ought to have the written Word so richly dwelling in them that they may be able to confirm every Truth they deliver from that Word and the Lord's People ought to be so well acquainted with the same that though Ministers do not spend time to cite particularly every Chapter and Verse where every passage they bring forth is to be found they may notwithstanding upon the hearing of it faithfully and for the substance repeated to them acknowledge and receive the same for the Lord's mind for even the Apostle here as frequently elswhere doth confirm his Doctrine by Scripture and yet supponing those to whom he writes well acquainted at least with the letter thereof he doth not condescend upon the particular place judging it sufficient to say Wherefore it is contained in the Scripture Behold I lay c. 2. True Faith can have solid footing no where but upon the written Word of God nor should any of the Lord's People be satisfied with the most pleasant notions about Christ Jesus till they see them grounded upon and drawn from that Word therfore the Apostle having in the former words commended Christ as the object of saving Faith doth here repeat again the same commendation of Him from the Old Testament that so Faith might rest safely upon Him as such a one Wherefore it is contained in the Scripture Behold I lay in Sion a chief corner-stone c. 3. Jesus Christ and He alone is that to the Church and to every soul that flees to Him which the chief corner stone whether the lowest or the highest is to the building He is the stone first laid in regard He was and behoved to be actually exercising His Mediatory Office before any sinner could attain to union or communion with God Col. 1.18 He is the stone laid lower than any of the rest in His humiliation Psal 22.6 He bears the weight of the whole Church and of every believing soul Heb. 1.3 He is more curiously wrought than any of the rest of the stones of the building as the chief corner-stone useth to be and engraven by the art of His Father adorning Him with all perfections suitable for the necessities of poor sinners Zech. 3.9 He is the bond whereby most differing Nations such as Jews and Gentiles are united in one building Eph. 2.16 as the foundation corner-stone knits the two side-walls of the building together He is the perfection of the whole in whom the building and every lively stone thereof is compleat Col. 2.10 as the highest corner-stone and as that also He is the glory and ornament of all the building Isa 22.24 In all which He is resembled by that whereby the Spirit of the Lord here sets Him forth to our capacity The chief corner-stone 4. We have this great blessing Christ for the chief corner-stone of this spiritual building with the Father's great good will who hath laid Him first In His eternal Counsel or Decree as the word used by Isaiah chap. 28.16 and here translated to lay doth signifie Psal 2.2 Secondly In His actual exhibition of Him to the Church as Mediatour first in the promise of Him Gen. 3.5 and next visibly in our flesh for so this word is also used to signifie the publishing or execution of things formerly decreed 2 Chron. 9.23 Prov. 3.19 And thirdly in His exalting of Him when He had perfected the work of Redemption so much of it as concerned Him to do in the state of his humiliation for so this same word used Psal 8.2 is translated Mat. 21.16 to perfect a work In all which respects the Father layes Christ the foundation or chief corner-stone in the Church and calls all to behold what pleasure He hath in so doing Behold I lay in Sion a chief corner-stone 5. The Father's condescendency to give His own blessed Son for the above-mentioned uses to His Church and Believers in Him which this similitude here made use of holds forth is worthy of our most serious consideration and Christ this chief corner-stone is much to be admired as differing from all other corner-stones He being one stone who is both the lowest and highest of the building Philip. 2.6 7. who hath immediate connexion with the least stone or meanest Believer as well as with the greatest or most eminent whether Prophets Apostles or even the virgin Mary Joh. 17.20 21. who communicates an influence of life and growth to every stone laid upon Him Eph. 2.21 and who never suffers any that are built upon Him to fall totally and finally off Him Joh. 10.28 In all which respects we are here called to admire Jesus Christ and to give our most serious attention and consideration to the Father in giving Him by this word which serves both to draw attention and admiration Behold I lay in Sion a chief corner-stone c. 6. Though Christ be God's gift to the whole Church made up of Jews and Gentiles Eph. 2.14 which often hath the name of Sion in Scripture Obad. 17. Yet with a special reference to the Church of the Jews who first had that name He is said to be laid in Sion being first preached publickly and held forth in Promises Sacrifices and Types to them Psal 147.19 20. being come of them according to the flesh Rom. 9.5 and first offered to them after His incarnation Matth. 10.5 6. from whom the news of Him is come to the rest of the world Mica 4.2 and by whom Christ shall yet have a great part of His publick glory in the world Hos 3.5 Rom. 11.12 15. All which should make us pity their present case and pray for their conversion for with a special eye to them is this spoken Behold I lay in Sion a chief corner-stone c. 7. Christ's fitness for this great work of our Redemption evidenced by the Father's choosing of Him for it from among all others as the word elect signifies and by His high esteem of Him as our Mediator should strongly draw the hearts of sinners in to Him and move them to dwell much upon the thoughts of His worth and of the Father's esteem of Him as He is the receiver of all that come to God through Him for the Apostle having commended Christ before from these two Epithits that He is chosen of God and precious as motives to draw sinners in to Him repeateth them here again as delighting to write and think of so sweet a subject as Christ Elect precious 8. That which builds sinners upon Christ this chief corner-stone is that grace of believing which according to the signification of the word in the Hebrew whence the Apostle translateth this Text is the fixedness or stayedness as this same word is translated Exod. 17.12 of the soul in the expectation of salvation through Christ offered in the Gospel and whereby the soul is fed and nourished upon Him as its necessary food which is also in the signification of the word in that Language for the Apostle instead of insisting further upon the
