CHAP. Ι. The CONTENTS. The Direction and Salutation. The Apostle blesseth God for the great Mercies and Privileges of the Gospel Religion. Comforts both Jewish and Gentile Christians under their present Perfecutions, from the Sense of those happy Blessings, and the Truth and Certainty of them, as Foretold by the Ancient Prophets, and now exactly Ful filled. Exhorts them to the pure and steddy Practice of their Religion, from the great Confideration of their Redemption by the Blood of Jesus Chrift. Eter P an apostle of 1. Peter, an Apostle of Jesus Written Jesus Chrift, to Christ, sendeth this Epistle A. D. 66. the strangers scattered to the Converted Jews of the ancithroughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Aent Difperfion, in Pontus, Galatia, sia, and Bithynia, Cappadocia, the Provinces of the Leffer Afia, and Bithynia. Not forChristians of those Parts. getting the Gentile * 2 Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit unto obe. dience, and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace be multiplied. * See Cap. 2. To all you that have embra- i. 18.-.10. ced the gracious Covenant of the and 4 -iv. 3,4, 5. Gospel; a Covenant that is Ratified 1. xii.24. Exod. and Confirmed by the Blood of 'Ῥαντισ Christ, and entitles you to the Gifts Mor. See Heb and Graces of the Holy Spirit; Pri-xείν. 8. vileges that God originally designed, and by hisProphets formerly promis'd, to the Christian Church. Wishing you the Abundance of Divine Favour and Happiness. 3 & 4. Expreffing my humblest Lord and Head. 5. And 4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, A. D. 66. 5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation, ready to be revealed in the last 5. And for preserving and supporting us, by his Almighty Power, under all our Afflictions and Temptations, to persevere in the Faith of this his last || and great Dispensation of the Gospel, whereby we shall not fail of compleat Glory and Happiness, at the final Day of Judgment. | ἐν καιρῷ time. ἐχάτω. 6Wherein ye great- 6 & 7. This is what you, as good ly rejoyce, though Christians, cannot but make the Subnow for a season (if ject of your utmost Joy and Satifneed be) ye are in faction. Looking on the worst of heaviness through mapresent Evils as only fo many happy nifold temptations. 7 That the trial of Opportunities of exercising your your faith being much Faith, improving your Virtue, and more precious than of brightning that future Crown you are then to receive; and consequently to be of more real Advantage to you than all the Riches and fading Glories this World can afford. gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be the appearing of Jesus Chrift: 8 Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable, and full of glory. 9 Receiving the end of your faith, even the falvation of your fouls. 8 & 9. Thus upon reasonable and sufficient Evidence, you embrace a Meffiah you never personally knew ; and believe the Doctrine and Promises of a Saviour you never actually faw. This fills you with the inexpressible and glorious Hopes of that eternal Salvation which is the fure Reward of fuch as are possessed with a Faith so rational and well grounded. 10 Of which falva tion the prophets have 10 & 11. This is that gracious Dispensation of Religion for the future Happiness of Mankind, fo exactly described and punctually foretold by the ancient Prophets, Men inspired by the Spirit * of II Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit * of * of this very Christ, to foretel both A. D. 66, Christ which was in ry that should follow. 12 Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minifter the things which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you, with the holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels defire to look in 12. For, as to the Time, they knew and exprefly declared it was not to be transacted in their Days, but spoke of it as future, representing it just as it has now been actually revealed by Christ himself, and declared to you and all Christians, by us his Apostles, endowed with the same holy Spirit for that Purpose. And this Dispensation of the Gospel is so abundant in Divine Wisdom, Justice and Mercy toward Mankind, that not only Prophets foretold it with Pleasure, but the very Angels themselves cannot but contemplate upon it with Delight and Aftonishment. to. 13 Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be fober, and hope to the end, for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Je sus Chrift; 14. As obedient children, not fashioning your selves according to the former lusts in your ignorance : 13. Let this Confideration then arm you with Vigilance, Courage and Constancy in a Profeffion attended with fuch Bleffings as these of the Christian * Religion are, which * you are fo certain to enjoy at the final Appearance of * Chrift to Judg ment. 14 & 15. Show yourselves true Disciples of Christ, by reforming the Irregularities of your former Notions and Practices, and imitating the divine Author of your Religion in Holiness and Purity of Life. 15 But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; * Ver. 11. The Spirit of Christ which was in Them. I ne meaning is, either the fame Spirit of God, which inspired the Prophets formerly, and dwelt in Chrift more fully afterward: Or else, the Spirit by whose Inspirations the Prophets foretold the Time and Circumstances of Christ's Sufferings, and is therefore called the Spirit of Christ. The former seems to be the more natural Sense. Ἰησὲ Χρισᾶς A. D.66. 16 Because it is 16. For those Expressions (Lev. written, Be ye holy, ii. 44. xix. 2. -xx. 7, 26.) wherefor I am holy. in the Jewish People are exhorted to are much more engaging upon us of be holy as God is holy, 17 And if you call fear: 17. And this does most specially concern such of you as are newly converted from the Heathen to the Christian Religion, from the Worship of Idols to that of the One True God. Now, that you are receiv'd into the true Church of God, with the fame Goodness and Mercy as the Jews themselves are, and shall be judged and rewarded equally with them; you are obliged to particular Care and Watchfulness over your future Conduct. 18 Foraimuchas ye know that ye were ruptible things, as fil- from your fathers : 19 But with the precious blood of Chrift, as of a Lamb without blemish and without spot. 20 Who verily was fore - ordained before the foundation of the 18 & 19. You ought to confider yourselves as Captives redeemed from a State of Ignorance and Idolatry, wherein you were originally educated. And that the Purchase was not procured by the most valuable thing this World could afford, but cost the Blood even of Christ himself the Son of God; a Person of most exalted Dignity and perfect Innocence. 20 & 21. Even that Meffiah, originally designed by God for the Redemption of all Mankind; but, tho' promised from the first, and all along described by the Jewish Prophets, to that People; yet was not actually sent into the World for that Purpose, till this last and great Dispensation of the Gospel; wherein his Religion was intended [ δι' ὑμᾶς. to be proposed equally to you || and them, by us his ApoAles, and demonstrated to us all, by his Resurrection from the Dead, as a sure Pledge of our future Happiness, upon our fincere Obedience. So that, by being Christians, you 21 Who by him do believe in God that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory, that your do faith and hope might do not forsake God (as the obstinate A. D. 66. be * in God. effectually * believe 22 Seeing ye have purified your fouls in obeying the truth through the Spirit, unto unfeigned love of the brethren; fee that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently : 23 Being born again, not of corruptible feed, but of in corruptible, by the Word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever. Jews vainly pretend) but do most 22. And fince you have engaged 23. Remember, that by embracing this Profession, you become the Church and People of God, in a Sense much more excellent than the Jews were by their natural Descent from Abraham and the Patriarchs; or than any Profelyte could be, by joyning himself to their external and Ceremonial Worship. You are regenerated and made the Children of God, by the Belief of those Gospel Doctrines, the habitual Practice whereof will work in you those excellent Graces and divine Virtues, that will for ever adorn and make you happy. 24 For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man, as the flower of grafs. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away : 25 But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached un to you. you is truly what || See Joh. i. tion or Institution, are mere external And thus the Gospel we preach to aiah there described it, The Word of the Lord that endureth for ever, Ifa. xl. 6, 7, 8. * Ver. 21. That your Faith and Hope might be in God, &58 την πίσον ὑμῶν εἶναι ἐις Θεόν. So that your Faith is in God. |