Exposition Upon 1 Peter, Biblical exegesis · Chapter 5 · Verse 12
Verse 12. By Silvanus, a faithful Brother, unto you (as I suppose) I have written briefly, exhorting and testifying that this is the true grace of God wherein ye stand.
ANother part of the conclusion, namely, A commendation of his Epistle: 1. From the Messenger he sends it by, Silvanus, whom he commends for a faithful Christian and Minister, and one that loved them well, and was careful for them, as he was perswaded, and saw cause to move him so to think. 2. He sets down the sum of his Epistle, consisting of two parts: 1. His testifying by infallible Arguments, That that was the true Religion and way of Salvation, which they believed and yet stood in; though there were other false Religions, yet was this the onelyonly true Religion. 2. His exhorting of them earnestly, not to suffer themselves to be removed from the same by any means whatsoever; so that he wrote not about trifles, but about the main, namely, To signifie and prove to them the true Religion, and to perswade them to constancy therein.
By Silvanus,] The Apostles had some to attend them, and assist them to write and send to the Churches; not for pomp, but necessary use and furthering of the work: This grew after to pomp and state under Popery; but pomp and state beseems not the Ministers of the Gospel, howsoever, its meet that they should have necessary furtherance.
He sends this Epistle by this Silvanus, whom he so highly commends, he pickt him out of purpose; for he would not commend such a jewel, a prime piece of the Churches treasure, to every ordinary person; he also was fit to certifie them of the Apostles minde therein, and preach out of it to them.
Its meet holy things should be in the handling of holy persons:Holy things should be handled by holy persons. See 1 Tim. 3. Eli's sons made the people loath the Sacrifice of the Lord: Even the meanest Officer in the Church is to be of some understanding, and of sober, honest conversation, not a base person, Swearer, Drunkard, &c. its a loathsom thing to see such, having any thing to do with Church-businesses.
A faithful Brother,] He was a good and faithful Christian, and a faithful Brother in the Ministry, good both in his general and particular calling; the one is the ground and tryal of the other: He that is no good Christian,Note. can be no good Magistrate, Minister, Housholder, &c. and he that is no good Magistrate, &c. is no good Christian: In that the Apostle gives him such a good commendation,
1. It teacheth every one of us to labor for a good name and report in the Church of God,A good name is to be labored for. as Job, Zachary and Elizabeth, Barnabas, Obadiah, See Heb. 11. 2.with others had: This is better then good oyntment, then much gold and silver:Eccles. 7. 1. What a blessing while we live, and after death a fragrant memory?Prov. 22. 1.
2. It rebuketh those that live so badly, as the Church nor Charity it self cannot speak well of them; as also such as live so doubtfully and suspiciously, as in some things they give some hope, in others they dash it again, so that there's none can give any full testimony of them: Such provide ill for themselves.
Unto you] He was very loving and faithful to them,Such as are faithful in the Ministry, draw their peoples hearts to them. hereof the Apostle informs them, that they might esteem the more of him, and profit the better by him: Such as are faithful in their Ministery, draw their peoples hearts to them and their Ministery, whereby they receive much comfort, as their people profit.
1. This rebukes the great unfaithfulness of numbers of Ministers,Use 1. they have little care or conscience for their peoples good. But
2. If Ministers be loving and faithful to them,Use 2. then ought they again to regard them much, lest else they discourage them in their Ministery.
As I suppose] The Original word signifies more, as by casting mine accounts I finde, or by laying things together I can gather; yet not such a confident word but kept within bounds, whatsoever might fall out.We ought to speak and think so well of others as we have ground for. Here note,
1. That we ought to think and speak as well of Ministers and others, as we have cause, and as we have grounds to warrant us, not keeping from them their due regard and commendation, much less speak evil of them that deserve well.
But herein great numbers fail,Use. with whom one infirmity in their brethren, shall drown their many good graces; yea, are ready to hear ill reports and believe them, though they be never so uncertain or ungrounded.
2. That we ought to be wise and wary in our commendations:We ought to be wary in our commendations. Many have repented that they have so largely commended others, when as they did not walk answerably; much hurt hath come this way: We had need be wary, except we have more then ordinary experience, for the heart of man is deceitful, and many good beginnings to the eye, have not proved so well; yet if any should not prove well, it can be no great disparagement to them that have spoke well of them, so they have been moderate therein, for all the Apostles were deceived in Judas, as Paul of Demas.
I have written] The Apostles great care of their good: Having entred them, he would confirm them; and now, that he could not preach to them, he writes, which would stick to them, and whereunto they might resort again and again at their pleasure.
