Exposition Upon 1 Peter, Biblical exegesis · Chapter 5 · Verse 10 – Verse 11
Verse 10. But the God of all grace, who hath called us into his eternal glory by Christ Jesus after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.
HEre followeth the conclusion of the Epistle, in which the Apostle prayeth for them whom he hath taught, and desires an effectual blessing upon that he hath written to them: Thereafter he commendeth to them his Epistle, and lays down the sum of it, next sends his salutations, then wisheth them to love each other, and testifie the same, & lastly with a short prayer for them, takes his leave of them.
In this Verse he prays for them, even that God would daily increase them in all grace toward perfection, and at last perfect them, after the few afflictions that he hath here appointed them to go through; and in the mean time, that he would confirm, strengthen and stablish them in knowledge, obedience and faith, that they might not be removed nor shaken through their troubles, from their good beginnings. Hereof also he rendreth some Reasons, 1. Because he of whom he begs the same, is the God and Author of all grace; not of every kinde of grace onelyonly, but of every measure of grace. 2. He hath already shewed them mercy, and bestowed grace on them, and called them out of the world, and from their corrupt estate of blindeness, unbelief, impenitency, to the knowledge, faith & obedience of the gospel, & of Jesus Christ, therefore he will go on and finish his work: And in this 2d Reason are sundry others couched; as that he hath called them to his eternal glory, & therefore wil not leave them in the mid way; that he hath called them in Christ, and therefore that its firm & fast, and cannot be shaken; so that this is a most excellent and sweet comfortable prayer, worthy to be remembred of us all,Note. & laid up with us for ever. Herewith a couple of ancient good Christians (that I knew, and who were as full of troubles, and as deeply tryed as ever I knew any) did wonderfully comfort themselves, and were so affected therewith, as I never visited them (as I did often) either together, or when God sundred them, but they had this in minde, and would utter it so feelingly, as they declared themselves much sustained thereby.
From the coherence, in that the Apostle prayeth for the people, and for a blessing on that he had taught them, note, That
Its the duty of Gods faithful Ministers,Gods Ministers must further their peoples Salvation by all means. to seek to advance and further the Salvation of Gods people by all means: Thus must they do by Preaching, Example, Prayer, &c. Thus did Moses and Aaron, Ezra, Num. 6. 24.Jeremiah, the Apostles, &c. so ought we for the gathering of more to God, for the edification of those that be won, for the comfort of the feeble, the rowzing up of the drowsie, the reformation of what is amiss, the daily encrease of that that is good: This is no small forwarding of the work, of no small avail with God: Thus shall we manifest our zeal to the glory of God, our unfained and hearty love to the peoples souls, and this will be for our own discharge, that we may have boldness and a good conscience.
Hereupon people must do for their Ministers,Use. both for love to him, and to requite like for like, and for their own benefit, for encrease of knowlede in the Word of God, Wisdom, Zeal, Love, Patience, and all graces that may tend to further the work of Salvation in them, the fruit whereof shall redound to them; for according as the Minister is, much after are the people, and for direction and assistance every time he is to preach to them: This no doubt is much neglected on both hands; and the Ministery of the Word must be followed with prayer, for the success thereof depends upon Gods blessing, and therefore is to be obtained by hearty prayer: It depends not on the Preacher, if he could speak with the tongue of men and Angels, he could not of himself open the eyes or convert the soul: The Apostles had power to work miracles, to heal the sick, cast out Devils, &c. but to convert the soul,1 Cor. 3. 6. that God reserved ever in his own hands: Paul may plant, and Apollos water, but God giveth the encrease: The best Preacher in the world cannot with all his skill, grace and pains, change the heart of his wife, sons, daughters, or dearest friends. True, the Minister may help or hinder by the maner of his preaching and living, as if he Preach ignorantly, confusedly, coldly, or mingle unsavory and galling speeches, or live badly, he may hinder the likelihood of good by the word; and if a Minister preach understandingly, orderly, feelingly, zealously, and live thereafter, he provides the medicine the better, and more fit to work, yet he cannot convert a soul; If we meet with any speeches sounding that way,1 Tim. 4. 16. as to Timothy, Thou shalt both save thy self and others, &c. we are to understand them to be meant instrumentally:See also Acts 26. 18. The work is the Lords, and above all created power, yet a greater work it is, then the making of the world: Nor doth it depend on any hearer, be he of what wit, memory, dexterity, education soever, for even such have long lived under the Ministery, and yet are as far from conversion as ever; we are by nature blinde, dead in sin, not onelyonly not apt to any good, but full of Rebellion: See Deut. 29. 4. Jer. 24. 7. Acts 11. 21. and 16. 14. Therefore the success of the Word depends on blessing, which is to be sought by humble and hearty Prayer, the same being all in all.
