discerned v. last CHAP. IIII. We must be meeke in reproving others 1. Because we our selves are faulty as well as others v. 1. 1. Especially in many things v. 2. 2. In particular in not governing our tongues the government whereof 1. Sheweth discretion ibid. 2. Is difficult 1. In respect of its power over other things wherein it is compared to a bit of a bridle and a helme of a ship which like the tongue are 1. Little in substance 2. Great in operation 2. In respect of the unrulinesse of that power which is more then that of wild beasts 3. Is necessary 1. To prevent dissentions murthers and miseries which proceed from the unrulinesse of it v. 6. 2. To keepe it from that unnaturall monstrous way of venting things quite contrary as piety and impiety cursing and blessing whereas it was made onely for blessing v. 9 10 11 12. 2. Because to be bitterly and enviously consorious is not 1. Heavenly wisedome whose fruits are 1. Peaceablenesse 2. Gentlenesse But 3. Easinesse to be intreated 4. Mercifulnesse v. 13 1â— 18. 2. Earthly and hellish v. 15. CHAP. IV. 1. Of the Flesh and the lusts thereof whose effects are 1. Quarrelling and contention v. 1. 2. Insatiablenesse with what they have v. 2. 3. Vaine and wicked prayers for riches Not 1. To supply their necessity But 2. To maintaine their roitousnesse v. 3. 2. Of the World and 1. The love of it which is spirituall adultery and enmity with God v. 4. 2. The pride in it which is hatefull to God v. 6. 3. Trust and confidence and joy in the riches of it more then in Gods providence which proceeds from a want of a serious consideration 1. Of the shortnesse of life 2. Of the uncertainty of riches v. 13 14 15. 4. Uncharitable speaking ill of others whereby men sinne 1. Against the Law in judging others Not 1. According to its rule But 2. According to our owne wils v. 11. 2. Against God in usurping that judgement of others upon them which belongs to him v. 12. 3. Of the Devill against whom we are 1. Encouraged to fight 2. Promised victory v. 7. 4. A Remedy against all these forementioned sins which is a turning unto God v. 8. with repentance which must be both 1. With outward weeping of the eyes v. 9. 2. With inward sorrow and humiliation of heart v. 10. CHAP. V. 1. Comforts to the afflicted 1. By telling them the calamities and judgements that will befall their Oppressours i. the rich men of the world whereof 1. Some are too covetous in hoording up riches and letting them rather rust and canker and corrupt then relieve the needy by being laid out v. 2 3. 2. Others are too prodigall in spending their wealth to maintaine their sensuall lusts and pleasures v. 5. 3. Others are deceitfull in not paying the hirelings their wages v. 4. 4. Others are Oppressours of the godly v. 6. 2. By exhorting them to patience 1. By laying before them the patience of Husbandmen who in their labours and toyles wait patiently for the harvest v. 7. 2. By telling them their speedy deliverance v. 8. 3. By shewing them that afflictions are no new and strange unusuall things for they have besalne 1. The Prophets of old who were patient under them v. 10. 2. Job who is famous unto this day for his patience v. 11. 4. By telling them the reward of patience which is happinesse ibid. 5. By shewing the danger of impatience in that it causeth swearing and cursing from both which he disswades them most earnestly v. 12. 2. Directions what to be done in all times as 1. In times of prosperity praising of God for it 0208 1440 V 2 v. 13 2. In times of adversity praying to God for comfort 0208 1440 V 2 ibid. 3. In times of sicknesse and infirmity 1. Of the body sending as well 1. For the Physitian of the soule to pray with the sick and for them v. 14. As 2. For the Physitian of the body 2. Of the mind when any is in an errour and this is 1. Confession made by the sinner to some that may either comfort or instruct him v. 16. 2. Prayer for him which is proved to be an effectuall remedy by the example of the powerfull prayer which Elias made v. 16 17. 3. Instruction of him to draw him from his erroneous wayes which will be next under God the salvation of his soule v. 19 20. The Analysis of the 1. Epistle generall of Saint PETER CHAP. I. 1. His Salutation wherein is shewne 1. His Condition what he is i. an Apostle c. v. 1. 