The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed: Ver. 1. _Who am also an elder_] Gr. A fellow elder, not a commander, a lord paramount, a compeer and consort to the blessed Trinity, as... [ Continue Reading ]
Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight _thereof_, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; Ver. 2. _Feed the flock_] Being both learned and loving. The Greek word for a shepherd (ποιμην, as if οιμην, from οις, sheep and μαω) signifieth one... [ Continue Reading ]
Neither as being lords over _God's_ heritage, but being ensamples to the flock. Ver. 3. _Neither as being lords_] About the year 1620 the clergy and laity of England set themselves against the pope's exactions; and when the envoy alleged that all churches were the pope's, Magister Leonardus made an... [ Continue Reading ]
And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away. Ver. 4. _Ye shall receive a crown_] A crown imports perpetuity, plenty, dignity, the height of human ambition. _Quarta perennis erit_ It will be the fourth part of eternity, was Sir Thomas Bodly's posy... [ Continue Reading ]
Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all _of you_ be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. Ver. 5. _Yea, all of you be subject_] In regard of love and modesty, not of change and confusion of offices... [ Continue Reading ]
Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: Ver. 6. _Under the mighty hand of God_] If God can blow us to destruction,Job 4:9, nod us to destruction, Psalms 18:16, what is the weight of that mighty hand of his that spans the heavens and holds the ear... [ Continue Reading ]
Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. Ver. 7. _Casting all your care_] Your carking care, your care of diffidence. I will now with you sing away care, said John Careless, martyr, in a letter to Mr Philpot, for now my soul is turned to her old rest again, and hath taken a sweet nap... [ Continue Reading ]
Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Ver. 8. _Your adversary the devil_] Satan envies our condition that we should enjoy that paradise that he left, the comforts he once had. Hence he disturbs us, and is restless out... [ Continue Reading ]
Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. Ver. 9. _Stedfast in the faith_] Gr. στερεοι, stiff, solid, settled. _ That the same afflictions_] Art not thou glad to fare as Phocion? said he to one that was to die with... [ Continue Reading ]
But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle _you_. Ver. 10. _But the God of all grace_] Thus the apostle divides his time between preaching and prayer, according to his own a... [ Continue Reading ]
To him _be_ glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. Ver. 11. _To him be glory, &c._] _Non loquendum de Deo sine lumine, _ said the heathen; we may not mention God but with praise to his name, say we.... [ Continue Reading ]
By Silvanus, a faithful brother unto you, as I suppose, I have written briefly, exhorting, and testifying that this is the true grace of God wherein ye stand. Ver. 12. _I have written briefly_] Gr. In few. The Holy Scripture hath fulness of matter in fewness of words, the whole counsel of God shut... [ Continue Reading ]
The _church that is_ at Babylon, elected together with _you_, saluteth you; and _so doth_ Marcus my son. Ver. 13. _The Church that is at Babylon_] At Rome, say the Papists, that they may prove Peter to have been bishop of Rome. But though this be far fetched, yet here they grant us that mystical Ba... [ Continue Reading ]
Greet ye one another with a kiss of charity. Peace _be_ with you all that are in Christ Jesus. Amen. Ver. 14. _With a kiss of charity_] So called, because their love to one another was by this symbol or ceremony both evidenced and increased.... [ Continue Reading ]