Exposition Upon 1 Peter, Biblical exegesis · Chapter 1 · Verse 8
Verse 8. Whom having not seen, ye love, in whom though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoyce with joy unspeakable and full of glory.
HEre he proceeds to commend these believing Jews (yet withal admonishing and exhorting them) and that for the great measure of their faith, and the fruits thereof, love and joy, which are described by that which might have hindred their faith, namely, that they never saw Christ, and yet believed in him, and rested on him for salvation, and so loved him, as they were well content to suffer for his Name, yea and rejoyce with such a joy, as for the excellency and greatness thereof could not be expressed. In that he commends them, its to this end, that he might encourage and provoke them to go on forward, and increase more and more. To this end doth the Lord commend the good Churches in the second and third of the Revelation; and S. Paul in all his Epistles,1 Thess. 4. 1, 10. even that he might provoke them to go on in well doing:Whereat Ministers should aym in commending their people. And this must be the end of all good Ministers in the commendation of their people, not of flattery (that were abominable, and being men-pleasers, they could not be Christs servants) nor out of a conceit that they have gone far enough, and now may stand at a stay (that were sensless,Gal. 1. 10. for that we have is nothing to that we might have had, or should have, and want) but to be a spur to provoke them to go on forward, it being a shame for them not to satisfie the expectation of such as have a good opinion of them; and so must the people take such at any time, not being lifted up therewith, but rather humbled thereby; conceiving, that the Minister rather sheweth what he would were in them, or should be in them, then what is indeed in them; and that he would not have them stand at a stay, but proceed and go on more and more.
Speak we particularly first of their faith, though last set down, as without which there can be no true love.
They never saw Christ, yet they believed in him; they saw the Scriptures speaking of him to come; they heard of him also by faithful witnesses; the Apostles had preached of his person, birth, life, death, resurrection and ascension, and that he came to save them that were lost: This they believed, and so believed in him for salvation, though they saw him not.
This shews the nature of true faith,Through faith we believe even things above the reach of our reason. namely, to believe things, not onelyonly that we see not, and are hidden from our sense, but such things as are above the reach of our reason, and which we cannot comprehend. So Abraham, when a son was promised by Sarah, stood not to scan this by reason,Heb. 11. 1, 3. and 17. but believed it, and is accordingly commended for it; So Joshua and the Israelites compassing the walls of Jrricho: Gen. 17. 17.Therefore both Zachariah and Sarah failed,Rom. 4. 19, 20. in that they doubted of Gods Promise,Heb. 11. 30. for that it was against reason:Luk. 1. 18, 20. Hence it is that our Savior rebuked for his Thomas infidelity.Gen. 18. 12. If all that Thomas had gone and preached to,Ioh. 20. 25, 29. should have been of his minde, he would have made a poor preaching; Christ must have come to the earth again, and here tarried:Iohn 8. 56. No; Faith hath eyes, as well as the body; Abraham saw Christs day, Heb. 11. 27.and rejoyced; and Moses endured, as he which saw him that was invisible: Yea, it hath a more certain eye then the body, for it depends upon that which is more constant then Heaven and Earth, even Gods Word,Iob 19. 25. which shall endure when the others shall vanish away; therefore is faith called a knowledge,2 Cor. 5. 1. not a guessing uncertainty.
Hereby we believe the Incarnation of Christ, the framing of his body in the womb of the Virgin, she untouch'd of man; so the mystery of the Trinity, and the Resurrection, the Union of Christ and Believers, the glorification of our bodies in the Kingdom of Heaven, and the like; yea, we so believe them, that (as Moses was content to part from the honor of Pharaohs Court for the Kingdom of Heaven,Heb. 11. 26. so) for the assurance we have of them, we are content to forego both pleasures and profits, which we have eagerly followed after; yea, to endure present pains and losses,Heb. 10. 34. and 11. 35. and that grievous ones, for the joys to come, not seen, but believed, whereof we have store of Examples, both in the Scriptures and Church Histories.
1. This condemneth Atheists,Use 1. that reject all that they cannot conceive in their foolish and corrupt brain; but Religion is not a matter of Reason, but of Faith: Wo were to us, if there were nothing for us,1 Cor. 15. 19. but that which we see with bodily eyes; the wicked were then in better case.
