Exposition Upon 1 Peter, Biblical exegesis · Chapter 3 · Verse 12
Verse 12. For the eyes of the Lord are over the Righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers; but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.
THat those which perform the forementioned duties shall have long life and good days here and hereafter, and that the contrary shall befal those that do not thus do, our Apostle here proveth: Such as thus do, God will have a care of them, and watch over them for good, and for the others, God will set himself against them; where an Objection is prevented.
Oh,The prevention of an Objection. might some say, that such as live most harmlesly, and do most good, and be best disposed, and love peace and quietness, should of all others be most hated, and lie open to manifest dangers, and they that will scamble and shift for themselves by right or wrong, not caring whom they wrong, do yet wax great, and prove rich in the world: True, saith the Apostle, If peaceable and good men were here left to themselves, they would be soon thrust to the walls, and be as sheep among wolves, ready to be spoiled; but God doth not so leave them, but hath a continual care over them, to defend them from dangers, as much as shall be fit for them; and if they fall into any, he is ready to hear their prayers, and to help them: and for the others, they may prosper a while (which yet some of them do not) but it shall not always so continue, God will set his face against them, and his fury root them out.
By Eyes we are to understand the diligent and watchful care that the Lord hath over his people,See Deut. 11. 12 as the mother whose eye is over the yong childe that it take no hurt.
And by Ears is meant, his great readiness to hear their Prayers, and grant their requests.
By Face is meant,Psal. 25. 16. & 27. 9. sometimes his favor and love, as in the Psalms; sometimes his wrath and displeasure, as here; for a mans favor or displeasure is seen by his contenance: Thus are other parts of man ascribed to the Lord, as, his Hand, Right hand, Arm, &c.
Q. But why are these attributed to the Lord, not being in him?
A. Because if the Lord should speak unto us weak men of himself,Why Eyes, Ears, Face, &c. are attributed to God. and as he is in himself, we were utterly unable to bear it, but being willing that we should understand him, he speaketh according to our capacity, as the nurse to the childe. Because we know not how one should see without eyes, or watch over any for good, therefore God ascribeth eyes to himself; and because our power lieth in our right hand, therefore doth he ascribe a right hand to himself, the like may be said about his ears, &c.
1. This should greatly provoke us to the reading and exercising our selves in the Scriptures;Use 1. for that we may so do in them, the Lord vouchsafed to stoop very low for our understanding: If we do it not, it must needs be great neglect and unthankfulness, wherein notwithstanding too too many fail.
2. Ministers,Use 2. whose office it is to teach the Lords people, must be careful to frame themselves to their understanding and edifying, and not to soar aloft, thereby stirring up admiration in their people without profit: If God stoop so low, must any so far seek themselves, as not to follow such a patern? O its a greater mercy to edifie and convert one soul, then that a thousand should go away meerly commending them for learning and eloquence.
By Righteous we are not to understand such as be so in their own conceit,Whom we are to understand by Righteous, and why they are so called. but such as are in Gods account truly Righteous, perfectly by imputation of Christs Righteousness, and imperfectly by inherent here begun and increased, but which shall hereafter be perfected: Righteous, I say, 1. By imputation of Christs Righteousness to us by Faith, For Christ which knew no sin, 2 Cor. 51. 21.became sin for us, that we might be the Righteousness of God in him. 2. By inherent Sanctification of the Spirit conveyed from Christ, which though it be imperfect, yet is of the better part of their Righteousness, and the rather, because they are desirous to do well, and do it willingly, but sin against their will, as an heap of corn is so called, though it be not without chaff. 3. Because of their endeavor to be more and more Righteous, as a yong Apprentice is called by the name of his Trade,Simil. because of his endeavor and purpose, though he can do but a little in it; so that they which be such, may be of good comfort notwithstanding their imperfections remaining, God accounts them Righteous and holy persons, howsoever the world esteems of them.
By them that do evil is not meant,Use. such as fall into sin through weakness and infirmity,Whom we are to understand by them that do ill. but such as give themselves thereto, and make a trade thereof, living and lying therein without repentance, against such doth the Lord set himself.
