Exposition Upon 1 Peter, Biblical exegesis · Chapter 1 · Verse 1
Verse 1. Peter, an Apostle of Jesus Christ, to the Strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bythinia. Ver. 2. Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit unto obedience, and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you and Peace be multiplied.
THese verses contain the Preface,The sum and parts of the Preface. in which two things; 1. An Inscription. 2. The Salutation. In the former we have a description, 1. Of the person writing, and that both by his Name, Peter, and by his Office, An Apostle of Jesus Christ. 2. Of the parties to whom he doth write, and that both by their outward state to the World-ward, viz. Strangers scattered up and down in strange Countreys, namely, Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bythinia; and by their estate to God-ward, viz. Parties belonging to salvation, which he sets forth by the causes thereof and degrees, namely, 1. Their Election. 2. Sanctification. 3. Redemption by the obedience of Christ Jesus, which shewed it self in his shedding his blood for them. In the latter, a brief but pithy Prayer to God for his favor, as the fountain from whence all happiness was to be bestowed, yea multiplied upon them.
Peter] Three Names are given unto this our Apostle in Scripture:The several Names of this our Apostle. 1. Simeon of Simon, that he had at his Circumcision. 2. Cephas, by interpretation a Stone,Acts 15. 14. which our Saviour Christ gave him at his calling, thereby signifying what he meant to do for him,Iohn 1. 42. namely, to make him a stout defender of the Faith, on the behalf whereof (though he was born of Parents of small note) he proved one of notable courage: This is in the Chaldee or Syriack tongue. 3. Peter, which in Greek is all one with the former,2 Pet. 1. 1. so that these two Names were in effect but one: In his second Epistle he names himself Simon Peter.
Here learn,
1. Christs kindeness to Peter, in giving him a Name to assure him of some grace which he would bestow upon him: Though we cannot do so,What Names Parents are to give to their Children. yet it behoves us to give our Children such names as may edifie them, and put them in minde of some good thing; either to imitate some good man or woman whose Name they bear, or else to follow some good that the Name puts them in minde of.
2. In that he puts his Name to his Epistle, he shews his godliness and innocency,Such as set forth Books ought to set their Names thereto. which makes him bold, for Truth may be blamed, but cannot be shamed: Contrary to many Hereticks, and false Apostles and Teachers, the Devils disciples, which pen Books stuffed with Errors, either under the Names of the Apostles, that so they may the sooner beguile and get credit to their Lyes; or else without Names, lest being found out by their Names, they should suffer, and be brought to punishment for their Errors; or their infamous Names being seen in the forefront of their Book, should cause any judicious and honest Reader with indignation to cast it away. The Apostle, I say, contrariwise having the sound and holy Oracles of God from Heaven to deliver unto them, puts to his Name. There are many worthy Works,Why some worthy men have not done thus. I confess, which have no Names put to them (those especially which were written in the times of Persecution) whereof the Authors, howsoever desirous to spread the Truth of God hated and persecuted, hereby notwithstanding shunned the hands of cruel tyrants. This is not for any fault in the matter, but only avoiding danger in speaking of the truth. This is no disgrace to them, but to their times, and their enemies; for men need not cast themselves into peril till God call them.
This condemns the vile practice of the wicked,Use. which hide themselves in the dark, and in corners, lewdness not abiding the light: We must do nothing, but that we dare put our hands to it, and our Names. We must do as the Angel did that rolled away the stone, and sate upon it when he had done, as if he should have said, Let me see who will control that which I have done. We must do so, as we may bid our Adversary write a Book against us for any gross or unlawful thing we have done and stand in. Alas! what a folly is this, you flee mens eyes, but can you flee the eyes of the Almighty? And if you cannot abide mens censure, how shall you be able to stand before the Judgement seat of Almighty God, who is a consuming fire?
