Exposition Upon 1 Peter, Biblical exegesis · Chapter 1 · Verse 7
Verse 7. That the trial of your Faith being much more precious then of Gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise, and honor, and glory, at the appearing of Jesus Christ.
HEre also he qualifieth their troubles from the end of them:A quilification of their troubles. They come not for our hurt, but for our good; Thereby we are no more hurt, then Wheat is by threshing, or Gold by fining, they come for the trial of our Faith, and tried Faith, is better then any tried Gold; For that will perish, and be lost, but this will abide, and come forth to our honor and praise, at the great appearing of Jesus Christ: It may be conceived, as if he had said, The affliction and persecution which you now suffer, bear patiently, as serving for the trial of your Faith, which (how painful soever the tryal thereof may seem for the present) will be found to your praise at the great day. This being so, who should not willingly undergo them? If we take pains and toil our selves to get riches, and so long as we get them, forget our toil; should we not much more be concent to endure some trouble, that our souls may get the true riches?
Now particularly for the trial of our Faith afflictions come, 1. To try whether we have any at all. 2. Whether it be so much as we take it to be. 3. To purge and refine that which we have.
1. To try whether we have any Faith;Affliction tryeth whether we have Faith. as God doth it sometimes by false teachers and heresies, so doth he also by afflictions, wherein many that have not received the love of the truth have been carried away;Iam. 1. 3. 2. whereas others,Deut. 13. 3. though haply of less parts, but more soundness,1 Cor. 11. 19. have resisted and stood to the truth; for there be false Faiths, and our hearts are deceitful, and the Devil is subtile to make as believe we have the right, when we have nothing less. Affliction will prove this,Mat. 4. 16. as in those whom our Savior termeth the stony ground, They went far, yea farther then most in most congregations go, yet had they not that which would serve to Salvation; affliction discovered what they were, that they were not such as before they were taken to be. The Israelites were proved in the wilderness, whose troubles manifested their unbelief;Heb. 3. 19. for which they were both plagued in the wilderness, and shut out of Canaan. Many a one thinks himself a tall man, till he comes into the field with his adversary, where he proves himself a rank coward; many think they can do great matters till they come to it: A Mariner is not tried till a storm, nor a friend till adversity; he that then stick… to one, is a friend indeed: So afflictions have discovered many that have thought but too well of themselves: Many talk that they believe in God, and put all their trust in him, yet when they are visited with sickness, losses, and the like, they run to witches and wizards for help, or in poverty, steal, lye, dissemble, or use any other unlawful courses to help themselves: Many also that in prosperity profess the Gospel very forwardly, when trouble comes fall quite away, are not onelyonly shaken as Peter, or a good man may be on the sudden, or for a while, but fall quite away, when many poor souls, it may be of less gifts, have stood out and suffered.
Seeing then that God will try us by troubles,Use. we should labor to have true Faith against troubles come,How we may1 try our Faith. that we prove not dr…ss: Therefore let us try the Faith which we think we have by the touchstone of Gods Word,Rom. 5. 1. 11. if it will abide that, then will it endure the furnace of affliction.2 Pet. 1. 6, 7. It may be tried, 1. By the maner of Gods working it, even through humiliation. 2. By such companions as go with Faith, or follow it, as peace, joy, and the like; so if we love God most dearly (as they that have much forgiven,Luke 7. 47. love much) if we love his Saints and people most heartily,Cant. 5. 8. if we wonder at and admire his unspeakable mercy to us,1 Ioh. 3. 14. passing by so many thousands of others,Ioh. 14. 22. with one hearts and mouths enlarged,Psal. 103. 1. praising him secretly and openly for the same;1 Thes 5. 14. if we pity, comfort and strengthen others, if we long to go hence where we are absent from God, and to be with him; if we mourn for our sins committed against him,2 Cor. 5. 6. who was kinde to us when we wandred from him,Ier. 31. 18, 19▪ and have an hatred of all evil, with an unfeigned care hereafter in all things to please him,Rom. 5. 8. they are infallible tokens of a sound Faith: Its needful that we should thus try our Faith, as being of that absolute necessity, that by it Christ and Salvation are made ours, without it, no hope of either. In so weighty a thing we had not need to venture without tryal, without it no person or work is pleasing to God, and its the foundation of a good life, and all true comfort therein.