further motives The one is That since the Lord had vouchsafed to call them from an estate of sin and wrath to a state of holinesse and happiness they ought therefore to walk answerably to their holy calling The other is That there should be a conformity between the Holy Lord and all His Children and therefore holiness which is His property ought to be studied by them and manifested in all the particular passages of their christian course And this last argument the Apostle confirms from the Scripture whereof though there be no particular place here cited yet the substance of the words are to be found in several places Lev. 11.44.19.2 and 20.7 Mat. 5.17 Hence Learn 1. They that would prove themselves to be truly holy and so to be the Children of the Lord must not satisfie themselves with the negative part of holiness which consists in abstenance from what is unsuitable to the relation of Children but they must also labour for the positive part of it which consists in some measure of conformity to their heavenly Father in His holinesse for after the Apostle hath prest that study negatively that they should not conform themselves to their former lusts in their ignorance he urgeth here the positive part thereof But as he which hath called you is holy so be ye holy 2. They who have found the Lord powerfully calling them from that estate of sin and wrath wherein they are naturally to a blessed condition of grace and happiness should think themselves thereby strongly obliged to the study of holiness whereby Christians in heart and practise are alienated and drawn from things earthly and are set apart for the use of their Lord and so do evidence to themselves their effectual calling 2 Pet. 1.10 for as a motive to the study of holiness the Apostle here suggests to Believers their calling But as he which hath called you is holy so be ye holy 3. Although it be altogether impossible for any Man or Angel to be conform in holinesse unto God who is essentially immutable and infinitly holy 1 Sam. 2.2 Yet there is no absolute unerring patern lower than the holy One to be set before the eyes of the Children of the Lord who ought not to make the holiest on earth a sufficient copie to them but being still ashamed of their defects in holiness and unsatisfied with their present measure thereof must still be aiming at a nearer conformity with Christ the Lord and daily making use of Him who is their sanctification 1 Cor. 1.30 to cover their defects and to sanctifie them more fully for this is the example and patern of that holinesse to which all the called Children of God should aspire As he who hath called you is holy so be ye holy 4. Although internal holinesse be mainly lovely to the Lord Psal 51.6 and the external without it be loathsom to Him Mat. 23.27 Yet none should satisfie themselves with that holinesse which they imagine to have within but should labour to manifest holiness in their external conversation by shewing themselves in their visible actings mindful and respective of all the Commands of God Lev. 20.7 8. Psal 119.6 whereby they glorifie Him before others and evidence themselves to have true holinesse Joh. 15.8 for this conformity to our Father in holinesse must be manifested in the conversation 5. There is no part of a Christian's conversation which ought not to favour of holiness and true piety not only his religious but even his common and civil actions ought to be done in the Lord and for his glory 1 Cor. 10.31 And under all the various dispensations of God with him he ought still to prove himself a hater of sin and a lover of what the Lord approves which is the thing here pressed to be holy in all manner of conversation 6. The strictest of moral precepts in the Old Testament are binding to Believers under the New the substance of all of them which is That reasonable creatures should love their Maker and their fellow-creatures being of perpetual equity obliging both Angels and Men and nothing being required of us in any of them to be done by vertue of our own strength or that we may be justified thereby but only what the Regenerate are enabled to aim at and to attain to such a measure of as through Christ shall be accepted as if they had attained to what is required Col. 2.10 for here one of the strictest of moral precepts that are in the Old Testament is pressed upon Believers As he who hath called you is holy so be ye holy for it is written Be ye holy for I am holy 7. The Ministers of Jesus Christ ought to have His Word so richly dwelling in them that they may be able to confirm what they deliver to the Lords People from clear and expresse testimonies thereof especially when they presse such Truths as natural hearts are most averse from for even this extraordinary Minister the Apostle whom people had lesse reason to suspect than any ordinary Minister while he presseth this high pitch of holinesse to wit the study of conformity to the Holy One he thus confirms his doctrine by Scripture Because it is written Be ye holy for I am holy 8. Although it be the duty of Ministers sometimes to point out to people the particular place of Scripture whereby they do confirm their doctrine Act. 13.33 yet ought the Lords People to be so well acquainted with the written Word that upon the hearing of any sentence of it they may acknowledge it to be the Lords mind that so there may be no necessity for Ministers to spend time and burthen peoples memories with multiplied citations for every Truth they deliver especially where the words of Scripture are remarkable and frequently to be found for so the Apostle citing this remarkable Scripture which is frequently to be found in the Old Testament doth not name any particular place but only saith It is written Be ye holy for I am holy Vers 17. And if ye call on the Father who without respect of persons judgeth according to every mans work passe the time of your sojourning here in fear Follows the fifth and sixth motives to the study of holiness The one is That even those who take the Lord for their Father and themselves for his Children will find Him an exact and impartial Judge of them and all their actions The other is That His Children are but strangers and sojourners and so living in the midst of many hazards and temptations both which should move them to study holiness whereof this is a special part to carry along in their hearts through their pilgrimage some fear of offending their heavenly Father who is to be their Judge Hence Learn 1. The more acquaintance with the Lord and confidence of His fatherly affection Christians attain unto the more are they obliged to the study of holiness and particularly to walk in fear of offending Him who will
In the next he commendeth the Epistle it self 1. from the shortnesse of it and 2. from the sweet scope thereof which was to stir them up to their duty and to bear witnesse to the Doctrine of God's Free-grace whereunto they did adhere Hence Learn 1. Though saving Truth should be heartily embraced who ever they be that carry it Philip. 1.15 18. Yet it contributes for the better acceptance thereof that those who deliver it deserve and have a good esteem amongst those to whom it is delivered and be looked upon by them as having a special respect to their good for to make thiâ— Epistle the more acceptable to those to whom it was firsâ— directed the Apostle commendeth him that carried it and was to open it up unto them as one faithfull in his Office and loving toward them By Silvanus a faithfâ—ll Brother unto you 2. It becomes those who are of longer standing and more eminent gifts in the Ministery to be so far from undervaluing or slighting those who are of shorter standing and meaner gifts that they ought to gain to them all the respect and esteem they can among the Lord's people for the Message-sake which they carry for this Apostle being among the first of those that Christ called immediately to the service of the Gospel and eminently honoured by him to be a Pen-man of Scripture doth here commend Silvanus of whom there was no mention in Christ's dayes and who was only an ordinary Minister called to expound the written Word as if he had been in all respects his equal By Silvanus a faithful Brother 3. It is the great commendation of a Minister of Christ that he be faithful in his Master's service by improving his talents whether moe or fewer for His glory Mat. 25.21 23. and that he have a brotherly affection toward his fellow-labourers expressing the same by working to their hands in the work of the Gospel Col. 4.11 and to the people by a humble and affectionate care of their good as if they were his brethren Philip. 