A commentary upon the three first chapters of the first Epistle general of St.…A commentary upon the three first chapters of the first Epistle generall of St.…

Others think, that this Epistle is so written to the Jews, as it is intended also for those elect Gentiles in those parts,¹ because he saith Chap. 2.10. that these people were not in times past a people, nor under mercy, but now were the people of God, and had obtained mercy: which words do not so fitly agree to the Jews, and so all the Elect of God are strangers in this world, and so the word is evidently used, Chap. 2.12. and I think it is to be taken in this last sense.

Others thinke, that this Epistle is so written to the Jewes, as it is intended also for those elect Gentiles in those parts,¹ because he saith Chap. 2.10. that these people were not in times past a people, nor under mercy, but now were the people of God, and had obtained mercy: which words doe not so fitly agree to the Jewes, and so all the Elect of God are strangers in this world, and so the word is evidently used, Chap. 2.12. and I thinke it is to be taken in this last sense.

1. 1Ares.

Strangers] Man may be said to be a stranger in five respects.¹

1. 1Man is a stranger in five respects.

1. In respect of absence from his natural friends, and his native soil: so Abraham was a stranger in Canaan.

1. In respect of absence from his naturall friends, and his native soile: so Abraham was a stranger in Canaan.

1. nEphes. •.12. & 4.17.

3. In respect of the contempt of the world: so Gods children, when they begin to fear God, the world accounts them as strangers, and avoids them. so David was a stranger to his brethren and kindred^o.

3. In respect of the contempt of the world: so Gods children, when they begin to feare God, the world accounts them as strangers, and avoids them. so David was a stranger to his brethren and kindred^o.

1. oPsal. 69.8.

4. Some make themselves strangers by a wilful rety•ing, and discontentment for crosses that befall them^p.

4. Some make themselves strangers by a wilfull rety•ing, and discontentment for crosses that befall them^p.

1. p1 Pet. 4.12.

5. In respect of absence from the heavenly Canaan, and the troublesome condition in this world, and so all Gods elect are strangers.

Gods elect then are strangers in this world: this point is abundantly confirmed in these places:¹ Gen. 47.9. 1 Chron. 28.15. Psal. 39.13. Heb. 11. 12, 13. & 13.14, 15.

1. 1Doctrine.

And it may teach us many excellent things for the ordering of our carriage both in our selves,¹ and toward others.

And it may teach us many excellent things for the ordering of our cariage both in our selves,¹ and toward others.

1. 1Uses.Vses.

There are 12 things, which may be gathered out of this metaphorical term,¹ to teach us (with much life) by the comparisons may be taken from thence: Or there be 14 things, wherein we should be like to strangers.

There are 12 things, which may bee gathered out of this metapho•icall tearme,¹ to teach us (with much life) by the comparisons may be taken from thence: Or there be 14 things, wherein we should be like to strangers.

1. 114 Things wherein we should be like strangers.14 Things wherein wee should be like strangers.

1. A stranger is unacquainted, and hath little to do, but with his journey: so while we are in this world, we should think chiefly on our journey, and keep our selves estranged from the world, dissolving our sinful acquaintance, and keeping our hearts from the cares of life.

1. A stranger is unacquainted, and hath little to doe, but with his journey: so while we are in this world, we should thinke chiefly on our journey, and keep our selves estranged from the world, dissolving our sinfull acquaintance, and keeping our hearts from the cares of life.

2. A stranger useth to be much affected with lesser courtesies in a strange place, Ruth 2.10. so should we be thankful to God for any kindness in this world: it is enough it shall go well with us in heaven, we should say with David, who am I, and what is my people, that we should, &c. for all things come of thee? Now therefore our God we thank thee, and praise thy glorious name: for we are strangers before thee, and sojourners, as were all our fathers: our days on earth are as a shadow, and there is no abiding. 1 Chron. 29.14, 15.

2. A stranger useth to be much affected with lesser courtesies in a strange place, Ruth 2.10. so should we be thankfull to God for any kindnesse in this world: it is enough it shall goe well with us in heaven, we should say with David, who am I, and what is my people, that we should, &c. for all things come of thee? Now therefore our God we thanke thee, and praise thy glorious name: for we are strangers before thee, and sojourners, as were all our fathers: our dayes on earth are as a shadow, and there is no abiding. 1 Chron. 29.14, 15.

3. A stranger is wont to be glad of any good company, that will go with him, though it were but a part of the way: How should we then with all joy, and dearness entertain Gods servants into our inward and perpetual society? These are they will go with us to heaven.