2. Their Condition what they are i. converted Jewes whereof he was a Doctor as Saint Paul was of the Gentiles who are 1. Miserable in respect of this life as being dispersed and scattered by persecution ibid. 2. Happy in respect of the next life as as being seperated from the world by election v. 2. of which we may observe 1. The cause Gods decree ibid. 2. The markes and signes holinesse of life and this wrought by the Spirit ibid. 3. The meanes whereby it was wrought i. bloud of Christ Jesus ibid. 2. His prayer to God 1. For his graces to them ibid. 2. For the measure of those graces i. abundance ibid. 3. His praises of God 1. For their strong hope of a better life v. 3. wherein is laid downe 1. The cause of this hope which is 1. Not our merits But 2. Gods mercy ibid. 2. The certainty of it i. the resurrection of Christ ibid. 3. The benefits which we shall reape by this hope which are 1. Joy in afflictions in this life v. 6. 2. An inheritance in the next life which will not be like this earthly 1. Impure and fading But 2. Pure and everlasting v. 4. 2. For their faith where we may consider 1. It s nature 1. In supporting that hope in the midst of of all afflictions v. 5. which are 1. The triall of faith it selfe in this life v. 7. And will be 2. For the honour and glory of the faithfull at the day of judgement ibid. 2. In believing things not seene and not had as already enjoyed i. joyes in Christ Jesus v. 8. 2. It s reward salvation by Christ Jesus v. 9. Concerning which we may further observe 1. It s worth and excellency in that the Prophets made it their chiefe and maine study to know both 1. The substance of this salvation And 2. The circumstances of it viz. 1. The manner of Christs 1. Manifestation 2. Suffering in the flesh v. 11. 2. The time thereof ibid. 2. It s coming to passe in their dayes whereby they were more happy then the Prophets who did not live to see Christ in the flesh v. 12. 4. Their duty to God for his great mercy in having the manifestation of Christ in their dayes v. 13. and for other great benefits vouchsafed them which they ought to performe 1. In casting away all impediments and hindrances in their
meeke bearing of all afflictions v. ibid. 5. Godlinesse towards God in serving him ibid. 6. Charity 1. In a more especiall manner to our brethren of the same profession v. 7. 2. In a more generall manner to all men whatsoever ibid. 3. The Reasons of his Exhortation 1. Because we are engaged to live holy lives by the goodnesse of God to us which sufficiently appeareth 1. By his gifts which 1. Are all things belonging to our temporall and spirituall life v. 3. 2. Are wrought through knowledge in Christ Jesus ibid. 2. Because by his reward of those gifts which is exceeding great promises v. 4 2. Because we are called 1. To live holy lives here That we may 2. Live happy lives hereafter v. 3. 3. Because by a holy life we are made like unto God Not 1. According to his Divine Nature and Essence as if we had thereby the Godhead in us But 2. According to his Divine Image in righteousnesse and purity of the soule v. 4. 4. Because the knowledge of Christ without a good life is 1. No true knowledge for this is fruitfull in a good life v. 8. But 2. False hypocriticall and boasting in a meer shadow and blindnesse v. 9. 5. Because a holy life doth strengthen our assurance of our Election v. 10. 6. Because a holy life is the Pathway to Heaven v. 11. 4. The Earnestnesse of his Exhortation in pressing it so much upon them and that by reason 1. Of the frailty of their memories though their understandings were good v. 12 13. 2. Of the frailty of his mortall body whereby he was not to continue long with them to instruct them and therefore the shorter his time was to be with them the more diligent he would be in his Ministry v. 14. 5. His Defence of the truth of the doctrine which he preached against all gainsayers which was concerning Christ Jesus whose wonderfull power was 1. No lye and fable of his owne devising to deceive the people v. 16. 