Exposition Upon 1 Peter, Biblical exegesis · Chapter 1 · Verse 3
Verse. 3. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy, hath begotten us again unto a lively hope, by the Resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.
NOw followeth the substance of the Epistle,The sum and substance of the whole Epistle. consisting of Doctrine and Exhortation: Doctrine to the thirteenth Verse; Exhortations in the Verses following. The Exhortations are to continue constant in the profession of the Gospel of Christ, and to stick close to that Salvation purchased by Christ, and revealed therein; and that they would lead an holy and and godly life, answerable to this profession and Gospel, both in their general and particular callings; yea now in their present troubles, and notwithstanding any other they might meer with hereafter. Now this being a very weighty building, therefore he had need lay a foundation fitting for the same, and so he doth, which is this, namely, The singular benefits that we receive by Jesus Christ his Death and Resurrection, viz. Assurance of Salvation, Hope, Joy, Peace, &c. and at last everlasting life in the Kingdom of Heaven; all which are revealed and wrought in us by the Gospel, which is no new Doctrine, but that which of old was revealed to all the Prophets, though now more clearly and fully manifested. Therefore seeing God hath done so great things for us by Christ Jesus, and these things are revealed in the Gospel, which is very ancient, good reason they should cleave to Christ, and be carried after no other way of Salvation, accordingly walking worthy of the benefits they have both already reaped hereby, and may further hereafter. The Doctrine setteth forth the great benefit that we reap by Jesus Christ; namely, That we are begot to a lively hope of Salvation, and of being partakers of such an inheritance, as is without comparison, which is every way set forth, according to its excellency; where we have, 1. The benefit, That we are begotten to a lively hope: 2. The moving cause, The abundant mercy of God: 3. The means whereby, namely, The Resurrection of Jesus Christ: 5. The end, That we may partake of Salvation, which he calls an Inheritance, and describes it by several properties.
Blessed be God] For the maner of speech,Gods blessing man. we read of three kindes of blessing in Scripture:Eph. 1. 3. 1. God blesseth man, when he bestoweth upon him his favors and good things,Mans blessing man. earthly and heavenly: 2. Man blesseth man, and that either ordinarily when he prayeth to God to bless him (Thus Moses is appointed to bid Aaron bless the people;Num. 6. 23. and the form of prayer is set down;Mat. 5. 44. Thus Parents bless their children; and we are to bless them that curse us) or extraordinarily, when by the Spirit of Prophecie the Prophets of God have not onelyonly prayed to God for a blessing on their posterity, but have pronounced a blessing upon them, foretelling what their state should be in time to come. As Isaac blessed Iacob and Esau, Gen. 27. 28. and 49. 3.Iacob also his Sons, and Moses the twelve Tribes at his death:Deut. 33. 1, 2, &c. 3. Man blesseth God, when he ascribeth that honor, praise and thanksgiving which is due to him for his Mercy, Wisdom,Mans blessing God. Justice, Truth; not when we give him any thing he hath not (that cannot be) but when we ascribe and give that to him which is most justly due to him already. Thus understand we the phrase here, as elswhere often.
For the matter, Being to repeat the great benefits that come to us by Jesus Christ, he doth it not barely, but begins with praise and thanksgiving for the same, Blessed be God, &c. saith he, as if he should have said, For these unspeakable and great benefits bestowed on us unworthy ones, Oh my soul, Spirit, and all that is in me, come forth to render thanks to God; Teaching us, That
When we speak, or have any occasion to think (as we ought often to speak and think) of Gods mercies,Gods mercies to be thought on and spoken of with admiration. especially his special mercies that concern our Salvation, we should do it with admiration, and setting forth his praise. Thus both David and Paul: Even his outward benefits ought to stir us up unto thankfulness; how much more ought we to be stirred up for spiritual favors and deliverances from the bondage and thraldom of Sin.Psal. 103. 1, 2. Satan and Hell;Eph. 10. 3. how can we do any less?1 Tim. 1. 17. All creatures,Psal. 107. 1, 2. Sun, Moon, Fouls, praise God in their kinde, and yet they have onelyonly been created; what we then that have been redeemed when we were lost?
