By trusting and hoping in him 3. To follow the example of Christ and not to take it ill if they suffer wrongfully when as Christ himselfe was not free from afflictions v. 18. and did not onely suffer 1. By unjust men But 2. For unjust men ibid. Who is 1. More righteous and holy then they in doing good Not onely 1. In the flesh in the New Testament But 2. By his Spirit in the Old by inspiring Noah to preach repentance to those sinners of his time whereof 1. Some for not repenting are now damned in Hell v. 19. 2. Others upon repentance were saved by water v. 20. to which water Baptisme may be compared whose virtue doth consist Not 1. In the bare outward act of washing the outside of the body But 2. In cleansing the inside of the soule v. 21. 2. More powerfull in that though 1. He died in the flesh Yet v. 18. 2. He was quickned by the Spirit v. ibid. 3. More honourable in that he sits at Gods right hand v. last CHAP. IV. An Exhortation to many Christian duties taken from the Doctrine of our Redemption mentioned in the former Chapter As 1. To mortification of the flesh wherein we have 1. The motives to it which are 1. The consideration of the death of Christ v. 1. 2. The serious consideration of our former ill led lives v. 3. 2. The effect of it which is not the taking away 1. Of the very essence and being of sinne But 2. Of the power and dominion of it v. 1. 3. The meanes whereby it is wrought i. the preaching of the Gospel v. 6. 2. To the Devotion of the soule in prayer whereunto is required 1. The consideration of the day of judgement v. 7. 2. Vigilancy over the heart against drowsinesse and distracted wandring thoughts ibid. 3. To Charity 1. In thinking well of others 2. In speaking well of others 3. In doing well to others 1. In our owne private Houses by hospitality v. 9. in relieving the hungry and distressed Strangers 2. In Gods House the Church wherein those that are lawfully called to the Ministry are bound to doe good to the souls of others by their gifts in preaching Gods holy Word v. 10. which is to be delivered with that 1. Gravity 2. Reverence as may become it v. 11. 4. To patience in Afflictions where we may consider 1. Their nature what they are i. trials of our faith v. 12. 2. Their kinds which are 1. In estate as losse of riches 2. In body as losse of health 3. In name as slanders and reproaches v. 4.14 3. Their Causes which are 1. Bad as theft murther medling too much with other mens businesses v. 15. 2. Good as profession of Religion v. 16. for which Christians were persecuted in those Primitive times 4. Their Extent which is to all men good and bad v. 17. 5. Our behaviour and carriage in these afflictions which doth consist 1. In not wondring at them as new things that never happened to any but our selves v. 12. 2. In not being dejected and cast downe with them but rather rejoycing v. 13. 1. Because we have Christ for the Example of our sufferings ibid. 2. Because we shall have joy for the reward of our griefe ibid. 3. Because it is the lot of all Christians v. 17. 3. In submitting to Gods will in all our sufferings 4. In committing our selves and our cause to Gods care and protection in all distresses whatsoever v. last CHAP. V. 1. Other Duties 1. Of Ministers towards their flock which are 1. The constant instruction of them 2. The carefull government of them v. 2. to both which are required 1. Willingnesse of the mind ibid. 2. Honesty of the heart in respecting 1. Gods glory 2. The peoples good And not 3. Their owne gaine and profit ibid. 3. Their loving carriage towards them without insulting over them v. 3. To which duties is annexed their encouragement in their calling i. their reward v. 4. 2. Of the people 1. To the Ministers that they and especially the younger sort use a reverent carriage towards them v. 5. 2. To one another in using a friendly and a loving carriage to all without pride and insolency Because pride is 1. Hatefull to God ibid. 2. A hindrance to the receiving of his graces which are given onely to the humble ibid. 3. Of all both Pastour and flock to God Allmighty 1. In a patient bearing of afflictions sent by him 1. Because it is in vaine to resist him who is all-powerfull v. 6. 2. Because meeknesse in afflictions is the way to deliverance from them v. ibid. 2. In a sincere relying on him and trusting in him for deliverance v. 7. 3. In keeping a strict watch over our selves that we may not be surprized by the temptations of Satan who is an Enemy 1. Cruell And 2. Subtile and industrious v. 8. 4. In arming our selves against his temptations with a lively faith and not thinking our selves the worse for them because they befall the best men v. 9. 2. The Apostles Conclusion of the Epistle wherein 1. His Prayer and therein 1. The Preface of it wherein are 1. Gods titles 2. Gods goodnesse v. 10. 