Exposition Upon 1 Peter, Biblical exegesis · Chapter 1 · Verse 11
Verse 11. Searching what or what maner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signifie, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.
SEarching what or what maner of time] They took great pains to know Christ, & would gladly have learnd that he should have come in their days, so they should have had a clearer Revelation; yea seen him whom they so much longed for and loved.Luke 2. 25. Simeon waited for the Consolation of Israel, Luke 10. 24.as many Prophets and Kings desired to see and hear thereof; and this was lawful,We must endeavor to know what's profitable to be known. unless God had enjoyned the contrary: If then we know a thing to be good and profitable to be known, we must refuse no pains in searching it out, but Study, Meditate, Pray, Confer, Read, &c.Prov. 2. 3, 4. We must call for Wisdom, and cry for Understanding; we must seek and search for her, as for silver: The Word is like a Noble man, that one must make some suit, and use some means to come unto; with which being once acquainted, wherein can it not pleasure us? when we have sued to it by pains, it will be beneficial unto us indeed: whereas prophane Books (easily enough attained unto) usually work much mischief; many of us read much of the Scriptures, but take no notice whether we understand the same or not, or take no pains to come to knowledge: to be inquisitive of the meaning of this or that place of Scripture,Use. were profitable when Christians meet together, whether Ministers or others,The prophets searched into this great mystery, through the direction of the Spirit. or both.
As they desired to see Christs first, so should we long for his second coming.
The Spirit of Christ which was in them] See how they sought into this matter, not of their own heads, but by the guidance and direction of the Spirit; and that 1. Because it was a matter so high and above their reach, as in which they could know nothing without the help of the Spirit. 2. To avoid curiosity, searching no further then God should see good to reveal unto them.
This teacheth us,Use 1. that when we search into any point of Doctrine, or to know any thing, we must not go to work by our own head or wit (for that were Pride and the way to Error) but by the help of the Spirit; and therefore no further then the Spirit shall guide us: this we do, if we keep our selves to the written Word of God; for Gods Spirit teacheth us according to the Word, and no otherwise.
This condemneth the frenzy conceits of the Anabaptists,Use 2. which boast of Revelations of the Spirit; counting whatsoever comes in their head, and they conceive (though contrary to the Scriptures) to be a Revelation, which is wicked; for the Word and Spirit cannot be divorced, either the one contrary to the other: We must hold us to the written word, searching thereinto according to sobriety, proceeding no further then it, and there staying where it stayeth.
This is also contrary to the Papists,Use 3. that will have their humane Traditions and unwritten Verities, whereby upon the point they overthrow the Scriptures.Gods Spirit the Author of the Old Testament. Again, in that the Spirit of Christ was in the Prophets when they prophesied, see the authority of the Old Testament; the Spirit of God is the Author of it, therefore is it to be highly esteemed as the New,2 Pet. 1. 21. and all questions are to stand and fall by the sentence thereof.
Read,Use. believe and obey it, and be out of all doubt of it, without ifs and ands: As the Papists most wickedly would have the authority of the Scriptures, to depend upon the testimony of the Church; and because they say its Scripture, therefore they believe it, and otherwise would not; they would give no more credit to Pauls Epistles, then to Esops Fables, if the Church did not give testimony thereof, which is a blasphemous Opinion: The Scripture is above the Church, and that whereon its grounded, and hath no greater testimony then from it self: we testifie that God is the true God from all Idols, and Christ from all false Christs; do they therefore depend upon our testimony? and are we above them? Though the Church discerneth the Word or Scriptures from false writings, and therefore rejecteth a great many of Epistles and Gospels, of Bartholomew, Thomas, Thaddeus, as adulterous; yet this proves not that they depend on the Churches testimony.Simile. A Kings Letters come to a City, the Officers thereof, by the stile, sign, or some other thing whereunto they are accustomed, accept of them, yield to them, and testifie that they are not false or counterfeit; are they therefore above the King or his Letters?A proof of the Divinity of the Holy Ghost.
