A Commentary on 1 Peter 1-3, Exposition of chapter 1 · Exposition of verse 15
Verse 16. Because it is written, be ye holy as I am holy.
THE first argument no inforce the exhortation ver. 13. is taken from the image of God in us: and this reason is propounded in the first words of ver. 14. and expounded in the two former verses and this, and that two waies: 1. By a description of the image of God in us, ver. 14, 15.2. By the proofe in this verse. In this proofe two things are to be observed:
1. Whence the proofe is taken, As it is written.
2. What is alledged, viz. Be ye holy, as I am holy.
The meaning is, that we stand bound to shew regard of our conformity to God in holinesse: for this was long since required in the written word of God, that wee should be holy, as God is holy. And first then concerning the Scripture, from whence the proofes of doctrine are fetched.
Here I consider,
1. Of the use of the Scriptures in generall for proofe of doctrine.
2. Of the Scripture of the Old …estament from whence this proofe is fetched.
For the first: Proofes of doctrine are of three sorts. 1. From men as they are men. 2. From the senses. 3. From God. The first is not infallible: the second is infallible in some respects: the third is infallible simply & for ever. The testimonies of men work onelyonly opinion, as being but Arguments contengent and probable. The testimonies of the senses and of God work knowledg, or bring arguments necessary. Hence it is that the Prophets, and Christ, and the Apostles in their teaching amongst the people almost never use any testimonies of men in matters of religion; and when they doe, it is chiefly for confutation of adversaries by their owne writers.
Now for the senses: they are internall, or externall. Internall, and so there is a double testimony, 1. from the law of nature, 2. from the conscience. The externall are seeing, hearing, tasting, &c. and the argument from them is from experience. The testimony of the senses is in…allible in some respects, viz. as they are rightly ordered and guided.
The testimony of God is either immediate, or mediate: God hath given an immediate testimony either by vision, or by voice. By vision either in in sleep, or in a certaine extasie when men were awake: thus did he reveale his will often in the Old Testament; sometimes in the New, a… to Paul. By voice God testified either to particular persons, as when he gave answers to the Priest, as some think wearing his Ephod; or else by publike voice, as when from heaven he said, Mat. 3. This is my welbeloved Son, heare him.
The testimony God hath given by meanes is threefold. 1. By his Sonne. 2. By his servants the Prophets and Apostles by word of mouth. 3. By the Scriptures: and of this here.
Now concerning the proofe of doctrine in Scripture, we must observe:
1. That the testimony of God onelyonly is authenticall.
2. That a divine testimony now adaies is no where to be had, but in the Scripture.
3. The testimony of Scripture is sufficient for all things needfull to salvation, 2 Tim. 3.
4. That we, both Ministers and people, should have recourse to the Scriptures for warrant for what we teach, beleeve, or doe: For if Christ and the Apostles, men priviledged from error, doe yet for honors sake alledge the testimony of Scripture; then much more ought we to have recourse to what is written, seeing we can have no assurance that we erre not, but as wee are warranted by the Word. Thus of the first point.
Now for the second point: Inasmuch as the proofes are taken out of the Old Testament, it shewes the wonderfull harmony and agreement between the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament; and that the Old Testament is to be acknowledged of equall authority with the New. Hence it i…, that the quotations of authorities out of the Old Testament are so frequent: for there are above 260. places of the Old Testament cited in the New; so as there is almost no point of doctrine needfull to salvation, but the harmony of the Old Testament and the New is exprest: yea hence it is, that there are very few bookes of the Old Testament, but they are cited in the New: amongst the historicall bookes, I except Iudges, Ruth, Ezra, Nehemiah, and Hester: amongst the Prophets I except Obadiah and Nahum: amongst the dogmaticall books I except Ecclesiastes and Canticles: else proofes are taken out of all the rest, and very frequent out of many of them, as the Psalmes are cited 53 times, Genesis 42 times, Esay 46 times: and so I might note of the rest.
Lastly, from the manner of propounding this authority or testimony out of the Word, we may note two things.
1. The great mercy of God afforded to us in these times, that have so many helps for knowledge: wee see here in those daies, they quoted neither Chapter …or v…rse, and many times not the booke; and therefore we should praise God, that have the Scriptures digested so easily, and our doctrine confirmed with such expresse quotations.
2. This shews what labour & knowledg the godly then had; they were so conversant in the Scriptures, that they could discern of a quotation, though the place were not cited. And thus of the fountain from whence this proofe i… fetched. The matter alledged followeth.
Be ye holy for I am holy.
The drift is to shew that it hath beene anciently taught unto the people of God, that if they profeste themselves to be his children, they must imitate his holinesse, and shew themselves like unto God their heavenly Father. This sentence is chiefly found in the book of Leviticus, and is there often used, as Lev. 11.44. & 19.2. & 20.26. & 21.8. From hence divers things may be observed.
1. That exact holinesse hath beene anciently required. This is a doctrine hath ever …ounded in the Church, that we must be holy, yea so holy as wee might in some mea…ure be like unto God, and expresse his image, Exod. 19.6. D…ut. 26 19.
2. That holinesse of life is indispensibly required of every child of God: for so this speech is used, Lev. 19.2.
3. That true holinesse stretcheth it selfe to the care of lesser offences, as these places shew, Lev. 11.44. & 20.26. therefore God will accept our service in lesser duties.
4. That we cannot have true holinesse without some competent knowledge of the nature of God.