An Apostle of Jesus Christ] The word is general,Wherein the Apostles differed from all other Ministers and signifieth one sent; but here (as elswhere often) it is taken specially for one, and the principal sort of Ministers, differing from all others in these particulars: 1. They were immediately called by Christ own mouth, and sent abroad: Many were called by him for Disciples, and out of those he chose his Twelve Apostles. 2. They had a larger measure of the Spirit then others, so that they could not erre in their writings. 3. They had also a larger Commission,Mat. 28. 19. Go ye (saith our Savior) and Teach all Nations: They were to preach to all the world; but this Calling is ceased. This notwithstanding it hath communion with all other sorts of Ministers that they were called and sent: No man (saith the Apostle) takes this honor to him, Heb. 5. 4.but he that is called of God, as was Aaron; and so were also the Prophets.
There are two things required in a Minister:Two things required in a Minister. 1. That he be lawfully called: and 2. That being in, he discharge his duty faithfully.
Touching a Ministers Calling,He must have an inward calling: and it must be both inward and outward: 1. He must have an inward Calling from God; which appears 1. By an aptness and competency of Gifts to teach and edifie the Church of God. 2. By a willing minde to employ the same, seeking not his own advantage and ease, but the glory of God: This makes the Minister. As when God calls a King, he gives him the heart of a King: So if he appoint a man to be a father of Souls, he fits him for it.An outward. 2. He must have an outward Calling from the Church and those that are in place to alow and disalow Ministers, whose approbation they must have, which is not to make them, but to approve of them for their further comfort, that they may more boldly go forward.
The Brownists call us Bishops-Ministers,Use. because they call us to this Office, but they do but alow and approve whom God hath made.
Both must necessarily concur, the one go along with the other: He that wants the inward, though he have the outward, is not a true Minister of God (yet his actions are not to be esteemed nullities and void) and he that in ordinary times having the inward wants the outward,Perk. Treatise of Callings. goes not to work humbly as he ought.
Well did Peter declare himself an Apostle, one sent from God, a Messenger, who was to deal faithfully in his Message; For he publisheth not here his own Inventions, Poets Fables, Heathen Stories, Philosophers Conceits,1 Pet. 4. 11. or mens Devices and Opinions, but the holy Oracles of God from Heaven. So must every Minister of God speak as the words of God; What is the Chaff to the Wheat, either ones Opinion to establish anothers Conscience?
But why doth he call himself by this great Name of his Office, and put this high stile before his Epistle?Why he nameth his Apostleship. Not for vain ostentation, or for his own sake, but for the peoples good, even to procure with them the more authority to that which he was to write; for who should dare to refuse that which comes from the Lord Jesus, the eternal Son of God, the Light of the world, the Savior and Judge thereof? Nay, who should not with all high reverence submit himself thereunto? So did the Prophets begin, The word of the Lord, Thus saith the Lord, whereby they set their peoples faith on work to look to God, and not to men.
Hence let the Ministers of God learn to procure what credit and authority to their Ministery they can,Use. signifying often, that it is Gods will, thereby drawing their peoples mindes upward from the instrument. They must deliver such soundness of Doctrine, as may be food it self, not froth, which accordingly they must deliver in a grave and religious maner; adding thereunto, as Prayer, so also a godly life, and all little enough, considering the prophaneness of our hearts, that so little regard what we hear, yea hear without preparation or reverence, being of us no sooner gone then forgotten.
But how dares he call himself an Apostle,Q. that had deserved by his most shameful threefold denial of his Master, to be utterly discarded of his Office; and utterly cast away for ever?
By the grace of God he doth this,A. by Faith apprehending the mercy of God towards him; and he doth it to publish his grace and favor, who had upon his true Humiliation and Repentance not only forgiven his sin, and received him to mercy, but restored him to his Office again.Mark 16. 7. Go your way (said the Angel unto the Women) tell his Disciples, and Peter, that he goeth before you into Galilee: And afterward our Savior by a threefold Commission restored him to his Office,Iohn 21. 15, 16, 17. from which by his threefold Denial he had shut himself.