3. A stranger is wont to be glad of any good company, that will go with him, though it were but a part of the way: How should wee then with all joy, and dearenesse entertaine Gods servants into our inward and perpetuall society? These are they will goe with us to heaven.

4. A stranger will be careful to inquire his way, fears to miss it, seeks best directions, and that every day, yea and at every turning: It will not serve his turn once, or twice, or seldom in his journey to take general directions: yea he is glad to ask of any body, even children, when he is out of his way, or doth but fear it, or is in danger of it: And shall not this teach us to […] should we go to God to seek a way of him? yea going and weeping we should go, and ask the way with our faces thitherward, Jer. 51.4. Ezra 8.22. How should we be glad of guides, and make our selves also equal to them of the lower sort, that by conference, and all good helps from Ministers, and godly people we might receive daily directions? It is a horrible plague to have a heart, that is not willing and forward to ask questions about the way to be saved, and intolerable pride not to make use of any that can give us counsel. O the incredible stupidity of our spirits! we that cannot travail in a road-way, that perhaps we have gone before, without every hours questions, yet think our selves wise enough to find the way to heaven with little, or no directions.

4. A stranger will be carefull to inquire his way, feares to misse it, seekes best directions, and that every day, yea and at every turning: It will not serve his turne once, or twice, or seldome in his iourney to take generall directions: yea he is glad to aske of any body, even children, when he is out of his way, or doth but feare it, or is in danger of it: And shall not this teach us to 〈…〉 should we goe to God to seeke a way of him? yea going and weeping we should go, and aske the way with our faces thitherward, Ier. 51.4. Ezra 8.22. How should we be glad of guides, and make our selves also equall to them of the lower sort, that by conference, and all good helpes from Ministers, and godly people we might receive daily directions? It is a horrible plague to have a heart, that is not willing and forward to aske questions about the way to be saved, and intolerable pride not to make use of any that can give us counsell. O the incredible stupidity of our spirits! we that cannot travaile in a road-way, that perhaps we have gone before, without every houres questions, yet thinke our selves wise enough to finde the way to heaven with little, or no directions.

5. A stranger looks not for great things for himself, he doth not seek honours, and offices, and possessions in the City he travels through: his care is only for necessaries for his journey. And are not we strangers on earth, and is it now a time for us to take up our dwellings here, and to seek great things for our selves in this world? Jer. 46, 5. a stranger never pleads any privilege in the place he comes to: and this was the ancient mind of the godly Patriarchs, they quitted all claims, and confessed plainly, they were but pilgrims, and embraced the promises as their portion, and so set up their rest in their hopes, Heb. 11.3.

5. A stranger lookes not for great things for himselfe, he doth not seeke honors, and offices, and possessions in the City he travels through: his care is onely for necessaries for his iourney. And are not wee strangers on earth, and is it now a time for us to take up our dwellings here, and to seeke great things for our selves in this world? Ier. 46, 5. a stranger never pleads any priviledge in the place he comes to: and this was the ancien• minde of the godly Patriarks, they quitted all claimes, and confessed plainly, they were but pilgri••s, and embraced the promises as their portion, and so set up their rest in their hopes, Heb. 11.3.

6. A stranger can endure wrongs: He stays not his journey to turn again to every d•gge, that ba•kes at him, nor to seek revenge for every indignity: He lets not his journey for every shower of rain, and should it ⟨p. 5⟩not be thus with us? Why do we fear reproach? what stand we still at every slander? why busy we our heads for projects of revenge? or our hearts with indignation at every currish caitiff, or dogged Doeg, that will falsely accuse our good conversation in Christ? When will we come to our journeys end, if we every day trouble our selves with the indignities we receive in this strange world? let the curs bark, ride thou on, and mind thy way. What if thy crosses fall like rain? ride on, it is but a shower, it will be over.

6. A stranger can endure wrongs: Hee staies not his iourney to turne againe to every d•gge, that ba•kes at him, nor to seeke revenge for every indignity: He lets not his iourney for every showre of raine, and should it ⟨p. 5⟩not be thus with us? Why doe we feare reproach? what stand we still at every slander? why busie we our heads for projects of revenge? or our hearts with indignation at every currish caitife, or dogged Doeg, that will falsely accuse our good conversation in Christ? When will we come to our journies end, if we every day trouble our selves with the indignities we receive in this strange world? let the curres barke, ride thou on, and minde thy way. What if thy crosses fall like raine? ride on, it is but a showre, it will be over.