2. To try whether our Faith be as much as we take it to be,Affliction … eth whether our Faith be more or lesse then we take it. or more; this affliction will discover: sometimes we think we have more then we have, as Peter, who notwithstanding his bold and confident protestations to our Savior Christ, shamefully upon the trial denied him. Contrarily, others think they have little Faith, that upon the trial appears more, and shines gloriously, as Jobs and Davids. Who also could have believed that there had been so much in many poor Martyrs, if they had not come to the field and encountred with Tyrants, and their Torments? as who would imagine such sweetness in Spices, till bruised?
We should not be against such afflictions as are sent for this end;Use. for whats more comfortable then to know we have more Faith then we knew of? and what more necessary, then to know that our Faith is weaker then we imagined, that so we may labor to have it strengthned? If it appear weaker, then be we humbled, and distrusting our selves, let us ever fly to God for more grace and strength against temptations, so will God give us as much as shall stand with his glory: but if we trust to our selves, and be slack in seeking to God, then are we like to bewray our own weakness.
3. To purge and purifie that true Faith which we have,Affliction … veth to purifie and encrease Faith. and encrease the same; this also is most necessary: for though a small Faith, being true, will save us, yet the more and purer it is, the better it will carry us to Heaven; and though by a weak Faith and mingled with corrution, we shall see the face of God, and his loving countenance, ye… the cleerer and brighter it is, the more certainly & comfortably shall we see him: As they that have weak eyes, yet see so as they are directed to their ways end,Simile. who if they had cleerer, would be there sooner, and with less danger.
As therefore its requisite to have those gross humors purged th… dim the sight, so those, corruptions that dim the eye of our Faith. Beside, such is our corrupt nature, that much dross and corruption is mingled with the grace of God in us; so as except it be subdued by continual affliction, it will wax wanton against God, and hinder his grace in us.Simile. Standing waters corrupt, and bodies not exercised, are full of gross humors: So would it be with our souls, were we not continually exercised with troubles; as the finest Wheat not fa…ed, will be musty with dust, the finest cloaths catch dust and moths, if not continually brushed; the finest vessels take soil, if not continually scoured: so our Faith not looked to, is quickly overgrown, as the … with weeds, if the husbandman plucks them not out: As far, brush, weeding-hook,Psal. 119. 67. 71. wisp, fornace, are to these things, so afflictions to the children of God. We are as an untamed heifer, if not held under the yoke;Ier. 31. 18. God therefore purgeth, scoureth and weedeth us, that his graces in us may shine in their perfect colours:Simile. As the Vine-dresser shreds his Vine, and cuts off much, which one would think were against the Vine, yet makes it more fruitful, so doth the Lord deal by afflictions with his servants, which are his Vine branches.
Though the outward man decay (by sickness, poverty, disgrace, imprisonment,2 Cor. 4. 16. and the like) yet is the inner man (Faith, Hope, Comfort, &c.) increased daily; for Faith the more its cut, the more it grows; the more its trodden on, the thicker it comes up. And by afflictions there's purged away a great deal of pride, self-love, worldliness, hypocrisie, and the like, which long peace gathers, whereof Jonah had experience when he was cast into the Sea; those tame us also: A man that was conceited against his neighbor for smal causes in prosperity, in sickness and affliction will be glad to take every one by the hand; therefore are the most afflicted, for the most part, fullest of Faith and Grace, and purer then others; and a man is never better then when he is in, or newly come out of affliction.1 Thess. 5. 16. Hence it is, that we are willed to be thankfulfor them,Iam. 1. 2. 12. yea to account it exceeding joy when they come, those being blessed that are so affected.