Hence note, That
Repentance will wipe away our sins,Repentance wipeth away our sins. and make them as if they had never been, Joel 2. 12, 13, 14. Mic. 7. 18, 19. 1 Joh. 1. 9. which
1. Shews Gods unspeakable mercy towards penitent Sinners.Use 1.
2. Is a matter of endless comfort to us,Use 2. which through our corruption fail and sin daily. As verily as we be unfeignedly humbled with desire of forgiveness, and not to sin, so verily may we believe our selves pardoned;Mat. 6. 12. for which accordingly we are enjoyned daily to pray; yea if we have been overtaken more foully for want of watchfulness, yet let us not despair as Cain, or run from God as Judas, which is worst of all, but address our selves to come with a heavy and bleeding heart to God,2 Sam. 12. 13. with whom there is mercy. David having confessed his sin, Nathan said unto him, The Lord also hath put away thy sin, 1 Ioh. 2. 2.thou shalt not dye. Unto every penitent soul his Son will be a propitiation for their sins.Luke 15. 20. As the prodigal was embraced of his father, so will our heavenly father receive us, if we return unto him.
3. May be a most effectual means to humble such as have run on in their sins,Use 3. without humiliation, that at the length they may take this course;Ier. 3. 22. Return ye backsliding Children (saith the Lord) and I will heal your backslidings: See to this purpose Hos. 14. 1, 2.
Oh,Ob. but I have been thus and thus bad, will some say.
No matter what thou hast been,Sol. so now thou with thy whole heart turnest to God, and neither art now, nor hereafter intendest to be as heretofore. Time past shall not be remembred.
Oh,Ob. but I have committed many great sins.
It's not that shall stand between God and thee,Sol. if thou be truly humbled, Gods mercy and the merit of Christ is as well able to take away and heal great as small offences.Ezra 9. 6. Though our Iniquities be encreased over our heads, and our Trespass grown up unto the Heavens, yet if with Ezra we be truly humbled,ibid. 10. 2. there's assured hope of pardon.
To the Strangers, &c.] Though haply there might be some Gentiles amongst these, yet it is more probable that they were most Jews, which were principally his charge,Gal. 2. 7. as the Gentiles the Apostle Pauls.
They are called Strangers,Why called Strangers. not as all Christians be, while they be here on Earth,Psal. 119. 19. absent from their heavenly Countrey and Inheritance (for so are we Strangers in our own Countrey, Towns and Houses) but Strangers, as being in a strange Countery, forced by persecution to leave their own and fly into another, which might be either through the Wars and Troubles which were raised in their own Countrey, or by the persecution raised in Jerusalem about the death of Steven.
Here see,
1. That sundry of the Jews received our Saviour Christ and believed in him,Though the body of the Iews did not receive Christ, yet there were among them sundry believers. and were soundly converted, though the body of them did not (for he came unto his own, and his own received him not) those made a good progress in the course of Christianity, who were contented (even with the loss of their liberties) to undergo such dangers as might befall them in a strange Land,Ioh. 1. 11. onelyonly that they might keep faith and a good conscience.
2. The estate of the Church of God here on Earth,Gods Church here on earth is under persecution. namely, to be under persecution; In the world (saith our Saviour) ye shall have tribulation. Always there hath been enmity between the seed of the woman and the seed of the Serpent.Ioh. 16. 33. Thus was it when the Church was but in one Family, in one Countrey, one Nation. The world having Power, Authority, Wealth, is full of malice against the poor Church, so that were it not that God Almighty defends it, it could not endure; It's as a Sheep amongst wolves, or a Ship among the waves. Though God will exercise it to keep it from errors, and corruptions, which it is subject unto through much prosperity and peace; though it have need of some peace to gather it self,Act. 9. 31. yet if't be long in peace it gathers mud as standing waters, rust as the ploughshare in the hedge, yea settles it self on the lees, therefore God pours it out from Vessel to Vessel. Ever mark, after long prosperity grew pride, and thereupon errors and corruptions, which like a canker brought destruction. Contrarily, the Church never shines so gloriously as either in, or presently after persecution; Then life, zeal, sincerity, heavenly-mindedness, and such like graces appear in their true lustre.
It followeth,
1. That as we are not to conclude for a company,Use. 1. because they have so much peace, that therefore they are beloved of God; so must not we against any, because they be few in number, and outwardly despised and slighted.1 King. 18. 19. Four hundred false Prophets were maintained by Jezabel, whereas Micaiah the onelyonly true Prophet of the Lord was put in Prison; Jeremiah and Baruch were the true servants of the Lord, whom whole multitudes of proud men and false Prophets resisted.
