Exposition Upon 1 Peter, Biblical exegesis · Chapter 3 · Verse 22
Verse 22. Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels, and authorities, and powers, being made subject unto him.
HEre follows another Reason to comfort Christians, in suffering for Christs sake; namely, that he for whom they suffer, and who is their head, is advanced into most high dignity, being ascended into Heaven, and there at the right hand of God, &c. that is, hath all power in Heaven and Earth committed to him in his Church, all Angels, Principalities and Powers, both good and bad, being made subject to him, who therefore can make the good to serve our turn, and can repress the bad, much more can he repress the violence and rage of men, that persecute his people.
Touching the Ascension of Christ,What our Saviors ascension was. I have shewed you what it was, namely, that our Savior having sufficiently manifested the truth of his resurrection, and confirmed his Disciples by the power of his Godhead, and partly by the supernatural property of a glorified body, he left the Earth, and was taken up into the highest Heaven, and there is, and so shall continue till his coming to judgement.
1. That he did ascend,That he did ascend. the Scriptures declare unto us, He himself foretold it,Luke 24. 51. first, more darkly, afterward more clearly; then most clearly,Acts 1. 9. when it was at hand: Neither was it without cause, partly because as his Manhood had suffered the lowest abasement,Iohn 6. & 14. 19. & 20. 17. so it might be advanced into the highest glory,Why he did ascend. and partly that he might also perform such things as were to be performed for the good of his Church, namely, the Application of his death and merits, to those for whom he suffered, and the sending of the holy Ghost, &c.
2. The persons before whom be did ascend,Before whom he did ascend. were not the Scribes, Pharisees, and Jews, but his Disciples; those had seen enough already, but not profiting thereby, they were left to themselves; these were to Preach his ascension to all, God having ordained, men rather by hearing then seeing should be saved.
3. The time,The time when he did ascend. not till he had sufficiently proved his resurrection, Gods goodness appearing herein, that would have all main points so clear, that they that will not stop their own eyes and ears, might believe. Neither did he ascend till he had comforted his Disciples, against all the troubles they were to meet with, and instructed them in the things pertaining to the Kingdom of God;They that have charge over others must be careful to leave them in good plight. hereby teaching that all which have charge of others, must be careful to do all the good they possibly can to them that be under their charge, while they be with them, and after to provide to leave them in as good state as possibly they can: Thus should Magistrates (with Moses, who trained up Joshua, to succeed him) Thus should Ministers (with the Apostles Paul and Peter) Thus also should Housholders, Parents, Masters do, that when they themselves shall dye, others may succeed them, which may do as much, if not more service in the Church of God, then they did: But who do thus employ their talents for the good of souls? O what a fearful answer have most to make!
4. The place from whence he did ascend,The place from which our Savior ascended. Bethany, or the Mount of Olives, both which were close together; that which was often the place of his mourning, and most sorrow, was now the place of his greatest comfort: Even there where Steven had such mighty adversaries,Acts 7. 56. he had a most clear sight of Heaven open, and of Christ standing at the right hand of God: Even on the bed of sickness, in Prison, in strange countreys, &c. where Gods people have powred forth most supplications and groans, God hath revealed himself to them more plentifully and clearly then at any time.
5. The benefits are,The benefits of his ascension. 1. To lead captivity captive. 2. To give gifts to men. 3. To prepare a place for us. 4. To send his holy Spirit into our hearts.Eph. 4. 8. 5. To make intercession for us.
And is on the right hand of God,] Iohn 14. 2.In general,Three observations in general. 1. He gathers his Church by raising up Christian Kings and Governors, where he hath any Elect. 2. He governs and keeps the same, defeating all subtile plots of his Enemies,Isa. 49. 23. and confounding all their devices; Thus did he on the behalf of the Church in Egypt; Thus also by overthrowing Hamans conspiracy; Thus did he by dissipating the Spanish Armado, and defeating the Gunpowder Plot. 3. Exerciseth his Church with crosses, to scour off the rust, which usually long Prosperity brings thereon. In Particular, for the Members of his Church that shall be saved, he gathers them, guides them, and exerciseth them to obedience by crosses, and represseth a great part of the rage of their Spiritual Enemies, strengthening them against the same; and for the Enemies of his Church, he brings confusion upon them, as on Pharaoh, Senacherib, Haman; Herod, &c. Thus do we also see many Enemies of Christs Church daily cut off, what else would become of the Church?
Angels, and authorities, and powers, &c.] That is, both good and bad, the good willingly, the others against their will, are subject unto Christ.
1. For the good Angels;The good Angels are subject to Christ. If such glorious Creatures be subject to Christ, then
1. How great a one is he,Use 1. and how glorious is his Kingdom? He that hath Kings and Princes under him, is an Emperor; What's he then, to whom angels, and authorities, and powers, are subject?
2. The greater honor and dignity our head hath,Use 2. the more joy and comfort may we have, which are his members.
Again,They watch and guard us. In that he appoints them to watch and guard us, then
1. What a great honor is this to us? as if a plain Countrey man should dine at a Noble mans Table,Use 1. and have great Gentlemen with gold Chains to attend him?
2. How may we hereby be comforted and encouraged against Satans malice.Use 2.
3. We must keep within compass,Use 3. and walk carefully in Gods ways: we must take heed we do no uncomely thing, lest thereby we make the Angels loath to attend on us, or to carry ill tidings of us to God, or be Messengers of some displeasure against us; They themselves are very zealous for God, and accordingly look that we should so be.
2. For the evil Angels,The bad Angels are subject to Christ. I shall not need to speak of their number, power, subtilty, malice, watchfulness to do hurt, as neither of their office and work, which is to hinder all good, and further all evil. Note we onelyonly,Col. 2. 15.
1. That all these are subject Christ,Use 1. and he hath triumphed over them.
2. That as its no small honor to him our head to have all these under him;Use 2. so the meditation hereof cannot but be comfortable to us, both in regard of him and our selves.
3. That those evil Angels cannot do that evil they would,Use 3. and if they cannot, much less can their instruments; If even the Devils be subject to him, that they cannot do what they would, much more can he repress the rage of wicked men, notwithstanding both of their malice and power: But of these points I have spoken at large by way of Catechism.
CHAP. IV.
THis Chapter consists of three parts:The contents of the Chapter 1. An Exhortation to Sanctification in general, being the common duty of all Christians, and belonging to all that shall be saved, from Verse 1. to Verse 7. 2. An Exhortation to some particular duties of Sanctification, from Verse 7. to Verse 12. 3. A comfort against persecution, or an encouragement to the suffering of affliction for Christs and Righteousness sake, from thence to the end of the Chapter.