2. The matter of it that they may persevere and continue in Gods grace ibid. 3. The Conclusion of it Gods praise v. 11. 2. The Party by whom he sent it i. Sylvanus with his commendation v. 12. 3. The Men with whom he was and the place where he was when he writ it and his Farewell v. 13 14. The Analysis of the 2. Epistle generall of Saint PETER CHAP. I. 1. His Salutation of the same persons writ to in his former Epistle wherein is 1. His calling and this 1. Generall a Christian v. 1. 2. Particular an Apostle ibid. 2. Their calling which is the profession of the Christian faith whereof consider 1. The worth of it as being pretious ibid. 1. In respect of its Object i. Christ 2. In respect of its End i. the salvation of our soules 2. It s comparison with the faith of the Apostle which is the same 1. In respect of its virtue v. ibid. Though not 2. In respect of its degree 3. The cause of it Gods mercy in that it is Not 1. A worke of our selves But 2. A gift of God through the righteousnesse of him and our Saviour ibid. 3. His prayer for them v. 2. 1. For grace and peace ibid. 2. For their increase in both v. ibid. 2. His Exhortation of them to holinesse of life 1. In leaving off the sinnes which they have followed in the time past v. 4. 2. In becoming new men for the time to come by a constant endeavour to get by the assistance of Gods grace 1. A working and no bare and naked faith but such as is joyned with a good life v. 5. 2. Knowledge in the mysteries of Religion v. ibid. 3. Temperance in prosperity in the moderate use of all temporall blessings v. 6. 3. Patience in adversity in the
is eternall happinesse in Heaven v. 1. 2. The meanes unto that end 1. Mortification of sinne by the death of Christ v. 3. 2. Vivification and newnesse of life by the resurrection of Christ v. 1. 3. What they are to avoid in their mortification 1. Fornication and in it 1. The outward acts i. uncleannesse 2. The inward acts inordinate affection concupiscence v. 5. 2. Covetousnesse whereby men trust in money as in their God ibid. 3. The sinnes 1. Of the heart anger malice 2. Of the tongue 1. Censuring detraction speaking ill of others 2. Obscene talke 3. Lying v. 8 9. 4. Why they are to avoid these sinnes 1. Because of the punishment which will be inflicted for such sinners v. 6. 2. Because of their conversion from those sinnes so that their newnesse of life requires new manners and that they should not any more follow their old sinfull courses v. 7.9 5. What they are to doe in their justification i. newnesse of life i. the putting on i. practising 1. Of mercy in relieving those that are in want v. 12. 2. Of meeknesse patience c. towards those that have wrong'd us 1. In enduring the wrongs 2. In forgiving the wrongers after the example of Christ v. 13. 3. Of charity which is the perfection of of virtues wherein they are linked together v. 14. 4. Of a peaceable and quiet carriage and behaviour amongst all men v. 15. for these reasons 1. Because peace was established betwixt them being Gentiles and the Jewes who were formerly at odds ibid. 2. Because they were bound to live peaceably to testifie their thankfulnesse for that peace established amongst them by being made one Church who were formerly enemies ibid. 6. Why they are to practice these virtues in their newnesse of life 1. Because of their Election 2. Because of their Baptisme whereby they were consecrated unto holinesse 3. Because of Gods love unto them to whom they ought to testifie their love by a new life v. 12. 7. The rule of all their actions words and thoughts i. the Scripture out of which he bids them gather matter 1. Of instruction v. 16. 2. Of admonition v. 16. 3. Of praise v. 16. 8. The end of their Actions c. which should be Gods glory v. 17. 9. Particular Family duties 1. Of wives to husbands whose subjection is not 1. Absolute in all things But 2. Conditionall and limited i. in all things that are not displeasing to God v. 18. 2. Of husbands to their wives who 1. Are commanded to love them 2. Are forbid to be harsh to them either in 1. Thoughts v. 19. 2. Words v. 19. 3. Deeds v. 19. 3. Of children to their parents of whom they have their 1. Being 2. Nourishment 3. Education and therefore are bound to be obedient to them v. 20. 4. Of fathers to their children who are forbid to provoke their children to anger which may be done v. 21. 1. By denying them necessary things 2. By laying too heavy commands on them 3. By sharpe rebukes when they are not faulty 5. Of servants to their masters to whom he 1. Exhorts them to doe true and faithfull service and not onely whilst the masters eye is on them v. 22. But 2. Encourageth them to it by the promise of a reward in Heaven v. 24. CHAP. IV. 1. An Exhortation 1. In particular to masters to doe justice to their servants with this motive because they are servants too to Christ their master who is 1. Holy and hates injustice 2. Omnipotent and can punish it v. 1. 