4.1 for this is the commendation of Silvanus A faithful Brother to you 4. It is neither safe to withhold our testimony concerning the fidelity of others when we have grounds for charity that they do deserve it nor to be positive and superlative in commending of any as if we were infallibly perswaded of their faithfulnesse for the Apostle giveth this commendation to Silvanus of his faithfulnesse with such an adjection as signifies a judgment of charity concerning him which the Apostle had gathered by several probable grounds and reasons and yet the expression doth import an inferiour degree of certainty to that which he had concerning his own estate and fidelity in his Calling Rom. 8.38 1 Tim. 1.12 By Silvanus a faithful Brother as I suppose 5. It is a necessary favour to the Church and People of God to have the mind of God given unto them in writing to be a standing Rule for trial of every thing that is pretended to be His mind Isa 8.20 to help their frail memories the better to remember His Truth Isa 30.8 to prevent mistakes among His People concerning His mind which would far more readily arise if it had been only delivered in so transient a way as Satan's oracles are and that His People when they have not occasion to hear His Mind preached or spoken by others may have it with them to read and meditate upon Act. 8.28 for though this Apostle and others had preached the substance of 〈◊〉 Doctrine contained in this Epistle to these same persons to whom it is directed Act. 2. 1 Pet. 1. 25. and though they had Silvanus a man able to preach the Gospel coming to them Yet the Spirit of the Lord finds it necessary to write his mind to them By Silvanus c. I have written unto you 6. It is a commendable thing in Christ's Servants and a special gift of God's to them to be able to deliver much of the Lords Mind to His People in a few words providing it be with plainness of speech So will people be the more able to comprehend in their judgment and retain in their memory what is delivered to them for the Apostle commends this Epistle which hath in it the heads of all saving Truths delivered in much plainnesse of speech from the shortnesse of it I have written unto you briefly 7. It is necessary for Christs Ministers to make use of several strains of Doctrine in dealing with people sometimes to exhort them and that with much earnestnesse and vehemency to their duty sometimes to comfort them against discouragements in the way of their duty both which are in the signification of the first word Exhorting at other times again to bear witnesse to the Truths they deliver as a thing themselves know experimentally and believe to be the Truth of God Joh. 3.11 confirming the same from other places of Scripture Act. 26.22 and 28.23 and testifying against them that reject or disobey the same Deut. 8. 19. according to the signification of the next word testifying by both which the Apostle holdeth forth his several strains of dealing with the people especially in this Epistle and these as a patern to Ministers Exhorting and testifying 8. The sum of the Gospel and of all right preaching thereof is To make offer unto sinners of the rich and free grace of God for pardoning sanctifying and saving of them to stir them up to imbrace that offer and having embraced it to study the exercise of grace and walking like gracious persons in the obedience of that Doctrine for here the Apostle giveth the sum and scope of this Epistle which is the same with that of the whole Word To exhort and testifie that this is the true grace of God 9. The Doctrine of the Gospel wiâ—â— deceive none that receive it they will find the Lord as gracious and his wayes as sweet as the Gospel affirms for it is the true grace of God 10. Even those who have made good progresse in grace and are for the present fixed in their adherance to the Truth are in hazard to be shaken by temptations and made to question the truth of the Gospel and the reality of the gracious offers made therein as is imported in this that the Spirit of the Lord findeth it necessary to put the Apostle upon writing an Epistle to such for exhorting and testifying that is was the true grace of God wherein they did stand Vers 13. The Church that is at Babylon elected together with you saluteth you and so doth Marcus my son Here is the fourth article of the Conclusion of this Epistle wherein the Apostle delivers salutations to the scattered Jews 1. From those Christians at Babylon whom the Lord had chosen out of the world to be a Church to himself and to share with others of His People in spiritual and eternal mercies This Church at Babylon seems to have been made up of the posterity of those Jews who
related the greatest things present And because a transient Voice is more easily mistaken or forgotten than a standing authentick Record therefore the written Word is a more sure ground for sinners faith to rest upon than a Voice from Heaven could be Next he commendeth the written Word from the usefulnesse thereof that it should prove to sinners who make it the rule of their faith and manners a comfortable Directory through this dark state of ignorance and misery until they get such a measure of the promised Spirit and nearness to the Son of righteousness that they shall not need a prospect of Glasse of the Word and Ordinances which will not be till death and the dawning of the day of eternity Hence Learn 1. The written Word believed to be the Lord's mind is the surest ground for faith to rest upon of any that ever hath been or can be given to sinners subject to forgetfulnesse jealousies and mistakes the general offers of Christ and free promises of His grace excluding none who will not exclude themselves give more solid encouragement to self-judging sinners than they could have by a Voice from Heaven calling them by their names for that would readily be suspected to be another than the Lord's or spoken to another of that name Therefore the Apostle comparing the written Word with the Voice from Heaven calleth it to sinners A more sure Word 2. As this world is so dark a place that our own reason the counsel or example of others will often leave us comfortlesse to wander and fall in snares except we look to the light of the Word which shineth in this dark place So they have the Lord's approbation and commendation who do apply their hearts to and satisfie themselves with this Word as the only and sufficient ground of their faith and rule of their manners to keep them from erring in judgment or practice for so saith the Apostle VVhereunto ye do well to take heed as to a light that shineth in a dark place 3. Although the light be now clear in comparison of what was before Christ came Yet being compared with that light we shall have in Heaven it is but dark Like the light that shineth out of a room where a candle is in a room where the candle is not seen So much doth this similitude of a light shining in a dark place import 4. Though it be so Yet shall the Word give comfortable direction to all that follow the light of it under all their crosses