They that have felt their bondage, and finde themselves delivered, cannot but break out into his praise. Indeed, the common sort that have those things but in their brain onelyonly, and never had the feeling of the one or of the other, they can speak of these things but faintly, and from the teeth outward, and not from the heart as others; but for any to boast of great matters done for them, and yet shew no whit that they be ravished with love to God, neither breaking out into his praises in words, nor shewing it in their lives, they do certainly lye and deceive their own souls,Psal. 116. 10. for they that have had experience of the sowre and of the sweet cannot but speak.See Luke 1. 46. 47. I believed, therefore have I spoken, 2 Cor. 4. 13.saith David. Impossible it is for any man to think of his Election, Redemption, Calling, &c. And not be ravished therewith; It's our duty then to stir up our selves often, and from time to time, by the deep meditation of Gods special Mercies, which, as it will shake off dulness, so will it much revive us to duty.
And Father of our Lord Jesus Christ] Mark, that he cannot speak of God,Rom. 15. 5, 13, 33. but with some token of reverence and title of his. Thus, as he is elswhere stiled,2 Cor. 1. 3. The God of Hope, the God of Peace, the God of Patience and Consolation,1 Tim. 1. 17. the King everlasting; so is he here, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. We must not think or speak of God but with reverence.His practise must be our patren, we must never think or speak of the holy and blessed name of God, but with all high reverence, his greatness compared with our baseness might induce us hereunto.
This condemneth as well the Blasphemy of Swearers,Use. as the unreverent takers of Gods Name in vain, after what maner soever.
He is termed,Why God is termed the Father of our Lord Iesus Christ. the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, not only nor so much in respect of his Manhood, viz. that he took the lump whereof his humanity was framed, which was of the substance of the Virgin, and first Sanctified and freed the same from all stain or blemish of Original corruption, and actually United it from the first conception thereof to the Godhead and second person, and so framed the humanity of Christ of this substance, and infused into him a reasonable soul; but especially in respect of his Godhead, by an unspeakable communicating of the whole essence of the Father to him before all worlds, which mystery though we cannot fully understand, we must believe and adore.
Here he is stiled, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ (as formerly he was wont to be called, and known by the name of the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, to distinguish him from all false gods) whereby he sheweth himself more cleerly to us, and the way how we should get into his favor, namely, by his son, there being no other way whereby our persons or service can please God.
If therefore we would obtain any thing at Gods hands,Use. we must not come barely to the Father, as for forgiveness of sins, mercy or any thing else, but with respect of his son Jesus Christ, by whom only he is and will be merciful unto us.
Speak we something of his three titles,Gods Son why termed Iesus
1. Jesus a Savior, so called by an Angel from Heaven ere he was born,Mat. 1. 21. for that he was to save his people from their sins: who is an absolute and sufficient Savior,Act. 4. 12. yea the only Savior, neither is there, was there, or shall there be any other.
2. Christ anointed to be our King,Christ Priest and Prophet, through whom we are made Kings,Reu. 1. 6. Priests and Prophets. If so, 1. Where be our sacrifices of our selves, of Prayer and Praise, Morning and Evening in our Families; a Priest must not be without sacrifice. 2. As Prophets do we teach our Families, do we instruct and examine them? 3. As Kings do we master our affections? If we be led Captive of our frowardness, worldliness, and the like, what Kings are we? Look to it.
3. Our Lord. Our Lord.He is our Lord every way;1 Pet. 1. 19. by purchase and by conquest;Col. 2. 15. He bought us with his precious blood, He also conquered all the Enemies that held us captive,Heb. 2. 14. Sin, Satan, Death, and so delivered us. If any great man would by money ransom,1 Cor. 15. 26. or by his sword rescue out of his Enemies hands any captive, he were his Lord; so is Christ our Lord either way. Whence ariseth,
1. Comfort to all that know themselves redeemed by him,Use 1. that he will never lose that which he hath so dearly bought, and taken such pains with every way, to come into the world, to die for us, then so to work, as we may come to the knowledge of it by his Word and Spirit; Whereby Faith and Sanctification are wrought in us.