Its a good sign in the Minister that he hath a desire his Ministery should prosper; when he is not content to Preach onelyonly, but follow it with Prayer.Simile. As women having set herbs or sown seeds in a dry ground, following them with the watering Pot, have a minde they should grow; and as we sow not our seeds in the field, but we ask Gods blessing thereon, so much more should we on this precious seed: Thus shall it appear that they trust not in themselves, and that they are desirous that their Preaching should not be in vain.
So ought the people; for the blessing of the Word, namely, the fruit of it is all in all; what though we hear never so much, if the same be not made effectual to us, the threats to humble us, the promises to comfort and quicken us, the sins forbidden to bring us into an hatred of them, and love of the contrary duties, and we be so altered by that we are: This is the end of all; See Jonah 3. 5, 6, &c. Acts 2. 37. 1 Cor. 14. 25. Therefore they should, as pray earnestly before that the Word may be made of force and efficacy; so afterwards must their mindes run on the things delivered, and their Prayers in their Families by themselves, relish of the same: But what neglect is there this way? How few pray before, and how many after they have heard, suffer worldly business or pleasures to put out the same? Oh! there is no such care that this precious seed should take root and fructifie; we complain of our bad crops, but not of this, yet here there's not onelyonly a loss if it do not take root, but it turns hurt; by to every Sermon a step …igher Heaven or Hell: What Crop can we shew to God of all the Sermons we have heard? we crave Gods blessing upon our bodily food, how much more ought we on this Spiritual?
The God of all grace,] God is the author and give… of all grace.He is so called of the effect, because he is the Author and Giver of all grace; he is the Author of all that may be called good, which may be divided into gifts and graces in this world; gifts of all kindes, as of body, minde, &c. In him we live, he makes the Sun shine on us, &c. also gifts of health, strength, beauty; so of the minde,See Exod. 31. as natural vertues, also gifts to rule Kingdoms, as to Saul; so of Trades, Arts, Sciences, nay, of gifts yet higher then those, knowledge, understanding of the Scripture, Prophesie, Prayer; yea extraordinary too, as of miracles: So is he also of graces, which are such as accompany Salvation, and he bestoweth onelyonly on his Elect, as saving knowledge,Rom 15. 13. and 16. 20. faith, peace of conscience, joy in the Holy Ghost, repentance, love, meekness, patience, &c.2 Cor. 1. 3. Hence it is that sometimes he is termed the God of hope, sometimes the God of peace, sometimes the God of all comfort, so here the God of all grace: He gives every good gift and grace, and not that onelyonly, but every measure of every grace,Iohn 1. 16. the beginning, continuing, and finishing grace: Whatsoever grace is in Saint or Angel,Eph. 4. 7. is the gift of God, either by Creation, as to the Angels and Adam, or sin by restitution: What grace is in any man alive, of what kinde or measure soever, is onelyonly of God, for we are so far from having any of our selves, that we have nothing but the quite contrary, even Opposition and Rebellion, none else ever did, or can give grace: The best Parents cannot convey grace into their Children by generation; nor can the best Minister into any by preaching or counsel, God alone is the giver hereof.
