vnto euery mans worke passe the time of your soiourning here in feare Verse 18. Forasmuch as yee know that yee vvere not redeemed vvith corruptible things as siluer and gold from your vaine conuersatioâ— receiued by tradition from your fathers Verse 19. But vvith the precious blood of Christ as of a lamb vvithout blemish and vvithout spot Verse 20. Who verily was fore ordanid before the â—ound 〈◊〉 â—f the world but was 〈…〉 these 〈◊〉 for you Vâ—rs 21. Who by bin doe beleiue in God that raised hivs vp froÌ„ the dâ—ad and gaue him glory that your faith and hobe might bein God Versâ— 22. Seeing you hâ—ue purified your soules in obeying the tâ—uth throuâ—h the 〈◊〉 vnto 〈◊〉 loue of the brethsen see that yâ—e loue one another with a pure heart feruâ—nntly Verse 23. Being borne againe not of corruptible seed but of incorruptible by the word of God which liueth and abideth for euer Verse 24. For all flesh is as grasse and all the glory of man as the flower of grasse the grasse withereth and the flower thereof falleth away Verse 25. But the word of the Lord endureth for euer and this is the word which by the Gospell is preached vnto you The scope of the Epistle The parts of the Epistle The parts of the salutation Who Peter was a Matth. 4. 15. b Mark 3 16. c 1 Cor. 10. 3. d Ioh. 1. 42. e Gal. 2. f Matth. 4. Ioh 1. g Mark 3. h Ioh. 21. i 〈…〉 Seuen sorts of men transgress about their Callings k 1 Cor 7. l 2 Thess 3. 〈…〉 〈…〉 m 〈…〉 〈…〉 〈◊〉 Man is a stranger in fiue respects n Eph. 2. 12. 4. 17. o Psal 69. â— p 1 Pet 4. 12. Doctrin Vses 14 Things Wherein wee should be like strangers 1 Cor. 5. 6 7. The good that comes by the dispersion of the godly q 〈…〉 r 〈…〉 s 〈…〉 〈…〉 t 〈◊〉 4. 37. u 〈◊〉 1. 4 5. * 〈◊〉 15. 19. x 〈◊〉 670. From what they are electedâ— How they may be knowne y 〈◊〉 7. 7. z 〈…〉 a 〈…〉 b 〈…〉 8 〈…〉 Vses c 〈…〉 Distinctions about prae science 〈…〉 〈…〉 〈…〉 How God knowes things Vses How the fore-knowledge of God may coÌ„fort vs in diuers distresses Doct. Vses Comforts to the godly as God is their Father Obiect Sâ—lut Obiect Sâ—lut Obiect Solut. Obiect Solut. Obiect Solut. Vse 2. How we may liue like Gods children Vse 3. 〈…〉 2 〈…〉 3 Ex nâ—n sancto negatiuâ—s What need our spirits haue to be sanctified Wherein the sanctification of the spirit 〈◊〉 lieth Of 〈◊〉 the spirit man from what and how Ans. 8 Things to clense the spirit of man Of the adorning of the spiâ— 8. Three things which adorne the minde in sanctification The light of the minde hath 5 things in it Humblenes of minde hath 6 things in it Puritie of imaginations The heart adomed with 8 graces 11 Things wherein a sanctified heart reioyceth The Conscience adorned with 9. things Vses Of obedience in â—enerall Of the causes of our obedience 〈…〉 Motiue to obedâ—nence Of obedience in words Our estate in Christ better then our estate in Adam here in this life The beneâ—â—â—s flowing from the blood of Christ. Vses An explication of the whole Ceremonie of the sprinkling of the blood of the red Heifer Nâ—mb 19. 〈…〉 Of the sprinkling at the Passouer Exod 24. Of the sprinkling at the ratification of the Couenant Of the sprinkling Leuit. 16. Vse The forme of the Salutation Vses What we must doe that grace and peace may be multiplied in vs. The order of the body of the Epistle 1 Obseruation from the coherence a Psalm 129. 8. b Psal. 6â— 1. Man blessâ—th God 3. waâ—â—s c Psal. 116. 12. d 1 Cor 10. 16. Reasons of blessing God e Psal. 50. 23. Vse f Psal. 67. 3. g Psal. 145 10. 11. 12. How God is the God of Christ. 〈…〉 How God is the â—â—ther of Châ—â—â— How Christ is without Father or Mother A threefold generation Per se de se extra se. Non de se sed per se 〈◊〉 Three things wherin Christs generation is not like ours Vses h Iohn 5. 1â— 6. 41. 3. 19. i 1 Iob. 4. 15. In three things wee should learne of Christ to cary our selues towards God as towards our Father k Ioh 5. 17. 19. 6. 38. l Ioh 10. 36. m Math 4. 3. n Heb 2. 10. o Heb 5. 7. 8. p 〈◊〉 13. 1. q 〈◊〉 1. 4. 1 〈◊〉 3. 8 r Iob 14 12. 13. 14. â—6 23. 24. 26. 27.