2. Instruction,Use 2. its our duty to submit our selves to him as our Liegelord,Psal. 2. 12. to be his loyal people; we must kiss the son, take up his yoke: He hath paid full dearly for our service and love;Mat. 11. 29. his we are, being now no more our own. There are too too many that yet do not so cleave to this Lord and his Word,1 Cor. 6. 19. but that they suffer other things, other Lords to carry them away. Many could be content to have Christ their Savior, but they will not have him their Lord and King, to rule in them and over them;Psal. 2. 3. Let us break their bands asunder (say they) and cast away their cords from us: Psal. 12. 4.And again, Who is Lord over us? Let such to their terror consider that fearful sentence passed against them (But those mine Enemies that would not that I should reign over them, Luke 19. 27.bring hither, and slay them before me) They are counted Gods Enemies, and adjudged to be slain before his face;Psal. 2. 9. Yea, he will break them with a red of iron, and dash them in pieces like a potters vessel: Others will let him be their Lord as far as they please, and in what they list, as if they would appoint their work themselves (as some coy servants) which the Lord will not indure:Mat. 11. 29. Well, let us bring our hearts to yield unto him as our Lord, else we shall never have Salvation by him: There's no refreshing by him, unless we take up his yoke, both must go together; they that will not willingly stoop to him, he will be their Lord and King in despight of them, and that to their confusion.
Now for the afflicted conscience that travels for mercy and pardon, and desires after Christ more then all the world, dost thou as earnestly desire him to be thy Lord and King; and art thou willing to take up his yoke, and that he shall rule and reign in thee, and none else, and that in all things; be of good comfort, thou art one of those whom Christ will save.
Which according to his abundant mercy, &c.] Now we are to observe, 1. The benefit bestowed for which he blessed God, namely, For begetting us again unto a lively hope. 2. The moving cause, His mercy, nay abundant mercy. 3. The means whereby, The Resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead; of which as they lie in order.
Hath begotten us again unto a lively hope] This is the benefit,What means here by hope. God hath begot them again to the hope of Salvation, for so he means; for by hope is not strictly meant that grace of hope which proceeds from Faith, which is that whereby we wait patiently for that which by Faith we believe, but its here meant of both faith and hope, even assurance of Salvation; Hereunto (saith he) they were begot again.
Whence note, That
We have not the assurance of Salvation of our selves by nature,Assurance of Salvation comes not by nature. or by our first begetting; no, by nature we are the children of wrath, enemies to God, dead in sins and trespasses, having no hope, and without God in the world:Eph. 2. 12. Nay, to have Faith and hope of Salvation, is the onelyonly work of God, as our Savior unto Peter upon his confession of him,Math. 16. 17. Flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my father which is in Heaven: So may we affirm about this particular. See to this purpose Joh. 6. 29.1 Pet. 1. 7. Acts 16. 14. Eph. 2. 8. Phil. 1. 29. Heb. 12. 2. The titles given unto Faith shew as much,Tit. 1. 1. as precious Faith, the Faith of Gods elect,Iude 20. most holy Faith; have we any such thing in our selves?
The means whereby he works this Faith,The means whereby God works Faith. are, 1. The outward Ministery of the Word. 2. The inward working of Gods Spirit preparing us by the Law;Rom. 10. 17. then working it by the promises of the Gospel: Father,2 Cor. 4. 13. Son, and Holy Ghost work Faith.
God that brings light out of darkness made all of nothing,Eph. 6. 23. and raiseth up the dead to life, he only works Faith in us, and puts life into these dead hearts of ours; its a great work of God that we can do nothing toward it. To be humbled truly in the sight of our sins, is a great work hardly brought to pass; yet this no part of Faith, but a preparation: Then when we see them, its a great work of God that we are not swallowed up of desperation, but that God upholds and works by the Gospel longing after mercy, and so by degrees gives power to apply it; many that long seek and cannot lay hold, or having, yet quickly let go, finde faith a great work of God.
