Exposition Upon 1 Peter, Biblical exegesis · Chapter 2 · Verse 17
Verse 17. Honor all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the King.
THis Verse consists of four Branches; whereof the former two concern the duties which we owe each to other, which following upon that which we are to perform towards Magistrates, implieth this much; That
To reverence and obey our Governors is not sufficient,They are good Subjects which not only obey their Magistrates, but live well one with another. no not to make us good subjects, except we also live well one with another; for as the members both of the Natural and Spiritual body are not onelyonly coupled and joyned to the head, but also each to other, so accordingly are we in duty bound to both: Not onelyonly do Children obey their Parents, Servants their Masters, and Subjects their Governors, but they must also live orderly and respectively between themselves one with another:Prov. 14. 28. He that doth not thus, cannot be a good Subject; He that shall deal injuriously with his fellow-subjects, wrongeth his Prince (whose welfare dependeth on the multitude and flourishing state of his Subjects) whether it be in body, goods, name or life; he wrongeth his Prince, I say, if the party whom he harmeth be but an ordinary man, much more if he be a true Christian, being therefore one of his best Subjects.
This therefore condemneth all such as will stand in awe of Magistrates,Use. and keep out of their hands, but for others, they care not how much they wrong them; How will some prophane desperate wretches of brazen faces, by their songs and lying Libels misuse both rich and poor, Ministers or others, which cross them in their vile courses? And are there not others close fisted (like the rich man in the Gospel) that will be careful to keep out of danger of the Magistrate,Luke 12. 20. and do their duties to them, but despise all others; partly blessing themselves in this; that they live of no body, are beholding to none, have no need of any, and partly of a base minde, onelyonly seeking themselves, and regarding no body else, oppressing and griping whomsoever they catch? Neither of these be either good Christians or good Subjects.
Honor all men.] See 1 Cor. 12. 26.That is, have regard, and give due respect unto all (whether they be Jews or Gentiles,1 Pet. 3. 7. good or bad) according to their places, and that which is lovely, and to be regarded in them; contrary hereunto, is contempt, which (as a thing not to be endured) we are to avoid by all means.
Touching those whom we ought to honor,We are to honor. they may be considered both as they are to us, and as they are in themselves: As they are to us, they are either Superiors, Equals, or Inferiors, all which we are to honor, yea our very selves also.
Our Superiors,Our Superiors in six particulars. whether in Wealth, Wisdom, Years: This we must shew in these and the like particulars, 1. To rise up before them. 2. When they are coming towards us,Lev. 19. 32. to go and meet them, as Abraham did the three Angels,Gen. 18. 2. and Solomon rose to meet Bathsheba. 1 Kings 2. 19.3. To bow,Gen. 23. 7. as Abraham to the children of Heth, and the rich man to our Savior Christ.Mark 10. 17. 4. To give them the highest seat or place if we sit,Luke 14. 8. or the wall and the right hand if we walk:Gen. 43. 33. Josephs brethren sate down according to their age.Iob. 32. 4. 5. To give them liberty to speak in the first place: Thus did Elihu, 1 Pet. 3. 6.we must not be full of words in the company of our Superiors. 6. To give titles of reverence that we owe to them; so did Sarah to Abraham, 1 Sam. 1. 15.Calling him Lord; Matth. 19. 16.as Hanna did to Eli, and the yong man in the Gospel coming to our Savior Christ, called him, Good Master: Rom. 13. 7.We must give every man his due, honor to whom honor belongeth.
Our Equals:One equals in two particulars. 1. In esteeming them better then our selves, without contention or vain glory: This is indeed one of the hardest things in the world,Phil. 2. 3. because of the pride that is naturally in us, but if we look for this grace of humility, it may be obtained, even by seeing others vertues and our own frailties and infirmities, we shall come to this in truth, esteeming others better then our selves. 2. We must in giving honor go one before another;Rom. 12. 10. modesty is a great cherisher of love, neither is there a more deadly poison to peace and agreement, nor greater mean to stir up contention and hatred, then when any shal think themselves despised: What a folly and madness is it in numbers that so strive for seats and places, or that sometimes they cannot contain even in the publique and holy place, to justle for the wall, or the way? What deadly hatred ariseth between many about such things, that they can never be reconciled? Alas, This is not the way to honor, as which flieth further from those that do most run after it: If in modesty we would yield, rather then contend, either our adversaries would yield to us, or if not, yet the wise would commend us, and disallow them.