The eyes of the Lord are over the Righteous,] The Lord careth for the Righteous.That is, God hath an especial care of his righteous servants; he loveth them dearly, and watcheth over them for their good;Deut. 11. 12. They are his portion and inheritance,Psal. 33. 12. & 146. 8. they are his Spouse, they are his children, whose care exceeds both the fathers and the mothers;Psal. 103. 13. when both these forsook David, the Lord did not leave him,Mat. 6 9. Psal. 27. 10. He causeth all creatures to do them good,Isa. 49. 15. and serve their turns: He appointeth the Angels to preserve them, as Elisha; destroy their enemies, as it befel Senacheribs host; bring them good tidings, as to the Shepherds; defend them, &c.Iudges 5. 20. The very Stars in their courses must fight for Israel, the Hailstones slay his enemies,Iosh 10. 13. Frogs, Lice, Caterpillars, &c. plague the Egyptians for Pharaohs disobedience; yea, he will cause all things to go contrary to the course of nature, rather then they shall miscarry, the waters must divide themselves, the Sun stand still and go backwards, the stony rock yield water, the fire must not hurt the three children, nor the Lyons Daniel. He that cared for man, and provided all things necessary for him before he was, is now no less careful for his reconciled ones; his care is effectual, continual, he both preserves them from evil,Psal. 33. 18, 19 and 121. 8. and provides for them good things; the very hairs of their head are numbred, and he that toucheth them, toucheth the Apple of his eye:Mat. 16. 30. How did he preserve Noah, Lot, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, David, Zech. 2. 8.Elijah, Peter, &c. which of us also hath not escaped thousands of dangers through his eye over us?
But do not the righteous fall into many troubles,Obj. as the examples of Abel, Micaiah, Jeremiah, the Apostles and Martyrs clearly shew.
Gideon indeed by reason of the troubles of Gods people in his days,Sol. thought that God was not with them,Iudg. 6. 13. but it was otherwise: Gods eye is not so over them as that he promiseth to keep them out of all danger, but so to dispose, as that nothing shall fall out to their hurt; he keeps them from man, and disposes so, that when any do befal them, the same tends to their good: Thereupon they become humbled, thereby their Faith and patience tryed, in the mean time they are enabled of God to bear them,See Psal. 32. 6. and through him delivered in due time therefrom,Isa. 45. 2. if not, thereby the sooner they enter into Heaven.
God doth preserve the wi…ed also,Obj. and provide for them.
Though they are preserved from some,Sol. yet into how many do they fall? especially how do they fall into sin daily? and how soon they shall fall into Hell who knows?Psal. 37. 19. The Lord also provides for his own, as for the Israelites in the wilderness, for Elias in the time of famine, for Jacob in Padan-Aram, &c. many have had experience hereof, beyond that they could have lookt for.
1. This serves to comfort all those which can prove themselves righteous;Use 1. such may safely depend on God,Psal. 23. & 27. in the very midst of dangers: How many or great soever they may be,1 King. 6. 16. had we but the eyes of faith, we might perceive that there are more with us then against us? He that is Almighty and All-sufficient careth for us; He also taketh our cause in hand, so that being wronged, we need neither be impatient nor revenge our selves, but commit it unto him that judgeth righteously; He also will provide for us things needful, and therefore must not we murmure, grudge, or use unlawful means; He that feeds the Ravens, and cloaths the Lillies, will assuredly be careful of us, only we must not be wanting unto our selves, through neglect of our callings, or trusting too much therein, but commend our selves therein unto God by Prayer.
2. Let such as are not as yet righteous,Use 2. get into the number of righteous persons; till then, they lie open to all danger, are outlaws, have no right to any promise, neither are under Gods care or protection: Oh! could they see their condition, they might perceive it to be most fearful; but happy is the state of the righteous, happy are they whom God loveth and careth for.