2. No new thing never heard of before But 3. A Reall truth which 1. He had seene with his eyes v. ib. 2. They themselves had read with their eyes in the Prophers v. 19. who foretold all that power and Majestie of Christ Jesus Not 1. Of their owne heads and fancies v. 20 21. But 2. By the inspiration and direction of the Holy Spirit v. last CHAP. II. Of Heretickes in which discourse the Apostle sheweth 1. The necessity and unavoidablenesse of the being of such kind of men that none may thinke it strange or be discouraged at it in that Heretickes 1. Have beene of old in the time of the Law amongst the Israelites v. 1. 2. Will be in our dayes in the time of the Gospell amongst the Christians 1. To try the faith of some 2. To exercise the patience of others 2. The doctrines of these Heretickes 1. The deniall of the principles of Religion as Redemption by Christ v. 1. 2. Licentiousnesse of life under pretence of Christian liberty v. 19. 3. Their ends and designes which are gaine and profit as Balaams designe was when he went to curse the Israelites meerly for a reward v. 3. 14 15. 4. Their wayes to obtaine those ends 1. A subtile pretence of Religion in speaking some truths to foist and bring in privily their false doctrines v. 1. 2. Faire flattering speeches v. 3.18 5. Their power in drawing many after them v. 2. 6. The manner of their lives they are 1. Hypocrites that make a faire shew outwardly yet are wels without water i. Professours without doing any good v. 17. 2. Troublesome and turbulent men in the Commonwealth 1. In speaking dishonourably of them that are in authority v. 10. which the Angels themselves their betters would never doe v. 11. 2. In not submitting peaceably to their government v. 10. 3. Intemperate men 1. In their gluttony v. 13. 2. In their drunkennesse v. ibid. 3. In their uncleannesse and want of chastity v. 14. 7. The misery which they will bring 1. Upon themselves i. great judgements v. 1.3 which will as certainly befall them as they did befall 1. The Angels v. 4. 2. Those before the floud v. 5. 3. Those after the floud of Sodom and Gomorrah v. 6. 2. Upon others and those 1. The godly that live amongst them by tormenting 1. Their eyes with the fight of their beastly actions as was Lots v. 7 8. 2. Their eares with hearing their unseemly talke ibid. 2. The weaker sort of Christians 1. By drawing them from the true Religion wherein they were not firmely setled v. 14. 2. By bringing upon them greater judgements for their relapsing backsliding and turning to their former wicked courses like dogges to their vomits and sowes to the mire v. 20 21 22. 3. Upon the Church which is scorne contempt and reproach which will be cast upon it by the enemies thereof for having heretickes amongst the members of it v. 2. CHAP. III. Three Vses 1. Of Caution to beware that they be not deceived by those false Prophets that denied the day of judgement v. 3.4.17 2. Of Direction how to avoid them which is 1. A constant meditation of the Holy Scriptures which they had 1. Read in the Prophets 2. Heard from the Apostles v. 2. 2. A Consideration of 1. The simplicity of their opinions in thinking 1. That all things are the same from the beginning of the World which is false because the world was destroyed with water v. 4 5 6. 2. That all things will be the same when as God 1. Hath created all things of nothing and can reduce them to nothing againe And 2. Will destroy all things so that there shall be new Heavens and a new Earth if not 1. According to their naturall substance Yet 2. According to their corrupt qualities v. 7. 2. The sinfulnesse of their lives in making a trade of sinning by walking after their lustss v. 3. 3. Of Exhortation 1. Not to be impatient in thinking the day of judgement to be long in coming to put an end to the miseries of this life 1. Because that that time which seemeth long to us is but short in respect of God in that a thousand yeares with us is with him but one day v. 8. 2. Because that the delay of the day of judgement is not 1. Because he will not punish the wicked But 2. Because he will favour the Elect that the longer it is deferred the longer time they may have to repent v. 9. 2. Not to be carnally secure but 1. To stand upon our watch and guard in respect 1. Of the certainty of the coming of Christ to judgement v. 10. 2. Of the uncertainty of the time of his coming ibid. 2. To endeavour 1. To cast off the corruption and filth of our sinnes for if the whole world must be purged of its corruption at the last day much more must we be purged of ours v. 11. 2. To put on the purity of holinesse v. 14. 3. To make