Our Inferiors;Our Inferiors, and why. we must without all contempt, in meekness of Spirit respect them as Brethren, as our own flesh; one God made them and us, and of one mold and matter, they may belong to God, and be heirs of glory as well as we. Besides, as the meanest member of the body could not be spared, so could not we be without them; they toil, dig, delve, card, spin, &c. Thus will they do their duty the more chearfully, and bear the place of their Inferiority, when they shall see themselves, though mean, yet not despised, which else might occasion in them discontent and impatience, and increase their burthen, which they do already think to be heavy enough; we must be so far from being harsh, cruel, or strange to them, as that we ought to hear them speak, and regard their counsel; if they be persons of understanding and good carriage, as often as the Lord-will, let an Inferior see that which the Superior doth not, that the one may regard the other:2 King. 5. 13. Naaman the Syrian hearkened to the counsel of his Servant to his great good;Iob 31. 13. neither did Job despise the cause of his Servants, when they contended with him: True it is, Superiors are not to lose the places God hath set them in, neither are bound to set up their Inferiors in them, yet are they to use them kindely and with respect.
Yea,Our selves. a man is bound to honor himself, for he is the workmanship of God, he may not therefore defile or abuse himself at his pleasure: He must therefore keep his hands free from cruelty and oppression, his tongue from lying, swearing, railing, mocking, as his whole body from evil and filthiness:1 Thess. 4. 4. Its Gods will that we should possess our vessels in holiness and honor, we must not disgrace or deface the work of the Lord;Rev. 21. 27. they that thus do, shall not enter into Heaven, for no unclean thing shall come there: And as we desire to procure honor unto our selves, we must labor in all things to honor God, and in all our doings aym at his glory; them that thus do, God will honor: Contrarily, they that seek themselves, and not God, in that that they do, living even openly to his dishonor, and not regarding at all to glorifie him, disgrace and shame shall be cast on them; the honor they seek flies furthest from them, yea, such have often fearful and shameful ends: Dishonoring God, he dishonoreth them; and as we are to labor to be approved of God,Heb. 11. 2. so also to have good report in the Church of God;Prov. 10. 7. and 22. 1. for a good name is greatly to be respected, is of much worth, and an especial blessing of God. Thus as men are to us.
As they are in themselves, they are either good o… bad, both which we are to honor:We are to honor both good and bad according to their places. Honor all men (saith the Apostle) good, bad, Jews, Gentiles, Believers, Unbelievers, Regenerate, Unregenerate, Christians, Pagans, &c. for the good there is no doubt, and that is to be spoken of in the next Exhortation, but the doubt and difficulty is of the bad, how and why we must honor them: We must have a good respect to all,Even in them that are most bad, there's something to be regarded. though not to all alike; and there are none so bad, but there is something in them to be regarded, some scratch of Gods image; if ancient men, an image of Gods eternity, reverence that, and speak to them as to aged men; if wealthy, an image of Gods infinite abundance; if wise to manage matters of the world, reverence Gods wisdom; if a Father or Master, an image of Gods Fatherhood and Authority: Besides, they have many active parts of good use, for Peace or War, by Sea and Land, are skilful in the Tongues, in Arts and Sciences, are Civil, Kinde, Courteous, Pitiful, and the like; for every of which we are to honor them, to reverence them, to give them their due,Rom. 12. 18. so much as in us lies living peaceably with them: In their prosperity we must use them friendly in all points of Neighborhood, Lending, Borrowing, Commercing, Dealing Justly and Righteously with them, to bring them to the love of Religion; in their adversity we must be helpful to them; if hungry, give them meat; if thirsty, drink; if naked, raiment; at all times give them a good example, pray for them, and give them their due for any thing that's in them,Iames 3. 16. that they may see themselves regarded, not despised, and so keep peace, holding out contention, which is the floodgate of all evil: Thus dealing well with them, and walking wisely towards them, we may bring them in time to a liking and love of Religion.
1. Therefore for Christians,Use 1. let them not reject men altogether whom they see to be bad, but give them their due, we know not what good may come by our amiable and wise carriage towards them; but if we shall despise them, we do thereby harden them against us and Religion too.
2. For them that be yet carnal,Use 2. let them labor for grace, which deserves true and large honor: If God will have you regarded for your natural parts, how will both he himself honor you, and cause you also to be honored of others, having grace? ye see Christians use you kindely and respectively for your common and natural gifts, O how should they embrace you, if they saw the lively image of God in you?