confusions and difficulties and these who make it a lamp to their feet and a light to their path may be sure to get at last such a clear and satisfactory sight of Christ as shall banish all darknesse and doubts and such a near union and fellowship with Him the bright Morning-Star gloriously present by His Spirit in their hearts and personally also in humane nature conversing with them for ever that they shall have no more need of Word or Ordinances which is the condition here described by the Apostle only to be expected in Heaven till which time we will never be above the direction of the Word and use of the Ordinances Eph. 4.13 Cant. 4.12 Vers 20. Knowing this first that no Prophesie of the Scripture is of any private interpretation 21. For the Prophesie came not in old time by the will of man but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost Last of all the Apostle commendeth the written Word from the Divine Authority of it the interpretation or true meaning whereof cannot be found out by the wit or proper invention of any whereof the Apostle giveth a reason Because these truly gracious men who were consecrated and set a part by the Lord for receiving and registring His mind in Scriptures could neither speak nor write when nor what things they pleased but as they were immediatly moved and infallibly furnished by the Lord's Spirit whose mind it is Therefore the Scriptures are of Divine Authority and this the Apostle saith must be known first to wit as a principle of saving knowledge without which Christians cannot profit by the Scriptures Hence Learn 1. As the Scriptures do not hold forth to us the device of their heads who wrote it but the publick mind of God So none can attain to the right meaning nor be able to hold forth the true interpretation thereof by their own proper skill or invention there being in it such knots as the word interpretation importeth as cannot be loosed but by humble imploring the help of the Spirit whose mind it is as the Pen-men of it themselves did that they might know what was revealed to themselves Psa 119.18 Dan. 2.22 Zech. 4.4 5. and by comparing one place with another Act. 17.11 and making use of other helps that God hath given Dan. 9.2 1 Tim. 4.13 14 15. by which means through the Lords blessing we may come to some saving measure of the knowledge of God's mind in His Word and may have the common or publick consent of both Prophets and Apostles to every saving Truth made known 〈◊〉 us therein for no Prophesie or part of Scripture is of any private interpretation 2. As it is the duty of all the Lord's People to fix in their minds as an unquestionable Truth this principle That the Scriptures being the Lord's mind none can of themselves attain to the true meaning of them So till this principle be known at least so far as that it be not questioned there can be no light or comfort expected from the Word for the Apostle having exhorted in the former Verse to look to the Word for direction and comfort doth adde here that as they would find these they must know this first that it is not of any private interpretation And though only the Spirit of the Lord the Author of the Scriptures can fully perswade hearts that they are His mind Yet if men would consider that a great many of these truths that are revealed in Scripture are not only agreeable to Natures-light but may be in some measure known by it The one to wit the light of Nature teaching That there is one God the first cause of all omnipotent wise righteous and good that it is reasonable He should be served and that according to His own will which therefore He being both wise and good must have some way revealed that reasonable creatures have immortal souls and so die not as the beasts that there is no true happinesse in these things wherein men do ordinarily seek it that since vice and vertue receive not suitable rewards here there must be punishment and reward after this life all which and many other things of this sort Natures-light teacheth though darkly as the Scriptures themselves Rom. 1.19 20. and the Writings of those that never knew the Scriptures do witnesse The other again to wit the Scriptures clearly revealing these same things pointing out the nature will and way of worshipping of
A BRIEF EXPOSITION OF THE First and Second EPISTLES General of PETER BY ALEXANDER NISBET Minister at IRVVIN Joh. 5.39 Search the Scriptures for in them ye think ye have eternal life and they are they which testifie of me 1 Cor. 2.2 For I determined not to know any thing among you save Jesus Christ and him crucified EDINBVRGH Printed by Christopher Higgins in Harts-Close over against the Trone Church Anno Dom. 1658. To the READER CHRISTIAN READER GOD who is wonderfull in counsel and excellent in working and whose way is in the Sea and His path in great waters doth so in all Ages order the holy Dispensations of His Providence as however our eyes are soon daâ—led and our weak judgments soon confounded in studying thereof yet His holy Purposes concerning the advancement of His Kingdom and the good of His People are still effectual and carried-on In tempestuous and gloomy times He alloweth such as have fled to Him for refuge to believe that it is He who sitteth at the Helm in all Affairs who doth all things well and will make all things work together for good to them who love Him although they cannot distinctly perceive how it shall be so When He letteth-out deluges of Afflictions and other sharp trials upon His People It is but to drive them to His Mercy since other Messengers could not prevail to bring them up to abide and delight in Him that He may crush and take away fewel from those soul-destroying lusts which they would not moâ—tifieâ— and may famish all their idols that they may worship Him And though He do let loose many enemieâ— upon His Vineyard which threaten to consume all Yet not only will it he found in and that very enemies are but Instruments to execute His Purposes and to do only what His Hand and Counsel determined before to be done and that he both can and will in due time give meat out of such eaters and make the letting-loose of errors and troubles contribute to draw His People to love and imbrace the Truth more cordially and lay up their treasure where neither moth nor rust can corrupt nor theeves break through and steal But He can and doth also carry-on His Work in the hands of His own Servants amidst all these disadvantages and causeth His Wall to be built even in troublous times Herein the Lord hath given very ample proof of His magnified mercy toward His Church in this Island whom though He hath been and yet is exercising with such variety of distempers confusion and errors as if all the Locusts of the bottomlesse-pit were let loose upon us Yet we cannot but acknowledge his singular favour in that he not only continueth his Truth among us hiding us and it in the hollow of his hand and preserving a Ministry whom he is pleased to own in the discharge of their Calling But that he stirreth up and enableth so many according to the Talents they have received to lay forth themselves for propagating of Knowledge Truth and the power of Godliness in the present and succeeding Generations As the Lord hath given us an Orthodox CONFESSION OF FAITH and CATECHISM and a DIRECTORY FOR WORSHIP according to the pattern shewed in the Mount So we may say that no Age hath had greater helps for vindicating and clearing the Truths