2. In generall to all 1. To be constant in prayer 1. For themselves v. 2. 2. For him and other Ministers that they might preach the Word boldly v. 3. 2. To be wary circumspect and prudent in their carriage v. 5. 3. To be discreet in their talke v. 6. 2. The Reasons why he sent Tychicus and Onesimus to them whom he highly commends for their fidelity in the Ministry to make them more gracious with them v. 7.2 were 1. To let them know his imprisonment at Rome by Nero and his condition in it v. 7.9 2. To let him know their state and condition v. 8. 3. To comfort them ibid. 1. That his affliction might noâ— make them sorrow too much 2. That it might not discourage them and make them fall off from the Gospell 3. Courteous Remembrances and Commendations from him and some particular persons 1. To the Colossians in generall as from 1. Aristarchus his fellow prisoner v. 10. 2. Marcus 3. Jesus called Justus for his integrity all which did 1. Helpe him in his Ministry 2. Comfort him in his misery v. 11. 4. Epaphras their Minister whom he commends to make them love him the more v. 12 13. 5. Saint Luke the Physitian v. 14. 2. To some of them in particular as 1. To the brethren in Laodicea v. 15. to whom he desires them to communicate this Epistle v. 16. 2. To Nymphas and his religious family v. 15. 4. A Memorandum 1. To Archippus not to be slothfull in his Ministry v. 17. 2. To them not to forget him in his imprisonment v. 18. 5. A Benediction ibid. The Analysis of the 1. Epistle of Saint PAUL to the THESSALONIANS CHAP. I. After his wonted Salutation in the name of Sylvanus Timotheus and his owne to confirme his doctrine by the approbation of them two v. 1. and benediction ibid. 1. He expresseth his thankes to God for them v. 2. the cause whereof was 1. Their Faith which was not a bare one without good workes v. 3. 2. Their Charity which refuseth to undergoe no toyle and paine and cost ibid. 3. Their Hope which by the expectation of eternall blisse causeth patience in afflictions ibid. 4. His assurance that they were the elect people of God 1. Because they received the Gospell not onely in their eares but hearts v. 5. 2. Because they chearfully suffered for it after the example of him and our Saviour v. 6. 3. Because they by their examples life and doctrine did encourage others to sticke close to the Gospell as those of Macedonia and Achaia 2. He telleth of their fame and great name that they had through the whole World so that there was no necessity of his commendation of them 1. For their readinesse in receiving the Gospell preached by him v. 9. 2. For their conversion from Heathenisme wherein they served Idols which were dead Gods to the service of the true living God ibid. 3. For their earnest expectation of Christs second coming to judgement v. last which made them the more patient and couragious in their afflictions CHAP. II. 1. His Commendation of himselfe without any vaine-glory wherein 1. He sheweth 1. The good successe of his preaching v. 1. 2. His courage in preaching without feare of any persecution v. 2. 3. His sincerity without base flattery of any though never so great v. 4 5. 4. His Freedome 1. From vainglory in not making the peoples applause the end of his pâ—eaching
greatnesse of mercies already received in that we Christians doe not live 1. Under the threats and terrours of the Law which was given 1. With a fearfull sound of the trumpet 2. With dreadfull flames of fire 3. With terrible stormes v. 18 19. But 2. Under the sweet mercies of the Gospell which doth not 1. Threaten death to sinners But 2. Promise life and pardon if they be penitent through the bloud of Christ which doth not cry 1. For vengeance as Abels did But 2. For mercy and pardon v. 24. 2. The greatnesse of judgements which will be inflicted on us if we doe not walke answerable to this great mercy 1. In respect of the greatnesse of the person of Christ for if the contempt of Moses who was but a Servant upon Earth was severely punished how much more will the despising of the mercies by Christ Jesus our great Master in Heaven v. 25 2. In respect of the nature of God who though 1. He He hath beene mercifull to us in giving us his Sonne to satisfie for our sinnes Yet 2. He will be just in punishing us if we presume upon that mercy and walke not in some measure worthy of it v. 29. CHAP. XIII The Conclusion of the Epistle 1. With an Exhortation of them to several virtues as 1. Such as concerne themselves 1. In body as chastity v. 4. 2. In estate as contentednesse v. 5. 3. In mind and judgement as a setlednesse and constancy not to be led away with superstitious doctrines concerning the observation of Mosaicall rites in abstaining from certain kinds of meats v. 9. 2. Such as concerne others 1. In generall all men as 1. Wishing well to all v. 1. 2. Doing well to all v. 16. 