Love the Brotherhood.] More especially he now teacheth our duties to godly men, to the true servants of God: These we must embrace with an intire and hearty affection; we must love all, and do good unto all, but especially unto the Brotherhood; brotherly kindeness, which is a very natural and intire inward affection, is due to the children of God. Speak we first of love to their persons, then to their fellowship and Company.
For their persons;We are to love the persons of Gods children We must love them with a more then ordinary affection: The more lively we observe Gods image to be in any, the more we must love such;1 Thess. 4. 10. others we are not bound to love with the like affections:Psal. 16. 3. and 101. Those did David love, in such did he delight, a fit patern for our imitation. We must love such,
1. Because of their nearness to us if we belong to God;Reas. They are our Brethren, we have the same Father, God; the same Mother, the Church of God; born of the same immortal seed, nourished up with the same sincere milk of the Word, have the same Sacraments, the same Savior, our eldest Brother Christ Jesus, and look also for the same Inheritance in Heaven, and is not this very near? They are also members of the same body that we be, fellow-members with us, and of the same Houshold and Family, even the Houshold of Faith.
2. In respect of their excellency; They are washed in Christs Blood,Isa. 4. 3. covered with his righteousness, are more glorious then the Sun,They are termed, The glory. endued with the sanctifying Spirit, have Angels to their attendants, all the Creatures theirs, they live under the hope of eternal glory, the world was made for them, and abides for their sakes: If a man saw the honor of a Christian and Childe of God, he would fall down before him, and kiss the ground he stands on.
3. For that they are in great favor with God; He loves them dearly,Zech. 2. 8. and hath rebuked even Kings for their sakes; He that toucheth them, toucheth the apple of his eye: Now those whom God loves, we should also love, yea whatsoever is done to them, good or ill, he counts it as done to himself.
1. This rebuketh those that are so far from thus affecting them,Use 1. as that of all persons they cannot away with them, but mock them, as Ishmael did Isaac, and Michol, David, but rail on them as Shimei, tell Tales of them as Doeg, persecute them as Saul, seek to entrap them, as the Scribes, Pharisees, and Herodians, yea and like Judas betray them; of this sort all places are full, neither is there any so base in a Town, or so ignorant that he cannot say the Lords-Prayer, but he can mock and rail on them that make conscience of their ways; yea, the Devil is such a cunning School-master, as that though we can beat nothing into some mens heads they be so blockish, yet the Devil can teach them to be very expert to jest at them that fear God; and this hath ever been the fashion of the world: They hate men for their goodness, and the better they be, the worse they like them; whom whil'st they were prophane, companions with them in disorder, they were the onelyonly men with them, Why were Abel, David, our Savior himself hated, but for their goodness? If they pretend that they mislike them, and speak against them for this or that fault, its but for a colour, for why then do they like and nourish the same things in themselves, and those like themselves? Neither can such things be found in Gods people, as are daily palpable in them and their companions; Its therefore because the light of the godlies good conversation discovers their ill deeds, which (were the others like them) would not be seen, or taken knowledge of: O the fearful condition of such! If he shall dwell in Gods Tabernacle,Psal. 15. 4. in whose eyes a vile person is contemned, but he honoreth them that fear the Lord, where shall they dwell that honor vile persons,1 Iohn 3. 10, 14. and contemn them that fear the Lord? Such … not of God, are not translated from death unto life: As Ishmael was cast out of the Church, God will for ever Excommunicate all ou… of Heaven, that continue to be Enemies to his people: Though ye have no minde to be as they are, yet misuse them not, for he that loveth them and will take their part, is mighty, and hath been revenged of Kings for their sakes: But if you will be wise indeed, labor to be such, who are therefore set up, either that you should follow them, or else that they should be your Judges, as Noah in condemning the old world: If you will needs continue to despise them, yet know that the time shall come, when you shall desire to be as they, but it shall be far from you: Haply even in this life, when you shall be visited with sickness,Num. 23. 10. or in some other extremity and misery, you may with Balaam wish this; but howsoever, on the great and terrible day of Judgement, when they shall stand on the right hand, and you on the left, they be received up into everlasting glory, your selves cast out into eternal torments, you would be glad hereof: But you must not think to be as Dives in this world, and as Lazarus in the world to come: O then, love ye the grace of God, wheresoever ye see it, and the people of God, though never so poor and mean, yea, more then them that are in gold Chains without grace! Shew your inward affection towards them, by rejoycing in their welfare, grieving at the contrary, living peaceably with them, doing them all the good you can, or they stand in need of, whether in soul or body.