2. That we are to prepare our selves for persecution,Use. 2. especially having had so long a time of peace. To this end we must resolve to part with all for Christs sake, and for his Cause and Religion. Thus did these Jews, thus the holy Martyrs; and great reason: For what would it advantage us,Mat. 5. 12. if we should gain the whole world, in the mean time losing our souls by denying Christ.Iam. 1. 12. On the contrary, If we forsake any thing for Christ here,Mat. 10. 39. we shall have a Crown of everlasting glory, Great is our reward in Heaven. But how far are most of us from any such matter; many are destitute of knowledge, and how can they suffer? Many have no love to the truth, but are carnal and prophane persons, which never could yet be wrought upon by the word to embrace it, or be ruled by it, that will not leave their vile lusts for it, and how shall these leave their goods and liberties! Nay, that which is most to be lamented, how few professors be like to stand to it, many are more likely a great deal to flinch! Alas, what poor faith is in most; especially how are most given over to the world, being too eager and earnest for these things, neglecting good duties, and slubbering them over for the worlds sake; How wil these forsake it altogether, and leave Houses and Lands, when they will not lay aside their businesses for an hour or two to hear the word, or a quarter of an hour for prayer in their Families? O let's therefore labor, as for good store of Faith, so to come to a contempt of this world; In the mean time, use we it moderately and in his place, denying our selves by little and little, else we shall never come to it all at once; but for our livings sake shall be subject to fall from God, and renounce our Religion, a fearful state.
3. The lawfulness of flying in time of persecution:The lawfulness of flying in the time of persecution. The Jews here did it, to save themselves from danger: It's lawful for a Minister or any other tyed by calling, either when persecution is onelyonly or chiefly intended against him, or having consent for a time to go aside, seeing it to be best for the rest: It's lawful for any, either when God makes a way for them that seems to call them thereto (whereunto if they should not yield, we are to think they have some extraordinary motion of the Spirit of God to the contrary, as it's written of some of the Martyrs) or finde themselves as yet not strong enough to endure their rage; Those, I say, may slie to be reserved as a seed to propagate the Church afterward.
Throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bythynia.] The places whereunto they fled for habor, were Regions and Countreys in Asia the less, where there were then famous Churches.
Note hence,
1. The large extent of the Church of God in the time of the New Testament,The large extent of the Church under the New Testament. that whereas before it was kept within the pale of Judea, in the New, since our Saviours ascension, it's dispersed over all Nations far and wide, from the Sun-rising to its going down; that it might be fulfilled which God spake to Abraham, that in his seed all the Nations of the world should be blessed.Gen. 12. 3.
But what's become of those Churches of Asia now?Quest.
They are all (lamentable to be spoken) under the tyranny of the Enemy of God and Christ Jesus,Ans. the Turk; They are now no Churches, but Synagogues of Satan, cages of unclean birds; so are also the Churches to whom Saint John wrote in his Revelation; Be we not therefore high minded, Rom. 11. 21.but fear; for if God hath not spared the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not us; yea considering our luke-warmness, unthankfulness, contempt of the Word, and such other our crying sins, we have cause to fear the like judgement.
2. The singular diligence and care of this holy Apostle,The Apostles diligence and care in his charge. over the charge committed to him: Not onelyonly did he preach to them, being present with them, but wrote also being absent, being in persecution, and scattered throughout strange Countreys; he encourageth them unto constancy, and that they should not faint under their troubles; of such helps there is great need in such cases, and at such times. He was careful, not onelyonly to gain them to God and the Faith, but to hold them fast,See Act. 14. 22 that as they were begotten, so they might be nourished up in the faith; as they were converted, so he was careful to confirm them, this being no less necessary then that: For Non minor est virtus, quam quarere, parta tueri. having offended, but again put in trust with the sheep, he is now careful of his Commission,Use. which is set down for the example of all Ministers, even as we love Christ, so will we, must we, feed his sheep and lambs. We must labor by all diligence and faithfulness to convert and build up, yea in times of sickness or any affliction, when Satan waits to tempt them, and they be weak, we are to come and strengthen them, we are to shoar them up, that they reel not, to comfort them that they despair not: But how do they perform this duty, that never come at their charges, seldom or never preach, put it off to another, though never so unfit? how also they, that either preach not, or but unprofitably, which come not to a poor or mean mans house upon any occasion? How shall they be able to answer the great Shepherd of the sheep, when they shall be called to an account? See Heb. 13. 17.