1. Every one that hath grace,Use 1. in what measure soever, must be humble and thankful, acknowledging the same to be onelyonly from God, and giving him the praise thereof: O be exceeding thankful for it, that he hath given it to thee, denying it to most; and to thee, as unfit to receive grace, as the worst in the world, and who didst no better deserve it, then they that shall never have it; and especially be thankful for it for the worth thereof, one dram of grace is of more worth then the whole world, its the quintescence of Gods favor, and like Pearls of great value in a little room. A true humble heart in the sight of thy misery, a little true faith in Christ, and Sanctification, with an hatred of all sin, and care to please God in all things, is worth a Kings Ransom, and an honest upright heart, careful to be be ruled by that it knows, is better then all knowledge without this.
2. Every one that is without it,Use 2. must endeavor for it: Whether goeth a woman with her pot or pail for water, but to the Fountain? so must thou have recourse unto God; there is grace enough in him, and he hath it to bestow, and its his honor so to do: But how shall we come by it, the Well is deep? God hath opened the Fountain of his grace in Christ Jesus, and conveys grace by the Conduits of the Word, Sacraments, Prayer, &c. so that its not lockt up in Heaven; wouldest thou therefore have thine heart humbled and broken, God can do the same, come to him, wait on him in his word for it? would'st thou believe thy sins are pardoned through Christ? would'st thou be changed, and have thy heart altered to hate every sin, to love whatsoever is good? would'st thou have grace against thy strongest corruptions, that thou could'st never master, and do duties to thy thinking impossible, as to love thine Enemies, abide persecution for the Truth, &c? come to him in the same word, and by prayer; he can do these things for thee: Why then is the world so graceless, seeing there is abundance in God?Psal. 4. 6. Its because men see not their emptiness of grace, and know not the worth thereof: They desire Health, Wealth, Honor, Pleasure, true grace they regard not, prize not: O that men did see themselves woful naked Creatures, without grace! They would not then content themselves with any shadow of grace, hearing, profession, a little restraint, some few gifts, &c. but labor indeed for grace.
3. The Servants of God that have obtained some measure of grace already,Use 3. should be provoked still to wait upon God for increase, for he gives all grace, the last, as well as the first and the middle: According therefore to our proceeding, let us beg fitting grace of God; Why, are there all kindes and measures of grace in God, and we have so little? we beg not earnestly, we open not our mouth wide, that God might fill it, we have not hunger-bitten hearts, we prize not grace.
Who hath called us,] Another Reason to perswade himself and them, that they should obtain this request of being confirmed to the end, even because God had already begun with them, and called them, that is, had pulled them out of the state of ignorance, unbelief, impenitency, into the state of grace, knowledge, repentance, &c.
Whom God means to save,Doctr. he calls them out of their sinful state to grace;Whom God will save, those he doth effectually call. There's an outward calling, and there's an inward calling: This last, through the operation of the Spirit going along with the outward means, is made effectual, as to Lydia.
This stands in three things, enlightning the understanding to conceive, opening the heart to believe, and changing the whole man from that it was before; not onelyonly he calls them, but awakens them; not onelyonly invites them to come, but gives them an heart to come: of this you may read Rom. 8. 30. 1 Pet. 1. 15. This is proper to Gods children, and is the work of God, none else can do it; without this there's no Salvation, as those that have this shall be certainly saved, this being a mark of their Election past, 2 Pet 1. 10. and of their glory to come, Rom. 8. 30.
Let every man examine himself,Use. whether he be effectually called (heretofore I have laid down the marks hereof) if thou findest thou art, then be of good comfort: Be thankful, for that God hath called thee, leaving others, there being no more worth or aptness in thee then in them; and study how to walk worthy of this high and holy calling, even in all zealous and godly conversation, not fashioning our selves like unto the world, from which we be called, but differing as much in our behavior, as we hope to do in our end, not defiling our selves with any evil, not yielding to our lusts, not doing any thing unbeseeming our holy calling; but as he is a holy God that hath called us, and its an holy Gospel whereby we are called, so we may be holy in all maner of conversation:Eph 1. 4. This is the end, as of our Election and Redemption;Luke 1. 75. so of our calling:Iam. 1. 18. So that we must not serve God coldly, who hath singled us out from the world, but look we be singular persons, a peculiar people to him.
