Matthew Poole and continuators on 1 Peter 1:7

7 That the trial of your faith being much more precious than of gold that perisheth , though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise, and honour, and glory , at the appearing of Jesus Christ.

i. e. Your Faith when tried. He compares the Faith of the Saints with Gold, and argues from the less to the greater; q. d. if Men do so far esteem their Gold, that they will make the Excellency [illegible: 1 letter]nd preciousness of it appear by trying it in the Fire, which purgeth away the Dross, and discovers the goodness of the Metal; no wonder if God will have the Faith of the Saints (more precious to him, than Gold is to Men) tried by Afflictions, that the Excellency of it may more fully be discovered.

i. e. Than the Trial of Gold; or Gold tried, compared with Faith tried.

Is worn away, and consumed by use, as many Particles of it likewise may be in the very Trial of it, v. 18. whereas Faith is not consumed nor wasted, but encreased by being used, and made more conspicuous by being tried.

i. e. May be found to be, or to have turned to praise, &c. the Dignity of it being by that means evidenced. These several words shew whither present Trials tend, and in what they issue; they may be reproachful and ignominious now (Heb. 12.2.) but they end in Glory. We need not be critical about the difference of these three words, Praise, Honour, and Glory, which may be synonimous Expressions (by way of Amplification) of the same thing, yet they are mentioned distinctly with relation to Believers elsewhere, Praise, 1 Cor. 4.5. Honour, 1 Sam. 2.30. Iohn 12.26. Glory as well as Honour, Rom. 2.10.

i. e. At the Day of Judgment frequently so called, as v. 13. and Colos. 3.4. 2 Thess. 1.7. and chap. 5.4. Christ's Glory is at present hid and obscured, while he is instructing his Elect, and training them up unto Patience, and defers his judging of his Enemies; but at last it will be fully manifested in the Face of the World, when he comes with Clouds, and every Eye shall see him, &c. Rev. 1.7.

Marginal references: Chap. 4.12.; Prov. 17.3. Zech. 13.9.