2. In particular concerning some 1. Those who for the most part are either our equals or inferiours as 1. Hospitality of distressed travellers v. 2. 2. Charity to prisoners v. 3. 3. Prayers for the distressed v. 18. 2. Those who are our superiours as the Ministers of the Gospell as 1. Obedience to their government v. 7.17 2. Imitation of their virtues v. 17 With a servent prayer for them v. 20 21. for Gods 1. Sanctifying grace 2. Assisting grace With the good newes of Timothy's liberty v. 23. and his usuall salutation and benediction v. 24 25. The Analysis of the Generall Epistle of Saint JAMES CHAP. I. In this Epistle which was writ to the afflicted and dispersed Jewes after their captivities by Saint James who was 1. Not the sonne of Zebedee But v. 1. of this Chapter 2. Of Alpheus v. 1. of this Chapter He speaketh 1. Of the evill of Affliction and 1. Of our behaviour in it which must be 1. With patience whereof 1. The cause is faith v. 3. 2. The perfection which is perseverance to the end v. 4. 2. With chearfulnesse in that 1. Though he be low one way in being afflicted v. 9. Yet 2. He is exalted another way in having interest in Christ Jesus ibid. 2. Of our way to get the knowledge of the Author effects and benefits of this affliction which is prayer v. 5. which if it be made 1. With faith and confidence in God that he will grant it It will be 2. Successefull because God is bountifull and liberall to grant v. 5 6 7 8. 3. The benefit by it eternall joy for momentary sorrow v. 12. 2. The evill of Prosperity which is pride and vanity implyed in the virtue which the rich are bound to give God thankes for i. humiliâ—y which virtue is got by a serious consideration of the vanity of all earthly things which are compared to the flowers of the field v. 10 11. 3. The evill of Sinne and the cause of it which is 1. Our owne naturall corruption which 1. Draweâ—h us from that which is good v. 14. 2. Entiseth us to that which is evill ibid. And not 2. God who is not 1. The Author of evill But 2. Of every good thing 1. Temporall 2. Spirituall and in particular of our regeneration by the preaching of the Word v. 18. by which great gift of regeneration being received we are bound to doe the workes thereof 1. In avoiding those common sinnes 1. Of hearing 2. Of speaking 1. Unprofitable 2. Angry and passionate talke v. 14. 2. In the diligent hearing of Gods Word v. 21 22. 3. Serious meditation of Gods Word v. 21 22. 4. Faithfull practice of Gods Word v. 21 22. in the looking into the glasse of Gods Word not 1. Slightly to see our sinnes and presently after to forget them without any care to amend them like those that slightly look into glasses to see the faults of their faces and afterwards never mend them v. 23 24. But 2. Seriously with resolution to amend all v. 25. And to be a Christian not onely 1. In outward shew and profession of Religion But 2. In the true exercise of it 1. In keeping in the tongue from wronging others by detraction and bitter talke v. 26. 2. In stretching out the hand to the charitable reliefe of afflicted people as fatherlesse and widowes v. 27. 3. In living a life free from all scandall ibid. CHAP. II. How Christians should esteeme and thinke of others 1. For their riches and for these onely men are not to be honoured because rich men are usually 1. Oppressours v. 6. 2. Contemners of Religion ibid. 2. For their poverty and for this no man is to be scorned and contemned 1. Because God respects the poore in bestowing his graces upon them often in a more plentifull manner then upon the rich v. 5. 2. Because Charity commands us to love them v. 8. 3. Because the uncharitable contempt of them is the breach of the Law though all the other parts of the Law be performed v. 9 10 11. 4. Because mercifull judging of these men without scorned and hatred will be rewarded v. 13. 3. For their outward profession of their faith and for this onely men are not to be esteemed true believing Christians for where there is not a good life answerable to their outward shâ—w of Beligion there is no true faith for faith which doth jâ—stifie is not 1. A bare naked and historicall faith for this 1. Doth helpe others no more then wishing the poor meat doth fill their bellies v. 15 16. 2. Doth not distinguish a man from a Devill v. 19. But 2. A working faith which by good workes doth 1. Declare and testifie it selfe before men v. 18. 2. Justifie us before God as it did 1. Abraham not for bare believing but for doing i. in offering up his sonne v. 23. 2. Rahab not onely for a bare beliefe of Gods promises but for her good workes in entertaining the Spies sent by Joshua v. 25. 3. Preserve its life in the exercise of it selfe by good workes which though they be not 1. The soule of faith which is the cause of them Yet 2. They are the vitall spirit and breath of faith whereby the life of it may be