2. This rebuketh such as break this near knot of love for toys and trifles,Use 2. not worth the speaking of;Gen. 13. 10. welfare Abraham, that would rather yield to his Inferior, then thus do: Many wax hollow, and strange, and conceited one against another, and live at odds in heart-burning, even with them whom they cannot, they dare not but think to be Gods people; Is not this monstrous wrong to Christ, to pull one member from another? and is it not a great distemper, when one member of the body will hurt another? O that these days of peace should produce such an effect! If God should send days of trouble, we would be glad one of another: O that wicked pride and covetousness (the main causes hereof) or any thing else in this world should be of such force, as to sever those whom God by his Spirit hath joyned together! Thus of their persons.
For their fellowship and company; This follows upon the former, for that which we love, we desire as much to enjoy as may be, as the Husband the Wives company, and she his; so Parents their Children, one Friend anothers: They therefore love not the people of God (whatsoever they say or pretend) that care not for their company.
But whose fellowship are we to love? We are to love the fellowship not of the ungodlies.The Brethrens, even the people of God; we are to honor all, even bad men, but are not to have society or keep company with such: Enter not into the way of the wicked (saith Solomon) and walk not into the way of evil men:Prov. 4. 14. I wrote unto you in an Epistle (saith the Apostle) that ye should not company together with fornicators,1 Cor. 5. 9. &c.2 Thess. 3. 6. and again, We command you, Brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,See also v. 14. that ye withdraw your selves from every brother that walketh inordinately,2 Tim. 3. 5. and not after the instruction which he received of us.
Reasons. Reasons:1. We shall hereby make them a…ed, and so be a means of their Repentance: When they shall see themselves after a sort excommunicated out of the society of the people of God,2 Thess. 3. 14. they will begin to take notice of the ground thereof, namely, Their sins, and thereupon thus question with themselves, If for these and these sins I am thus rejected of men, how much more will God reject me? otherwise we shall strengthen them in their sins.
2. We shall provoke others by our example, not to have any fellowship with them, who else might continue therein to their destruction.
3. Lest we be defiled, for who can touch pitch, and not be defiled therewith, or walk in the Sun, and not be tanned? A companion of fools shall be afflicted: Prov. 13. 20.Their company is like an east wind, to blast the tender plant of the grace of God in us: If we shall use the same, they will soon rob us of our good qualities, as Hamor did Dinah of her chastity; we shall quickly lose our good name, quickly learn their works, A little leaven, leavens the whole lump: Sin is of an infectious nature, the infection thereof far worse then the plague; Solomon the wisest man, yet was wonderfully carried away and defiled thus; and David with being a little among the Philistines, learned to dissemble, making as if he had been willing to fight against his own people; Peter being but a while in the high Priests Hall, fell foully; Lot having sojourn'd in Sodom, did so far forget himself, as that he proffered his two daughters to be lyen with, and they learn'd to be monstrous unshamefast;2 King 8. 27. Ahaziah did evil in the sight of the Lord (saith the Text) like the house of Ahab for he was the son in Law of the house of Ahab: He was unequally yoked, had the company of an ill wife, and ill friends.
4. Lest we partake of their punishments: The curse of God is in the house of the wicked; Rev. 18. 4.They are cursed abroad and at home, and in all they put their hands unto:Prov. 3. 33. Its dangerous to be in their company;Deut. 28. 16, 17, 18, &c. Lot being in Sodom, was at first taken prisoner, and afterward (if he had not been pluckt away by the Angel) had been there burnt; Jehoshaphat hardly escaped his life for going with Ahab; St. John would not enter the bath where Cerinthus was, Lest (saith he) the bath fall upon us, where this wicked enemy of God is.
