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11 Searching what, or what manner

of

time the Spirit of Chrift which was in them did fignifie,

of this very Christ, to foretel both A. D. 66, the Time and glorious Fruits of his Sufferings in relation to himself, and all his true Difciples.

when it teftified before-hand the fufferings of Chrift, and the glo. ry that should follow.

12 Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minifter the things which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you, with the holy Ghoft fent down from heaven; which things the angels defire to look in

12. For, as to the Time, they knew and exprefly declared it was not to be tranfacted in their Days, but fpoke of it as future, represent ing it juft as it has now been actually revealed by Christ himself, and declared to you and all Chriftians, by us his Apoftles, endowed with the fame holy Spirit for that Purpose. And this Difpenfation of the Gospel is fo abundant in Divine Wisdom, Juftice and Mercy toward Mankind, that not only Prophets foretold it with Pleasure, but the very Angels themfelves cannot but contemplate upon it with Delight and Aftonishment. 13 Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be fober, and hope to the end, for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Je

to.

fus Chrift;

14 As

obedient

13. Let this Confideration then arm you with Vigilance, Courage and Conftancy in a Profeffion attended with fuch Bleffings as these of the Chriftian* Religion are, which you are fo certain to enjoy at the fi nal Appearance of * Chrift to Judg

ment.

14 & 15. Show yourselves true children, not fashion- Difciples of Christ, by reforming the ing your felves accord- Irregularities of your former Notions ing to the former lufts and Practices, and imitating the diin your ignorance : 15 But as he which vine Author of your Religion in Hohath called you is ho- linefs and Purity of Life. ly, fo be ye holy in all manner of conversation;

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ne mean

Ver. 11. The Spirit of Chrift which was in Them. ing is, either the fame Spirit of God, which infpired the Prophets formerly, and dwelt in Chrift more fully afterward; Or elfe, the Spirit by whofe Infpirations the Prophets foretold the Time and Cir cumftances of Chrift's Sufferings, and is therefore called the Spirit of Chrift. The former feems to be the more natural Sense.

Ιησέ Χρισέ,

A. D.66.

16 Because it is written, Be ye holy, for I am holy.

16. For those Expreffions (Lev. ii. 44.-xix. 2. -xx. 7, 26.) wherein the Jewish People are exhorted to

be holy as God is holy, are much more engaging upon us of the Chriftian Church.

17 And if you call on the Father, who without refpect of perfon judgeth according to every man's work, pass the time of your fojourning here in fear:

17. And this does moft fpecially concern fuch of you as are newly converted from the Heathen to the Chrift an Religion, from theWorship of Idols to that of the One True God. Now, that you are receiv'd into the true Church of God, with the fame Goodness and Mercy as the Jews themselves are, and fhall be judged and rewarded equally with them; you are obliged to particular Care and Watchfulness over your future Conduct.

18 Foraimuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as filver and gold, from your vain converfation received by tradition from fathers:

18 & 19. You ought to confider yourselves as Captives redeemed from a State of Ignorance and Idolatry, wherein you were originally educated. And that the Purchase was not procured by the most valuable thing this World could afford, but 19 But with the coft the Blood even of Christ himprecious blood of felf the Son of God; a Perfon of most Chrift, as of a Lamb exalted Dignity and perfect Innowithout blemish and cence. without spot.

your

20 Who verily was fore-ordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifeft in these last times

for you;

20 & 21. Even that Meffiah, originally defigned by God for the Redemption of all Mankind; but, tho' promifed from the first, and all along defcribed by the Jew21 Who by him do ish Prophets, to that People; yet believe in God that was not actually fent into the World raised him up from for that Purpose, till this laft and the dead, and gave great Difpenfation of the Gospel; him glory, that your wherein his Religion was intended I divμas. to be propofed equally to you and them, by us his Apoftles, and demonftrated to us all, by his Resurrection from the Dead, as a fure Pledge of our future Happiness, upon our fincere Obedience. So that, by being Chriftians, you

do

faith and hope might do not for fake God (as the obftinate A. D. 66. Jews vainly pretend) but do most

be* in God.
effectually believe in Him.
22 Seeing ye have
purified your fouls in
obeying the truth
through the Spirit,
unto unfeigned love of
the brethren; fee that
ye love one another
with a pure heart fer-
vently:

23 Being born again, not of corruptible feed, but of in corruptible, by the Word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.

22. And fince you have engaged to reform your Lives, by Obedience to this pure and spiritual Religion, one of the chief Duties whereof, is an univerfal Love and Charity to all your Chriftian Brethren; be fure to practife that principal Virtue with the utmost Ardour and Sincerity.