On the other side, if our hearts tell us, that we be not effectually called, then is our case bad: Gods callings, which we have not obeyed, will be accusations against us. O how few be truly called? most hold on in a prophane and bad course; others having reformed some things, and thereupon counted themselves in a good estate, nay, given some good hopes, yet have after fallen shamefully; some to the world, some to open prophaneness, for there is no stay of a man till he be effectually called: O then entreat God now to work on your hearts, you know not whether you shall ever be called more or not: To day if ye will hear his voyce, harden not your hearts; listen to Gods voyce, call upon him to open thine eyes, and change thine heart. When thou comest to the Word, pray, O Lord, strike that stroke that may truly convert my Soul; yea, let all Gods mercies, and thy several afflictions and crosses, be as so many voyces calling thee to God, count them so, and listen and yield to them; and though heretofore thou hast turned the deaf ear to God, yet now let it be so no more.
Into his eternal glory,] Such as are effectually called shall partake of glory.The end why and whereunto they be called, even that they might have glory, not vanishing, but eternal glory, so that it was not possible, but that they should be saved: See 1 Thess. 2. 12. 2 Thess. 2. 13, 14. 1 Pet. 1. 3.
1. He that is effectually called is an happy man,Use 1. and of high dignity.
2. Let such walk worthy hereof,Use 2. glorifying God with all their might.
3. It should whe… on others to listen to the voyce of the Lords call:Use 3. What shall they lose? they shall come from sin and shame, from wrath and damnation, and shall be admitted into Gods favor, partake of grace here, and of glory hereafter. No marvel people be so loath to yield, and we have so many delays, and hard answers of them. Are they not shrewdly hurt to be called to this estate?
Now in that the Apostle useth this as an Argument, that the Lord would confirm, strengthen and stablish them, even for that he had called them, we may note, that
Whom God hath effectually called,God will not forsake them whom he hath called. he will never forsake, but continue them to the end: His nature is unchangeable, whom he loveth once, he loveth always to the end; we are indeed apt to fall away daily,Rom. 11. 29. but Christ hath prayed for us,1 Thess. 5. 23. and our salvation is not now in our own keeping.Iohn 17. 11.
By Christ Jesus] Christ is the way by which all good comes to us,All good comes to us by Christ. as our Election, so also our effectual calling.
1. Its therefore not from any merit of ours,Eph. 1. 4. but for Christs sake that we are called;Use 1. we must not be proud of our selves, but thankful unto God through Christ.
2. This also may comfort us,Use 2. we shall never fall, our calling hath such a sure foundation.
After that ye have suffered a while,] He prays that God would make them perfect, &c. but in the due time, even when they had passed the few afflictions and tryals he had appointed. Here note,
1. That we must go through troubles,Gods children must here suffer, before they can partake of heaven. ere we come to our perfection in Heaven. There's a time for all things; a time for Soldiers to fight, and a time for them to rest and enjoy the spoil after victory: The cross is the Christians companion. Many are the troubles of the Righteous,Psal. 34. and we must look for such in this world: It hath been the Kings-road and High way to Heaven,Iohn 16. 33. that sanctified way,Acts 14. 22. wherein from Abel until this time,2 Tim. 2. 12. all Gods Worthies (the Patriarchs, Prophets, Apostles,Reasons. Christ himself, &c.) have walked: Neither is this without cause, for afflictions serve to humble us for sins past, and fetch us from wandring (as the Shepherds dogs doth the sheep) whereof David had experience,Iob 33. 17. Psal. 22.Isa. 27. 9. and 119. They serve also to mortifie our lusts, tame our pride, subdue and kil our rebellious old man, helping us against it, which would else be too strong for us; so to hold us in compass when we be well, as an hedge of thorns. Children must be washed and made clean,Simil. though they cry, so must we from our sins; and as they by mustard, or the like, must be weaned from the dug, so must we by afflictions from the world, which we love too well; and as as there were no rule with children without the rod, so would we be unruly, were it not for afflictions: They also make us heavenly minded, and hereby our Faith, Patience, and such other graces are tryed, as whether we have such or not, whether more or less then we thought; yea, they serve to purifie and encrease that measure we have, for as standing waters gather mud, and bodies without exercise wax unhealthful, so but for afflictions we should be in a bad case. Hereby grace is made more active and fruitful, as the vine is by pruning.
