An analytical exposition of both the epistles of the Apostle Peter illustratedAn analyticall exposition of both the epistles of the Apostle Peter illustrated

Use. This may serve to comfort poor Christians that have no titles whereof to boast. For if they be the servants of God and Christ, they have no cause to envy others, or to complain of their own condition. Now that it may be known who are the servants of God, we must know that there are two things, as it were essential to a servant, 1. To depend upon his Masters will and pleasure, for direction in his work. 2. To refer all that he hath to the use and profit of his Master, not to his own. So also every faithful servant of God, 1 depends wholly upon God for the direction of his life, not upon himself and his own counsel, nor upon the examples and customs of the world, much less upon the suggestions of the flesh and the devil. 2. He refers himself and all that he hath to advance and set forth the glory of God.

Vse. This may serve to comfort poore Christians that have no titles whereof to boast. For if they be the servants of God and Christ, they have no cause to envie others, or to complain of their owne condition. Now that it may be knowne who are the servants of God, we must know that there are two things, as it were essentiall to a servant, 1. To depend upon his Masters will and pleasure, for direction in his worke. 2. To referre all that he hath to the use and profit of his Master, not to his owne. So also every faithfull servant of God, 1 depends wholly upon God for the direction of his life, not upon himselfe and his owne counsell, nor upon the examples and customes of the world, much lesse upon the suggestions of the flesh and the devill. 2. He referres himselfe and all that he hath to advance and set forth the glory of God.

Doct. 4. Those servants of Christ which are called Apostles, have the chiefest authority in the Church of God.

For that is the reason why Peter saith that he is an Apostle of Jesus Christ. All the faithful are Christs servants, but they are not Apostles: even the ordinary Ministers themselves, although in a large sense they may be called Apostles and Ambassadors of Christ, yet not in that sense as Peter, Paul, and the like are called. For the word Apostle, in this and the like places, signifies not only an Embassage, but a singular privilege or prerogative in that embassage. Now the privilege of the Apostles above other Ministers consists in these four things: First, In the manner of the embassage, viz. that they were called neither of men, nor by men but immediately of Christ. Secondly, in the office imposed upon them by virtue of this embassage, viz. that they were chiefly sent to plant