What shall we say then to the hope thats so common in the world,Use. 1. almost at every hand? Go through a Parish, and you shall finde few but hope to do well, to be saved, making no doubt of it, having no fears, asking no questions about it; yea, thank God they have been of this perswasion ever since they can remember. Surely this is but a false hope, a presumptuous conceit of their own heads, without ground or bottom in Gods word, an illusion wherewith the Devil seeks to undo them, getting them to bear themselves fair in hand, that they might not be troubled till wrath overtake them without help; yea, it may appear they are not begotten again to it, for being asked, how long it hath been thus with them; they thank God they have ever been of a good belief: and they have no ground for it, but because God's a merciful God, &c. not considering that God is as Just as Merciful, and that his justice must first be satisfied, ere he can shew any mercy. Besides, they cannot say it hath been wrought, as God worketh Faith in his, viz. First, he humbles and brings to the Gates of Hell, and then lifts up; this is not with them: They also cannot say nor remember when it was wrought, nor how they came by it, nor that it hath been otherwise with them at any time. Besides,Act. 15. 9. true Faith purifieth the heart, and he that hath it purgeth himself as he is pure,1 Ioh. 3. 3. which is not in them, but they abide in their sins; at least in the love of some, and have no Faith for outward things▪ but use unconscionable shifts:Rom. 5. 5. Therefore whereas true hope makes not ashamed, but in the needful time and great day will make men lift up their heads with joy; this will be like Aegypt, a deceitful and broken Reed, to lay them under feet that do trust to it: Contrarily, know we that Faith and Hope are not so easily gotten; they must be wrought from Heaven, herein both Father, Son and Holy Ghost must joyn: therefore wofully do they deceive themselves, that trust to any blinde conceit in stead of the true work of God; as they do desperately that put off Conversion and Faith till the latter end, as if they had them at command; we must in time labor for this true work of grace.
But if any can prove themselves begotten truly to this hope,Use 2. they have great cause of thanksgiving, whereinto the Apostle here breaks out; Oh what a thing is it, not only to give his only Son to the death for us, but to reveal it to us in his word, and thereby to assure us that we have our part in the same, and we poor sinners may come to know our sins forgiven, and that we shall be saved: Oh unspeakable favor I What is like this? Or what can make a man miserable that hath this? prize we this as a Jewel, nourish we it by all good means, especially by keeping a good Conscience; rejoyce in it, as being of more worth then all the world: let not a few wants or afflictions daunt us, or take away this joy. It's a fault in Christians that they will be heavy if they want something they would have: Oh! Is it not enough that God loves thee? Again, a little cross casts us down and quells us, as if we had nothing to comfort us; Oh, no earthly thing should daunt us, while we know this: He that said, I could be content to lie as a fire-block in Hell till the day of Judgement, so I might be sure to be saved then, would have been glad of assurance in this life though with many crosses.
If any have not yet this hope,Use 3. let them give no rest to themselves till they have attained it; there's no peace without it▪ Sin lieth at the door, See B. Halls Heaven upon Earth cap. 4. and 6.a wounded conscience will arrest us, though we may still it for a season; pacifie it we cannot, till our sin be taken away and forgiven: Assuredly their estate is most dangerous which neither have it nor seek after it.
A lively hope] so called,Why termed a lively hope. not only for that it is the hope of life, but because it doth exceedingly cheer and comfort the heart of him that hath is, and puts more life into him then any other thing can do. Herein it is opposed against all other vain hopes of the world, in outward and transitory things, which yield no sound contentment to them that have their part deepest in them. Herein also from the forged hope of Salvation, that the world fain to themselves, which also hath no life in it, no heartning in it: But true Faith and hope do exceedingly revive the heart which before was dead without any true comfort,See Mat. 9. …. yea being stung by the Law,Psal. 4. 7 and 51. 7. 8. and so full of terror and discomfort, joy and gladness comes from perswasion of pardon. Neither comforts this only in prosperity,See Psal. 112, 7. 8. when the world can be merry, but even in adversity and trouble, when they be dismaid, and dead, as it were, on the nest; Through this they can even in Prison with Paul and Silas sing Psalms,Acts 16. 25. as through this the Martyrs endured the fire; Daniel and the Three Children went cheerfully to suffer: This also makes a Christian lively to serve God,Psal. 51. 15. and in every duty to praise him, as David, Open thou my lips, saith he (namely with assurance of thy love) and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise: So to do good to others, as being fitted to teach them as well the way of Gods justice against sin,ibid. 13. as the way of his mercy to them that repent; yea hereby we shall be fit to every good duty,Psal. 119. 32: I will run the way of thy commandments when thou shalt enlarge mine heart, namely, by the perswasion of thy love, and by thy Spirit and the hope of Salvation.