1. Therefore we must be content to go this way to heaven,Use 1. and glad to: We must not think to have a new way strewed and paved, and covered, as it were, with carpets, when as the other Worthies of the Lord have waded to the ankles in blood.
2. How can they that give themselves to all jollity,Use 2. and put away all hearts grief, and do wholly give themselves to profits, pleasures, feasting, &c. How can these, I say, think they are going to Heavenward? They will have their will here, whatsoever befal them hereafter.
3. If any should hereupon doubt that they are not in the way to Heaven,Use 3. because they have no troubles, &c. What, have you no troubles? Are you not troubled with a rebellious and sinful heart? and fight you not with Principalities and Powers, and Temptations, that make you cry our sometimes, O wretched man that I am, &c? and do you never meet with ill tongues for the profession of the truth? you do: Then are not you without troubles, though it may be you have not had so great troubles as some: Well, thank God, and use prosperity well, and store your selves with grace against troubles come; It may be God hath spared you hithertil, because you are old vessels, too weak for new wine, in time you shall be met with. Besides, all are not in trouble at once; neither our whole life troubles, but God gives many breathings: Therefore discourage not your selves, neither pray for troubles, God knows what is best, we know not how fit we should be to bear them.
2. That the afflictions of Gods Children are but small;The afflictions of Gods children are small. They are so in respect of quantity and continuance, not so in respect of us, or of our strength; for small ones would be too great for us, if God did not assist us, and they be small in respect of that we have deserved Hell torments, or the joys of Heaven we be called to. Alas, they are not a flea-biting that any of Gods children endure here,Rom. 8. 18. to that they deserved,2 Cor. 4. 17. and the wicked shall suffer in Hell, nor to be compared to the least part of the joys of Heaven. And for the continuance, our life is but short, a span long, and in it we have many respices; See Psal. 30. 5. Isaiah 17. 14. and 54. What are sixty years to Eternity? as a drop of water to the whole Sea, as a Mote in the Sun to a Mountain:Isa. 4. 5. God moderates the afflictions of his Servants; if he deal with his Enemies he lays it on, let them bear it if they can, if they cannot,Rev. 2. 10, choose them, as Judas: The just time is set down for the godlies troubles; It shall not be as we will, nor as the Devil and his Instruments will; If as we would, then should they be so small, as we should be never the better; If as they, we should be spoiled: God will rule the matter, it shall be neither too much nor too little, but just enough for our best good.
We should praise God for his mercy and goodness,Use. that respects our weakness thus, and hath delivered us from the eternal torments we had deserved, and turned them into a few merciful afflictions for our good: If they press us any thing hard, then they are but short and small, and laboring for a good measure of faith, they will be the smaller? They are nothing to that we have deserved: Turn thine eyes downward to the torments of Hell, then lift up thy thoughts to the joys of Heaven, these will make us account them but small, and bear them quietly.
Make you perfect,] That is, lead you on daily towards perfection more and more; perfect is taken in two sences in Scripture, for upright, that hath perfection of parts and absolute, which is perfect also in degrees and measure; for parts, as a childe new born, so is a Christian in his first conversion:1 Cor. 3. 9. Absolute none can be here,Phil. 3. 13. aym at it and towards it they may, yet comparatively some are so called and counted,Gods people must labor for perfection. namely, they that have well profited in respect of novices.
We must labor to grow forward daily, and forgeting what we have attained,1 Thess. 4. 1. run forward as they in a race: we must neither be so proud,2 Thess. 1. 3. as to think we are perfect by and by (as some in their conversion do, not knowing they are but babes) nor yet so lazy, as to content our selves with any measure, how small soever, but joyn measure to measure (as a covetous man doth house to house) coveting Spiritual gifts, and growing in grace more and more; what man is content if he have but from hand to mouth, and scant that to live on, but desires rather a little elbow room, and to have a competency to live in some good handsom fashion, and to have for himself and his friends, and wherewith also to relieve the needy? and wiltst thou rest satisfied with any measure of grace, especially having the means of growing?