we professe and for helping Christians in the understanding of the Scriptures and directing them in the way of Piety And as some have taken pains to communicate the Labours of forreign A BRIEF EXPOSITION Of the first Epistle General of PETER The ARGUMENT ALthough this Apostle was in a very mean external condition before his calling Mat. 4 18. and wanted not his manifold failings thereafter Mat. 16.22 and 26.70 Gal. 2.14 Yet by the free grace of God he was honoured to be an eye-witness of Christs greatest glory on earth Mat. 17.1 and of his saddest sufferings Mat. 26.27 to convert many thousand souls Act. 2.41 to write this excellent Scripture and to die a Martir 2 Pet. 1.14 compared with Joh. 21.18 19. All which considerations of him may serve to commend to the Church the truths delivered by him The Epistle is directed to the Christian Jews of whom he had gotten a special charge Gal. 2.7 and of whose conversion he had been a prime instrument Act. 2.9 c. The special occasion of his writing to them as appears by the strain of his Doctrine was the rage of Persecution the prevailing of Error and some decay of grace and holiness among them together with the present opportunity of a sin Messenger to carry the Epistle 1 Pet. 5.12 who had a calling to interpret and publickly to explain the same to them 2 Cor. 1.19 His principal scope is to confirm Believers in the Truth to stir them up to constancy and chearfulness under their sufferings for it to grow in grace and to adorn their profession by a holy walking in their several relations as appears by comparing 1 Pet. 5.12 where he resumes his scope in this Epistle with 2 Pet. 3.1 where he expresseth his scope in both The principal parts of this Epistle are three In the first after the Preface Chap. 1. ver 1 2. the Apostle giveth such a description of the excellent spiritual condition of Believers as might provoke them to joy under their saddest sufferings and engage them to these duties of holiness which he presseth in the rest of the Epistle and this is to the 13. ver of the 1. chap. The second part containeth several exhortations with motives pressing the same to such duties of holiness as that most excellent state doth oblige all Christians unto whatsoever their relations or condition be in the world and this is to the 13. ver of the 2. chap. In the third part the Apostle presseth such duties of holiness as are suitable for Christians considered under their Civil Domestick or Church relations and especially such as belong to those who are in a condition of suffering for Christ and his Truth and this is to the 10. ver of the 5. chap. After which is the close of the whole Epistle CHAP. I. THe parts of this Chapter are two In the first after the Preface of the whole Epistle containing a description of the Pen-man of it and of the parties to whom it is directed ver 1 2. the Apostle incites suffering Christians to praise God by raising the song before them wherein he makes clear how excellent their spiritual estate was and holds forth what reasons they had from it of chearfulnesse and constancy under all their sufferings to wit 1. Their regeneration ver 3. 2. Their matchless inheritance ver 4. 3. The certainty of their perseverance ver 5. 4. The shortness and 5. the necessity of all their sufferings ver 6. 6. Their spiritual advantage by them to wit the tryall of their graces especially of their faith ver 7. 7. The happy effects of that faith which by tryals is discovered to be sound
not so thirst cannot conclude they have tasted thereof And therefore an eager appetite after the Word is to be laboured for Hence Learn 1. The Lord Jesus Christ whom Believers seek and serve hath in Him every thing that may be usefull and sweet for them and a strong bensel in his heart to let out the same to them whereof he hath given abundant proof in providing such a remedy for lost sinners as Himself to die for them Tit. 3.4 c. in His daily pardoning of their daily failings Isa 55.7 in His succouring of them under their extremities Heb. 2.18 and in His waiting the fittest opportunity for proving Himself to be such a one to them Isa 50.18 for all these and much more are in this attribute of His as the Scriptures cited which do expresse the effects of His graciousness do make clear and therefore it cannot but be sweet to all that ever have tasted how gracious the Lord is 2. Although all that are in the world do in some sense tast of the goodness of God Psal 145.9 Yet only His own Elect and Regenerate Ones tast of His graciousness as it is manifested in the forementioned effects thereof for it is only the Regenerate who are supponed here to have tasted how gracious the Lord is 3. Although the way of Believers partaking and feeling of this graciousness or sweetness of the Lord be spiritual arising in their hearts from their exercising of their Faith in God as favourable to them through Christ Rom. 5.1 2. Yet it is no lesse real and certain then that which is by any of the outward senses closing with and delighting in their proper objects Therefore as it is elswhere in Scripture set forth by smelling Psal 45.8 and by seeing Isa 45.25 So here as also Psal 34.8 by tasting If so be ye have tasted how gracious the Lord is 4. All that Believers get of Christ in this life is in comparison of that full enjoyment of Him which they shall have in the life to come but a tast a sparing measure to sharpen appetite after more for so it is here called a tasting how gracious the Lord is 5. That which proves our tasts of Christ's sweetness to be kindly and proper to the Regenerate is that thereby our inward and beloved lusts are weakened and we are made to lay them aside and to loath them and our desires after the Word are more sharpened by which the sweet feelings of the Regenerate are differenced from those which hypocrites may have which have no such concommitants Heb. 6.4 for by considering the connexion of this Verse with the former two it appears the Apostle hath prest mortification of sin and desire after the Word for growth as things which could not but be in them if so be they had tasted how gracious the Lord is 6. All those tasts of the graciousness and sweetness of Christ which the Saints may expect in this life are to be looked for in and through the Word for while he makes their former tasts of that kind an argument to sharpen their desires after the Word he doth clearly import that both their former tasts of that sort had been through the Word and that more of these tasts were to be found the same way and no way else desire the sincere milk c. if so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious and so would desire to tast more of that sort 7. All the former experiences we have had of the graciousness and sweetness of Christ should sharpen and put an edge upon our desires after more of that sort and after the Word through which those experiences are conveyed for to quicken their appetite after the Word through which the Lord's People tast of His sweetness he mentions their former tasts here If so be ye have tasted than the Lord is gracious Vers 4. To whom coming as unto a living stone disallowed indeed of men but chosen of God and precious 5. Ye also as lively stones are built up a spiritual house a holy Priesthood to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable unto God by Jesus Christ. Here is the fifth motive to the hearty receiving of the Word taken from the great