Being much much more precious, &c.] He sets out tried Faith by comparing it with the most precious mettal we have,2 Pet. 1. 1. even gold, preferring it by far before the same,Faith more precious then gold. which is elswhere termed also precious, and much more precious is it every way. 1. Gold comes out of the earth,Iam. 1. 17. Faith from Heaven, whence every good and perfect gift is. 2. Faith is more rare, termed therefore the Faith of Gods elect,Tit. 1. 1. whereas most, even of the most wicked, are not without gold. 3. Faith cannot be purchased with all the gold in the world. 4. Its hardly gotten and hardly kept, and hath many and strong enemies, our own nature, the world and the devil are all against Faith, but not so against getting of gold. 5. It apprehends Salvation and life eternal, and so is the instrument of our happiness; so is not gold, but the instrument of many a mans damnation, by unconscionable getting, and covetous keeping the same, many cast away their souls. 6. It will comfort a man with true comfort in his life,Iam. 5. 3. carry him strongly through troubles, and boldly through the gates of death. 7. Gold perisheth, here canker and rust consume it; we may be taken from it, as it from us, but Faith endureth till Christs appearing, to our full Redemption, as the fruit thereof for ever.
The uses hereof are,
1. To them that want gold,Use 1. and yet have Faith, know that thou art rich,Iam. 2. 5. richer then he that hath thousands of gold, and hath not Faith; thou hast enough, that hast Faith, it assures thee of eternal life, and entitles them to Christ, yea, hath the promises even of this life. Seest thou a worldly rich man, and wouldst thou change states with him? Oh but both would do well: Thou canst not tell if both would do so with thee; besides, God divides his gifts, they that have much of the one, have less or none of the other; therefore as long as we have of the best kinde, let us think our selves well dealt with.
2. To the rich,Use 2. Rejoyce not that thou art rich, but that thou hast Faith: Again, think all your pains to become you well, and well bestowed in getting this precious Faith. If any should say, What you? such wealthy men; its a disgrace to you to toil so in hearing Sermons, which few do but mean persons; do not these exclude themselves with their own mouthes? But do not rich men travel to London, and to Markets and Fairs to enrich themselves, and take great pains, and is it a shame then or a disgrace for them to travel for that which is much more precious then gold? Hereat if any wonder, tell them, You seek that which is more precious then fined gold; and that you are so far from thinking your selves too good for this, that you highly thank God for vouchsafeng you this favor: yea, that you are so far from thinking that you credit the Gospel, and its beholding to you, that you confess freely, that its your credit; and that if you have any thing in you worth the commendation, you may thank the Gospel for it: for, as for wealth it commends not a man, even reprobates are not without it.
3. To them that have not Faith,Use 3. poor souls, labor after it, that you may be made inwardly rich; seek for it in the means appointed, the preaching of the Word. But O poor & miserable creatures, that regard it not for the most part, but think their poverty here shall serve for all; but worse in the highest degree remaineth behinde, if not prevented in time, could any look into your souls, they might perceive them more empty of grace, then the poorest houses are of provision.
4. To rich men that have toiled for gold,Use 4. seek this that is so much better: Many toil by Sea and land, and undergo no small perils to get gold, and to wax mighty, but as for Faith, they will scarce stir over the threshold for it: But will your gold procure a pardon for your sins? Alas, its no payment with God for any thing, especially sin: Will it shelter when Death and Judgement comes? Alas no, it bears no sway in the other world, see Job 36▪ 18, 19. Prov. 11. 4. Zeph. 1. 18. No, it will not abate your pains in Hell one jot: O once consider your folly, and labor for that whereby you may have comfort when you draw away, and your friends are thinking of a Coffin to bestow you out of the house, and thereafter you may enjoy life everlasting.
May be found unto praise, and honor, and glory.] The farthest end of our affliction that our Faith thereby tryed,Faith will be crowned at the last day. may come forth to our honor at the great day. Tryed Faith is better then any thing that can be set by it,Iames 1. 12. for all else vanisheth, but our Faith will be crowned at the last day:2 Tim. 4. 8. Then will it be said, Well done good and faithful, servant, enter into thy masters joy; Matth. 10. 32.and, Come ye blessed of my Father, &c. They that confess him before men, he will confess them before God, which shall be no small honor:Matth. 19. 28. They which followed him in the regeneration, shall sit upon twelve Thrones, 1 Cor. 6. 2, 3.judging the twelve Tribes of Israel; and The Saints shall judge both the world and Angels: what pains soever we have taken to come to our Faith, and to keep it, it shall not onelyonly comfort and honor us here in the Church, but hereafter also in Heaven.
