To the First epistle of Peter. ful sufferings and persecutions to which the Christian converts were exposed, or which they actually endured, from the malevolence and rage of their implacable enemies. And here, well knowing that such treatment, unmerited and unprovoked, is apt to embitter and narrow men's spirits, and inflame their resentments; in which case the religion of the meek and lowly Jesus would be greatly dishonoured, and its spread and influence in the world retarded by the indiscreet behaviour of its friends and advocates; therefore St. Peter urges many arguments on the Christian converts, in order to engage them to an inoffensive, benevolent, and useful life, and conversation; and to a steady, courageous adherence to their religion amidst all opposition. (ver. 8-17.) And then animating them to endure their sufferings with patience and resignation, from the endearing consideration of what their Divine Saviour had suffered for them, he expatiates on his atonement, resurrection, and exaltation; on the obligation of their baptismal covenant, and on the awful solemnity of the last judg ment, as powerful arguments to a life of mortification and holiness, whatever discouragement and opposition they might be called to encounter, (ver. 18-iv. 6.) And as eminent vigilance, fidelity, and courage, would be requisite for rightly improving their talents, and for discharging the duties of their respective stations in the church, at all times, but especially in times of imminent danger and persecution, he distinctly inculcates these several virtues; and by way of inference from the trials to which good men were exposed, he observes, that a tremendous, inevitable destruction will overwhelm the impenitent and unbelieving. (ver. 7-19.) And at the close, he addresses some particular cautions both to ministers and private Christians; urging on the former, humility, diligence, and watchfulness; and exhorting the latter to a stedfast and faithful discharge of their several duties, animated by this sublime consideration, that the God of all grace had called them to his eternal glory, and would, after they had suffered awhile, make them perfect, according to the apostle's earnest prayer for them; chap. v. throughout. From this imperfect delineation of this admirable epistle, the production of another eminent apostle, it is no unnatural or improper remark, that all the principles of our holy religion, as here represented, are perfectly consistent with the analogy of faith, and with the whole tenor of the New Testament, that they are directly levelled against all manner of corrupt affections and immoral practices, as well as urged in the light of motives to all those virtues and graces, in which our conformity to God, and and the true glory of our nature consists. And (which, if it were the only circumstance that could be pleaded, would exalt our religion to an infinite superiority to the institutions of the most renowned heathen philosophers and law-givers, and in connection with its amazing progress, is a demonstration of its Divine original) Christians are here instructed to encounter outrageous vio lence 255 256 A General Introduction, &c. lence and persecution only with the hallowed weapons of patience, meekness, and charity, and to silence the cavils, and blast the machinations of their own and their Master's bitterest enemies, with the lustre of a pure and holy life, and the fervour of a generous and invincible benevolence. How amiable, how elevated, how divine, how worthy of all acceptation is the religion of Jesus!-In delineating, as we have seen, the grand and essential branches of which even Peter and Paul, notwithstanding all their contention about things of inferior moment, or of a personal and private nature, are perfectly consistent and harmonious. A PARA A PARAPHRASE AND NOTES ON FIRST CATHOLIC EPISTLE OF St. PETER. SECT. I. The Apostle Peter begins his address to his brethren, who were dispersed abroad, with congratulating their happiness in being called to the glorious privileges and hopes of the gospel; and takes occasion to expatiate upon the sublime manner in which it was introduced both by the prophets and apostles. 1 Pet. I. 1-12. 1 PETER I. 1. PETER, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers scatterred through 1 PETER I. 1. i. PETER, who has the honour to be invested SECT. with the office of an Apostle of Jesus Christ, inscribes and addresses this epistle to the elect strangers who are scattered abroad; to those 1.1. Christians a Scattered abroad.] Lord Barrington, (Miscel. Sacr. Essay II. p. 84-88,) strenuously maintains, that St. Peter wrote only to the converted proselytes of the gate; and in favour of this opinion he urgeth their being called strangers; which he thinks is the stile peculiar to those who having renounced idolatry, and receiving the seven precepts of Noah, were yet strangers to the commonwealth of Israel. He supposes they must have been Gentiles, because they are said, once not to have been a people, chap. ii. 9, 10, and to have been ignorant, verse 14, and to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, chap. iv. 3; and he also pleads, from chap. i. 22, where they are said to have purified their souls by obeying the truth, that it is likely they were proselytes of the gate, because a parallel expression is used by St. Peter concerning Cornelius and his friends, (Acts xv. 9. See Vol. VIII. § 33, note n,) whom he supposes to have been such. He likewise argues from their be ing addressed in these words, If ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons, judgeth according to every man's work, (chap. i. 17.) by St. Peter, who had himself addressed Cornelius in almost the same terms. (Acts x. 34, 35. See Vol. VIII. 1 Peter 258 St. Peter inscribes his epistle to the elect strangers; 1. and Bithynia. 