advantage of daily closing with Jesus Christ offered therein and this advantage the Apostle sets forth in several branches as first That Christ should prove Himself a living and secondly a solid foundation to such as by Faith build themselves upon Him Thirdly That however the most part of men reject Him as unworthy to be their choice yet is He the Father's choice and as our Mediatour in high esteem with Him and therefore worthy to be our choice and daily to be made use of ver 4. Fourthly That they who do close with Him as the Gospel offers Him shall be made in some measure conform to Him in spiritual life and stability Fifthly That their union with Christ and the rest of the Saints should be growing more and more strait Sixthly That so they should be made fit for entertaining communion with Himself dwelling in them by his Spirit as in his spiritual Temple And seventhly That by their so doing they should prove themselves to be a People consecrated to the Lord as the Priests were of old to offer up their prayers praises and other parts of their Worship which Christ to whom they are dayly coming doth make well-pleasing to the Father ver 5. From ver 4. Learn 1. With how much greater desire we do receive the Truths of the Gospel by so much the more do we come nearer to Jesus Christ offered therein to enjoy a comfortable communion with Him and to partake of the benefits purchased by Him for if we observe the current of the Apostle's speech we may see that in stead of shewing the advantages of receiving the Gospel he shews the advantages of closing with Jesus Christ offered therein importing these two to be one To whom coming as unto a living stone 2. It is not enough that sinners once come to Christ for life and do close with Him as the Word offers Him to them but they must make a trade and a life of coming to Him daily renewing and strengthening the acts of their Faith in Him for pardon and furniture for every thing they have to do there being much distance still remaining betwixt Him and the best while they are here 2 Cor. 5.8 Ps 73.28 and still a nearer communion with Him attainable Philip. 3.13 for coming to Christ which in Scripture is believing in Him Joh. 6.35 is here prest upon those who had believed in Him before and that by such a word in the present time as signifies the continuation and renewing of the acts of Faith To whom coming c. 3. There is no growth in grace or holiness nor in ability to oppose our corruptions except we be thus coming frequently to Jesus Christ in whom the fulness of grace is Col. 1.19 and who is both our righteousness and
our strength for all we have to do Isa 45.24 for this coming to Christ here prest may be looked upon as the mean of growth in mortification and every grace as is clear by comparing this to whom coming c. with what goeth before and follows after 4. All that come to Jesus Christ shall find Him a solid foundation to rest upon able to bear them and all their burdens constant in His love to them and in the fulfilling of all His undertakings and as such He is daily to be closed with for for these and the like causes He is here set forth as the object of Faith under the similitude of a stone 5. Christ is a living foundation for sinners to build themselves upon having life in Himself essentially Joh. 5.26 and communicating life spiritual and eternal to every soul that closes with Him 1 Joh. 5.12 for so also is he here proposed as the object of saving Faith to whom coming as unto a living stone 6. Felt deadness should not keep any soul back from Jesus Christ who see need of life from Him and hazard of eternal death without Him it being impossible to attain to spiritual or eternal life but by closing with Him Joh. 6.51 for coming to Him as to a living stone imports that the desire of life should draw souls that do find much deadness spiritual and do fear death eternal to Him To whom coming as to a living stone 7. There is not another rock or foundation-stone whereupon the Church or any true Member thereof can be built but Jesus Christ himself The Prophets and Apostles are only called the foundation Eph. 2.20 in so far as they hold out in their Doctrine this living foundation and this Apostle by that Rock whereupon Christ said He would build His Church Mat. 16.18 did not understand himself or his successours though never so faithfull Ministers but Jesus Christ Himself whom he had a little before confessed to be this living stone and therefore he thus holds Him forth here To whom coming as unto a living stone 8. Though Christ be a solid and living foundation for sinners to rest upon Yet is He rejected by the most part of men as unworthy to be their choice He having little outward glory to draw hearts toward Him Isa 53.2 and all men being naturally blind concerning His spiritual excellency 2 Cor. 4.4 and their own need of Him Rev. 3.17 and there being but a very few in comparison of the rest that are given unto Him to be saved by Him Job 12.39 therefore is it that He is disallowed indeed of men 9. Others rejecting of Christ should be so far from discouraging His own to close with Him and make use of Him that by the contrary it should move them to a more hearty and frequent closing with Him being confident that He shall deal the better with them that they are not hindered or discouraged by the example of rejecters from closing with Him for even this may be also looked upon as having the strength of an argument to move those who have hitherto been strangers to Christ to come now to Him and those who are near to come yet nearer that He is disallowed indeed of men 10. Christ is disallowed when he is not fled to and made use of for that life and rest and other advantages to be had in Him for in opposition to Believers coming to Him and use-making of Him He is said to be disallowed indeed of men 11. Jesus Christ not only as He is God but as He is our Mediatour is and hath been from eternity Prov. 8.30 the Father's choice and delight in highest esteem with Him which is evidenced by the Father's giving all things into His hand for our good Mat. 11.27 and all for that very end that He may be honourable in our esteem Joh. 5.23 by His hearing of Him as our Intercessour in all His petitions Joh. 11.42 and hearing all our lawfull desires for His sake Joh. 16.23 and by the unspeakable terrour which He will manifest against rejecters of Him beyond what other sinners shall find Heb. 10.28 29. All which do prove that as our Mediatour He is most dear and precious to the Father and worthy is He to be so there being none in heaven or in earth fit for that work of Redemption but He Rev. 5.4 5. Therefore is He chosen of God and precious 12. The Father 's high esteem of and delighting in the Mediatour Christ should move sinners to come to Him to choose Him for their portion and to delight in Him being confident that their so doing cannot but be well-pleasing to the Father who hath chosen Him that He may welcom sinners and hath fitted Him to be all things to them that may contribute for their blessedness 1 Cor. 1.30 for this is a motive of coming to Him that He is chosen of God and precious From ver 5. Learn 1. Christ's way of engaging the hearts of His own to a daily use-making of Him is by proposing to them in His Word the sweet advantages and rich priviledges which they shall have by their so doing with the consideration whereof he allows them to move their own hearts to perseverance in