1. This rebukes them that be grown worse:Use. 1. O fearful! either they never began in truth, nor laid a good foundation, which is most to be feared (whom therefore it now concerneth to begin right and lay sure, for better begin twice, then perish once) or if they did, then it much concerns them to repent and amend,Rev. 2… 5. &c.
2. It rebukes such as stand at a stay,Use 2. like an Apple-tree in a cold clay ground; that lives, and it may be every year bears two or three shrunk Apples, but shoots not out her branches, nor bears plenty of good fair fruit as we desire; what's the reason? when we see a Beast in good Pasture, which hath not cast the old coat, we say its surfeit, it must have a drink; so are these surfeit with the love of the world, then which there is no greater bane to godliness: Its like a great high Ashtree, that will suffer no tender plant to grow thereby or thrive; another reason may be, for that they compare themselves with them that have less, or nothing in them; another, for that they neglect the means, or live under lean means, or they use the means carelesly, What a shame is this? we might have with care attained a far greater measure, so as our worst time might have been as good as our best was wont, as it proves with thrifty persons, who through Gods blessing come to have better fare any day, then they had at first on their best day: If a man should have an Apprentice many years, and he be worse and worse, or learn nothing, what would he say? were he likely to attain skill in his Trade? If God should call most of us to an account, alas, we have but small skill in the trade of Christianity.
3. It may comfort those that desire to grow forward and use the means carefully,Use 3. and mourn that they can do no better, and grow so poorly, surely they are like to thrive apace.
Stablish, strengthen, settle you,] Here he prays for their perseverance. Hence note, That
Its not enough for us to begin well,Christians must hold out to the end. but we must hold out to the end; neither is this either less necessary, or less difficult then the other.
Use all means diligently to this end,Use. and pray earnestly to God, for we shall have many opposites: Confirm your judgements in the truth, and keep you from Error; strengthen you in faith, that you be not removed from your stedfastness and faith in Christ the rock; stablish you in your good course and godly conversation: we shall meet with subtile deceivers, that will seek to ensnare and withdraw us, as the Galatians were misled,Gal. 3. 1. and those mentioned Acts 8. 10. They of the Separation trouble many honest people of a tender conscience, and in their first love, and yet have not sufficient knowledge to try what they say, but come with a great colour of zeal: Its a great trouble to be distracted in minde, therefore use the means, resort to those whose Ministery God hath blessed to convert your souls: And is not the Church and Gospel as well able, and as like to confirm you, as it hath been to beget you to the faith: Let us take heed of being removed from our Faith, either in general or in particular; let us take heed of being shaken and put from our good course, and drawn into evil through prosperity, or of being choked by preferment, or daunted by affliction and persecution.
Q. If a man having begun in truth, do use the means carefully, may he be assured of perseverance?
A. Some think that no man can have any such assurance, or hold out to the end, considering what man is in himself, what the Devil, what the World, &c. but though we be subject to fall away every hour, and if we should compare our selves with the oppositions of our Spiritual Enemies, we might even utterly despair, yet we are in a strong hand to be kept:Col. 3. 3. Our life is hid with Christ in God, we are kept by the power of God through faith unto Salvation:1 Pet. 1. 5. Those that are justified and sanctified, though of mean parts, yet are sure and safe; The least measure of grace shall stand, when the greatest gifts without grace shall fall away.
Verse 11. To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
HAving had occasion to speak of Gods mercy in Christ Jesus,Our Election and vocation should move us to praise God. he cannot but break out into praise and thanksgiving. Whence we may learn, That
Upon the consideration of our Election in Christ,Rev. 4. 8. as also our effectual Calling, &c. we must at no time cease praising the Lord; thus do the Saints and Angels in Heaven, and it will be our work there, which therefore we should begin here: We must labor throughout our whole course of life to glorifie God, yea, seeing Dominion and Power belongs unto Christ, herein is our comfort, herein the welfare of the Church of God, and every particular Christian, Christ bears the sway, else wo were to us.