And his ears are open unto their prayers,] Here note,
The readiness of the Lord to hear his Servants prayers,God hears the prayers of his Saints readily. and to grant their requests; the like is elswhere often expressed. They are acceptable to him,Psal. 145. 18. as incense and sacrifice; yea, he prefers them before those:Isaiah 65. 24. They are available before him;Psal. 141. 2. & 50. 15. and 69. 31. the Examples of Abraham, Jacob, David, Asa, Jehoshaphat, Daniel, &c. manifest the same: They are available to prevent dangers, as Hezekiah's Senacheribs Army: Available to remove dangers entred,Iam. 5. 16. as the prayers of Moses and Aaron stayed the Plague; therefore when God was not purposed to grant a thing, he bade his Servants that they should not pray; as Jeremiah, Ier. 7. 16.Pray not for this people; yea protested, that though Noah, Job, and Daniel should pray, Ezek. 14. 14.yet he would not hear them; he is a Father, merciful,Matth. 7. 11. gracious, full of pity and compassion: If earthly fathers can give good things unto their children asking them, how much more will the Lord unto his? He cannot deny the prayers of his own children, endited by his Spirit, and offered in the Name of the Lord Jesus, who sitteth at his right hand; yea, he heareth not onelyonly the eloquent and large prayers of his Servants,Isa. 38. 14. but even their stuttings, as Hezekiahs; and when there is no voyce,1 Sam. 1. 13. but sighs and groans, as Hannahs, and Jonahs in the Whales belly:Ionah 1. 2. For prayer is the labor of the Spirit and Heart; and God delights in such prayers, though he will have the voyce when it can be, and looks that men should pour out their hearts and wants at large, yet he will accept of such prayers as come from the sincerity of upright hearts.
But every kinde of prayer will not pierce the clouds,What prayers prevail with God. and come into Gods presence, and prevail with him, but such as are according to his own will; prayers made in understanding, not like those of the Papists in an unknown tongue, or those amongst our selves which use the Creed and ten Commandments as prayers, or theirs which mark not what they say, whose Prayers are meer bablings; Prayers also in sincerity, Prayers in faith, knowing that we are reconciled unto God through Christ, Prayers in repentance, in love, fervent Prayers, continued Prayers, with fasting, not prescribing the Lord either the time, means, or maner of our deliverance; See Psal. 145. 18. Jer. 29. 13. John 5. 15. Mark 11. 24. Psalm 66. 18. Proverbs 28. 9. 2 Tim. 2. 19. John 9. 31. Isa. 58. 9. 1 Timothy 2. 8. Isa. 1. 15. Psalm 51. Daniel 9. James 5. 16. Luke 18. 1. Romans 12. 12. This hath been the strength and defence of this Land, and if it were not for Prayer, and the remnant of the righteous, that cry to God night and day both publikely and privately, and stand in the gap to avert his indignation, we could not but have looked for some heavy judgement on this Land ere now, the iniquities thereof do so fearfully abound, and that in every corner, such as are the contempt of his Word, Sacraments and Servants, horrible Blasphemies, Sabbath-breaking, and the like; yea, which of us having prayed aright, have not had experience of the truth hereof, even that God hath many a time, and in many particulars, given ear unto our desires,Psal. 73. 25. and granted our poor Prayers? There is none that can hear or help but he, and its his honor to right the cause of his poor Saints and Servants.How it may appear that God hears their prayers readily. This his readiness to hear their prayers, appears diversly, as that 1. He makes a way for them by his sons blood to come to him, which else they durst not. 2. He gives us his Spirit, to work faith in us, and to wash us clean, and to embolden us to call him Father,Rom. 8. 26. and to pray aright, who knew not how to pray of our selves; Its a sign that he hath a minde to hear us,Hos. 14. 3. who puts a Supplication into our mouthes.Prov. 50. 15. 3. He commands us,Matth. 7. 7. and sets us on work so to do. 4. He hath also promised for our better encouragement to hear us, and grant our requests.
Obj. Psal. 22. 1.But have not Gods Servants, with David, complained that the Lord hath not heard them?Why the Lord hears not nor grants not sometimes the prayers of his children.
A. True, But not in respect of any unwillingness in him, but sometimes because they pray not aright, or that they pray the more carefully, or to try whether they will continue, or break off by and by (as our Savior did by the woman of Canaan) or for that he would have us set the more short by it,Matth. 15. 23. when we have it, and be the more thankful, and use it the better, else soon gotten, and soon forgotten, lightly come, and lightly gone; sometimes also because the time is not yet fit.Simil. A Childe would have the milk, though but newly come scalding off the fire: The unruly Patient would have the Plaister taken off, as soon as it begins to smart; such are we, but God will hear and help in the due, in the best time: Sometimes the Lord grants not at all what his righteous servants crave, Why? because he cannot, or is not willing, nay, because its not good for us; as if a childe should ask a knife of his Father, he would deny it: If for matters of soul, as deliverance from temptations, the Lord answereth not our petitions,2 Cor. 12. 9. he yet gives strength to resist them (as to the Apostle Paul) which is far better; for its no mastery to have no temptations, but to overcome temptations, and to have no hurt thereby: If for outward things, craving freedom from crosses, sicknesses, loss, &c. the Lord doth not free them, but gives them some Spiritual grace, profitable for their souls,Simile. this is far better then that they asked. If one should ask silver, and have the weight in gold given him, what wrong were done him? So if one in stead of health and long life here should soon dye, yet to be translated into Heaven, and there to live for ever; sometimes we ask a greater measure of outward things then the Lord grants, but yet gives us a contented minde, and assurance of eternal riches in Heaven; either then he grants the thing we desire, or gives us a better in its stead, and so not break promise with us.