Its a fault in Christians,Use. that they be no more cheerful in this hope, but lumpish and soon daunted in afflictions; a fault I say, that we are no more active and lightsom in Gods business.
Let every one then labor for it; till this we are not alive, our soul never prospers, nor sees good day: This, even this, is the beginning of life, and the first step to eternal life. Would any man live, and be cheerful, and see good days, and have that which might keep him from being daunted in adversity, persecution, death at the day of Judgement, let him by all means get this: Without this, mens hopes are vain; their stout courage will fail them in those times when God shall frown. Its Faith onelyonly, which will carry a man through all things: Hereby he shall have a heart to serve God, yea, both do and suffer the greatest things for him and his sake.
According to his abundant mercy] The moving cause of this benefit of our calling to Faith and hope,Gods free favor the cause of all our good. is Gods mercy, nay, hit abundant mercy. The cause of all the good that ever came to us, or ever shall come, is no other but onelyonly free favor: Why did he elect us before the world,Eph. 1. 4, 5. but onelyonly of his undeserved love, According to the good pleasure of his own will? not for works we had done (it was before the world) not for any we were like to do, as who do none, till he work them in us.Rom. 5. 10. So also, Why redeemed he us, when we were all fallen into condemnation? even for his meer mercy; was there any thing in us could deserve it,Iam. 1. 18. when we were utterly unable to do any good, nay, when his utter enemies? why also hath he called us? Did we, or could we do any thing before our calling to deserve it? We were not onelyonly unable to think a good thought, but serving the Devil with all our power, walking in our lusts, after the Prince that ruleth in the children of disobedience.Eph. 2. 2. &c. See our case in Ezek. 16. both in respect of our Parents, sinners, and our selves, or any thing we can do: Nay, to cut the throat of all conceit of any merit less or more, before or alter,Man could not be saved without abundant mercy. he saith, His abundant mercy: So that a little mercy, such as is in man, or some reasonable store, as in Angels, would not serve the turn, nor was sufficient to save us, or move the Lord to call us to this hope, but an abundant deal of the mercy of God, which is infinite.
Was it a small matter that moved God to chuse thee to Salvation,Use 1. rather then thousands of others? or was it a small mercy to give us his onelyonly Son, to save and deliver us by suffering all the wrath due to us? What, Not his Servant, nor his Friend, but his Son, his only begotten Son, the wisdom of the Father, the Image of the invisible God, the engraven form of his Person, to stoop so low as to become man! nay in that base estate to be despised of men, to be hated, spitted upon, mockt, shamefully Crucified, and he that knew no sin, to stand in the stead of most vile sinners, and so to be dealt with, and that for us no friends, but enemies; no good persons, but vile and wretched ones? Was a little love enough to bring this to pass?Ioh. 3. 16. Oh no, but a love without measure, without example, never such another, even that any Father gave his only begotten Son to save traitors and enemies.
It was wonder that the Father did not rather suffer all mankinde to perish,Use 2. then to give his only most blessed Son to suffer the least of these indignites. And it was no small love of Iesus Christ that moved him to leave the glory of the Father, and stoop to the estate of a man, and all his infirmities save sin, and to endure all these tortures of men, and his Fathers wrath especially? It was no small love that made him give us his heart-blood; when he shed a few tears for Lazarus, the Jews said,Ioh. 11. 35, 36 Behold how he loved him, but having shed his blood for us, what may we say?