2. It stirreth us up to try whether we have faith,Use 2. or not; If we so believe the things to come, as whatsoever would let us from the joys of Heaven, we avoid it, and would rather endure any thing, then be deprived thereof, we are not without faith: The wicked will not do so; they will provide for the present time, they will have their will, will here take their ease, enjoy their unlawful profits and pleasures; as for the time to come, they are ignorant of it, what it will be: If any come after, so it is, but they will make sure work for the present; a Bird in the hand, is worth two in the bush: Neither will they suffer any thing for Religion, or the Gospel, or hope of Heaven; a sign they want that grace of true faith: They have Carnal eyes to see these things here below, but no Spiritual ones of faith to see the things to come, and so give no glory to God:Hab. 2. 4. But the just shall live by faith, and We walk not by sight, 2 Cor. 5. 7.but by faith; Thus must we do here for maintenance, thus for deliverance out of dangers. As Historical believing the truth of these things, puts a difference betwixt Atheists and common Christians; so the particular believing and applying these things, between these and true Christians. The servants of God would not lose their part in that which is to come, for all that is here present: They say, the Bird in the bush is worth two of that in the hand. If the world count themselves wise that can save themselves from danger, and Gods servants fools for suffering,See D. Taylor on Acts 10. page 296. be it so; it shall one day appear who hath made the best match: Oh, say they, we are sure of this, we have it in hand,2 Tim. 1. 12. that you look for is uncertain; Well, as uncertain as it is, we will not change with you, for we know whom we have believed.
If this be so,Obj. then why may we not believe that Christs body is bodily in the Sacrament, under the signs of Bread and Wine, though our sense and reason say otherwise, seeing our faith goeth beyond both.
Though faith believeth that which no sense nor reason can comprehend,Sol. because God hath said it, yet it crosseth not our senses, and the things which are daily subject to the same,Ioh. 20. 27. wherein there is certainty:1 Ioh. 1. 1. If we might give no credit to our senses, there would be no end of conceits; therefore seeing all our senses say it is Bread and Wine, we are to believe it to be no other.
Whom having not seen, ye love] Now of the fruits of Faith, love and joy; for its impossible for us to love him, unless by faith we be assured of his love to us,1 Ioh. 4. 19. for we have not loved him, but he us first; so is it not possible, but believing in him, we should love him, and his love must constrain us, having done so wonderful things for us. Then
True love is the fruit of faith,True love the fruit of faith. and it cannot be sundred from love to God, and our brethren for his sake: He that knoweth, and believeth that he hath much forgiven, Gal. 5. 6.must needs love much.1 Ioh. 5. 1.
1. This confutes the Papists,Use 1. which distinguish faith into formed and unformed, and that this latter is sufficient to the salvation of the people, Charity giving a form to it; but we must know that there's no true faith without it.
1. It serves to confute that Slander wherewith they burthen,Use 2. not us, but the Doctrine of the Gospel; namely, That Justification by faith onelyonly, is a Doctrine of licentiousness: But while we establish faith, we set up good works, as who teach that they cannot be sundred: Though works have no place in our Justification, yet they are necessary to our Salvation.
3. Perceive the force and power of faith;Use 3. faith made them love Christ, though they had never seen him, as which told them of so great things done for them by him, whereby they could not but be exceedingly knit in love unto him, and be content to suffer for him. Its an encrease of love, to love one we never saw; for sight moveth much, and draweth the heart: but by faith we love that we never saw; as we love many good Christians which we never saw, because by faith we believe that they be members of Christ, and fellow-members with us: So we love Christ, because we believe what great things he hath done for us, and that we shall see him one day in his glory, when we also by him shall be set in possession thereof; so that if we believe these things,1 Ioh. 5. 1. we cannot but love Christ, though we never saw him:How to try both our faith and love. Faith is not idle, but worketh by love to God, and to our brethren; and hereby we may try our faith, as our love, by the fruits thereof: namely, 1. If we take care unfainedly to keep his Commandments in one thing, as in another.Psal. 97. 10. 2. If we love the brethren, Ioh. 14. 15. and 15. 14. and 21. 15.which are members of Christ, so as we dare not harm them; yea, love them, not onelyonly because they have his image restored in them, but are a part of Christ,1 Ioh. 5. 3. as it were, and of our selves. 3. If we be content to suffer for his sake, and will not be pluckt from him, but are vexed to see him dishonored by any. 4. If we long for his coming, that so we may be with him, and married to him, to whom we are already betrothed: Its the Churches voyce (and should be ours in particular) Come Lord Jesus. Rev. 22. 20.If the husband be gone a long journey, his wife doth not much love him, if she never desire his coming home. 5. If in the mean time we desire to hear often of him,Simile. and from him; as the wife that loves her husband, will send or be often at the Carriers to hear of her husband, and receive Letters from him: So must we frequent the Word upon every occasion, where we may hear of him, and of his great honor and glory, and of his providing us a place there, and of the glory there, and how he would have us in the mean time to carry our selves, taking heed of any other lover in his absence, which also doth inform us, That his coming draweth nigh, and is at hand; Thus to hear of him, and from him, as much and as often as we can, we should be desirous. By this Touchstone we may thus try both our faith and love.