Elect, &c.] Here he describes them by their inward estate to Godward. I will not here handle the common place of Election, I have done it at large, and I reserve such things to Catechizing; onelyonly now of such things as are necessarily occasioned by the text: whereof this may be one, That
God hath chosen out some men to salvation,God hath chosen some to salvation. as he did of the Angels, which are called the Elect Angels. Before the world, he Ordained and decreed some persons to obtain salvation,1 Tim. 5. 21. even the vessels of mercy, Rom. 9. 23.which he had afore prepared unto glory; See to this purpose Acts 13. 48. Eph. 1. 4. 1 Thess. 5. 9.
This must needs be so,Reason. for whatsoever falls out in the world, universally or particularly, God in his eternal and unchangeable decree Ordained the same. And if wise men do not (especially) great things, whereof they have not before deliberated, much lels doth God.
Let us hold fast this truth inviolable,Use. according to the Scriptures, casting away all carnal conceits of cruelty or the like in the Lord, and with the Apostle Paul, Rom. 11. 33.what we cannot understand, learn we to adore and admire.
Q. But how could the Apostle know they were Elect, may one know the Election of another?
A. For our own we may,How we may know the Election of others. as we shall hear by an by; for others we may also, though not with the same knowledge and judgement of certainty, because the heart of man is known to none but to God only, and a man may go far who yet may fall away; but with the judgement of charity, which hath degrees according to the fruits we see in them, if they only profess Religion, and be in the Church, we may hope, but it is but weak hope where we see no fruits; where we see some good likelihoods of religion, some good beginnings, we may more strongly be perswaded; for to such a man may say, If these things be in you, in truth you are the very Elect of God: Now when we see the fruits of faith, sanctification and godliness in men, and that they shew it not by fits, but constantly; not in some things, but in all; not in prosperity onelyonly, but in adversity too, in persecution, and under the Cross, we may the more, yea very boldly judge of them as the Elect of God; and so doth out Apostle here, as appears by the next words, Unto Sanctification of the Spirit: He saw good signs of Sanctification in them, and that they suffered persecution for Religions sake, therefore he so hoped of them, he so stiles them.
We should not onelyonly labor to have sound testimonies to our selves of our Election and Salvation,Christians must so live, as that even others may be perswaded that they belong to God. but so live, as we may get a good and full testimony thereof in the conscience and minde of the Church and Brethren with whom we live; For a good name in the Church is a precious thing, and much to be desired: The voice of the Church is the voice of God.Heb. 11. 2. We are so to live, that whatsoever befalls us, as to die suddenly or strangely, or to have great and extraordinary afflictions while we live, our lives notwithstanding may have spoken so well for us, as we may have good report while we live, and when we be dead;See Pro. 10. 6. So have many poor godly ones in Scripture, and in our times, when great and mighty ones that have been wicked, their names be rotten, and so not at all, or else stinking, and so as a dunghil or puddle, which the more it is stirred, the more it stinketh: They therefore that live vilely in their lusts, bring an ill name upon themselves, who can judge they are Elect, or shall be saved? yea many be desperate, they care not what men say, as bad a sign as can be; such also as walk hollowly, and by halfs, in some things well, and in some other taking such liberty as will not stand with Christianity or a good conscience; These cause that the Church of God cannot conceive so well, nor give so full a testimony of them as were to be desired, but are forced to speak doubtfully. Oh let us so walk, that by sincerity and constancy in godly courses, we my get a large and full testimony in the conscience of those we live withal: It's a Crown and Garland to us whiles we live, and a confirmation to us, that we deceive not our selves; It's an honor when we die, as the contrary, even to be accounted vile, a fearful punishment; yea it's a comfort and crown, to our Wives, Children, Friends, and a provocation to them to follow our steps whom they hear so well spoken of.