23. Remember, that by embracing this Profeffion, you become the Church and People of God, in a Sense much more excellent than the Jews were by their natural Defcent from Abraham and the Patriarchs; or than any Profelyte could be, by joyning himself to their external and Ceremonial Worship. You are regenerated and made the Children of God, by the Belief of thofe Gospel Doctrines, the habitual Practice whereof will work in you thofe excellent Graces and divine Virtues, that will for ever adorn and make you happy.

24 For all flesh is as grafs, and all the glory of man, as the Hower of grafs. The grafs withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: 25 But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached un

24 & 25. Thofe Privileges of natural Descent the Jews fo much boaft of, the Succeffion in Rich and Noble Families, by any Civil Relation or Inftitution, are mere external and fading Bleffings: As Ifaiah formerly reprefented them. But the Bleffing of being taken into God's Church, by embracing the Revelation of Jefus Chrift, is of the utmost and everlasting Confequence to us. And thus the Gofpel we preach to you is truly what aiah there defcribed it, The Word of the Lord that endureth for ever, Ifa. xl. 6, 7, 8.

to you.

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*Ver. 21. That your Faith and Hope might be in God, ass τήν πίσον ὑμῶν εἶναι εις Θεόν. So that your Faithmis in God.

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See Joh. i. 12, 13. and

bere ver. 24.

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CHA P. II.

The CONTENTS.

The Loving and Charitable Temper spoken of Cap. i. 22, further and particularly recommended, from the great Example of Chrift, and the Bleffings of his Religion. The believing Gentiles are received into its Privileges, while the Infidel Jews are rejected; according to the Scripture Prophecies. The Jewish Chriftians exhorted to pay all due Obedience to the Emperor and his Officers; as obliged thereto by their Christianity, and as the only Means to avoid the fcandalous Character of being Seditious, as the Gentiles were apt to represent the Chriftians, in common with the rest of the Jewish Nation. Chriftian Servants or Slaves obliged to ferve and respect even their Heathen Mafters, though fevere toward them for their Religion's Sake Encouraged thereto by the Example of Christ's Meekness and Patience under his Sufferings.

:

7Herefore laying 1 & 2. Wafide all matice

Cap. i. 23, and all guile, and hypocrifies, and envies, and all evil speakings, 2 As new born babes defire the fin cere milk of the word, that ye may grow

*

regene

Hus are you TH rated by the Chriftian Faith. And therefore, as new born Children are to be fed with the most fimple and harmless Diet; fo ought you, now, most carefully to avoid all thofe Principles of Treachery, Hypocrify, Envy and Calumny, to which the Jewish People are so miferably prone, and to put in practice the pure and I reafonable Precepts of the Gospel, whereby you may improve in all Virtue and Holiness.

1Jofepbus. thereby : Jam.i. 21. Η τολογικὸν γάλα. Rom. xii. I.

3 If fo be ye have Xpis. tafted that the Lord is gracious.

you by Christ your

3. Thofe contrary Graces of a gentle, meek, ‡ and kind Difpofition, being fo fully recommended to merciful Redeemer and great Example.

4 To whom coming, as unto a living stone, diffallowed in deed of men, but chofen of God, and precious,

4 & 5. Look upon yourselves as A. D. 66. Members of his Religion; both Jewish and Gentile Chriftians being equally Parts of that noble Fabrick, the Church ; of which He is the Foundation and Corner-Stone, uniting you both into one Building, far exceeding that of the Jewish Temple. And, though the Jewish Council rejected and defpifed him, yet has God demonftrated him to be the True Meffiah; and you, as Members of his Church, are capable to offer fuch truly spiritual Services to God, as infinitely furpafs their Legal and Ceremonial Sacrifices; and are invefted with fuch Honours and Privileges as their imperfect Dispensation have no Pretence to *.

5 Ye alfo, as lively flones, are built up a fpiritual house, an holy priesthood to of fer up fpiritual facrifices, acceptab'e to God by Jefus Chrift.

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6. Agreeably to that Prophecy of Ifa. xxviii. 16. concerning Chrift: Representing him as the Head of a tended with more valuable Promifes new and more perfect Religion, atand Privileges, undoubtedly to be beftowed on all the Jewish People that would embrace and obey him.

7 & 3. Which Character of him is now fulfilled to you Chriftian Believers, that enjoy the Privileges of the Gospel. But, to the obftinate Unbelievers of that Nation, are as juftly applicable thofe Words of the Pfalmift, relating to the fame Meffiah; Pfal. cxviii. 22. The Stone which the Builders (i. e. the Jewish Council) rejected, is become the Head of the Corner, i. e. the Head and Foundation

Y 3

.

* Lively flones, a fpiritual house, a holy priesthood. Expreffions all alluding to the Jewish Temple and Priesthood, and intended to fhow the Excellency of the Chriftian above the Jewish Religion.

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