Exposition Upon 1 Peter, Biblical exegesis · Chapter 2 · Verse 6
Verse 6. Wherefore it is contained in the Scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious, and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded.
THe Apostle having already shewed both that Christ is the Foundation on which his Church is builded, and that Believers are built up on him a Spiritual House, &c. he now confirmeth both out of the Scriptures; and needful it was fully to prove them, that so they might be strengthened to embrace Christ the Foundation of their happiness, and against that common offence of the multitude, which did not embrace but reject him.
Now that he had said, he sheweth to be no new thing, but such as was of old spoken of by God to his Prophets, as the Scripture of the Old Testament beareth witness, namely, that of the Prophet Isaiah, Chap. 28. 16. wherein is shewed of Christ, that He is a chief corner stone; and of Believers, that they shall not be ashamed, and therefore are accepted of God.
In that he alleageth the Scripture for his purpose; Note we, that
That which must confirm and settle us in any Point of Doctrine,Doctr. is the Testimony of the Word of God.The testimony of Gods Word, is that which must settle us in any Point of Doctrine. If God speak to his in his Word, we build that its true, accordingly doing or leaving undone; nothing else can satisfie, not the minde of this or that man, or many men, or the practice of such and such, no not of the best; but we must build our Faith on Gods Word that cannot deceive us, else shall we ever waver, never be at a certainty: Through men we may be driven hither and thither, but if grounded on the Word of God, nothing can remove us.
1. This condemneth the Enthusiasts,Use 1. that boast of Revelations, and so neglect the Word;Isa. 59. 3. No, Gods Spirit and his Word are joyned together, and they that have at any time been most endued with the Spirit, have at no time neglected the Scriptures, but given themselves to the searching of the same: Gods Spirit speaks no otherwise then according to the Word.
2. Papists,Use 2. that thrust in Traditions and Humane Inventions, as whereon people must settle.
3. It teacheth us to search the Scripture,Use 3. laboring by all means that the Word of Christ may dwell in us plentifully, that so we may be grounded: If we hear God speaking in his Word, we must sit down by it, all mouthes must be stopt; if not, we must not be carried without it.Obser.
Again,The Old Testament of the same Authority with the New. He alleageth the Old Testament, as Christ and the other Apostles did, for the Old was the same in substance with the New, and of the same Authority.
Further,Observ. In that he nameth not the place, nor the Prophet, it sheweth their skill,Of old people were more ready in the Scriptures then they are now. and rebuketh our ignorance, that have not the book of God clasped against us, as in Popery, but open, if we can take our time; for the place it self, its alleaged with some alteration of the words, though not of the sence: 1. He leaves out a word or two, and takes that which fitteth his purpose. 2. He turneth these words of the Prophet, He that believeth shall not make haste; into these, He that believeth on him shall not be confounded: The Prophet sets down the effect, the Apostle the cause; for unbelievers being ashamed, it makes them run up and down in their misery for some other help, seeing themselves disappointed and deceived.
The occasion of that promise there,See Calvin on the place. was to comfort the good in respect of the great threatnings against the bad and contemners, namely, that they should not be destroyed and cast off among the rest, and that the wicked might not scorn them, and think all Gods promises made to them fallen to the ground.
Behold] This being a word to stir up attention, implieth, that
What the Lord saith,Doctr. he doth; He is true of his word,the Almighty,What the Lord saith, he doth. and who cannot be hindred: He saith not, Such a stone shall be laid, but, Behold, I lay it, whereby he confirms the good, and puts them out of doubt, who by reason of the threatnings were grown weak, fearful, and in doubt.
Here see our infidelity in Spiritual things,Use. especially if we see any things against us,Luke 1. 18. such was Zacharias; So was not Abraham, he looked not to carnal lets, but rested on Gods Word, had enough that God spake it, so should we: If we have any promise of Gods mouth, we should be of good comfort, and believe, and not be dismaid at our sins and unworthiness:Mat. 11. 28. Come unto me, saith our Savior, all ye that are weary and laden, and I will refresh you, &c. What promise more comfortable? and yet many seeing their sins and danger, cannot be comforted and perswaded: But we must give God the glory to believe him on his word, and know that nothing can make him break promise or change his minde, either any hinder him from performing what he hath promised.
I lay] Its God that layes the Foundation of his Churches Salvation;Doctr. All the Men and Angels in the world cannot lay one stone in this building,God layes the Foundation of his Churches Salvation. unto this Foundation: Though God use the Ministery of his servants, Men, to this purpose, yet its God that by his Spirit makes them fit,Psalm 2. 6. and couples them hereto;Iohn 6. 27. therefore much less could they lay this corner stone.
Paul saith,Object. he laid this Foundation.
By Preaching the same to the people,1 Cor. 3. 10. not otherwise; That Foundation which God had laid before the world,Sol. and appointed to be Preached, that he taught to the people, and that was all he did.
If God gave Christ generally for his Church,Use. then for every humble soul that seeth his need of Christ, and cometh with an heavy heart to him, and desires him above all the world, assuredly he will give him to such.
In Sion] That hill in Jerusalem is put for the Church, whereof it was a type,See Psal, 2. 6. 8. and because the Gospel was first preached there (Christ there revealed) and from thence conveyed into all nations far and wide; so that now by Gods mercy, we have him no less preached unto us then the Jews had, and have also our part in him as largely. O unspeakable mercy!