CHAP. I. 1. The greatnesse of Gods favour to us in speaking to us 1. Plainly by his Sonne And not 2. Obscurely by his Prophets as he did to those that lived under the Law v. 1 2. 2. The worth and dignity of Christ which is the subject of this Chapter and of the whole Epistle set forth 1. In respect of God whom Christ his Sonne is said to represent by way of Metaphor as 1. The light resembleth the Sun 2. The impression of the seale the seale it selfe v. 3. 2. In respect of the World whereof he is said to be 1. The Creatour ibid. 2. The Preserver ibid. 3. In respect of mankind whereof he is said to be a Redeemer from sin death and hell ibid. 4. In a Comparison made betwixt him and the Angels wherein he proveth his excellency above them against the Jewes who thought the Angels greater out of their owne Bookes by shewing 1. That he was not onely the Sonne of God v. 5. 2. That Divine Worship was due to him v. 6. But 3. That he was God himselfe v. 8. 1. In having judicatory power over all things v. 8 9. 2. In being Creatour of all things v. 10. 3. In being eternall v. 11 12. 4. That the Angels at the best were but Servants v. 7. 14. CHAP. II. 1. An Application of his former doctrine wherein is an Vse of Exhortation unto the converted Jewes who had a meane opinion of Christ not to forsake his Gospell which they had received and that for these reasons 1. Because if the neglect of the Word spoken by Angels was severely punished how much more the forsaking of the Gospell spoken by him who was greater then they v. 1 2. 2. Because it was true as being spoken 1. By Christ who was truth it selfe 2. By the Apostles who were inspired by the Spirit v. 3. 3. Proved to be true by many miracles done by him and his Apostles v. 4. 2. A further proofe and demonstration of the dignity and excellency of Christ above the Angels 1. In shewing his power over all things v. 8. In shewing that his taking upon him our nature which is inferiour to that of the Angels was not 1. A lessening of his worth But 2. A raising and heightning of it for stooping so low v. 9. and so he was not thereby made lower then the Angels as the Jewes objected 3. The Humanity of Christ i. his taking on him our flesh wherein is shewne 1. From whence he had it viz. from Abraham remotely v. 16. 2. To what end he tooke it i. that he might dye to redeeme mankind which he could not doe as God v. 14 15 17. CHAP. III. An Exhortation to the converted Jewes who thought Moses to be greater then Christ 1. To obey Christ who was 1. An Embassadour of the good newes of our salvation v. 1. 2. A High Priest that sacrificed himselfe for our redemption ibid. And not 2. Moses who though he was faithfull v. 3. yet was but 1. A part of that House i. the Church whereof Christ was the Builder ibid. 2. A Servant in it whereas Christ was a Sonne v. 5. 3. Not to neglect 1. The opportunity 2. The meanes of salvation put into their hands v. 7. 4. To take heed of unbeliefe the cause of disobedience unto Christ whereby the Children of Israel in the wildernesse 1. Did distrust Gods power and providence even then when they had triall of it v. 9. 2. Did by this distrust provoke God to anger whereby they did not all 1. Enter into the promised rest i. Canaan v. 11. But 2. Did perish in the wildernesse v. 17. CHAP. IV. A Discourse of the promised Rest mentioned in the former Chapter wherein 1. The way leading 1. From it infidelity and unbeliefe v. 2. 2. To it a lively faith v. 3. 2. What it is 1. Not the rest of the seventh day v. 4. 2. Not to the corporeall rest from their labours in Canaan which was a type of the spirituall rest v. 8. into which Joshua did bring them ibid. But 3. A spirituall rest in the Kingdome of Heaven ibid. 3. To whom this spirituall rest doth belong i. to believers v. 9. 4. An Exhortation 1. To labour to get it by mortification of our sinnes and ceasing from our owne workes v. 10. 1. By taking warning by the example of those that were for their disobedience destroyed in the wildernesse v. 11. 2. By considering that they themselves will not escape the same punishment if they fall into the same sinne because the Word of God is as quicke and sharpe now as it was then to denounce judgements to denounce judgements to stubborne sinners c. v. 12 13. 