In whom though now ye see him not, yet believing,] Here's the object of our faith,Ioh. 3. 15, 16. the Lord Jesus Christ.
The common people say, They believe in God, and trust in God; which is in truth but meer self-deceiving: for though when we believe in Christ,Faith must directly fasten it self on Christ Iesus. we believe in Father, Son and holy Ghost; yet our faith must directly fasten it self upon Christ Jesus, who hath wrought our Redemption, and on our behalf suffered all things; and so he must come in as a Mediator between the Father and us, else how should we poor worms come to put our trust in that glorious God, and being vile sinners, dare to look for any favor at his hands, but in and by him; who without him is a severe Judge? How dare any poor wretch put his trust in God for all good, that knoweth not that he is his God, nor how to bring it to pass?
Here also the Divinity of our Savior Christ may be noted;A proof of the Divinity of Christ. for we may believe in none, but in God: If even he be cursed that putteth his trust in any other for outward things,Ier. 17. 5. how much more for Salvation?Ioh. 1. 1. He created all things, Tryeth the hearts, Forgiveth sins, Stilled the Sea with his word;Mat. 9. 2. and 8. 26. Raised the dead by his own power; all which point out his Deity: yea, it appeared even in his greatest abasement; He took upon him the seed of Abraham, Luke 1. 41.but in this seed were all the Nations of the earth blessed; He was compassed in the Virgins womb, yet even then at his presence John the Baptist sprang in his mothers belly; He was laid in a Cratch, but even therein was he worshipped by the Wise-men of the East; He was hungry, but he fed five thousand with five loaves, and a few small fishes; He slept, but at his awaking he caused the winds and waves to cease; He paid Tribute, but out of the fishes mouth; He wept for Lazarus, but he raised him from the dead; He was taken by wicked hands, but then he healed him with a touch whose ear was cut off; He was crucified and dyed. but at the same time he darkened the Sun, and shook the earth, the vail of the Temple rent,Mat. 27. 54. which made the Centurion say, He was the Son of God; 1 Tim. 3. 16.He was buried, but he raised up his body the third day; He was manifested in the flesh, but justified in the Spirit.
And it was necessary that he should be both, else had he been no Savior for us, which sheweth our gret misery, and Gods great mercy: Who should not embrace him, that abased himself so low for our sins? as if a King should rise from his throne,Simile. and row in a galley-slaves room; what then should not we be willing to do for him? yea, to abase our selves to any service he requires of us on the behalf of our brethren; but how few embrace him? how few entertain him with an humble and contrite heart?
Ye rejoyce] The other fruit of Faith is joy;Ioy a fruit of Faith. being assured of so great things done for them by Christ, and so great things prepared for them by him, they could not but rejoyce; for as the feeling of Gods wrath for our sins is fearful,Prov. 18. 14. and cannot be endured (a wounded spirit who can bear?) as may appear by the heavy cryes and complaints of some of Gods servants in agony of conscience, O I am cast out of his sight, I shall perish, O what shall I do! but especially by the desperate horror of the wicked, who feel it so intollerable, as that they cannot bear it, as Judas, who went and hanged himself; for no man seeing and feeling himself under the wrath of God, and no way to be freed therefrom, but must needs wish he had never been, or now were not,Psal. 4. 7. or were a Toad, or the vilest creature: so contrarily, they that feel themselves freed from this,Rom. 15. 13. and called to the hope of so great glory, must needs rejoyce; as Joseph doubtless was a glad man, when being delivered out of prison, he was advanced to honor.
