18 not on the land for three years and six months. And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the land brought forth her fruit.

19 Brethren, if any one among you err from the truth, and 20 one convert him, Let him know, that he who converteth a sinner from the error of his way, shall save a soul from death, and hide a multitude of sins.

V. 18. He prayed again-When idolatry was abolished.

V. 19. As if he had said, I have now warned you of those sins, to which you are most liable. And in all these respects watch not only over yourselves, but every one over his brother also. Labour in particular to recover those that are fallen. If any one err from the truth-Practically, by sin.

V. 20. He shall came a soul-Of how much more value than the body! Ver. 14, and hide a multitude of sins-Which shall no more, how many soever they are, be remembered to his condemnation.

NOTES

ON THE

FIRST EPISTLE GENERAL OF ST. PETER.

THERE is a wonderful weightiness, and yet liveliness, and sweetness, in the epistles of St. Peter. His design in both is, To stir ap the minds of those to whom he writes, by way of remembrance, (2 Pet. iii. 1,) and to guard them not only against error, but also against doubting, ch. v. 12. This he does by reminding them of that glorious grace, which God had vouchsafed them through the gospel, by which believers are inflamed to bring forth the fruits of faith, hope, love, and patience.

THE PARTS OF THIS EPISTLE ARE THREE:

I. The Inscription,

f1. The stirring up of them to whom he writes:

C. i. 1, 2

1. As born of God. Here he recites and interweaves alter-
nately, both the Benefits of God toward Believers, and the
Duties of Believers toward God.

1. God hath regenerated us to a living Hope, to an eternal
Inheritance,

3-19

Therefore hope to the End;

2. As obedient Children bring forth the Fruit of Faith to
your heavenly Father:

2. Being purified by the Spirit, love with a pure

Heart,

As Strangers in the World, abstain from fleshly Desires:
And shew your Faith by

1. A good Conversation,

12

14-21

22-C. ii. 10

11

12

4. In particular

9. A good Profession,

15-22

C. iv.

Subjects,

a. By Readiness to give an Answer to every one,
1. By shunning evil Company,

(This Part is enforced by what Christ both did and
suffered, from his Passion to his coming to Judgment.)
. By the Exercise of Christian Virtues, and by a due
Use of miraculous Gifts,

3. As Fellow-heirs of Glory, sustain Adversity: let each do this,
1. In general, as a Christian,

2. In his own particular State,

711

12-19

C. v. 1-11

(The Title Beloved, divides the second Part from the first,
ch. ii. 11, and the third from the second, ch. iv. 19.) ·

J. St. Peter.

CHAP. I. 1. PETER, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the sojourners scattered through Pontus, Galatia, Cappa2 docia, Asia, and Bithynia, Elect (according to the fore

CHAP. I. Ver. 1. To the sojourners-Upon earth, the Christians, chiefly those of Jewish extraction, scattered-Long ago driven out of their own land, (those scattered by the persecution mentioned Acts viii. 1, were scattered only through Judea and Samaria, though afterwards some of them travelled to Phenice, Cyprus, and Antioch,) through Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia-He names these five provinces in the order wherein they occurred to him, writing from the East. All these countries lie in the lesser Asia. The Asia here distinguished from the other provinces, is that which was usually called The Proconsular Asia, being a Roman province.

V. 2. According to the foreknowledge of God-Speaking after the manner of men. Strictly speaking, there is no foreknowledge, no more than after-knowledge with God: but all things are known to him as present, from eternity to eternity. This is therefore no other than an instance of the divine condesceнsion to our low capacities. Elect-By the free love and almighty power of God taken out of, separated from the world. Election, in the scriptural sense, is God's doing any thing that our merit or power has no part in. The true predestination, or fore-appointment of God is, 1. He that believeth shall be saved, from the guilt and power of sin. 2. He that endureth to the end, shall be saved eternally. 3. They who receive the precious gift of faith, thereby become the sons of God: and being sons, they shall receive the Spirit of holiness, to walk as Christ also walked. Throughont every part of this appoint. ment of God, promise and duty go hand in hand. All is free gift; and yet such is the gift, that the final issue depends on our future obedience to the heavenly call. But other predestination than this, either to life or death eternal, the Scripture knows not of. Moreover, it is, 1. Cruel respect of persons: an unjust regard of one, and an unjust disregard of another. It is mere creature partiality, and not infinite justice: 2. It is not plain Scripture doctrine, (if true,) but rather, inconsistent with the express written Word, that speaks of God's universal offers of grace; his invitations, promises, threatenings, being all general. 3. We are bid to choose life, and reprehended for not doing it. 4. It is inconsistent with a state of probation in those that must be saved or must be lost. 5. It is of fatal consequence; all men being ready, on very slight grounds, to fancy themselves of the elect number. But the doctrine of predestination is eutirely changed from what it formerly was. Now it implies neither faith, peace, nor purity. It is something that will do without them all. Faith is no longer, according to the modern predestinarian scheme, a divine evidence of things not seen, wrought in the soul by the immediate power of the Holy Ghost: not an evidence at all; but a mere notion. Neither is faith made any longer a means of holiness; but something that will do without it. Christ is no more a Saviour from sin; but a defence, a countenancer of it. He is no more a fountain of spiritual life in the soul of believers, but leaves his elect inwardly dry, and outwardly unfruitful; and is made little more than a refuge from the image of the heavenly: even from righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost; through sanctification of the Spirit-Through the renewing and purifying influences of his Spirit on their souls: unto obedience To engage and enable them to yield themselves up to all holy obedience, the foundation of all which is, the sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ-The atoning blood of Christ, which was typified by the sprink ling of the blood of sacrifices under the law; in allusion to which it is called the blood of sprinkling.

