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.…

¹Answ. 1. Be sure it be true grace, else it will never increase.

1. 1What we must do that grace and peace may be multiplied in us.What we must doe that grace and peace may be multiplied in us.

2. Thou must increase in meekness, and humility: For God will give more grace to the humble, Jam. 4.8. and the meek shall have abundance of peace, Psal. 37.6.11.

2. Thou must increase in •eeknesse, and humility: For God will give more grace to the humble, Iam. 4.8. and the meeke shall have abundance of peace, Psal. 37.6.11.

3. If thou wouldest have thy grace and peace increase, thou must be constant much in the use of all the ordinances of God, which are the means of grace and peace: As thou measurest to God in the means, so will God measure to thee in the success: thou must be much in hearing. For grace is in the lips of Christ, Psal. 45.3. and much peace shall be to them, that love Gods laws, Psal. 119. and thou must go often unto God by prayer, who gives grace and glory, and will withhold no good thing, Psal. 84.12. 2 Thess. 1.11, 12. Run by faith to Christ, who is the Prince of peace, Isaiah 9.6. and stir up the grace of God, that is in thee. For thou hast not received the spirit of fear, but of power. 2 Tim. 1.7.

3. If thou wouldest have thy grace and peace increase, thou must be constant much in the use of all the ordinances of God, which are the meanes of grace and peace: As thou measurest to God in the meanes, so will God measure to thee in the successe: thou must be much in hearing. For grace is in the lips of Christ, Psal. 45.3. and much peace shall be to them, that love Gods lawes, Psal. 119. and thou must goe often unto God by prayer, who gives grace and glory, and will withhold no good thing, Psal. 84.12. 2 Thess. 1.11, 12. Runne by faith to Christ, who is the Prince of peace, Esay 9.6. and stirre up the grace of God, that is in thee. For thou hast not received the spirit of feare, but of power. 2 Tim. 1.7.

Thou must make much of the beginnings of desires, joy, liking, and care of the means of godliness, and not let them go out, so as thou shouldest fails of the grace of God, or receive those graces in vain.

Thou must make much of the beginnings of desires, joy, liking, and care of the meanes of godlinesse, and not let them goe out, so as thou shouldest fails of the grace of God, or receive those graces in vaine.

6. Thou must be resolved upon it to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts, and to live righteously, and religiously, and soberly in this present world: else thou c••st never meet with true peace further then thou art good and true in thy heart; and as thou increasest in the care of reformation in thy life, so shalt thou increase in every good and perfect •ift, till thou come to a ripe age in Jesus Christ, Tit. 2.12. Isaiah 32.16. Psal. 125. ult.

6. Thou must be resolved upon it to deny ungodlinesse and worldly lusts, and to live righteously, and religiously, and soberly in this present world: else thou c••st never meete with true peace further then thou art good and true in thy heart; and as thou increasest in the care of reformation in thy life, so shalt thou increase in every good and perfect •ift, till thou come to a ripe age in Iesus Christ, Tit. 2.12. Esay 32.16. Psal. 125. ult.

This likewise may be comfortable to a poor Christian, and that two ways.

This likewise may bee comfortable to a poore Christian, and that two wayes.

1. First, If he consider, that grace is not given all at once, but by degrees, and therefore he must not be discouraged, though he have many wants.

1. First, If he consider, that grace is not given all at once, but by degrees, and therefore hee must not bee discouraged, though hee have many wants.

2. Secondly, if he consider the bountifulness of God to all, that seek grace and peace, it may be had in abundance. For the Apostle implies, that God will multiply grace and peace, if we be constant in the use of the means, and glorify him by seeking to him, he will give liberally and reproach no man.

2. Secondly, if he consider the bountifulnesse of God to all, that seeke grace and peace, it may be had in abundance. For the Apostle implies, that God will multiply grace and peace, if wee bee constant in the use of the meanes, and glorifie him by seeking to him, hee will give liberally and reproach no man.

And thus much of the salutation.

Verse 3. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy, hath begotten us again unto a lively hope, by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.

Verse 3. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Iesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy, hath begotten us againe unto a lively hope, by the resurrection of Iesus Christ from the dead.

Hitherto of the salutation: the substance or the body of the Epistle follows: the doctrine whereof is two ways to be considered,¹ 1. as it is propounded, 2. as it is repeated: Three things are principally propounded, and the same also repeated, or gone over again. For there is first matter of consolation, 2. Matter of exhortation. 3. Matter of dehortation. The consolation is from this third verse to the thirteenth of this Chapter. The exhortation is from ver. 13. of this Chapter, to ver. 8. of the 3. chap. The Dehortation is from ver. 8. of the 3. chap. to the end of that chapter.

HItherto of the salutation: the substance or the body of the Epistle followes: the doctrine whereof is two wayes to be considered,¹ 1. as it is propounded, 2. as it is repeated: Three things are principally propounded, and the same also repeated, or gone over againe. For there is first matter of consolation, 2. Matter of exhortation. 3. Matter of dehortation. The consolation is from this third verse to the thirteenth of this Chapter. The exhortation is from ver. 13. of this Chapter, to ver. 8. of the 3. chap. The Dehortation is from ver. 8. of the 3. chap. to the end of that chapter.

1. 1The order of the body of the Epistle.

Then doth the Apostle a little changing the order go over the same three things again. For he exhorts from ver. 1. of chap. 4. to the 12. ver. of the same chap. and then he comforts from ver. 12. to the end of the 4. chap. and the Dehortation he lodgeth under request to the Elders, and the people chap. 5.1. to 12.

Then doth the Apostle a little changing the order goe over the same three things againe. For he exhorts from ver. 1. of chap. 4. to the 12. ver. of the same chap. and then he comforts from ver. 12. to the end of the 4. chap. and the Dehortation he lodgeth under request to the Elders, and the people chap. 5.1. to 12.

In this first part he intends to comfort, where I consider, first, the Proposition of comfort, ver. 3, 4, 5. Secondly, and the confirmation of that comfort, ver. 6, to the 13.

In the Proposition I observe, first, the manner of propounding, and the arguments themselves, by which he would comfort.

In the Proposition I observe, first, the maner of propounding, and the arguments themselves, by which he would comfort.

The manner of the Proposition is, that it is expressed in form of thanksgiving in these words: Blessed be the God and father of our Lord Jesus Christ. The arguments of consolation are 3. The first is taken from our Regeneration ver. 3. the second from our Glorification ver. 4. the third from our Preservation unto glory ver. 5.

The maner of the Proposition is, that it is expressed in forme of thankesgiving in these words: Blessed be the God and father of our Lord Iesus Christ. The arguments of consolation are 3. The first is taken from our Regeneration ver. 3. the second from our Glorification ver. 4. the third from our Preservation unto glory ver. 5.