Casuistical morning-exercises the fourth volume /

THE Persons to whom the Apostle wrote this Epistle; are in the beginning of it, styled Strangers. So they were, because dispersed and scattered in several Kingdoms of the Gentiles;¹ and they were Pilgrims and Sojourners in the Earth it self; being regenerated and born from above; and minding a better Country; than was to be found here below. The Apostle endeavours to strengthen their Faith, to enliven their Hope, to fix their hearts upon the incorruptible and undefiled Inheritance: and to keep them in the way that leads to it.

THE Persons to whom the Apostle wrote this Epistle; are in the beginning of it, styled Strangers. So they were, because dispersed and scatter'd in several Kingdoms of the Gentiles;¹ and they were Pilgrims and Sojourners in the Earth it self; being regenerated and born from above; and minding a better Country; than was to be found here below. The Apostle endeavours to strengthen their Faith, to enliven their Hope, to fix their hearts upon the incorruptible and undefiled Inheritance: and to keep them in the way that leads to it.

1. 1[Greek or Hebrew], Joh. 3.7.〈non-Latin alphabet〉, Joh. 3.7.

In this Chapter, where my Text lies, He admonishes them to abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul: he exhorts them to a conversation, that would glorify God, convince the World, and adorn the Gospel: their Zeal ought to be so great of those works that are good; that they should not think much to suffer for well doing. Bona agere, & mala pati; to do good, and to hold on in so doing, though very ill requited for it; this is high and noble indeed; this is an honour not vouchsafed to the elect Angels; who are not capable