1 Peter 1

1 Peter 1:1

TO the] namely, to the Jews, dispersed out of their own countrey into those Provinces, and converted to the Christian faith.

1 Peter 1:2

Elect] separated from the world by Gods effectuall calling, which is the execution of the eternall election The foreknowledge] the Italian, preordination; the Greek, foreknowledge;that is to say, A decree made by Gods knowledge and judgement, Romans 8:29. Through sanctification] sanctifying you really by his Spirit, to whom it belongs to make Gods vocation firm and effectuall, 2 Thess. 2. 23. Unto obedience] that by faith making you obedient unto the Gospell, you may be partakers of the benefit of the Lords death for the remission of your sinnes. Or he declares the two ends of the beleevers vocation, which are the justification in the blood of Christ; and the new obedience through the sanctification of the Spirit.

1 Peter 1:3

Unto a lively hope] namely, to conceive a lively, still growing, and operating hope of celestiall goods, by meanes of the spirituall regeneration, which is the true seed and pledge of eternall glory By the resurrection] namely, by vertue of Christs resurrection, which is the fountain of regeneration, Romans 6:5; Romans 6:11. Coloss. 2. 12. and likewise the foundation of our future glory, 1 Corinthians 15:18; 1 Corinthians 15:20-21. Ephes. 2. 6.

1 Peter 1:4

To an inheritance] to gain us the right unto it, and make us capeable thereof, as being made the children of God Incorruptible] by these titles he sheweth, How that as celestiall goods are everlasting and without any impurity of sinne, beleevers ought likewise to be such by the gift of the holy Ghost, which causeth them to put off these two qualities, namely of sinne, and finally also the weak conditions of a sensuall life, see 1 Corinthians 15:50.

1 Peter 1:5

By the power] by his power which onely works effectually in this defence, against all assaults and deceits of the enemies, John 10:29. and is lent man by meanes of a true and lively faith Are kept] that is to say, Preserved against all dangers of losing their salvation, John 17:11-12; John 17:15. Jude 1:1. Unto salvation] namely, to be made possessours of the chief end and perfect fulnesse of it.

1 Peter 1:6

Wherein] namely, in the certainty of this inviolable safegard of God, and in the earnest which he hath given you of the promised salvation by means of your regeneration If need be] whereby the necessity of God will must impose upon you the Law of voluntary obedience.Temptations] that is to say, Trials and exercises of afflictions, Iames 1. 2.

1 Peter 1:7

The triall] namely, your faith well tried and standing to any souch Might be found] before God.

1 Peter 1:9

Receiving] having even in this very world the first fruits of the fruition of salvation, after which undoubtedly shall follow the fulnesse thereof.

1 Peter 1:10

Have enquired] by a fervent desire and expectation That should come] the Italian, that is come; or that was received for you, or which was to be communicated unto you.

1 Peter 1:11

Of Christ] which is that Spirit by which all the Prophets were inspired and have spoken, and which proceeds from the Father, and from the Son, and whose gifts, presence, and power, have at all times been dispensed by Christ head of the Church, and supreme Prophet of it, see Ecclesiastes 12:13. Acts 16:17. 1 Peter 3:19.

1 Peter 1:12

That not] namely, that they foretold and preached the mysteries of the Gospell, the full manifestation and fruition of which should not happen in their times but in ours With the holy Ghost] that is to say, Being inspired by it Which things] that is to say, Which things are so admirable and excellent, that the full knowledge thereof is much desired, and is wonderous amiable even to the very Angels, who cannot be satisfied with the contemplation and the height thereof, with extreme wonder and rejoycing.

1 Peter 1:13

Wherefore] namely, seeing you are come to that holy and so much desired time, see Romans 13:11. 2 Corinthians 6:2. Gird up] being continually free from worldly cares and affections, and prepared for the race and voyage of the heavenly vocation; a terme taken from travellers of those dayes, in which they used to gird up their long garments, that they might be the more fitting and ready for travell: but particularly it is taken from the Israelites when they came out of Egypt, Exodus 12:11.

1 Peter 1:15

Hath called you] to unite you unto him, which cannot be done unlesse you be holy as he is, Psal. 5. 4.

1 Peter 1:17

Of persons] namely, of their outward qualities of titles, shew, or condition, but looks onely to the reality of true holinesse and obedience Of your journeying] namely this present life, which is an absence from our true heavenly countrey In fear] with all reverence, care, and heavenly humilitie.

1 Peter 1:18

That ye were not] and consequently that so great a gift requires an equall gratitude From your vain] from your unfruitfull works of darknesse, Ephes. 5. 11. and from all false doctrines and religions.

1 Peter 1:19

As of a] namely, who is the substance and the truth of that figure of the Paschall Lamb, by whose blood the Israelites were delivered.

1 Peter 1:20

For you] namely, for your salvation.

1 Peter 1:21

By him] Christ manifesting the Father unto us by his word, and creating faith in us by his Spirit, and also he only having made him propitious unto us, that we might put all our confidence in him That your] he saith so, because that by Christs exaltation, the Father sheweth that he is pleased with us, which would not be if Christ had remained dead, 1 Corinthians 15:14; 1 Corinthians 15:17. and also because that being fulfilled in the head, we are certain that it shal likewise be so with the members; and because that Christ ascended into Heaven, he makes intercession for his beleevers, to obtain all manner of grace and the holy Ghost for them, whereby faith is engendred in them, and the conformity of the members with the head is brought forth.

1 Peter 1:22

In obeying] namely, in beleeving the Gospell, or conforming your selves to the will of God by a sincere and filiall obedience Through the Spirit] namely, by the power and grace of the holy Ghost, which may have a relation either to the foresaid obedience, or to the purification of the souls, because that both are the work of the holy Ghost Of the brethren] which is the true end and naturall effect of the purification of the soul by faith, Ephes. 1. 4. 1 John 3:18-19.

1 Peter 1:23

By the word] which is likened to the seed, made actuall and fruitfull by the addition of the holy Ghost Which liveth] which is endowed with an effectuall and spirituall power, and is established and lasteth for ever, whereby it is likewise apt to bring forth the spirituall and everlasting life in beleevers, opposite to the mortall and transitory life which they had from their parents by the corporall generation, which is described afterwards.