2. Not to be terrified with what hath been spoken concerning the greatnesse of Christ But 3. To goe boldly unto him who is as full of goodnesse and meeknesse as power and greatnesse and one that is as willing as able to helpe us as being not onely 1. Subject to our infirmities by taking our nature upon him v. 15 16. But 2. Sensible of them ibid. CHAP. V. 1. Christ is proved to be a High Priest by way of comparison with Aaron wherein he is not onely proved 1. To be equall to Aaron the High Priest in having all the qualifications of a High Priest as 1. His election from amongst men v. 1. 2. His offering up sacrifice for the sinnes of the people ibid. 3. His Ordination from God to that office v. 4 c. But 2. To be farre more greater then Aaron 1. In not offering up a sacrifice for his owne sinnes as Aaron did as being free from all sinne v. 3. 2. In having a Priesthood not 1. Temporary as was Aarons But 2. Perpetuall and for ever v. 6. 3. In being a Saviour v. 9. 2. They are reproved for their unprofitablenesse under the meanes in being 1. Ignorant of the first grounds of Religion of their Catechismes v. 12. When as 2. They might have beene greater proficients skilled in higher matters ibid. 13 14. CHAP. VI. An Exhortation to them 1. To goe forward 1. In leaving but not contemning and forgetting the principles of Religion concerning 1. Repentance for sinnes v. 1. 2. Faith in God for pardon ibid. 3. Baptisme v. 2. 4. Laying on of hands ibid. 5. Resurrection 6. Day of judgement ibid. 2. In endeavouring to get the knowledge of higher matters v. 1. 2. Not to goe backward i. not to fall from Christianity to Judaisme by shewing 1. The danger of Apostasy and falling away totally from faith in the Gospell which being a sinne against the Holy Ghost 1. Against knowledge 2. Out of malice and opposition unto God cannot be repented of and so never pardoned v. 4 5 6. 2. The punishment which God will inflict on those that have the meanes of knowledge i. Gods Word and doe not make good use of it by a similitude taken from thornes v. 7 8. 3. Abraham for an example that they who had beene 1. So forward in
their charity to the poore Saints v. 10. Might 2. Be as forward in their faith in Christ Jesus and be as constant in it as Abraham was who for this reason is called the Father of the faithfull because he was the first that believed to enjoy those blessings when there was no likelyhood in nature which God said he would give him in his sonne Isaac so that Gods 1. Promises v. 14. 2. Oath confirming them v. 17. were the grounds 1. Of his faith And 2. Ought to be of 1. Our comfort v. 18. 2. Our hope which will be as great support to us in out troubles as the Anchor is to sea men who are in danger of shipwrack v. 19. CHAP. VII A Comparison betwixt Christ and the Levites 1. In their persons wherein is proved that Christ is greater then they 1. In being equall to Melchisedec who was 1. A Type of him and therefore is said to be without Father and Mother to signifie his eternity v. 3. 2. Greater then Abraham from whence they came and for this reason greater then they for his being above Abraham is proved 1. By Abrahams paying tithes unto him v. 4. and the Levites in his person v. 9. 2. By Melchisedec's blessing him v. 7. both which doe imply Abraham to be his inferiour 2. In being ordained High Priest by an oath v. 21. whereby he was more confirmed a Priest then the Levites that were made without it v. 22. 2. In their Priesthoods wherein is shewne 1. The insufficiency of theirs 1. In the short continuance of it as being altered when he that was of another tribe i. of Judah came into the World v. 12 13 14. 2. In the imperfection and weaknesse of it to make a reconciliation and peace betwixt God offended at us for our sinnes and us v. 11 19. 2. The sufficiency of the Priesthood to procure pardon for us in him who 1. Was free from sinne and so able to satisfie v. 26. from which the Levites were not v. 27. 