Hence I might speak of the profitableness of writing Epistles,The profitableness of writing Epistles. how much good Gods servants may do to each other being absent, by Prayers, by Letters: How much good hath been done by the Letters of the Fathers, and of godly men in latter times, as of Calvin, Beza, the Martyrs, &c. who knoweth not? what a fault is it that its no more used, as Parents to their Children being absent, friends to friends, &c. whereas wanton Letters, and Letters about worldly businesses are frequent enough.
Written] Thus God moved the hearts of his Servants, and assisted them extraordinarily to pen the parts of holy Scripture: O what a a benefit it is that we have the whole, and most holy Word of God written and before us, and how should we in token of thankfulness be exercised therein? But most busie their heads with other matters, namely, Their worldly profits and pleasures, fools bables, in the mean time little using or regarding the Bible.
Briefly,] 1. Because he would have them the oftner in it, and take the more delight to read it over. 2. Because he sent Silvanus to open and unfold it at large,Heb. 13. 22. by preaching out of it, and making application thereof for their good.
Here see how God in his infinite wisdom hath provided us his Word,Gods wisdom in providing for us his Word, and goodness in ordaining Ministers to rereveal unto us his will therein. wherein is all his minde, and that in few words, to provoke us to be exercised therein; for if the Word had been written as large as we had need for our understanding, the world could not have contained the books that must have been written; but the Lord hath revealed his will briefly, laid down much in few words; yet for our further benefit, God hath Ordained the Ministery of his Word, and given gifts to men to preach it, expound it, apply it to every bodies use, so that both together do most happily: How should God have provided better for us? If therefore people profit not, their answer must be heavy.
Exhorting and testifying, &c.] These words afford sundry points; as
1. In that the Apostle testifieth by sound Arguments that they were in the right way,People must particularly know that the Religion they profess is the truth of God. note, that
Its needful for every one to know and be well assured of the Religion he professeth, that it is the truth of God, for there be many Religions, yet but one truth, miss that and perish; we must not go by guess in our Religion: Its not enough that we have the true Religion, except we know it to be so, that we be not wavering, and carried about with every wind of contrary Doctrine.
1. This rebukes those that take occasion,Use 1. because there be so many Religions, therefore they will meddle with none, but take their ease, and tarry till all agree.
2. It rebukes those that profess a Religion,Use 2. as all do, but know not whether it be truth or not, but believe as the Church believes, as they be told, but have no ground from the Word for the same: Turks may not, its death to question about their Religion; Papists may not, especially the Laity, who are forbid to read the Bible, or any good Book that way, but we may; yet how do the most in this Land profess the Gospel, which by Gods goodness is the truth indeed? alas, how few know and are able to prove it?
3. As its our duty to testifie and prove our Religion,Use 3. to be the onelyonly true way of Salvation; so its yours to know and acknowledge it, that if an Angel should come and inform you otherwise, you might not give ear to him.
2. In that the Apostle thought it not enough to prove to them that that was the true Religion they were in,Christians must persevere in the truth. but exhorted them to continue constant in the same, note, that
They that know the truth, ought so highly to esteem it, and be so thankful to God for it,Prov. 23. 23. as they never suffer themselves to be removed therefrom, whether for hope of gain, or fear of trouble, &c. we must buy the truth, not sell it. The Martyrs would rather lose their lives then the truth; if we let that go, we lose our Souls.
3. In that the Apostle takes such care and pains with those Jews that now stood in the truth, to hold them therein, we may note, that
Its an hard matter for those to hold out stedfast,Constancy in well-doing difficult. that have begun to do well, for our heart is deceitful, the Devil is subtile and strong, and there are also many Seducers, many baits, many discouragements, &c.
What are they then that say,Use. there's too much Preaching and Reading? They know nothing that belongs to true Christianity. A little means may serve to keep men in a loose, carnal, and prophane course, but to keep us in a good course, there must be precept upon precept, line upon line, &c. and all little enough.
Therefore Ministers ought to continue with all diligence, not onelyonly to gain home more, but even to hold on and confirm them that be gained, that they fall not away into error, sin and security, and people have also need to use all good means to this end.
4. In that his Epistle consisteth in testifying by sound reasons, for the confirmation of their judgements, and then of the Exhortation for the whetting on of their affections; Note, That
Both parts are necessary in Preaching,Doctrine and Application must go together. the one still to accompany the other.
1. Ministers therefore must labor in and for both.
2. People must make use and account of both,Use. 1. regard Doctrine for knowledge,Use 2. and suffer Exhortation for practice: Some cannot endure Application and Exhortation, but are all for knowledge and to feed the understanding, and it appears in their lives, for they cannot endure, but to live at elbow-room, as they list, notwithstanding the profession some make in hearing Sermons.