This rebuketh the monstrous wickedness of our times,Use. wherein there are none so bad, but others will keep company and joyn with them in all kindes of Societies; yea, oftentimes even Professors will match their children with such, especially if they be wealthy; but what a woful yoke is it to have an honest or well minded person, or one of good towardness, to be yoked with one of an ungodly and vile life, one that's both loose in maners, and corrupt in judgement, whether Atheist, Papist, or any other? So men care not where they dwell, nor with what Neighbors, if the ground like them, and it be for their profit: Our yong Gentlemen are scarce compleat, if they go not over to Italy to learn some of Machiavels villany; A number of our Merchants care not where they buy or trade, so it be for gain, though they live amongst all Gods enemies, and often defile themselves with bowing their knee to Baal: Many care not how vile Servants they have, so they do their work, which yet proves oftentimes the poysoning of their Children: Most are for all companies; if good, so it is, they will frame themselves accordingly; if bad, they are also for them: This is the cause of so much overflowing and overspreading evil in the world, for one infects another; O how many Youths of good towardness, falling into vile company, have been spoiled! How loath are we that our Children should look asquint, or be deformed? Ill company will quickly make them look quite awry from God; therefore saith David, Psal. 119. 115.Depart from me ye wicked, for I will keep the commandments of the Lord. As we love our selves, as we would escape the Judgement of God upon us, such as Pain, Sickness, Poverty, and such like here, with everlasting Torments hereafter, keep we our selves far from the wicked, depart we from them in whom we see not the lips of knowledge. If we be to choose our dwellings, do not we dwell in Mesech, Psal. 120. 5.as we would not cry with the Psalmist, Wo is me, &c. If already we dwell in such places, yet be we watchful over the pollutions there, lest we be defiled: Haply the wicked will hereupon tax us for pride; but better it is that they should speak ill of us falsly, then that God should hate and punish us justly: If one should wallow himself in a mire, and term another in new and clean garments proud, for not wallowing as he did, or rubbing upon his dirty clothes, whereby he might be defiled,But of the godly. who would not account him a fool? Those, I say, we must not love, neither frequent their company, but we must love the Brotherhood, Psa. 16. & 101.frequent the company of Gods people: David made choyce of such;Acts 10. 7. so Cornelius, even of such as did fear the Lord: We must love to have fellowship with them both publikely (in hearing the Word, joyning together in Prayer for a blessing thereon, and offering up the sweet perfume of Thanksgiving; where thousands have found such comfort and refreshing, as they would not give for a world) and privately, conferring one with another, Admonishing, Exhorting, Edifying, Comforting and Encouraging one another; Thus we shall strengthen and confirm one another (for he that walks with the wise,Prov. 13. 20. shall be wise) Thus stir up and provoke one another to good works, whereof (considering our dulness and weakness) we have great need; Thus we may open our temptations one to another, and accordingly receive both comfort and counsel. The wicked meet to strengthen one another in evil, hereby making others twofold more the children of the Devil then themselves; and should not we be as wise in our generation? Oh! How many have cause to thank God highly for good company, by whom, upon the discovery of their temptations, they have received both comfort and strength? by whom (being formerly much daunted by Reproaches, and other harsh measure used against them for their Profession) they have been notably heartened; yea, even the wicked themselves have been the better for good company, as Joash whilest Jehoiada lived, and the Sodomites whilest L…t was amongst them: Two are better then one, and as iron sharpeneth iron, so good company proveth beneficial unto such as make use of the same.
1. This rebuketh the Brownists,Use. 1. that separate and rent themselves from us, and our both publike and private Societies, as if we were no Church,See B. Balls 1. Epist. of 3. Decad. and 5. of Dec. 6. but an Antichristian company, having neither Sacraments, nor Ministers: But we have not onelyonly a true, but a worthy Church, that maintain all Principles of true Religion as soundly, as any Church in the world, as in our Articles of Religion appeareth. We have also Ministers inwardly called of God, with competency of gifts, and graced of him by the fruit of their labors, in the Conversion of thousands of souls, which is a good seal of their Ministery from Heaven; and if these have any good in them, where had they it, but from those Ministers, and that Church from which they now separate, and on which they most unchristianly rail as Antichristian? to whom our Church may say indeed, Give me that which you have had of me, and then go your ways, and see what will become of you: What an ungracious part were it in a Son (if being grown to some years, and able to shift for himself) he should turn, and miscalling his Father, spit on his face, calling also his Mother Harlot and Whore, and then running away from them, when he should shew his thankfulness to them? No less ungracious are these men.
2. It rebuketh those prophane ones,Use 2. that cannot abide the company of Gods people, think an hour there as long as a day elswhere, account such a Family a prison, wherein theres reading the Word, Catechizing, Prayer, and the like duties; yea, when they should be in the house of God, they will be at home, or in some Alehouse, or walking abroad in the Fields, or loytering in the Church-yard; or if they come, its to no purpose, as being against their mindes: such straglers are in danger of the Devil, out of Gods protection, and may fall into any evil; What blinde beasts be these, that count that a prison, that is comfort and joy, true and sweet liberty? Well, if they will not walk with them while they live, their end shall not be like theirs; sever'd in life, sever'd in death.