2. Is eternall and so is able to save us by interceding for us and speaking in us at Gods right hand v. 25. and by presenting to God 1. Our prayers 2. Our praises which are offered up in his name whilst the Levites are mortall and dye v. 8.23 3. Who offered up one sacrifice once for all whilst they made many with reiteration which she wed the imperfection of theirs and the perfection of his v. 27. CHAP. VIII A short Repetition of what hath beene said in the former Chapters wherein is proved that Christ is a Priest differing from the Leviticall Priests 1. In place of his residence he is not 1. An earthly Priest nor cannot be because earthly Priests were types and shadowes of him and if he had been such an one he had been a type of himselfe v. 4 5. But 2. An heavenly v. 1. 2. In the power of his Priesthood 1. In abrogating the Covenant of workes under the Law wherein consider 1. The cause of its abrogation viz. the imperfection of it v. 6 7. 2. The reason of that imperfection viz. the bringing in of the new Covenant which would not have beene needfull if the former had beene perfect v. 7. 2. In establishing the Covenant of grace which excelleth the old Covenant 1. In respect of a greater measure of knowledge which we have by it then the Fathers had by the old v. 10 11. 2. In respect of the justification of our persons in the forgivenesse of our sinnes freely for Christs sake v. 12. CHAP. IX A Comparison betwixt the Sactifice of Christ And The sacrifices of the Law wherein we may observe 1. The meannesse and small power those of the Law had because they were meerly carnall and therefore did not purge 1. The conscience which was a spirituall things v. 9. But 2. Meerly the flesh 2. The excellency of Christs sacrifice proved 1. From the matter whereof it was made which was not 1. The bloud of buls and goates But 2. The bloud of himselfe 2. From the efficacy of it proved 1. By comparing it with that of goates c. that if they did purisy much more his bloud v. 13 14. 2. By doing that perfectly at once which the High Priests did imperfectly endeavour to doe at many times whereas 1. They offered every yeare for sinne v. 25. He 2. Offered himselfe but once for all v. 28. in that 1. He did dye once And 2. He could but dye once for this reason because it is appointed for all men once and but once to dye v. 27. CHAP. X. A further prosecution of the same doctrine concerning 1. The insufficiency of the sacrifices of the Law to justifie any or pardon sinnes v. 1. proved by reasons taken 1. From the nature of those sacrifices which were 1. Meerly shadowes of that which was to be perfected by Christ And not 2. Any reall substance at all able of themselves as much as to satisfie for the least sinne v. 1. 2. From the reiteration and frequent use of them whereof were offered Some once a yeare v. 3. Others daily v. 11. Note If these sacrifices had beene sufficient to pardon sinnes one offering would have beene enough 3. From the disproportion betwixt them and sinnes whereby it was impossible that the bloud of goates and buls should take away sinnes v. 4. Because 1. They were carnall sinnes spirituall 2. They were finite sinnes infinite as being committed against an infinite God 4. By Scripture authority to let them know that it was not onely his saying whereby it is said that God refused those sacrifices as things insufficient to justification v. 5 6 7 8. 2. The sufficiency of Christs sacrifice which 1. Did make satisfaction for sinne at one time which the Priests could not make at many times v. 10. 2. Did put an end to all sacrifices for the time to come by obtaining a full pardon for sinnes v. 18. 3. The Vse of the Doctrine grounded upon the consideration of our accesse to God by prayers through Christ Jesus and many other benefits v. 19 20 21. 1. Of Exhortation unto faith and in it 1. To a perseverance in it v. 23. 2. To a bringing forth of the fruits of it in a good life v. 24. 2. Of Dehortation whereby he forbids them 1. To be Schismatickes in forsaking the Church out of pride singularity c. and thereby breaking Christian love and charity v. 25. 2. To be Apostates in falling away from that Religion they had beene brought up in by reason of any persecution whatsoever v. 26. 1. Totally and wilfully ibid. 2. With delight 3. Against knowledge and conscience Because for such wilfull falling away they must expect 1. No mercy ibid. But 2. Punishment at the day of judgement v. 27. which will be 1. Great because the punishment of the contempt of Moses his Law which was a lesse sin then the contempt of Christs mercy and merits was so great v. 28 29. 2. Will certainly be inflicted