John Trapp on 1 Peter 1

CHAP. I. Verſe 1. To the ſtranger[illegible: 1 letter]]

THat is, To the provinciall Jew. See the Note on Jam. 1.1.

Verſe 2. Through ſanctification unto obedience] To the means as well as to the end [illegible: 1 word] ſanctification as well as to ſalvation. Some there be (ſaith Mr Philpot in an Epiſtle of his to the Congregation) that for an extream refuge in their evil doings, run to Gods election, ſaying, If I be elected I ſhall be ſaved, whatever I do.Act, and Mon[illegible: 1 letter] fol, 1663. But ſuch be great tempters of God, and abominable bl[illegible: 1 letter]ſphemers of his holy election: Theſe caſt themſelves down from the pinatle of the Temple in preſumption, that God may preſerve them by his angels thorow predeſtination. Gods election ought to be with a ſimple eye conſidered, to make us more warily walk according to his Word, and not ſet cock in the hoop, and put all on Gods back, to do wickedly at large. Thus he.

Verſe 3. Bleſſed be the God] A ſtately proeme, and ſuch as can hardly be matched again, unleſſe it be that of S. Paul to the Epheſians, chap. 1.3.

Ʋnto a lively hope] Sure and ſolid, clearing the conſcience, and cheating the ſpirit.

Verſe 4. Ʋndefiled, and that fadeth not] The two Greek words here uſed are alſo Latine: Amiantus is a precious ſtone (ſaith D.Iſidor E[illegible: 1 letter]ym. 1.16.[illegible: 1 letter].4. Playfire out of Iſidore) which though it be never ſo much ſoiled, yet it cannot be blemiſhed. And Amarantus is the name of a flower, Paedagog. l.1. c 8. which being a long time hung up in the houſe, yet ſtill is freſh and green, as Clemens writeth. To both theſe poſſibly the Apoſtle might here allude. And it is as if he ſhould ſay, the crown that you ſhall receive, ſhall be ſtudded with the ſtone Amiantus, which cannot be defiled: and it is garniſhed, with the flower Amarantus which is freſh and green, &c.

Verſe 5. [non-Latin text not transcribed]. Who are kept] As with a guard, or as in a gariſon, that is well fenced with walls and works, and ſo is made impregnable.

By the power of God] Much ſeen in the Saints perſeverance. My father is ſtronger then all: none therefore can take you out of my hand[illegible: 1 letter], ſith I and the Father am one, Joh. 10.

Verſe 6. If need be, ye are in heavineſſe] When our hearts grow a grain too light, God ſeeth it but needfull to make us heavy through manifold temptations. When our water (as it were) looks but a little too high, our heavenly father, a Phyſitian no leſſe cunning then loving (ſaith one) doth diſcern it, and quickly ſits us,Baynes letters whom he moſt tendereth, with that which will reduce all to the health ſome temper of a broken ſpirit.

Verſe 7. that the triall of your faith] If affliction (which is the triall of our faith) be ſo exceeding precious, what is faith then, and the promiſes whereon faith laies hold? There are that by the triall of faith underſtand here a well-tried faith, which is called gold tried in the fire, Rev. 3.18.

Verſe 8.Parae[illegible: 2 letters]. Whom having not ſeen] They had not been, belike, at the feaſt of the Paſſeover (at which time our Saviour ſuffered) but came up to the feaſt of Pentecoſt, and were converted, Act. 2.

And full of glory] [non-Latin text not transcribed]. Gr. Glorified already; a piece of Gods Kingdome and heavens happineſſe afore-hand. O the joy! the joy! the inexpreſſible joy that I finde in my ſoul, ſaid a dying Saint.

Verſe 9. The end of your faith] The period and perfection, the reward and meed of it, in all fulneſſe. See Pſal. 19.12. Prov. 22.4.

Verſe 10. The Prophets have enquired] This highly ſets forth the weight and worth of it, ſith ſuch men took ſuch pains about it. Baſe ſpirits are buſied about light matters;Numb. 14.24. as Domitian ſpent his time in catching flies, Artaxerxes in making knive-hafts: Not ſo Caleb, who had another spirit, and followed God Wholly: So did the ancient Prophets, as Iſaiah: whiles the merry Greeks were taken up at their Olympick games in the year 1540.Buchol. Chron. from the floud, the Prophet Iſaiah ſeeth that heavenly viſion of Chriſt ſitting on his throne, and heareth that thrice happy Triſagion, Iſa. 6.1, 2, 3.