The way hereunto is true Faith:Use 1. Worldlings indeed think Christianity a dumpish estate, but its the onelyonly estate wherein we may be merry; and whoso is merry, not being assured of Gods favor, is a desperate person: as if one were merry that hanged over a deep pit by a twined threed.
In the midst of their mirth,Use 2. the wicked have secret gripes; as thieves condemned, though they drink and play at cards, yet to think that on the morrow they must be executed, chokes them and their mirth.
The wicked also can be merry in nothing but some wickedness or other, as if one should be merry when he eats and drinks poyson, when he slashes and cuts himself; for hereby provoking God, they increase their own damnation.
This joy then coming from Faith,Use 3. comes not from our works, or any thing that we can do:Why no true joy can proceed from our selves. These cannot bring sound peace to the minde, or quiet to the conscience, or joy to the heart; for 1. We have many sins, and therefore can merit nothing of God. 2. We know by our selves, that even many of them are unto us unknown: who knows the errors of his life?Psal. 19. 12. no man can say, he hath found out all his sins, or the corruptions of his heart, so that he can say, now here be no more. 3. Our best duties be mingled with much weakness and imperfection; so that though they may appear before men, and be well accounted of and reverenced, yet when they come before God, then they must hide themselves; as the Stars and Moon shew a goodly light in the night; but when the Sun appears, they appear not. The Nazarets vow was pleasing to God,Numb. 6. 13. yet the time thereof being expired, there was a sacrifice appointed for the sin of such a one; what, of such a one, as had lived and served God in that strict order? yea, even they must acknowledge no desert, but as they stand in need of mercy, earnestly call upon God for it, Who will shew mercy to thousands of them that love him; and keep his commandments: our works then, or any thing that we can do, cannot bring us sound peace and joy, as being imperfect and unable to abide the justice of God; but Faith, that layeth hold on the all sufficient merit and satisfaction of Christ, and his most perfect Righteousness, whereby they are made ours, brings us great joy, as whereby we dare come before God with boldness and confidence.
Unspeakable and full of glory] What maner of joy is that of believers?The joy of belivers is unspeakable. Unspeakable, such as cannot be uttered with the tongue: why? because it is for glory and happiness, which is unspeakable; for such things as neither eye hath seen, 1 Cor. 2. 9.nor ear heard, therefore such as the glory is, such is the joy, its an everlasting weight of glory: a wise man joys according to the object of his joy, but a fool reioyeth in a trifle of nothing; unspeakable things are believed, therefore it must needs be an unspeakable joy.
Full of glory] Not a vain,Their joy also is a glorious joy. carnal or flitting joy; that will fail and shame them that have had it, but a glorious joy, in the glorious Lord Jesus Christ and everlasting glory; glorious things believed, bring a glorious joy:Psal. 103. 1. What was Davids when he said, Bless the Lord, O my soul, Psal. 116. 12.and all that is within me bless his holy name, &c. and, What shall I render to the Lord for all his benefits towards me? What the Virgin Maries, Luke 1. 47.when she said, My spirit rejoyceth in God my Savior? and cannot many a Christian say, that after long and heavy seeking after God and Christ Jesus, God hath sent down such glimpses of joy into their hearts, as they could not express; and would think, O if this would always last, it were a little heaven; and so it were indeed, for its the same joy for quality, that we shall have in heaven, though the quantity be but small in comparison.
Here then see the happy estate of a Christian above all other men,Use. and the difference between the joy of all rich worldings, that fat themselves in their rich comings in, and richly furnisht tables, and coastly attire, and the godlies; for do these bring unspeakable joy? O no! there's indeed small joy in them, besides much vexation that accompany them; and what a torment is it for such to think, that they must be snatcht from this in a moment, and are provided for no better? neither is their joy glorious, but base and childish, that turns into shame in a few days; their joy is in vain things, and not in things that abide;Phil. 3. 19. they rejoyce in the Creature, not in the Creator; yea, their glory is their shame.