1. This sets out Gods wonderful goodness and mercy,Use 1. that will vouchsafe to stoop, to look so low, as to look to such poor unworthy Creatures as we are, what are we? dust and ashes, sinful men and women; and what is he? The infinite immortal God, the Lord of the whole World, most holy and most pure: This comes by the means of our Lord Jesus Christ, in whom we are accepted.
2. This is a singular comfort to the righteous,Use 2, that God hath not left us in this world of trouble, without any means to help our selves; No: he hath left a mean in our hands, to help us in whatsoever distress; he sets us on work to pray, and hath promised to hear and help. Hereunto hath God annexed his promises, neither is there any case, wherein prayer cannot help us: O this is a wonderful encouragement to us in all times, & in all necessities! If by prayer we fly unto God, theres remedy; If we need any grace (as we do continually) God upon our asking hath promised to give it: The like may be said of patience, meekness, humility, a tender heart, and the like; O that we should be so often wanting unto our selves! how much grace, and how much good have we lost for want of asking? God hath infinite store, neither is he loath to part therewith, he hath it to bestow, and its his glory to bestow it: He hath made the way, offers to teach us to pray, and promiseth to hear us, and yet what dulness is in us? how seldom pray we? Many of us can go out in the morning without prayer, neither have recourse unto God all the day long: He is more forward to give, then we to ask, and yet who hath the benefit? not he, but our selves; we shut out our selves, when God hath opened the door; we know not what we have lost, when we have lost a prayer, when we have neglected it upon every trifling occasion: We feel not our wants, we prize not grace, we consider not the worth and excellency of prayer. We trade to the Indies, and other dangerous places for gain, and that with great hazard; there's no hazard to Heaven, send but out a well prepared prayer, it never returns empty: If we be in sickness, we rest too much on the means, and too little in prayer: so for our callings, as also for deliverances out of dangers, we make friends, but pray not at all.
3. Be we hereupon stirred up to be more frequent in this duty,Use 3. and to make more account of it, for Grace, for Wisdom, for help in danger, for a Blessing in any thing we go about, what other means soever we use, let prayer be one, let not that be left out: This can do as much, much more then any other, onelyonly keep our prayers in good tune, as horses be kept in breath: If we thus do, we shall assuredly obtain, onelyonly we must wait Gods good leisure; if we obtain not that we pray for, we shall have better in the stead of it: If we finde them granted, we must,Dan. 2. 20. with Daniel and his fellows, return praises; yea, besides our own prayers, we should have a stock going in sundry godly friends hands, to get their prayers for us always, but especially when we are in extremity: If any thing in the world help, its this; But need we go seeking to Saints departed?Simil. If the King should call us to him, and encourage us by promises, were it not folly in us to seek up and down for a Nobleman to help us to speech with him?
4. This setteth forth the difference between the righteous and the wicked:Use 4. Those are dear to God, his Favorites, near, great in the Court of Heaven:Pro. 15. 8, 29. These he cannot away with, their persons are odious,Psal. 14 4. and so is their service; they either pray not at all, which is usual with prophane wretches, or pray without understanding, as Papists and ignorant persons, who do not minde what they pray (and how should God minde their prayers, if they do not minde them themselves?)Isa. 29. 13. or come in hypocrisie, their hearts being in the mean time far from God;Iohn 9. 31. or come in their sins, and so God abhors them, for he hears no sinners; or never come but in their misery, and that neither out of love to God,Hos. 7. 14. or hatred of sin, but fear of punishment, or delay the time so long,See Prov. 1. 24. that its too late ere they come, as Esau, and the five foolish Virgins: These be Rebels, they live at staves end with God, stand out, and will not come in to the pardon; How should God hear them? nay, their prayers (if they make any) are abomination: Whatsoever befals the wicked (as evil enough may befal them every day) yet they have no help; What shall they do in their misery? They may murmure and rage against God, bear out for a while by head and shoulders, as it were, or lie like blocks and languish, or run to Endor to the Devil for help, but God they have none to go to, nor prayer that will be accepted, whatsoever become of them.