Further, here is a testimony of the Divinity of the third Person; for the whole Scripture is given by inspiration from God,2 Tim. 3. 16. and here its said,The sufferings of Christ foretold in the old Testament. it was by the Spirit; and who could foretel things so long before but God? confer Acts 1. 16. with 4. 25.
When it testified beforehand of the sufferings of Christ] Namely, That he was to suffer for us,Luke 24. 26. and so to enter into his glory: This we finde in the Old Testament both plainly expressed, and under types and figures; as of Isaacs offering, the Brazen Serpent, the Paschal Lamb, Jonas, &c.
This serves to answer all prophane Infidels,Use. … that scoff at Christians because they believe in a crucified God, for so do they contemptuously speak of Christ.
A. He suffered what was necessary for the Savior of the world to suffer,Phil. 2. 8, 9. and what the Scripture foretold he should suffer; and though he suffered and was abased, yet he overcame it, and entred into glory: Had not these things been foretold, they might have been offended at his dejected estate,Luke 24. 21. for so were the Disciples notwithstanding, but being foretold, they are not; yea if he had not suffered for us, we had been yet in our sins, yet under the curse, as if he had suffered, and had not conquered and entred into glory, we had been never the better.
It was needful that Christ should suffer for us,Why it was needful that Christ should suffer for us. for we by Adams fall were plunged into sin, and so in danger of the curse of God, and lyable unto all wrath here and hereafter; This Gods justice could not suffer him to remit, but the death threatned must be paid: To this end our Savior became man, and suffering all that was due to us, thereby discharged us: He was arraigned before an earthly Judge, that we might never be brought to our answer before the heavenly; accused, that we might be cleared; condemned, that we might be acquitted before God; counted among vile sinners, that we might be reckoned among the Angels; spitted on, that we which had deserved that God should for ever have spitted on our face shame and confusion, might be received into favor; did undergo the curse, that we might be blessed; dyed, that we might live, &c. then this, there was no other way whereby we could have been discharged. See Isa. 53. 1 Pet. 1. 19. & 2. 24. 1 Iohn 1. 7. Rev. 1. 5. Hence perceive,
1. The depth of our misery.Use 1.
2. The unspeakable love of God,Use 2. and Christ Jesus.
3. Comfort to all that have their part in Christ,Use 3. all their sins and punishments are discharged, crosses and death are now become blessings, no punishments of sin; whoso do not by Faith take hold on him, must suffer for their own sins, and that for ever.
4. That as we are to hate sin with a deadly hatred,Use 4. so must we testifie our love to him that hath redeemed us at so high a price; Numbers will talk of Christ, that he dyed for their sins, which yet are so far from being humbled to repentance hereby, and to turn from sin to God, as that they seem rather emboldened and heartened to run on in sin,1 Cor. 15. 14, 17. and sin more freely; such vile wretches crucifie Christ again, neither shall have any benefit by his death.
And the glory that should follow.] It was necessary that he should have overcome, else had his death been in vain.
Hereof there were three degrees,Three degrees of our Saviors victory. 1. His resurrection. 2. His ascension. 3. That he shall one day come into judgement, & bring all his servants into his glory;Iohn 14. 3. and 17. 24. whereunto may be annexed the consequents of each.
But how shall we come to glory?Through afflictions we also must come into glory. even by the same way that our Head, our Lord and Master hath gone before us, namely, by sufferings; for through many afflictions we must enter into the Kingdom of God,Act. 14. 22. and God will have the Members made conformable to the Head.Rom. 8. 17. It followeth hereupon,
1. That afflictions or persecutions are no ill sign,2 Tim. 2. 12. but rather of the way to Heaven and glory;1 Pet. 5. 10. it should encourage us to suffer,Heb. 12. 3. seeing glory follows,Use 1. and a great reward ensues thereupon.
2. That those which will suffer no affliction nor persecution for Christ and the Gospel,Mat. 5. 12. but shifting themselves therefrom,Acts 5. 41. aym at the glory of the World,Use 2. are not in the way to glory, but shame hereafter will be their portion.