knowledge of God the Father) through sanctification of the Spirit unto obedience, and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ. Grace and peace be multiplied to you. 3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who, according to his abundant mercy, hath regenerated us to a living hope, by the resurrection of Jesus 4 Christ from the dead, To an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in 5 heaven for you, Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation, ready to be revealed in the 6 last time. Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a little while (if need be) ye are in heaviness through mani7 fold temptations: That the trial of your faith, which is much more precious than gold, (that perisheth, though it be tried with fire,) may be found unto praise, and honour, 8 and glory, at the revelation of Jesus Christ, Whom, having not seen, ye love: in whom, though ye see him not, yet believing, ye now rejoice with joy unspeakable 9 and full of glory. Receiving the end of your faith, the

V. 3. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ-His Father, with respect to his divine nature, his God with respect to his human; who hath regenerated us to a living hope-A hope which implies true spiritual life, which revives the heart, and makes the soul lively and vigorous; by the resurrection of Christ-Which is not only a pledge of ours, but a part of the purchase-price. It has also a close connexion with our rising from spiritual death, that as he liveth, so shall we live with him. He was acknowledged to be the Christ, but usually called Jesus, till his resurrection: then he was also called Christ. V. 4. To an inheritance-For if we are sons, then heirs; incorruptible-Not like earthly treasures; undefiled-Pure and holy, incapable of being itself defiled, or of being enjoyed by any polluted soul; and that fadeth not awayThat never decays in its value, sweetness, or beauty, like all the enjoyments of this world, like the garlands of leaves or flowers, with which the ancient conquerors were wont to be crowned; reserved in heaven for you-Who, by patient continuance in well doing, seek for glory, and honour, and immortality.

V. 5. Who are kept-The inheritance is reserved; the heirs are kept for it, by the power of God-Which worketh all in all, which guards us against all our enemies; through faith-Through which alone salvation is both received and retained; ready to be revealed-That revelation is made in the last day. It was more and more ready to be revealed, ever since Christ came.

V. 6. Wherein-That is, in being so kept, ye even now greatly rejoice, tho' now for a little while-Such is our whole life, compared to eternity; if need be (For it is not always needful.) If God sees it to be the best means for your spiritual profit; ye are in heaviness-Or sorrow; but not in darkness: for they still retained both faith, (ver. 5,) hope, and love: yea, at this very time were rejoicing with joy unspeakable, (ver. 8.)

V. 7. That the trial of your faith-That is, your faith which is tried, which is much more precious than gold, (for gold, though it bear the fire, yet will perish with the world,) may be found-Though it doth not yet appear; unto praiseFrom God himself; and honour-From men and angels; and glory-Assigned by the great Judge.

V. 8. Having not seen-In the flesh.

V. 9. Receiving Now already, salvation From all sin into all holiness, which is the qualification for, the forerunner and pledge of, eternal salvation.

10 salvation of your souls. Of which salvation the prophets, who prophesied of the grace of God toward you, inquired 11 and searched diligently, Searching what, and what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them signi fied, when he testified before hand the sufferings of Christ 12 and the glories that were to follow. To whom it was revealed, that not for themselves, but for us they ministered the things which have been now declared to you by them that have preached the gospel to you, with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven: which things angels desire 13 to look into. Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be watchful and hope perfectly for the grace that shall be 14 brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. As

obedient children, conform not yourselves to your former 15 desires, in your ignorance; But as he who hath called you is holy, so be ye yourselves also holy in all manner 16 of conversation: For it is written, Be ye holy; for I 17 am holy. And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man's work,

* Lev. xi. 44.

*

V. 10. Of which salvation-So far beyond all that was experienced under the Jewish dispensation, the very prophets who prophesied long ago of the grace of God toward you-Of his abundant, overflowing grace to be bestowed on believers under the Christian dispensation, enquired-Were earnestly inquisitive, and searched diligently (like miners searching after precious ore) after the meaning of the prophecies which they delivered.

V. 11. Searching what time-What particular period; and what manner of me-By what marks to be distinguished; the glories that were to followHis sufferings: namely, the glory of his resurrection, ascension, exaltation, and the effusion of his Spirit; the glory of the last judgment, and of his eternal kingdom: and also the glories of his grace, in the hearts and lives of Christians.

V. 12. To whom-So searching, it was revealed, but not for themselves, but for us they ministered-They did not so much by those predictions serve themselves, or that generation, as they did us, who now enjoy what they saw afar off: with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven-Confirmed by the inward, powerful testimony of the Holy Ghost, as well as the mighty effusion of his miraculous gifts; which things angels desire to look into A beautiful gradation; prophets, righteous men, kings, desired to see and hear what Christ did and taught. What the Holy Ghost taught concerning Christ, the very angels long to know.

V. 13. Wherefore-Having such encouragement, gird up the loins of your mind-As persons in the eastern countries were wont in travelling or running, to gird up their long garments, so gather ye up all your thoughts and affections, and keep your minds always disincumbered and prepared to run the race which is set before you: Be watchful-As servants that wait for their Lord: and hope to the end-Maintain a full expectation of all the grace-The blessings flowing from the free favour of God, which shall be brought to you at the final revelation of Jesus Christ: and which are now brought to you, by the revelation of Christ in you.

V. 14. Your desires-Which ye had while ye were ignorant of God.

V. 17. Who judgeth according to every man's work-According to the tenor of his life and conversation: Pass the time of your sojourning-Your short abode on earth, in—Humble, loving fear-The proper companion and guard of hope.