But what? have they no company then? Yes, to swagger, swill, swear, game, and to all maner of disorder, as well on the Lords-day, as other times: There's a great deal of such fellowship in this Land, falsly called good fellowship; indeed hellish fellowship, whereof not God, but the Devil is the Author, and Master of the meeting; little brotherly fellowship, except it be as Simeon and Levi, brethren in evil: O the drunken fellowship of these times! Some are mad and beastly drunkards,Isa. 5▪ 22. others (to whom there's also a wo) strong to pour in strong drink, glorying in making others drunk, but their glory is to their shame, and their end will be damnation. How few Gentlemens houses can you come to, wherein its not the glory of Serving-men to make those drunk whom they can get into the Cellar, and thereupon rejoyce? Poor woful Creatures, that little think, that for this they shall one day come to Judgement, and their jollity be requited with everlasting torments in Hell: If they must answer for every idle word, and for such pleasures (though in themselves not unlawful) wherein they have regarded neither time, place, person, measure, nor end, how much more for their wicked companionship, in Swearing, Blaspheming, filthy talking, Prophaning the Lords-day, and the like? Such would one day give the whole world, if they had it, for one hour to repent, but in vain: They now treasure up wrath to themselves, and as they now delight in evil company, so shall it be said unto them, Go ye cursed of my Father, &c. There, there shall they enjoy their company in whom they have so much delighted, but to their further Torment.
3. It rebuketh a marvellous fault in Christians,Use 3. that so little regard one another, so seldom meet together, or when they do, spend the time to small purpose, not edifying one another as they should do: Some through Pride are so conceited of their parts, as if they did not stand in need of any, as others think themselves too good to converse with any, and others through covetousness, will not spare any time this way: But time was, when Christians made much one of another, and often in simplicity and plain-heartedness, met together to talk of good things, and to further and strengthen one another, and then Religion prospered, and people grew in grace; but now, though there be more knowledge, there is less zeal, and true-heartedness, and this is the cause of the decay of goodness amongst ancienter Christians; when the brands are pulled in sunder, and the heat decays, the fire goes out: Welfare our yonger Christians which cling together. Beware, you that have been long professors, lest they that set out after you, outstrip you, and go far before you, which many may see to your shame: O is it not pitiful that when Christians meet, the time should be spent in worldly talk without ne…d, or in vain idle frothy talk of News, or other folks matters, and things of no edifying! This comes to pass sometimes through want of matter, their hearts being barren of good things; sometimes for that their hearts and mindes are earthy, and delight not in those things: Hence it cometh to pass that Christians become the worse one for anothers company, not a few leaving an ill example and savor behinde them to the poysoning of others; this is hard in Christians, let us strive by all means that this may be amended.
To this end these Rules are to be observed by Christians in their private meetings:
1. That they do not hereby neglect their Callings to the hinderance of their families (except it be an extraordinary case of heaviness of minde,Rules to be observed by Christians in their private meetings. when a poor soul for a while will borrow a little of the body, as he hath beguiled the soul before, so to procure comfort) for thus shall they open the mouthes of bad people against Religion, as if it made men idle.
2. Break up at reasonable times, and that for avoiding of offence, especially if there be other then our own Family, yet as often we sit up till midnight at Cards, &c. so at some times we may take more liberty herein.
3. Keep within bounds for the business in hand; they must not meddle above their reach, as some in expounding the Scriptures, plunge themselves over head and ears; they must wade (as the Lamb) as far as they see ground, to presume further is dangerous, and leadeth into Error, besides the abuse of Scripture: Neither must they meddle with Church-Government, and matters of controversie; its the Devils policy to set such things abroach, to hinder more profitable matter, and that there may be jangling, no godly edifying: In stead of these, they must confer about points lately heard, or about their own spiritual conditions, doubts, temptations, and the like, or about the lets and means of faith, &c.
4. Though there should fall out some differences, yet they must not fall out in wrangling and contention, but (though they are in the right) break off for the time to avoid contention: Neither must any be so conceited, as to stand upon their own wit and skill, but refer themselves unto those which have their senses exercised to discern between truth and error.
5. That none desire to have all the speech, but be willing also to hear others, for some that are not so forward in speech, may yet put in his part to as good purpose, as they that think well of themselves.
