A Key to the Key of Scripture, Chapter 1 · Exposition of verse 8
Verſe 8. Firſt I thanke my God through Ieſus Chriſt for you all, becauſe your faith is publiſhed throughout the whole world.
NOw followeth the Exordium or entrance into the matter of the Epiſtle, and it is of that kinde which Rhetoritians call inſinuatiue, tending to procure louing regard from this people towards Pauls perſon and doctrine, by proteſtation of his vnfained louelove towards them, declared by two arguments and effects of a louing affection: firſt, thankſgiuing to God for their good, Ʋer. 8. ſecondly, deſire to ſee them and that for their good, from Ʋer. 9. to 16.
In the thankſgiuing are, firſt, the act: ſecondly, the obiect: thirdly, the mediatour by whom conuayed: fourthly, the matter or ground, their faith, & publiſhing thereof in all the world. I meane not to proſecute eueryevery particular at large; but to cull out the principals, leaſt the volume grow too great.
By faith, here vnderſtand the gift of faith, and the fruits thereof: eſpecially their receiuing of the word of God, as Act. 8.14.
Obſer. Generally heere obſerue the propertie and dutie of Gods children, to be thankefull for the proceedings and power of the Goſpell, in the conuerſion of others: practiſed by the Saints eueryevery where: Galat. 2.23. exemplified in the Angels, Luke 15.7.10. And if it be a thing to be prayed for, the enlargement of Chriſts kingdome, then to be thankfully acknowledged when it is performed.
Ʋſe. Abhorrent from this propertie and practiſe of Gods Saints, are all thoſe that grudge at the proceedings of the Goſpell, and labour by all meanes to diſcou age and daunt thoſe that are comming on towards Chriſt, reſembling herein, the nature of their father the diuell. Apoc 12.4.
But moſt odious in this kinde, thoſe in place of miniſterie, that enuie the bleſſing God giues to other mens miniſterie, more then to their owne. Moſes not ſo,rNum. 11.28.29. nor Iohn Baptiſt. Iohn 3.29.
More ſpecially we are taught to reioyce, at the efficacie of the word in places eminent, Obſer. as Rome, at this time the ſeate of the Empire, traffiqued by all nations, and therefore likely by their example, and ſame of their faith, to make way for entertainment of the Goſpell in other nations: ſo ought Gods children, as to reioyce at the conuerſion of all, ſo ſpecially, at the taking place of the word in perſons, and places moſt emminent and conſpicuous: for ſo it fares with moſt men, that their eyes are bent vponupon places, and perſons of cheefeſt eſteeme and authoritie: and great examples, are alwayes cauſes either of greateſt miſchiefe if they be euill, or good if they be conſpicuous for goodneſſe.
Therefore, Ʋſe. when we ſhall ſee the Lord magnifie his Goſpell, in the conuerſion of places and perſons eminent amongſt vsus: let vsus not be vnmindfull to performe this duetie; and labour with God by prayer, for the calling of ſuch as by their authoritie are likelieſt to bring moſt aduantage to the truth.
It is not to be omitted, that Paul here applies to himſelfe the generall promiſe of the Couenant, Ier. 31.3….34. from experience applying Gods grace vntounto himſelfe.
Such a particular knowledge, Obſer. of Gods particular louelove hauehave all Gods Saints in a meaſure. Gal. 2.20. Iob. 19.25. 1 Cor. 2.12. 1 Ioh. 3.2. Neither is it the ſpeciall priuiledge of ſome few, to whom God by ſpeciall reuelation giues ſuch particular knowledge, as Papiſts teach, but that which God vouchſafeth by generall meanes to all his children: and that which eueryevery child of God, vponupon performance of the generall conditions, as repentance and faith, may gather to himſelfe, and profeſſe of himſelfe without preſumption. See Rom. 8.19.17. where will be fitter place to handle this point at large.
Not onelyonly Papiſts, but generally worldlings, Ʋſe. ſcoffe at this truth, particular aſſurance; hope well they doe, but aſſurance they hauehave none, and meaſuring others by themſelues, thinke it not vouchſafed to any man liuing: and yet if it be marked well, this is had by all Gods children that are ſuch in ſinceritie, and he that hath not this particularitie of applying, hath nothing of faith more then a diuell: the diuels hold generals; of Chriſts death; remiſſion of ſinnes thereby purchaſed vntounto the Church: herein onelyonly they faile, that they apply not theſe to themſelues, nor can beleeue that they are ſharers in theſe benefits: and let it be thought no preſumption, for Gods child to outſtrip the diuell one ſtep at leaſt, in beliefe of the articles of his Creede.
Publiſhed throughout the world.] Papiſts heere glory much of their faith, that it is ſo highly commended by the Apoſtle; and from this place challenge to themſelues the true faith, as ſtill dwelling amongſt them. To which we anſwere, that it followes not, a fuiſſe ad eſſe. Ieruſalem was once a faithfull Citie, but the Prophet complaines ſhe was become an harlot; as famous was Theſſalonica, in the dayes of the Apoſtle, as euer was Rome,s1 Theſ. 1.8. and yet now no face of a Church there remaining: and the like anſwere we make to all the commendations giuen by the Fathers vntounto that Church; that they were true of the church in thoſe times, but not therefore belonging to Rome that now is.
But will you heare their reply? Rome by our confeſſion, was once faithfull; ſhew wee therefore the time when ſhee began to decline and fall from the truth of faith. Anſ. Behold a ſottiſh ſhift; cannot declinations, and apoſtaſies be euidenced without pointing at the particular times, places, & authors of backſliding? that they are fallen, wee euidence by diſcord of their doctrine, from that here taught and commended in this Epiſtle; but they will not beleeue except we ſhew them the time, when they began to decline: as if a man ſicke vntounto death, when the Phiſition by apparant ſignes diſcouers his diſeaſe, the nature and danger thereof ſhould ſay no its not ſo, for you ſhew me not the time, and meanes, and proceedings of my diſeaſe.
Iuſt. This may eaſily be ſhewed in other hereſies: Arianiſme, &c.
Anſ. Not therefore Antichriſtianiſme, for that is a myſterie of iniquitie,t2 Theſ 2.7. eſpecially the beginnings thereof, almoſt inſenſibly conuaying themſelues into the Church: Secondly, for the groſe points of Popery wherein they diſſent from auncient Rome, their beginnings, and proceedings, and perfection, are euidenced ſufficiently by our Diuines. See Perkins his probleme.
Rather let vsus note here, Obſer. that the grace of God is not ſo tyed to any people, or kingdome, but that for the ſinnes of them, God may giuegive them to blindnes, and make them beleeue lyes:u2 The… 2.10.11.12. this verified of Rome, of Ieruſalem, once the praiſe of the whole world; of the Churches of Aſia, &c.
And let it be an admonition to vsus that yet ſtand, Ʋſe. to take heed leaſt we fall:xRom. 11.20.21. truſt not in lying words, ſaying, the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord, &c.
Goe to Shiloh, where I once put my name, and ſee what I hauehave done thereto: Reade at large, Ier. 7. from verſe 3. to 16. A needfull admonition for vsus in this kingdome, wherein are too euident tokens of ſecuritie this way; and as euident cauſes, to feare the like iudgement, becauſe wee are engaged in the ſame diſobedience, lacke of louelove to the truth,y2 Theſ. 2.10. euill entreatie of the miniſters,zMat. 23.37.38 barrenneſſe of good fruits: Iſay 5. from verſe 1. to 8.