A chief corner stone,] A chief stone, a foundation stone: This is the principal point in this first part of the Verse; but of this on the fourth Verse, where was shewed, That he is not a stone as others be in the building, but the foundation on which they are all built, which sustains and holds them together, there being no other foundation but he. This the Papists overturn, and that both in respect of his Kingly, Prophetical and Priestly Office.
For his Kingly Office,The Papists take from Christ his Kingly, which is to rule over the consciences of his subjects by his Spirit, and to have power to make Laws to binde their consciences, they take it from him; for with them, the Pope may also make Laws of his to binde the conscience, as much as any of Christs, and doth and may repeal some of his at his pleasure.
For his Prophetical Office,Prophetical, which is to be the onelyonly Teacher of his Church, and to reveal all his Fathers minde, in the Books of the Prophets and Apostles; this they take away, by adding (as if the Word were altogether imperfect) unwritten Verities, and mens Traditions, which (say they) are of absolute necessity to be obeyed to Salvation.
For his Priestly,and Priestly Office. they abolish both parts of it: 1. His Sacrifice All sufficient, and once offered on the Cross for all, by their blasphemous Mass, wherein they offer Christ daily (as they say) as a Propitiatory Sacrifice for the sins of the quick and the dead. 2. His Intercession, wherein they joyn many Saints with him; What Salvation can there be for such? lets pray for, and keep our selves far from them.
Elect,] Christ is chosen of God to the work of our Redemption, and furnished for it; therefore make we choyce of him for our portion: wo to them that refuse him.
He that believeth on him shall not be confounded.] Hereby is meant a true particular justifying Faith: Such as have this, shall not be ashamed, or seek at any time as confounded or deceived of sufficient help and Salvation; therefore he shall never be put to make haste to seek any other.
The true Believer shall never be confounded,Doctr. but finde enough in Christ to satisfie him to the full,Believers do alway finde enough in Christ. to deliver him from all evil, and make him partaker of all Happiness, Wisdom, Righteousness, Sanctification and Redemption,Rom. 5. 1. and enough to make his minde peaceable and quiet, and to stablish him against all that his own conscience, or any, yea the Devil himself can lay to his charge; but he findes enough to answer all at large; As, Thou art a sinner, and hast deserved Damnation, and God is just. R. I grant all, but I have a surety able enough,Rom. 8. 33. who hath born all; Who shall lay any thing to the charge of Gods Elect? Its God that justifieth, &c. His heart is fixed, he believeth in the Lord: In his life he hath that wherein he may quiet himself, and never be to seek, but may draw new life and grace from Christ, to enable him to hold on: In his death he shall not be comfortless, but finde enough in Christ to carry him to heaven, though through the gates of death; He knoweth whom he hath believed: At the day of Judgement he shall not be ashamed, but lift up his head with great joy, when he shall see Christ coming in great glory and power, to save all them that have embraced him, and to receive them into the glory which he hath prepared for them; then shall he be our Judge who hath been our Surety and Savior: Contrarily, they that believe not in Christ, are never in quiet; as the Papists, that hope to be saved partly by Christ, and partly by Works, are often (even the wisest of them) distracted,The miserable condition of those that do not believe in Christ, and who they are. and cannot tell when they have done enough to rest in, and so are ever suspitious and doubtful, tost to and fro as one upon a ship mast: So the wicked among our selves that believe not in Christ (though some securely flatter themselves) are for the most part doubtful, having ever and anon thoughts that all is not well, and so not knowing what shall become of them; and though they love their lusts so well, that they will not part from them for Christ, yet often do their thoughts accuse them of their Whoredoms, Deceits, wicked Courses, their hearts misgive them; and so indeed their lives be as if one should lie in a bed too strait, and the clothes too short, and so they cannot sleep; whereas he that is assured of his happiness, and his heart witnesses his upright care to obey Gods will, his bed and clothes be large enough, he sleeps quietly, and rests on a soft pillow, his good conscience: In the hour of death they are fearful & disquieted, and in death they are confounded, when they see the Devil ready to carry their souls to hell. At the day of Judgement, how will the Jews and Turks that altogether reject Christ, be ashamed and confounded, when they shall finde that their imagined Christ, and Mahomet hath deceived them, and led them into a false hope? O what a case will they be in, when they shall see the true Christ whom they have rejected come to judge them? O what wailing will there be? how will they run up and down, and what would they not do, if they knew any way to help themselves? then shall they finde it too late to sue to him:Rev. 6. 16. Then will they sue to the hills to fall upon them, and the mountains to cover them; a poor request, which yet shall not be granted them: So all wicked men among us that have not kissed the Son, but broke his bands, and cast his cords from them, that have had him offered to them, but have not embraced him, nor believed in him, chusing rather to continue in their lusts, then to have their part in him, their condition is fearful: O that all would embrace Christ whilst they may, who else shall have sorrow and shame for their portion.Obser.
This phrase also implyeth,Believers can never fall away wholly nor finally. That
Believers can never fall away wholly nor finally, as the Papists teach, for then they might come to be ashamed: They may be shaken for the tryal and strengthening of their Faith, but overcomed they cannot be by all the gates of Hell.