6. That they avoid medling with other folks matters, or censuring others (this is an ill use of meeting together) especially their Ministers Sermons, wherein they should take every thing well that may be so taken; and before they blame any thing, they must be sure they understand, and are not deceived or mistaken; yea, and then it must rather be humility to inform one another, then to censure them with over-much harshness and boldness, and to blaze the same abroad to their disgrace: Many through their indiscretion do their Ministers much hurt, and put them into strange courses of invectives (whom in meekness they might easily win) and so mar a good cause with ill handling. Thus of their Fellowship.
Fear God.] See hereof on verse 17. of the former Chapter.This is the fountain whence as well the forementioned duties flow, as those which follow, and all other must be performed: They must be such as will stand with the fear, service, and duty we owe unto God.
But God is perfectly good,Obj. and we are to fear nothing but that which is evil.
We must fear to offend God,R. and stand in awe of him: This is not slavish,How God is to be feared. in respect of punishment either inflicted or threatned, such as Ahabs, Belshazzars, &c. but Filial, which cometh of love especially, yet with consideration also of his Majesty, Glory, and Greatness: This is often commanded, and throughout the whole Scriptures highly commended,Prov. 1. 7. as being the beginning of wisdom, the whole duty of man,Commendation and signs of Gods fear. a spur to obedience; whereof these are infallible signs, To hate sin and depart from evil (every sin, the inward as well as the outward, secret sins as well as open, such as might seem advantagious as well as others, unlike those which will say thereof, Its nought indeed, and we should not do it, but flesh and blood is frail, God help, and so living in it) To keep the Commandments (all the Commandments, all the Commandments always, yea always with delight) To tremble at the Word, as also at his judgements: The want of this is the floodgate of all Iniquity, Prophaneness, Security, Hypocrisie, and hardness of heart, utter. Enemies hereunto: This is the preserver of the heart against evil and temptations, a main provoker unto that which is good; when we would yield unto this or that temptation, commit this or that evil, slubber over this or that duty, up starts the fear of God, and saith, Nay, that must not be yielded to; O the marvellous priviledges and sweet promises annexed hereunto: Such as fear God, need fear neither Hell, Death, Devil nor Judgement; they need not fear Poverty, Sickness or Persecution, for either they shall not befal them,Use. or be sanctified to them: O how should we labor to encrease herein, by considering Gods greatness, and our base poverty, together with his justice against sin throughout all ages? yea, considering his wonderful goodness in himself to the Land, to our selves both for soul and body, who is not to fear such a glorious, such a merciful God? but notwithstanding both of his mercies and judgements plentifully manifested, who doth truly fear him? There's indeed little fear of God in the world, in England, in most of our Towns; O the fearful condition of such! they have cause to fear all things they see, as if all did conspire their ruine, which also sometimes falls out,Deut. 28. 65, 66, 67. as the Lord threatned by Moses: Were not people hardened, bold, nay desperate, they would not thus shake off Gods fear; O let such haste out of this case! O labor to get assurance of the pardon of your sins, and so turn to God, and walk in his fear! Go not away hence to live loosly any more, as heretofore you have done, but fear the great Lord of Heaven and earth, who is able to plague you both in Body, Mindes, Goods, Children, here and hereafter; rear him that hath made thee, fed thee, and kept thee out of Hell, and hath been so good to thee every way, yea, and will yet do more to thee if thou turn to him.
Honor the King.] The duties of the first and second Table accompany one another.For the coherence of these words with the former, Note we,
1. That the duties to God and our Neighbor, the duties of the first and second Table, are to accompany one another; they must not be sundred,1 Iohn 4. 21. God hath knit them, and they must go together; He that loveth God, must love his brother also: The second is like the first; promises are annexed to the performance of both, punishments threatned for the breach of either: He that commandeth the one, enjoyned also the other.
1. This rebuketh such as make shew of great zeal in the duties to God and of his worship,Use 1. but in the mean time make no conscience of Deceiving, Oppression, Falshood, Backbiting, Idleness, and the like; break their word and promises, wrong men in their bodies, goods, chastity,Iames 1. 26. good-names; whatsoever such make, their Religion is vain: The Prophets cryed down such hypocrites in their times; there's now no less cause so to do: Let men joyn both duties together, and justifie the truth of the one by the other; else as we commonly say, He that will swear, will lye; he that will lye, will swear; he that makes no conscience of his duty towards his Neighbor, makes no conscience of his towards God.