2 Elect according to the fore-knowledge of sanctification of God the Father,through the Spirit unto obedience, and sprinkling of the Grace unto you, and blood of Jesus Christ: peace be multiplied. SEC. Christians whom Providence has dispersed throughout Pontus, Gathrough various countries, and whom Divine latia, Cappadocia, Asia, 1 Peter grace has taught to consider themselves, where1. 1. ever they dwell, as strangers and sojourners on earth; and particularly to those who inhabit the regions of Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, and those 2 in the provinces of Asia and Bithynia. I call you [elect, because you are indeed chosen according to the fore-knowledge of God the Father, who has projected all his schemes with the most consummate wisdom, and perfect discerning of every future event. He has been pleased, according to the steady purposes of his grace, to bring you by means of the sanctification of the Spirit, by the sanctifying influence of the Holy Ghost operating upon your souls, to evangelical obedience. He has subdued all your prejudices against the gospel, and effectually engaged you to submit to it; and thus you are interested in the pardon of sin, and in all the other blessings which proceed from the sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ, whereby forgiveness is obtained for us Christians as it was for the Jews under the law upon sprinkling the blood of the sacrifices; and may this, and every other instance and degree of grace, and all the peace consequent upon it, be multiplied unto you all, wherever you are, and whatever your condition and circumstances 3 in life may be. Whatever your afflictions are in this variable and troublesome world, I hope you never will forget, how indispensably according to his abunyou are obliged to thankfulness on account of dant mercy bath beyour Christian privileges; and to such thank- gotten us again unto a fulness let me now excite you and myself: bles- surrection of Jesus lively hope, by the resed therefore [be] the God and Father of our Lord Christ from the dead. Jesus Christ, who according to his abundant mercy hath regenerated us to a great, important and lively hope of future happiness by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead; upon whom in VIII. § 23, note c.) He pleads in support deed, 3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord JesusChrist,which Blessing God, who had regenerated them to a lively hope : defiled, and that fadeth heaven for you, 5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation, ready to be revealed in the last time. 5 i. 259 deed, and upon whose resurrection, all our hopes SECT. 4 To an inheritance depend. And by whom we are brought to incorruptible, and un- the cheerful and confident expectation of an in-1 Peter not away, reserved in heritance, incorruptible, undefiled, and unfad- 1. 4. ing, which nothing can spoil, which nothing can pollute, and which is incapable of any internal decay, as well as external violence. This inheritance is reserved in the heavens for you, and for all true believers; Who, though now surrounded with many apparent dangers, are not left defenceless, but are guarded, as in a strong and impregnable garrison, by the almighty power of God, through the continued exercise of that faith which this almighty power wrought in your hearts; and he will still maintain it unto that blessed hour, when you shall receive the complete and eternal salvation which is already prepared, and though now kept as under a veil, is to be revealed in its full radiance of glory, in the last time, the grand period, in which all the mysteries of Divine Providence shall beautifully terminate. This is the bles- 6 sed state and condition to which by the gospel you are brought, in which, and in the glorious hopes which it inspires, you cannot but rejoice, though now for a little while, if it be necessary you are grieved, and distressed amidst various trials. You know they are all under the direction of the infinite wisdom of your heavenly Father, who would not subject you to them, did he not see them to be subservient to your truest happiness; and they will ere long be brought to an everlasting period. His intention in all, more is most kind and gracious, namely, that the little 6 Wherein ye great ly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be,) ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations; 7 That the trial of your faith being much b Undefiled. That is, into which nothing that polluteth can enter. The land of Canaan was said to be defiled by sinners; to which perhaps there may here be an allusion. Compare Rev. xxi. 27. c Are guarded, &c.] The original word, pues, is very emphatical, and properly signifies, being kept as in an impregnable garrison, secure from harm, under the observation of an all-seeing eye, and protection of an almighty hand. Blackwall's Sacred Classics, Vol. I. p. 196 Compare 2 Cor. xi. 32, in the Greck. d In the last time.] This plainly refers to the second appearance of Christ, called the last time, because it will be the con VOL. X. trial cluding scene of all the Divine dipensa- Kk e Not 7 |