What an encouragement is this to them that have Faith,Use and a provocation to all to labor for it? It will not onelyonly comfort us now, and make us please God, but will give us boldness also at the great Day, when the fearful and unbelievers shall stand trembling, and be cast into the lake which burneth with fire and brinstone; Rev. 21. 8.yea, though our Faith be tryed by afflictions and persecutions, yet we should rejoyce, for they will turn to our glory: Our shame, reproach, infamy, imprisonment and troubles, will turn to our praise, and honor and glory at that day; when we are reviled (by private persons) when persecuted by publique Magistrates and false Witnesses coming against us, yet we should not be troubled,Mat. 5. 11, 12. but rejoyce, For great shall our reward be in heaven; our poverty shall be recompenced with great riches, our shame with honor,Phil. 1. 28. and if we be rejected of men, we shall be taken in of God: Yet do not our afflictions or persecutions deserve any of this honor, as the Papists would gather from hence, and from 2 Thess. 1. 5, &c.Rom. 8. 18. Alas, no; For the afflictions of this present time, are not worthy to be compared with the glory that shall be revealed in us: God indeed will crown his own graces in us, and hath promised to reward the sufferings of his servants with glory; and so he is become our debtor, not by taking any thing of us, but by promising us all things: We should therefore be comforted in all our sufferings, and oppose unto the ignominy thereof, the glory and honor we shall then have, which is infinitely greater: O who would not endure casting out by men, being a token that we shall be honored of God, and taken in at that day. Indeed if there were no day of Judgement, nor reward, we might be sorry; but seeing there is, let us lift up our heads, and wait for that day: As the wicked shall have a second course to mar all their mirth, so contrarily the godly to swallow up their sorrow.
At the appearing of Jesus Christ.] Namely, to Judgement: True it is (as we have heard) our souls enter into glory at death, but our perfect happiness is not till the end of all;2 Thess. 1. 7. besides, that which we have at death is not seen but to our selves, whereas then it shall be manifest to all. We must be content to wait for our full Redemption till then;Christ will come on the last day to Iudge the world. on that most solemn day shall we be honored by the Lord himself: Then shall our Savior come to judge the quick and the dead; and though he defer to gather his Elect, and be gone into Heaven, yet he will come, and that in another fashion then he came first; namely, in wonderful majesty, glory and power, which cannot but be a terror to his enemies.
1. This must needs comfort all that have and do still embrace Christ Jesus as their Savior and King,Use 1. for he shall be their Judge, and therefore shall it go well with them.
2. But wo to them that have despised him,Use 2. where shall they appear? Not to appear is impossible;Psal. 1. 5. for He numbreth the stars, and calleth every one by their name; he will not be bribed, for he is more just, and besides, we have nothing to give. To escape also is impossible, for he filleth all places, and whether can he go, that hath this revenging Judge over his head, Hell under his feet to swallow him, on each side Angels and Devils to torment him, within a tormented Conscience, and without all the world on fire? And to abide his wrath its intolerable;Psal. 76. 7. for if when its but a little kindled no man can stand, then how when its all on fire to consume his enemies utterly?Nah. 1. 6. Kiss therefore the Sun, seek to be reconciled, get him thy Savior and thy King, get pardon of that which is past, not adding more to the score against thy self.
One thing more. The phrase here used seems to imply, that
The reward of Gods servants shall not be privy,The godly shall be publikely rewarded. but seen and known, yea and that of those that have most hated, disgraced and persecuted them, accounting them mad, and esteeming basely of them; even before them, I say, they shall be honored of God: As it will be a torment to the wicked to see Christ whom they have pierced to be in such high dignity and power; so will it increase their torment to see them whom they so basely esteemed of, as not worthy to live, to be received into honor, and stand on Christs right hand, and themselves, of whom they were so well conceited, cast out: But its just with God, that they which willingly and of purpose have vexed and disgraced his servants here on earth, should against their wills see the glory that he hath prepared for them.