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.…

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.

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.

Blessed be God, ¹&c. Two things I observe from the coherence of these words: First, that a Christian can be in •o such distress, but he hath still cause to be thankful to God for many blessings, though he be a stranger and used like a stranger, though he be scattered and driven to and fro: yet in all §1the days of his dispersion he may observe many memorable things, for which he ought to bless God. Secondly, that a Christian should never §2think of spiritual blessings, but his heart should kindle in him with desire to praise God for them.

Blessed be God, ¹&c. Two things I observe from the coherence of these words: First, that a Christian can be in •o such distresse, but hee hath still cause to be thankfull to God for many blessings, though he be a stranger and used like a stranger, though he be scattered and driven to and fro: yet in all §1the dayes of his dispersion hee may observe many memorable things, for which he ought to blesse God. Secondly, that a Christian should never §2thinke of spirituall blessings, but his heart should kindle in him with desire to praise God for them.

1. 12. Observation from the coherence.

Blessing is diversly taken or carried: sometimes man blesseth ^aman: sometimes God blesseth man^b: sometimes man is said to bless God: and so here.

Blessing is diversly taken or caryed: sometimes man blesseth ^aman: sometimes God blesseth man^b: sometimes man is said to blesse God: and so here.

1. aPsal. 129.8.
2. bPsal. 67.1.

Man blesseth God three ways: 1. In his heart, ¹when being refreshed with Gods favour, and inflamed with the joys of his presence, and nourished with the sense of his blessings, he doth lift up his heart within him inwardly with affection, striving to la•d God and acknowledge his mercy▪ 2. In his tongue, when he taketh to him words and openeth his lips to confess and praise God either in secret, or openly: either privately or publicly. 3. In his works, and that 4. ways: •. When he sets up memorials of Gods great works or deliverances. 2. When he receives the Sacrament, setting himself apart to celebrate the memory of Christs death, by which the covenant of God was confirmed, and the fountain of all grace opened. David when he would render thanks unto God takes the cup of ^csalvation. And the Sacrament is called the Eucharist from giving of thanks, and so the cup is called the cup of ^dblessing: 3. By the obedience of his life striving to glorify God in a holy conversation. 4. And lastly by showing mercy, and thereby causing the hearts and lives of others to bless God.

Man blesseth God three wayes: 1. In his heart, ¹when being refreshed with Gods favour, and inflamed with the joyes of his presence, and nourished with the sense of his blessings, hee doth lift up his heart within him inwardly with affection, striving to la•d God and acknowledge his mercy▪ 2. In his tongue, when he taketh to him words and openeth his lips to confesse and praise God either in secret, or openly: either privately or publikely. 3. In his workes, and that 4. wayes: •. When hee sets up memorialls of Gods great workes or deliverances. 2. When hee receives the Sacrament, setting himselfe apart to celebrate the memory of Christs death, by which the covenant of God was confirmed, and the fountaine of all grace opened. David when hee would render thankes unto God takes the cup of

Great reason hath man to bless God▪ 1. For God is blessedness it self,¹ ⟨p. 30⟩and whether should the water run but into the sea, from whence it is originally taken. 2. Besides the Lord hath required our praise, as the chief means of ^eglorifying him: 3. And thirdly he hath blessed us, and therefore we have great reason to bless him. He hath blessed us in the creatures: blessed the work of our hands: blessed the fruits of our loins: blessed us in his Son: blessed us by his Angels: blessed us by his Ministers: blessed us in the blessings of the Gospel, and blessed us in the fruits of the earth: blessed us in his house, and in our own houses: blessed us in our Sabbaths, Sacraments, the Word, Prayer, &c. blessed us in our souls, bodies, states, names, &c.

Great reason hath man to blesse God▪ 1. For God is blessednesse it selfe,¹ ⟨p. 30⟩and whether should the water runne but into the sea, from whence it is originally taken. 2. Besides the Lord hath required our praise, as the chiefe meanes of ^eglorifying him: 3. And thirdly he hath blessed us, and therefore we have great reason to blesse him. He hath blessed us in the creatures: blessed the worke of our hands: blessed the fruits of our loines: blessed us in his sonne: blessed us by his Angells: blessed us by his Ministers: blessed us in the blessings of the Gospell, and blessed us in the fruits of the earth: blessed us in his house, and in our owne houses: blessed us in our Sabbaths, Sacraments, the Word, Prayer, &c. blessed us in our soules, bodies, states, names, &c.

1. 1Reasons of blessing God.
2. e

And therefore let the people praise thee O God, yea let all the people praise ^fthee. ²All thy works praise thee, and the Saints shall sing of thy praise, and of the glory of thy power, and the majesty ^gof thy kingdom•.

And therefore let the people praise thee O God, yea let all the people praise ^fthee. ²All thy workes praise thee, and the Saints shall sing of thy praise, and of the glory of thy power, and the majesty ^gof thy kingdom•.

1. fPsal. 67.3.
2. 2Use.Vse.
3. gPsal. 145.10, 11, 12.