that exercise for this Verse doth contain a bundle of advantages and priviledges that souls have by daily use-making of Christ branched out to move them thereunto to wit That by their coming to Him as to a living stone they also as lively stones are built up a spiritual house c. 2. Every renewed act of Faith closing with Christ as the Scripture holds Him forth doth draw from Christ some new increase of spiritual life whereby the soul is made more sensible of sin hath more appetite after Christ and His Truth and more activity in duties that may honour Him all which are effects of spiritual life and resemblances betwixt it and the natural life for this is here made a prevailing motive to that coming to Christ which is recommended to sinners in the former Verse that they who did so should be made lively stones which must be understood of an increase of spiritual life it being spoken to them who are supposed before to have been born again 3. Even as Believers are holden throng in daily employing and use-making of Christ so do they make progress in grace and holiness so do they also become solid and fixed in their understanding of the Truth that they may not be carried about with every wind of doctrine constant in their love to Christ and in their believing of His love to them and established in their walking like unto His Truths for in opposition to the unsetledness of mis-believers and of them who do not live in the daily imploying of Christ but rest upon their measures received those that are daily coming to Him are here said to be lively stones built up c. importing beside their progress a state of stability and fixedness which they attain to by their so
doing 4. The lively and frequent exercise of Faith draweth vertue from Christ to make the Believer resemble Him in those communicable perfections of His wherewith the Scripture holds Him forth adorned and to be closed with by sinners so that under whatsoever consideration of Christ held forth in Scripture sinners do close with Him they are thereby in some measure changed to some likeness with Him in that consideration if the unclean soul close with Him offered under the consideration of a fountain it becomes in some measure like Him in purity and holinesse if the dead sinner receive Him offered as life he becomes to live like Him if the unstable soul come to Him as the foundation-stone it grows stable as a stone and so of every consideration under which Christ offered in the Word is closed with for He being before proposed under the consideration of a living stone as the object of Faith to be closed with the Apostle here affirms that they who did so close with Him should find that by their so doing they also as lively stones should be built up 5. Those souls who may expect that the Lord will keep communion with them and dwell familiarly in them as in His House must labour to be made spiritual in their minds enlightened and elevated to discern things spiritual which the natural man cannot do 1 Cor. 2.14 15. Pro. 8.12 in their affections humbled in the sense of their unworthiness and sinfulness Isa 57.15 confident of their acceptation with God through Christ Heb. 6.3 chearfull in Him as reconciled to them Psal 22.3 loathing sin and loving holiness 2 Cor. 6.16 c. and all persons that are holy 1 Joh. 4.16 All which the Scriptures cited make clear to be parts of a spiritual frame which is to be studied by all those who may expect the Lord to dwell in them as in His House for Believers in order to their enjoying of fellowship with Christ are here said to be built up a spiritual house 6. The more heartily and frequently sinners flee to and make use of Jesus Christ as the Gospel offers Him the more fit are they to be an habitation for Him to dwell in and the more familiarly will He converse with them and that because the only way to attain to and grow in a spiritual frame which makes sinners a fit habitation for the Lord to dwell in is to be daily flying to and making use of Jesus Christ who gives the Spirit for working of that frame 2 Cor. 3.18 for Believers by coming to Him ver 4. are here said to be built up a spiritual house 7. Near union with Jesus Christ and daily use-making of Him by Faith is the best way to make the Saints one among themselves the division difference of judgment and alienation of affection among them proves one or other or all of them to be at a distance from Him for while the Apostle saith To whom coming c. Ye are built up a spiritual house he doth import That Believers by their closing with and use-making of Jesus Christ are as closely united one of them to another as the stones of a building are 3. Every particular Believer should esteem himself a part of the Church universal which maketh up one house to God 1 Tim. 3.15 and so should seek the good thereof Psal 122.9 and sympathize with the sufferings of the whole or any member thereof 1 Cor. 12.25 26. seing they are built up to wit in the universal Church with the rest of the members thereof a spiritual house 9. Although the most eminent Believers may not take upon them any part of the Ministerial Office without a lawful and orderly calling thereunto Rom. 10.15 Heb. 5 4. yet all Professours of Christianity do in some respects resemble the Priests under the Law in so far as they are separated by the Lord from all the rest of the world and true Believers among them do receive that unction from the Lord to wit His holy Spirit 1 Joh. 2.20 which was signified by that oyl wherewith the Priests were anointed Exod. 28.41 and have their service accepted while others are rejected Prov. 15.8 in which respects they are here called An holy Priesthood 10. Although internal or real holiness be not the necessary qualification which maketh one a member of the visible Church Act. 8.13 Joh. 15.2 Yet is it the duty of all to study that holiness and the mark of all the true and lively members of the Church to be endued therewith therefore they are here called A holy Priesthood 11. The great imployment of Believers in Jesus Christ is to offer sacrifices to God not typical which are now abolished by Christ Heb. 10.1 c. nor expiatory which Christ alone hath once offered never to be repeated Heb. 7.27 but gratulatory in testimony of their thankfulness to Him for that sacrifice of Himself for them such as the sacrifice of themselves for His service Rom. 12.1 their penitent and humble supplications Psal 51.17 and 141.2 their praises Heb. 13.15 and their charity to his Saints Philip. 4.18 These and the like are they to ofter who are a holy Priesthood to offer up spiritual sacrifices 12. What ever sacrifices of this sort Believers offer up to God they must be spiritual done from a spiritual principle a new nature Ezek. 36.26 27. upon spiritual furniture the strength of Christ Philip. 4.13 and for a spiritual end the glory of Christ 1 Cor. 10.31 In which and the like respects they are here called spiritual sacrifices 13. Such spiritual sacrifices as Believers offer up to God are well-pleasing to Him not for any worth that is in them Isa 64.6 or advantage they can be to Him Psal 16.2 Act. 17.25 But because they are presented to God by Jesus Christ who taketh away the iniquity of their holy things Exod. 28.38 and doth perfume their service with the incense of his merits Rev. 8.3 Therefore are their sacrifices acceptable to God by Jesus Christ Vers 6. Wherefore it is contained in the Scripture Behold I lay in Sion a chief corner-stone elect precious and be that believeth on Him shall not he confounded The Apostle doth confirm his former Doctrine concerning the usefulness and excellency of Jesus Christ for the Church and Believers in Him by a testimony of Scripture which though no particular place be here cited is to be found Isa 28.16 And withall he adds two further arguments to move them to that hearty receiving of the Gospel and use-making of Christ offered in it which he hath prest in the former words The one is That we have Jesus Christ who is the Father's choice and highly esteemed by Him with the Father's great good will laid in the Church as the foundation and chief corner-stone thereof for every soul to flee to and rest upon The other is That whosoever betake themselves to Him by Faith shall never need to be ashamed of their so doing Hence Learn 1. The Ministers of Christ