According to the foreknowledge of God] God in his foreknowledge and eternal decree hath (as ye heard) appointed some to Salvation.See Mat. 25. 34
Q. Why did God before all worlds thus decree of men?Why God decreed to save some.
Ans. Of his own will,Rom. 9. 16. which is the first and highest cause; It's not in him that willeth, Eph. 1. 5.nor in him that runneth, but in God that sheweth mercy. Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children, by Jesus Christ to himself, Rom. 9. 2.according to the good pleasure of his will: He hath power over us, as the Potter over the clay. As he did not therefore chuse some, because he foresaw they would receive grace, so neither is foreseen infidelity the cause why God refuseth any, but because he would; for though he neither hateth nor casteth away any but for their sin, yet this was not the cause of the Lords decree, but his own will, which is that which maketh any thing just and good. Our will indeed being so corrupt, must not be a reason of our actions, but in God his is, whose will maketh a thing good, and not because a thing is good, therefore he willeth it. Beyond this will of his we must not enquire, but in humility lay our hand upon our mouth, and admire the depth of his wisdom, and be content to stay for further knowledge of these things in the world to come: In the mean time sit we down quietly, believing what God hath revealed in his Word.
It followeth,
1. That if any can prove his election,Use 1. he must stand and admire at the unsearchableness of Gods free mercy, that he should think upon him a poor worm before the beginning of the world, and one that should be of the common stock of Adam, a sinfull wretch; think of him I say, to choose him to life passing by so many. Oh how should this ravish our hearts, and inflame us with love!
2. That if any be rejected,Use 2. they must not complain of cruelty in God, for that they are rejected; Is the clay to say to the Potter, why hast thou made me thus?Rom. 9. 20. Beside, thou art not condemned but for the just deserts and sins which thou hast committed against God; all that can be said, is this, He gives not his grace to them, as he doth to his elect, whereof who shall complain? God is bound to none.
Unto the Sanctification of the Spirit] The end why we were elected,The ends why we were Elected. is, 1. In respect of God his glory. 2. In respect of our selves, our Salvation, which we come unto by Santificaction,See Eph. 1. 4 which is the end of our Redemption.1 Thess. 4. 3. 7. All that were elected, in time he brings into the world;Luke 1. 74, 75. we come in enemies to God, children of wrath, polluted; but he lets us have the word,Tit. 2. 14. whereby he effectually calleth us to faith and repentance;Sanctification the end of our Redemption. and so purgeth and washeth us by his word outwardly; and his spirit inwardly, whereby our nature is cleansed from the love of all sin,Rom. 8. 30. and made pure in Gods fight, and we enabled to dye to sin, and live righteously.
Hereby may every one examine and prove whether he be elect or no,Use. 1. (viz.) Not by climbing to the top at first, and flying unto the unsearchable counsels of God (the way to dazle and confound us) but by the lowest step, our Sanctification.
Here's also comfort to them that can prove their Sanctification in truth,Use. 2. though imperfectly: There's no condemnation to them, an infallible mark of their election; which may the more soundly comfort them, because it is unchangeable as God is, so that all the Devils in Hell shall never be able to prevail against their Salvation, which is a Bulwark and Castle against all temptations. Once the childe of God and ever so, onelyonly labor to walk worthy of this love, and grow in sanctification, that we may have the more plentiful and strong argument of our election past, and glory to come.
Here's also terror to those that walk after the flesh,Use 3. and the lusts thereof, that lie yet in their sins; they need not make a question about their election, they may know that as yet they have no mark of it; such rather carry a mark of reprobation about them.
Break off your sins therefore,Use 4. and turn to God; who would not leave any sin that would hinder assurance of Salvation? and who would not do any duty that might assure him thereof? Let this be a strong and sharp spur to move us to Repentance; and be not desperately careless, saying, If I be elected I shall be saved let me do as I will; and if I be rejected, let me do never so well, I shall be damned. These are flat lies; use thou in humility the ways and means to attain faith and sanctification, that thou mayst be assured of thine election, else if thou wilt desperately justle against God, see who will go by the worst.
Yea,Use 5. not only the prophane bear a brand of reprobation, but even those that have some shew of holiness, such as like H…rod, hear gladly, and amend many things; or such as like the Pharisees, make clean the outside of the platter, the inside being full of filthiness, such as have a shew of godliness, yet by some sins deny the power of it; or such holiness as stands in Ceremony, the substance being neglected. These kindes of holiness are no marks of Election; therefore do not we content our selves with these, but labor for true inward and sincere sanctification,Christs obedience and sufferings the meritorious cause of our salv…tion. which is in the heart, in one thing as in another, in trouble as well as in prosperity.
