An expository comment, doctrinal, controversial, and practical upon the whole first chapter to the…An expository comment, doctrinal, controversal, and practical upon the whole first chapter to the…

For the Text therefore, though Expositors go several ways, yet I shall pitch on this as most probable.

For the Text therefore, though Expositors go several wayes, yet I shall pitch on this as most probable.

The former part of the verse, is a reason of that good exhortation, and necessary to every one, which he had given before, Let him that thinketh he standeth, take heed lest he fall: Why? Because there hath no temptation as yet taken hold of you, but such as all men are capable of. An humane temptation, that is, little, short and attemperated to mans strength, or what is usual amongst men; As the rod of a man: And Isa. 8. 1. The pen of a man. Rom. 6. 19. I speak after the manner of men, ye have not yet been afflicted for Christianity. Nero hath not yet commanded the Christians to be vexed and tormented for the faith you profess: Like that expression, Heb. 12. 4. Ye have not yet resisted to blood. So that they had just cause to walk humbly, and to be afraid of falling, because God had not put them yet upon any hard trials for Christs sake. What they hitherto suffered was such as other men, though not Christians, did endure as well as they. But lest this should deject too much, as if the time were coming, when their persecutions should make them Apostates, he giveth them this wine to comfort their hearts with. This gracious promise which every Christian should call his promise, a continual Antidote, a daily Cordial, God is faithful, &c. where every thing ingredient to it, is of admirable comfort, God is faithful. It belongs to the faithfulness of God to preserve you, he hath taken you for his, and therefore his dishonour would be more than thy loss, if thou shouldst perish. No husbandman will lay a greater burden upon his beast, than he can bear: Shall man be pitiful to beasts, and not God a gracious Father to his children? The Artificer or Refiner likewise, he will not suffer his gold to lie longer in the fire, than the dross will be purged away; and shall not God so faithful regard his children under their burdens? Again, He will not suffer you to be tempted. No Devil, no wicked man in the world can