Contrarily the righteous cannot be miserable,Gods wrath and the fruits thereof are always bent against the wicked. as long as he can pray; put him down into a Dungeon, and chain him by the neck to the ground, yet as long as he can pray, he is happy, and shall have comfort, and that deliverance which shall be best for him: He hath Gods promise for the same, and that will not fail him.
But the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.] The point is this, That Gods wrath and the fruits thereof are continually bent against the wicked that live in their sins, Levit. 20. 3. and 26. 14. Numb. 11. 1. and 22. 22. Deut. 28. 5. and 32. 21. Josh. 7. 13. Isa. 42. 24, 25. and 57. 17. Jer. 5 9. Ezek. 14. 8. Zech. 7. 13. Luke 14. 21. John 3. 36. Col. 3. 16. 1 Thess. 4. 6. To these Testimonies divers examples might be added, as of the Angels cast out of Heaven, the old world drowned, Sodom and Gomorah burned, Corah, Dathan and Abiram swallowed up quick, the houses of Jeroboam, Baasha, Ahab rooted out, &c. so of Gods judgements upon the bloody Emperors, Nero, Domitian, Julian, &c. so of Gods judgements upon the persecutors of his children, largely laid down in the Book of the Martyrs; so of Gods judgements daily inflicted on several sorts of sinners, which are as it were real sermons, and justifications of Gods Word and our preaching,1 Cor. 10. 6. and are for our admonition, and of especial use to us: This must needs be so, for sin is against his nature,Reasons. against his commandment, yea, it were against his nature,See Psal. 9. 8, 16. to let the wicked go unpunished, and he is as much known and glorified in his justice, as in his mercy: He that teacheth and commandeth Magistrates to reward well-doers, and not to bear the Sword in vain,Rom. 13. 3. but to draw it out against the wicked, will not suffer his own Sword to rust in the Scabbard.
Obj. Many notable wicked men go on in their sins, and be not plagued.
A. True,Why the wiced are not always plagued here. God keeps but his petty-Sessions as it were, here in this world, bringing now and then some few unto judgement, and reserves multitudes to that dreadful day, wherein it shall be rendred to them according to their works. Again, if he plague them not outwardly, yet are they plagued with a worse judgement; He gives them up to the blindeness of their mindes and hardness of their hearts, and will of the Devil, which is the most fearful thing that can be, and at the day of Judgement he will avenge them all at once, when he shall come in flaming fire to this purpose,2 Thess. 1. 8, 9. who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power.
1. This may terrifie and awaken all those, which (as if there were no God,Use 1. or no God which did regard or were able to revenge himself on them) make a trade of sinning; whil'st they are thus, the wrath of God is upon them, and he sets his face against them, and how can they then prosper? he hath throughout all ages found out and plagued others for their wickedness, and do they think to escape? The mightiest and proudest hath fallen before his wrathful vengeance, and are they priviledged? It were their wisdom to send forth messengers of peace, and to humble themselves in time, least he tear them in pieces, when there's none to deliver them; they should fear and be wise by other folks harms: But O the monstrousnes of the times, and hardness of mens hearts! that seeing their companions plagued before their eyes, yet run on in the same excess of riot. And for those that are as Lyons and Foxes, subtile, and shifting by unlawful courses, though haply they may think to get up and wax mighty, yet assuredly, God will set his face against them, as he daily doth against Oppressors, Couseners, Shifters, Covetous and Troublesome persons: Then shall the Lambs be quiet, when those Lyons are killed; the godly be refreshed, when they shall be rid of their cruel oppressors.
2. This may perswade us to avoid the ways of the ungodly;Use 2. though they seem pleasing for a while, yet are they most dangerous: Be advised in time, especially you yong ones, that are now to choose your way: walk not in the way of the wicked, for believe it, you may else peradventure repent thereof (as others) when it will be too late.