called himself Lord or Head of the Church but discharged it in all Ministers 1 Pet. 5.3 and here taketh a lower title to himself A Servant 2. It is necessary for Christ's Ambassadors to know and assert their Calling from Him that Truth may have weight with People and they may have courage what-ever their faithfulnesse may cost them for while the Apostle knoweth himself to be a Servant of Jesus Christ he dare avow himself by name and surname even when he 〈◊〉 publishing Truths that cost him his life Simon Peter a Servant and an Apostle of Jesus Christ 2. He describeth these to whom the Epistle is mainly directed from the worth of their faith equal to the faith of the Apostles for all saving effects and cleareth the way how they came by it to wit by the vertue of the faithfulnes of God and the merits of Christ Hence Learn 1. The Scriptures are not only given for converting sinners and working grace where it is not Psal 19.7 But also for their sake who are already converted and gracious fine places being mainly intended for them to further their growth guard them against temptations and to fit them for their last meeting with Christ which are the ends of this Epistle directed mainly to them that have obtained precious faith 2. Although some Believers are more strong in believing and so have more joy and peace than others 1 Joh. 2.13 14. Yet is the faith of them all of alike worth in so far as it uniteth them all to the same Saviour from whom the weakest faith shall never shed interesteth them all in the same spiritual promises priviledges and glorious reward and is bought for them all with the same price in all which respects the true faith of the meanest Believer is alike precious with the faith of the Apostles 3. The way how saving faith cometh to the Elect and is wrought in their hearts is by vertue of the faithfulnesse of God who promised to Christ in the Covenant of Redemption the bestowing of it upon the Elect Psal 110.3 and to the Elect in the Covenant of Grace Isa 54.13 Joh. 6.45 It being God's righteousnesse to prove himself faithfull in making all these promises and it comes also through Christ's righteousnesse which is his doing and suffering to purchase it and other saving graces for us and so although we have it freely Yet Christ bought it dear and God is righteous in giving what Himself promised and Christ paid for 1 Joh. 1.9 So the Apostle makes this precious faith to come to all that have it through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ Vers 2. Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. In this Salutation he wisheth to them a daily growth in their hearts 1. Of the sweet sense of God's free favour making the graces of His Spirit to thrive 2. Of true spiritual peace flowing from the former and carrying with it every necessary blessing as the signification of these words grace and peace and their order doth import and all this through their growing in that knowledge of God and his Son Christ which hath faith affection and practice with it Hence Learn 1. No lesse than what is here wished for is the Lords allowance to every Believer if they get it not they have themselves to blame for His Majesty doth nothing to mar the multiplying of grace and peace upon all that have precious faith 2. They that would have this rich allowance must not only expect in this order Grace or God's free favour first and then Peace with every necessary blessing But they must study to grow daily in the knowledge of the nature and will of God the purchase fulnesse and offices of Christ so as by the use-making of all heart and life may be changed for such a knowledge is this through which grace and peace is multiplied 3. It is not formality or vain repetition to use frequently the same expressions to God or to others when they flow from new sense of the worth and need of the things for this Apostle and others do ordinarily use these same expressions in the beginnings of their Epistles Grace and peace c. Vers 3. According as His divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godlinesse through the knowledge of Him that hath called us to glory and vertue Followeth the ground of his confidence which might also hearten them that it should be acording to his wish to wit That Gods powerful grâ—â—â—â—ad already begun a saving work in them by bestowing freely upon them all that is essential to a gracious frame of spirit within and a holy life without and this he had done by making them so to know Christ as to consent to Him calling them by the Gospel to glory or eternal life as the end by vertue which is grace and holinesse as the way or means Hence Learn 1. The seen beginnings of a saving work of grace are comfortable pledges and confirmations to faith that that work shall thrive it being suitable to the Lords wisdom power and constancy to carry on and perfect what He hath begun for the Apostle wisheth grace and peace to be multiplied According as His divine power had begun the work 2. To give grace to a graceless soul is a work of Gods infinit power there being so much unworthinesse guiltinesse and opposition to hinder that work in all the Elect Therefore the cause of this work is here made divine power 3. The Lord in the bestowing of saving grace worketh both irresistably and freely neither can any for whom it is appointed and purchased so oppose as to hinder the bestowing of it for it is divine power that worketh it Nor can any in nature so use their naturals as to prepare themselves for or merit the bestowing of it for divine power worketh by giving freely all things that pertain to life and so the very preparations for the new life 4. The substance of every saving grace though not the full measure and a right to what may enable for honouring God in practice is given at once in conversion As a Child when it first liveth or is new born hath all the essential parts of a man Therfore to these to whom the Apostle wisheth encrease of grace and upon whom he is to presse growth he affirmeth to be already given all things that pertain to life and godliness 5. The very first beginnings of grace is wrought in the heart by making a sinner drink-in the knowledge of Christ the Law indeed prepares for this work by discovering sin and deserved wrath and terrifying the conscience But the Gospel which holdeâ—â— out Christ the Saviour from sin and wrath having in Him the fulnesse of grace and a heart to let it out freely upon gracelesse sinners is the Spirit 's instrument of working grace for as the Apostle wished grace to thrive in the former Verse