This rebuketh also such as are very civil and just in their dealings,Use 2. sure of their word, and kinde neighbors, and yet make no conscience of the duties of the first Table, regard not the Word, Sacraments, Prayer publike or private, the observation of the Lords-day, and the like; O they delight not in these, they savor not of such things: Howsoever the world count such right honest men, yet is God little beholding to them; What though they give men their due, if they defraud God of his? what though they steal not from men, if they rob God of his Sabbaths and times of worship which he challengeth as his, converting the same to their private uses? Let the world think as well and as highly of these as they will (wherein they do well, they are to be well thought of) they are not such as can abide the tryal of the Word, neither shall be able to stand before God on the great day; but as they have sundered that which God hath coupled, so will he (if they repent not) sunder them for ever from his Kingdom.
2. That the knowledge and fear of God is the fountain of all our duties to men in their several places;The knowledge and fear of God is the fountain of all the duties we perform towards men. none can be a good servant indeed, a through good servant, one to be trusted with business of weight, with hope of blessing and success (as Eleazer Abrahams servant) but such a one as feareth God; So (according to the Text) no man can truly honor the King, and be an absolute good subject, except he fear God; no man will honor him from his heart as he ought, nor obey him for conscience sake, nor pay duties chearfully, venture his life for him faithfully, and pray for him heartily, but such as fear God: This is the onelyonly sure bridle (all others of credit, fear, &c. will break) to keep people in duty; where this hath been wanting, there have been mutinies and risings, yea, what else can be expected where this bears not sway?Gen. 10. 11.
1. Let all that fear God,Use 1. shew it in their several places, by the performance of their duties to men, especially of subjection to their Governors, that so they may bring the same in esteem, and procure credit thereto.
2. Would any be good Subjects,Use 2. let them begin at the right end, perform their duties in the right maner, even for conscience sake, as being required of God: Thus shall the Prince be much the better for them, and they themselves have comfort in the performance of the same: Thus shall not they dare fail herein for fear of the highest, whereas worldly men perform theirs meerly for fear of men.
3. Magistrates are to trust those most,Use 3. which do most fear God, and accordingly to use them kindely and countenance them, as being indeed their most loyal Subjects; yea, to further the Gospel what in them lies, whereby people may be brought to fear God, that so they may prove true and loyal to themselves, and so adde strength to the Kingdom: Thus of the coherence.
For the words themselves, Honor the King, I have already spoken at large of the duty contained herein: Know we onelyonly, that by the King here, is meant Caesar, who was an Heathen Emperor, one that intruded himself, ruled tyrannously, and was an Idolater; and by Honor, not Divine and Religious honor (for that is due to God alone) but Civil worship and honor.Difference between Religious and Civil honor. The difference between those is not in the outward gesture of the body, or bowing the knee, but in the intention of the minde; Divine is, when we bow both knee and heart, and soul to God, and that for his own sake, as the Lord of Heaven and Earth, and the Author of all good to us, to whom we pray when we want it, and whom we praise as the Author of any mercy for soul or body:See Mr. Perkins Cases of Consc. p. 357. Civil, is when bowing the knee, yea and the affection of the minde to men, we do it yet for the Lords sake, and as the Lords instruments,Mr. Allen on Command. 5. and whom he hath set over us for good, as excelling us in gifts and graces, to whom we present Supplications, as the instruments of God to convey many good things to us, and accordingly render thanks for the same; yet must not we attribute to them any thing proper to God, as Herods and Nebuchadnezzars; flatterers did, which the three▪ Children and Daniel refused. As our duties to them must flow from the fear of God, so must the same Rule direct and square them, so that they neither come too short, nor go too far.
Under this honor is understood,What honor comprehendeth. the inward reverence in heart to be declared outwardly by obedience to all their godly Commandments, chearfulness in payments, prayer and thanksgiving, &c.
Now if all this be due to a wicked King,If honor be due to the bad, how much more to religious Kings? as here, and now to be performed of us, if we had a wicked King, what then is to be done of us to such a King as God hath bestowed on us? a natural Prince, and of our own Nation as it were, lineally descended of the ancient Kings of our own Realm, and a Christian King, that maintains the Gospel, and sets against Popery, a King honored of God with so rare gifts and vertues, with so peaceable an entrance, and such an hopeful Posterity, &c. O do we honor him, reverence him, be thankful for him, pray for him, chearfully pay such Taxes and Subsidies as shall be imposed on us (for the maintenance of his Royall Pomp and Charge) to the encouragement of others.