Unto obedience, and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ] The meritorious cause of our salvation is Christs obedience and sufferings; and his obedience was chiefly in the offering up of himself: for though the Father had Elected us to salvation,Rom. 5. 19. and made us happy in Adam, yet we wrought our own overthrow by sin,Phil. 2. 8. and so deserved the curse of God here and for ever. The only way then to deliver us from this, and to save us, was by the Lord Jesus, God and man, who suffered all the wrath that was due to us for our sins, and so discharged us. To appease this wrath there was in our selves no power; no means else in the world would serve, even the Angels were unable to help us herein. This hath Christ done for us, and that fully, the dignity of his person being such, that he is both God and M…n in one person. Of this the blood of the lamb sprinkled on the Israelites houses was a sign, all Sacrifices tended hereunto, our Sacraments point thereat; all Scripture layeth our Salvation in the Cross,Rev. 1. 5. Blood and Sufferings of Christ.
Here see,
1. An admirable mixture of Justice and Mercy,Use 1. so that God is not all mercy, as the world imagines: Therefore, for prophane impenitent ones, they shall bear the just wrath of God themselves, and not by every late forced, Lord have mercy, have God at command as they imagine: For if Christ was feign to suffer, and the Father would not be intreated, notwithstanding his strong cries, but when he stood as our Surety, laid on load and spared him not at all, shall his prophane enemies think to escape as they list?
2. Gods infinite mercy to mankinde,Use 2. to appoint a way to save some of them, whereas no Angel that fell shall be saved.
3. It sets out the depth of our misery;Use 3. therefore they that are still in it have no small piece of work to bring to pass.
4. It teacheth us how to esteem of sin,Use 4. as being of that weight, that nothing but the blood of Christ will satisfie for it.
5. Its sets out the infinite and unspeakable love of God,Use 5. to give us his Son, and of Christ to give himself, seeing no less means would serve; Who can sufficiently either admire or express the same?
6. Here's matter of endless consolation to all troubled sinners,Use 6. when Satan and the terrors of Conscience shall pursue them, to flie to Christ Jesus and his sufferings. This is their Castle, their quietus est▪ send Satan to thy Surety, all is fully discharged in his death: But this is only for humble bleeding sinners, that turn to God with all their hearts; but as for proud persons that live still in their lusts, what have these to do to talk of Christs death? yet have these it in readiness, Christ hath died for us; What, for such prophane ones as make his death a packhorse, and lay on more load, which is to crucifie Christ again? No, let these know, they shall bear the burthen of their own sins; but let the true penitent be of good comfort, and know, that all his sins (how great soever) be done away: Neither let such think, that their afflictions are any part of the punishment of sin, for it is all done away once in Christ, and therefore shall not again be demanded of them; but they are loving chastisements to humble them for their sins past, and prevent others for the time to come; both furthering their Salvation.
7. For all that know they have their part in Christs death,Use 7. how should this work with them! 1. For sin past, it should vex and grieve our hearts, for we were the Crucifiers of Christ; Judas, the Soldiers and Jews but our Servants, whom our sins set on work: It's our great fault, that we can think of our sins without being humbled, shall Christ shed tears of blood for our sins, and we not be troubled for our own? 2. This should make us hate sin for ever, being as it were the knife and spear that killed Christ; what father could ever love that knife that should kill his childe? 3. How should this inflame our hearts with love to him again, and carry us on in a zealous care of obedience all our days? our woful coldness in Christs cause and service deserves to be rebuked. Alas, how little will we do for his sake; we ought to be ready to leave Goods, Liberty and Life for him; we should herein but do as he hath done for us, yea who began thus to do for us, when we were even his enemies! How much more any other thing! And may not this stop the mouths of all prophane persons, which will be talking, they hope to be saved by Christ, when they shew no love nor thankfulness to him, but live yet in their sins to anger him.
8. An exclusion of all feigned and false satisfactions of mens own devising,Use 8. whereof the Church of Rome is full, which would strike in for a part with the merit of Christs death, which makes a great stir about the Cross, when in the mean time they make void its efficacy.
