A. D. 60. the truth, and one convert him, zo Let him know, that he which converteth the finner from the error of his way, fhall fave a foul from Ministers, whose * special Office it is) remember, that for them to be inftrumental in thus reducing a Sinner to the Senfe of his Miscarriages, the nobleft Office they can perform. and to true Repentance for them, is Let them value themselves as Instruments of faving a Soul from Deftruction, and covering all its Sins ; an Act of infinitely greater Value than the restoring a Sinner to his Bodily Health; and as much preferable, as Eternal is to Temporal Good, and, as the Soul is to the Body t. death, and shall * hide * άdeλØoi—riç- See Dr. Claget Sup. p. 40, 41. + Shall hide a Multitude of Sins. Both Dr. Hammond and Dr. Whitby make this refer to the Sins of the Person who Does, not who Receives the charitable Office of Converfion. But, as I have chofen to follow the Senfe of Dr. Claget, as much more natural; I refer the Reader to his own Choice, when he has feen how judiciously he has cleared the Sense of these Verses. Extream Unction, pag. 40, 41. A PARAPHRASE ON THE First EPISTLE GENERAL O F St. PETER. S. I. The PREFACE. CONCERNING the Author of thefe Aurbor §. 2. In the Year of Chrift 67 or 68, Times in the latter end of Nero's Reign, St. Peter and St. Paul are agreed on to have fuffered Martyrdom at Rome. They having, therefore, both of them declared their Deaths to be near at hand, St. Paul in 2 Tim. iv. 6. and St. Peter here, 2 Epiftle i. 14. makes it moft natural to conclude, the Date of these two Epistles, with that of 2 Tim. to have been in the Year 66 or 67, as judiciously stated by Dr. Pearfon, Dr. Mills, and Dr. Whitby; to the eternal Confutation of the Romanifts, who, in favour of their darling Notion of St. Peter's being at Rome, and for 25 Years Bishop there, would place it in the Year 44. in direct Contradiction to the Hiftory of the As, and the most evident Paffages in the Epiftles themselves. §. 3. They are dated from Rome, which, for its notorious Degree of Idolatry, Vice, and Superftition, is figuratively ftiled Babylon here, and in Rev. xvii. and xviii. (fee Note on Cap. v. ver. 1.3.) S. 4. The 318 Octafion. PREFACE to the i Ep. General of St. PETER. §. 4. The Design of the Apostle, with relation to the Chriftians of thefe Provinces, is evidently the fame with that of St. Paul to the Hebrews, and of St. James, to their whole Difperfion, viz. The Jews being now, from Judea to the utmoft Bounds of their Difperfion, arrived to the utmost Degree of Impiety, Luft, Rage, and Diftraction; their Averfion to the Roman Government prompting them to Sedition; and their unbounded Zeal for the Ceremonial Law exciting them to perfecute all Chriftians, without any Relentings of Mercy or Humanity, and to hearken to the Pretences of every falfe Prophet; gave Occafion to St. Peter's Advices here directed, chiefly to the Jewish Converts, but not excluding fuch Gentile Chriftians as had been either formerly profelited to the See Cap. i. Jewish Religion, or were newly converted from * Heathen18.- 10. fm to Chriftianity. To fupport them under their heavy -iv. 3. and 2 Pet. i. 1. Perfecutions; to perfwade the Jewish Converts particularly to have no Hand in the Rebellion against Cæfar, or his Officers; and to Spirit them All to Perfeverance in the pure and peaceable Profeffion of their Christianity, against the Falfe Doctrines, and Impure Practices of the Jewish Zealots, or of fuch Hereticks as were then Spawned from those People, as was Nicholas of Antioch (Acts vi. 5.) whofe lewd Sect is taken notice of by St. John, Revel. ii. 15. and is generally thought to be referred to, in fome Paffages of thefe Epiftles. S. 5. I fhall only add, That the Destruction of Jerufalem drawing now very near, St. Peter reprefents it in the fame Expreffions, taken in the fame Latitude with those of the Ancient Prophets, our Saviour and St. Paul, upon the fame prudential Reafons: Thofe Phrafes, The Day of the Lord, the Coming, or Revelation of Jefus Chrift, referring both to the Particular Judgments on the Jewish Nation, and to that of the whole World in General. For which I refer the Reader to the Preface to the Theffalonians: And for what is here urged in the Relative Duties, I refer him to the Preface to the Ephefians, §. 4. Let the learned Reader alfo confult the great and learned Sir Ifaac Newton's Obfervat. on the Apoc. Cap. 1. where he will fee ftill a clearer Light into the Time, Date, and Defign, of this and other Epiftles. CHAP. CHA P. I. The CONTENTS. The Direction and Salutation. The Apoftle bleffeth God for the great Mercies and Privileges of the Gospel Religion. Comforts both Jewith and Gentile Chriftians under their prefent Perfecutions, from the Senfe of those happy Bleffings, and the Truth and Certainty of them, as Foretold by the Ancient Prophets, and now exactly Ful filled. Exhorts them to the pure and fteddy Practice of their Religion, from the great Confideration of their Redemption by the Blood of Jefus Chrift. P Eter an apostle of Jefus Chrift, to the ftrangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Afia, and Bithynia, getting the Gentile * 2 Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through fanctification of the Spirit unto obedience, and fprinkling of the blood of Jefus Chrift Grace unto you, and peace be multiplied. you the Abundance 3 Bleffed be the God and Father of our Lord Jefus Chrift, which according to his abundant mercy, hath begotten us again unto a lively hope, by the refurrection of Jefus Chrift from the dead, 1. PEter, an Apoftle of Jefus Written Christ, fendeth this Epiftle A. D. 66. to the Converted Jews of the ancient Difperfion, in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, the Provinces of the Leffer Afia, and Bithynia. Not forChriftians of thofe Parts. * See Cap. -iv. 3,4, 5. and 2 Pet. i 2. To all you that have embra- i. 18.-.10. ced the gracious Covenant of the Gospel; a Covenant that is Ratified and Confirmed by the Blood of 'ParisChrist, and entitles you to the Gifts os. See Heb. xii.24. Exod. and Graces of the Holy Spirit; Pri- xxiv. 8. vileges that God originally designed, and by hisProphets formerly promis'd, to the Chriftian Church. Wifhing of Divine Favour and Happiness. 3 & 4. Expreffing my humbleft Thanks to God, the Father of our Lord Jefus Chrift, for the inexpreffible Mercy of giving us Chriftians fo fure a Profpect of the never-fading and eternal Happiness of Heaven, by the Refurrection of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Head. 5. And 4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, A. D. 66. 5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto falvation, ready to be 5: And for preferving and fupporting us, by his Almighty Power, under all our Afflictions and Temptations, to persevere in the Faith of this his laft and great Difpenfation of the Gospel, whereby we shall not fail of compleat Glory and Happiness, at the final Day of Judgment. revealed in the last La naipa time. σχάτω. |