So also is it a small measure of mercy to call us to the hope of Salvation from our wretched estate, when we went on in sin, and minded no good,See Eph. 2. …. nay all evil? It must needs be a great deal of mercy to move God to think well to us,Tit. 3. 5. when we went on madly in our sins, and did fight against him: so also to forgive so many and horrible offences as we had committed; no marvel though David craved the multitude of Gods mercies:Psal. …1. 1. If they were not infinite our sins could not be forgiven, for our sins come as neer infinite as number can make them; then to cloath such wretches with the righteousness of his Son; then to forget and forgive all that is past, and take us into favor, and make us here heirs of all his promises and priviledges, and of life eternal hereafter, who will not admire it? Is not this abundant mercy to work this hope in us, whom he might have justly condemned; and when he might also have been glorified in our condemnation, as he was in Pharoahs Plagues? So also to adopt us for his children, men adopt that have none of their own; God had a natural beloved Son,Eph. 1. 5. men adopt their kinsmen; God us, nothing of his kin, yea his enemies;1 Ioh. 3. 1. men adopt for some good quality, we had no such thing to move God: was it not a great deal of mercy that moved God to call Paul that ran a persecuting of him in his members, to forgive Mary Magdalen, Manasses? &c. So every one of us, What were we when God called us? Must not we say, that it was abundant mercy that ever we were called, forgiven and saved?
They that have had their part in this abundant mercy,Use 3. must be stirred up to abundant thanksgiving,Psal. 116. 12. saying with the Psalmist, What shall I render to the Lord for all his benefits towards me? We must testifie our love in …ealous obedience all the days of our life,Tit. 2. 14. shewing forth the vertues of him that hath called us out of darkness into his marvellous light, and be a peculiar people to him, zealous of good works, walking worthy of the Lord,Col. 1. 10. which is by pleasing him in all things; we must be ravished with zeal towards him, as he hath been for our good;2 King 19. 31. The zeal of the Lord of Hostes hath done it. Oh how this rebuketh the scant duty that God hath from us again! We receive abundant mercy, but return poor sparing obedience; what slender zeal in Prayer, or works of mercy? How quickly are we weary of well-doing? What small things will we stick at to God, that stuck at nothing to us? If he should call us to part with our Goods, Country, Liberty, it were no more then Christ did for us, yea if to dye, did not he even dye for us?
It teacheth us also to shew mercy one to another,Use 4. in giving, forgiving,Mat. 5. 45. and the like;Luke 6. 36. herein the Lord himself going before us as a patern of imitation.
It sheweth also the miserableness of our estate,Use. 5. that without abundant mercy we can never be saved; therefore must we seek for it earnestly and betimes, as becometh those that need such an infinite thing, which condemns the notable carelesness, and desperate boldness and presumption of the World, that put off seeking for mercy till the latter end, as if they had it at command: But do they think abundant mercy is so easily gotten?Heb. 12. 17. Many have not found it so, nay they shall, with Esau, howl for the blessing and go without it, because they despised it,Mat. 25. 12. when it was so often offered: The foolish Virgins sought to enter in when it was too late.
By the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead] The means whereby we are begotten to this hope,The means whereby we are begotten to this hope. namely, the Spirits assuring that Christ Jesus is risen for us, and giving us power through his resurrection to rise to newness of life.1 Cor. 15. 3. &c.
The benefits that come to us by Christs resurrection are many;Benefits arising from Christs resurrection. 1. We are hereby assured, that he hath fully paid our debt and discharged all; for if one sin had remained unsatisfied for, the justice of God could not have suffered him to have risen again.Rom. 4. 25. 2. Hereby we receive power to rise to newness of life.ib. 8. 33, 34. 3. Hereby we are assured of the resurrection of our bodies at the last day:1 Cor. 15. 17. The same power that did the one, shall be able to do the other; The head being risen will draw all the members after it.
We should therefore often meditate on our Saviour Christs resurrection,Use. and the benefits thereof, especially on the Lords-day, the day whereon he rose again; by which very day we are put in minde thereof: and among other things, we must labor by Faith to draw vertue from his resurrection, whereby we may be more and more enabled to walk in newness of life: for as our Regeneration hath two parts, a dying unto sin, and rising to newness of life, so have these two springs, Christs death, and his resurrection.