Sprinkling, &c.] By this word he alludeth to the sacrifices of the Law, which all pointed at the sacrifice of Christ; and to shew, that as it had been nothing that a sacrifice had been killed, unless the blood thereof had been sprinkled upon the people (for so was the maner) so it avails us nothing that Christ died,Gal. 2. 20. unless his blood be sprinkled on us by the hand of a true faith,Christs death is particularly to be apprehended by Faith. applying Christ Jesus to our Consciences. Its not Christ that saves, but Christs death apprehended by a true and lively faith, for a particular perswasion hereof are we to labor.
Here also in this verse is an excellent proof of the holy Trinity,A proof of the holy Trinity. three persons and one God, which is so to be worshipped; all that do otherwise worship an Idol, and not the true God.
Again observe, That
Election is attributed to the Father,Election the work of the whole Trinity Redemption to the Son, Sanctification to the Holy Ghost. It's not but that they be the common works of the whole Trinity, as all the works of God towards the Creatures are,Iude 1. in which respect Sanctification is also attributed to the Father; but because of their immediate working. The Father elected in the Son, and by the Holy Ghost, Father, Son and Holy Ghost elected. The Son is the immediate worker of our Redemption, he shed his blood, as the Holy Ghost the immediate worker of Sanctification.
Grace unto you and Peace be multiplied.] The usual salutation of the Jews, asking the favor of God as the root and peace, that is, all happiness, as that which flows from thence, for so by peace the Jews meant, Peace be with you, Peace be to this house, &c.
Hence note,
1. That we should seek the favor of God,Why Gods favor is to be sought. as that which draweth on other things, yea all things, for in love is no lack; Men may have other things without this, but they will have an ill farewel, as they that have possession, but no right title to that which they possess.
2. What a Minister should chiefly desire for his people;Ministers must labor that their People maybe brought into Gods favor. even that they may be brought into Gods favor by Christ, have their sins forgiven, Christ made theirs, and they assured thereof, with so much prosperity as may stand with happiness; So Husbands and Wives each for other; So also Parents for their Children: The favor and grace of God is the principal and root of all good. Men may have abundance of outward things, but if they flow not from Gods love they will have a hard farewel.Psal. 30. 5. This brings sufficiency, In his favor is life: yea this were sufficient if it came alone, but in Gods love is no want of any thing needful; worldlings indeed do greatly seek after wealth for their children, and rejoyce to see them wealthy and healthy, though in the mean time they see in them no true tokens of Gods favor, but alas what are these! It should more glad us to see an humble, godly heart, turned from sin and embracing righteousness, though sickly and poor, then to flow in all the wealth of the world, and be ungracious, and to come home in a Gold chain, or to hear that our childe were like Joseph, the second man in the Kingdom, without grace: But men do for their children as for themselves, labor more for goods then grace. But what shall we say to those Ministers that check their people for forwardness, and seek to discourage them? what also to those Parents, that are so far from desiring grace for their children, as they check and discourage them for their forwardness thereunto? such would like them rather if they saw them jolly as the world;See Pro. 10. 1. Oh a hard part of Parents!
Be multiplied.] He desires not that they be once taken into Gods favor, and his other graces begun in them, but that they be continued, and daily encreased more and more? He was covetous to have his spritual children thrive apace, and grow very rich in grace; Such covetousness,Ministers must labor that their people may grow in grace. even a desire to joyn grace to grace, is both for our selves and others commendable. So should a Minister desire that his people may not be a little better then the worst, but to exceed others by far, that they may answer the time and means; and to this end, as to pray, so to call upon them continually, and they not to think amiss of this, but to rejoyce in it as a special fruit of his Love; so must Parents to their Children: God gives us leave to be covetous in these things, and to joyn grace unto grace,2 Pet. 1. 5. as men do house unto house, so shall we honor him much, for a little grace will go but a little way. Thus shall we benefit our Neighbors much, when our branches spread far, and our lips feed many. Thus shall we have a large Testimony to our selves of our Salvation while we live, and make a wide entrance for our selves into the glorious Kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.2 Pet. 1. 10, 11.