Exposition of the Two Epistles of Peter, Epistle and exposition 1 · Chapter 2 · Verse and commentary 25
Verſ. 25. For ye were as ſheep going aſtray, but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Biſhop of your ſouls.
The laſt argument to preſs upon Believers, patient ſuffering of wrongs for Chriſt, and their duty to Him, is taken from that bleſſed change, which by the vertue of his death is made upon them: and this the Apoſtle ſets forth in two branches, The one, containing the woful caſe they were in before Converſion, to wit, That they were then wandering in their ignorance and ſinful wayes, to their own deſtruction, like ſtraying ſheep: The other, holds forth the bleſſed ſtate they are now brought to, to wit, That by the powerful grace of Chriſt put forth in their converſion, they are brought back to Him the good Shepherd and Overſeer of their ſouls; and therefore they ought to follow Him, and their duty, notwithſtanding of any hardſhip they can meet with in that way. Hence Learn, 1. Before converſion, the Elect, as well as others, are wandering toward their own deſtruction, unable to bring themſelves into the right way, and in hazard to be preyed upon by the roaring Lion: which condition is fitly ſet out by this ſimilitude, which the Apoſtle here makes uſe of from Iſa. 53.6. Ye were as ſheep going aſtray. 2. True converſion is that change which Chriſt worketh upon ſinners, whereby they are made not only to turn their back upon their former ſinful courſes, but alſo to betake themſelves to Jeſus Chriſt, ſeeking to enjoy his favour and fellowſhip, ſubmitting to Him, as their Ruler and Guide, and reſigning themſelves to be at his diſpoſal: for, ſo the Apoſtle here deſcribes it, Ye were as ſheep going astray, but are now returned to the Shepherd. 3. This bleſſed change which is made upon ſinners in converſion, is that which doth evidence to them that they have received the healing vertue which flows from the wounds of Chriſt to his Redeemed Ones; None elſe can eſteem themſelves healed by his ſtripes, but thoſe that find themſelves brought back from their former ſinfull courſes, and made to follow Him as their Leader: for, after the Apoſtle had ſaid, by his ſtripes ye were healed, he addeth this, as the evidence thereof, for ye were as ſheep going aſtray, but are now returned to the Shepherd. 4. Thoſe whom Chriſt's powerfull grace hath thus turned toward Him, ſhall find Him prove himſelf to them a good and faithful Shepherd, and Ruler, as the word alſo ſignifieth, reclaiming them from their wanderings, not only before their converſion, Luke 15.4. but likewiſe after it, Pſal. 119.176. providing plenty of wholſom food for them as his flock, Pſal. 23.1, &c. tenderly leading, and bearing them in his boſom, in their ſick and weak conditions, Iſa. 40.6. and ſo protecting and defending them, that none can pluck them out of his hand, Joh. 10.28. for, He to whom they are returned, is, the Shepherd of their ſouls. 5. It is not any one relation among the creatures that can ſufficiently ſet out what Jeſus Chriſt will prove himſelf to be unto true Converts, all the uſefulneſſe and ſweetneſs which is but ſcattered among all the relations which one creature hath to another, being but ſhadows of what he is to them that are truly turned to Him: for, the Apoſtle ſaith, they are returned to Him, who is not only their Shepherd, but their Biſhop, or Overſeer, who foreſees and guards them againſt hazards, ſo far as is fitting, and furniſheth them with all neceſſary proviſion in his ſervice, and ſo proves himſelf the Biſhop, or Overſeer, of their ſouls. 6. As the Believers outward man, and the leaſt thing that doth concern the ſame, is cared for, and reſpected by Jeſus Chriſt, Mat. 10.30. So, He loveth to commend his reſpect, and overſight to them, mainly in reference to their ſouls, which are their better part, the welfare whereof neceſſarily bringeth along with it the welfare of the body; and, their ſouls being beyond peril, That may make them chearfully adventure upon bodily hazards in following Him, who is the Shepherd and Biſhop of their ſouls. 7 That which engageth the hearts of ſinners to love Jeſus Chriſt, and out of love to Him, to follow their duty through hardeſt ſufferings, is, the frequently renewed ſenſe of their woful condition wherein ſometimes they were, and of the bleſſedneſſe and priviledges of that ſtate whereunto his grace hath brought them: for, after the Apoſtle had repreſented this change to them, ver. 9, 10. as a motive to holineſſe, he doth here hold it forth again as a motive to conſtancy in holineſſe, notwithſtanding of ſufferings; For ye were as ſheep going aſtray, but are now returned to the Shepherd and Biſhop of your ſouls.