Verſe 11. Searching What, &c.] [non-Latin text not transcribed]. With greateſt ſagacity and induſtry, as hunters ſeek for game, and as men ſeek for gold in the very mines of the earth.

The ſufferings of Chriſt, &c.] Macarius was utterly out, in ſaying that the prophets knew that Chriſt ſhould be born for mens redemption, but that they knew nothing of his death and ſufferings. Iſaiah writes of them more like an Evangeliſt then a Prophet, and is therefore called the Evangelicall Prophet.

Verſe 12. Not unto themſelves] In regard of the accompliſh-of thoſe oracles that they uttered: And yet to themſelves, in regard of their right and intereſt therein.

They did miniſter] None muſt hold themſelves too good to ſerve the Saints.

The Angels deſire to look into] To look wiſhly and intently, as the Cherubims of old looked into the Mercy-ſeat, [non-Latin text not transcribed] Prono capite, & propenſo collo accura[illegible: 1 letter]e [illegible: 2 letters]roſpicere. Exod. 25.18, 19.

Verſe 13. Wherefore gird up, &c.] We are ſeldome comforted, but we have need to be exhorted. So apt are our hearts to ſecurity, and ſo apt is Satan to interrupt our joyes, with his baſe injections.

Gird up the loins of your minde] Gird your ſelves and ſerve God, Luk 17.8. A looſe diſcinct and diffluent minde is unfit for Gods ſervice. Girding implies, 1. Readineſſe. 2. Nimbleneſſe, handineſſe, handſomeneſſe.

Hope to the end] Gr. Hope perfectly or entirely, q. d, Do not [illegible: 1 letter]y halves, [non-Latin text not transcribed]. let there not be any odde reckonings between God and you; but work out your ſalvation, Phil. 2.12. See the Note th[illegible: 2 letters]e.

For the grace] That is, for the glory.

That is to be brought unto you] It muſt be brought unto us (ſuch is out duines) we will ſcarce go ſeek it, hardly be perſwaded to live happily, raign everlaſtingly.

Verſe 14. [non-Latin text not transcribed]. Not faſhioning your ſelves] As a plaier is faſhioned to the o[illegible: 1 letter] ſeene ſpeeches and carriages of him, whom he perſonateth.

In your ignorance] Men may remain groſſely ignorant amidſt abundance of means, as theſe Jews did. Who is blinde but my ſervant? or deaf as my meſſenger &c? Iſa. 42.19, 20.

Verſe 15. In all manner of converſation] Our very civilities muſt favour of ſanctity, and our common converſation relliſh of religion. [non-Latin text not transcribed]. S. Pauls civil converſation was in heaven, Phil. 3.20. Holines muſt be written upon our bridles when we war, upon our cups when we drink Zach. 14.20, 21. It is ſaid of a certain Scotch-Divine, that he did even eat, and drink, and ſleep eternall life.

Verſe 16. Be ye holy] i.e. Separate from ſin and dedicated to God; in conformity to whom ſtands our happineſſe. See the Note on Mat 5 48.

Verſe 17. [non-Latin text not transcribed] Inco[illegible: 2 letters]tus, con[illegible: 2 letters] [illegible: 1 letter]oratio. Of your ſojourning] Having your commoration on earth, but your converſation in heaven. Fugiamus ad coeleſtem patriam, &c. could a Heathen ſay.

In fear] Thoſe that fear of all others are likely to hold out, Jer. 32.4[illegible: 1 letter].

Verſe 18. Received by tradition] Children are very apt to follow their parents example, whether of good or evil. Me ex ea opinione quam amajoribus accepi de cultu deorum, nullius unquam movebit oratio, ſaith Tully. I will never for ſake that way of divine ſervice, that I have received from my fore fathers.

Verſe 19. Without blemiſh] Of originall pollution.

And without spot] Of actuall ſin.

Verſe 20. Who verily, &c.] So carefull was God to make all ſure concerning our redemption in Chriſt, ſaith one here.

Verſe 21. Might be in God] And ſo in a ſafer hand then cur own. He hath laid help upon one that is mighty.

Verſe 22. Ye have purified] Animabus veſtris caſtificatis, &c. A metaphor from the legall purifications.

Verſe 23. Born again] A man ſhall never have occaſion to curſe the day of his new birth.

Verſe 24. A[illegible: 2 letters]fl[illegible: 2 letters]ſh is graſſe] To live is but to lie a dying. Can a picture continue that is drawn upon the ice?

Verſe 25. The Word of the Lord, &c.] This ſentence is the Motto of the Dukes of Saxony. See Pſal. 119.89.Manl[illegible: 2 letters]ee co[illegible: 1 letter]. 4 19.