An analyticall exposition of both the epistles of the Apostle Peter illustrated by doctrines out of every text and applyed by their uses for a further progresse in holinesse / by ... William Ames ...

Verse. 11. Dearely beloved, I beseech you, as strangers and pil∣grims, abstaine from fleshly lusts, which warre against the Soule, Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles.

Verse. 12. That whereas they speake against you, as evill doers, they may by your good workes which they shall behold, glorifie God in the day of visitation.

The Analysis.

HEre the Apostle doth in generall exhort to lead such a life as is answerable to that happy condition, which was spoken of before: Now this life consists of two parts: The one is abstinence from evill, abstaine from fleshly lusts; the other is, to follow that which is good, having your conversati∣on honest. The first of which he doth perswade them unto by an argument taken 1. From the disagreement that is be∣twixt the Godly, and the fleshly lusts of this world in respect of their state and condition, because in this world, they are strangers and Pilgrims, and therefore they ought not to set their hearts and desires upon this world, but upon another. 2. From the danger that hangs over them, from the desires of this world, because they tend to the destruction of their soules, in these words, which warre against the Soul. The se∣cond part together with the former, he doth perswade them unto, by an argument taken from those witnesses which they ought to have regard of in their conversation; among the Gen∣tiles, by whose testimony hee shewes there will a twofold be∣nefit arise from their honest conversation.

1. That they will cease to speake against them as evill doers.

2. That in beholding their good workes, they will not on∣ly give them an honest testimony, but they will also glorifie God for them; which benefit is shewed by the adjunct of

time, wherein it should be expected, to wit, in the day of visi∣tation: Now this whole exhortation, that it might be the more effectuall, and the more acceptable unto them, is set forth with a double affection, in the manner of proposing it; of love or charity, in that title which is given unto them, Dearely beloved; and of humility, in that he doth not so much command these things, as intreat them, I beseech you.

The Doctrines arising herehence.

Doct. 1. All the faithfull are strangers and pilgrims in this world.

Reas. 1. Because their father, and their countrey is not here, but in heaven.

2. Because they doe not desire to stay long here.

3. Because their wealth and their friends are not in this world.

4. Because the world accounts them strangers, and that because their conversation is not according to the fashion of the world.

Vse. 1. This may serve to admonish us, not to place our in∣heritance or our treasure in the things of this World.

2. To exhort us, to lift up our hearts alwayes towards our heavenly countrey; and to gaine all those things, that may helpe us forward and further us in our journey thereunto,

Doct. 2. All the faithfull ought to abstaine from the lusts of of the flesh.

But by this phrase are signified not only the inclinations of the body, but all those that belong to the old man: for there is something to be sanctified even in the very spirit of our minds, 1 Thes. 5. 23. and therefore some lust of the flesh is seated in the spirit; but these lusts are in generall said to be of the ••lesh because they are most of all manifested in those things which belong to the body and the flesh: for most men care for and looke after nothing else almost but those things that be∣long to this present life.

Reas. 1. Because the flesh together with the lusts thereof was crucified with Christ.

2. Because all the faithfull in their baptisme and by their profession have denyed the flesh.

3. Because our lusts are deceitfull. Eph. 4. 22.

Because they lead unto death. Galat. 6. 8. Rom. 8. 6. 13.

Vse. This may serve to admonish us, above all things to ap∣ply our selves unto this study.

Doct. 3. The lusts of the flesh warre against the soule.

Reas. 1. Because they spoile the perfection of the soule, which consists in the image of God.

2. Because they doe either quench or grieve the holy Spi∣rit, upon whom the comfort of the soule doth depend. Eph. 4. 30. 1. Thess. 5. 19.

3. Because they cause the Death of the soule, and lead thereunto.

Vse. 1. This may serve to direct us, alwayes to thinke upon our spirituall warfare, and accordingly in all things to carry our selves, as it becommeth the good Souldiers of Christ.

2. To admonish us, to take speciall heed of those enemies which we have within our selves; those enemies that are with∣out can doe us no hurt, if those that are within have not po∣wer over us, and so doe as it were give us up into their hands.

Doct. 4. To abstaine from fleshly lusts, is the way to make our conversation honest.

Reas. 1. Because all filthynesse proceeds from the lusts of the flesh.

2. Because the true honour and honesty of a man consists in that spirituall victory which he hath over himselfe.

3. Because by overcomming the lusts of the flesh, the way is made easie to all vertues and good duties.

Vse 1. This may serve to refute and reprove those men, that seeke for honour and dignity by pampering the flesh, & obey∣ing the lusts thereof.

2. To exhort us, cheerfully to oppose our selves against the lusts of the flesh, for this very cause, because it is a most ho∣nest thing.

Doct. 5. The faithfull should have a care to live honestly, not only amongst the faithfull, but also amongst the unbeleeving Gentiles.

This is gathered from these words, among the Gentiles; Which notwithstanding we must so understand, that we doe not follow all those things that seeme honest unto them, nor omit those things that doe displease them; but only that we

shew forth a true evidence of our piety, love and righteous∣nesse in our conversation.

Then againe, that thereby their consciences may be con∣vinced, that the way, which we goe, is in that respect at least praise-worthy, and to be approved.

Reas. This we ought to doe. 1. For Gods sake and his glory.

2. For our owne sakes and our owne comfort.

3. For the unbeleevers sake, to draw them unto true piety.

Vse. This may serve to refute and reprove those, that under colour of contemning fame, contemne vertue.

Doct. 6. It is the property of unbeleevers, to seeke occasi∣on to speake against the faithfull, as if they were wicked.

This is gathered from the 12. verse, at the beginning. Now there are two kinds of such obloquies. 1. When they speake all manner of evill for Christs sake, for faith and righteous∣nesse sake, cap. 4. v. 14. Math. 5. 11. 2. When they find some occasion in the defects of the faithfull, and observe something in their lives, which they may justly taxe. This also admits of a two fold difference; for sometimes such is the impiety of those that professe the true faith, that it gives scandall to the unbeleevers, Rom. 2. 24. and sometimes they take occasion from the infirmities that are incident to the faithfull, to con∣demne their profession.

Reas. 1. Because there is an inveterate enmity betwixt the children of the light, and the children of darknesse.

2. Because in this respect men flatter themselves, and in some sort seeme better and happier, when they make others, that would seeme better, either to be like themselves, or worse then themselves.

3. Because by this meanes they seeme to bring some pre∣judice against the very doctrine of piety, which the wicked hate.

Vse. This may serve to admonish us, 1. To take speciall heed, that we have no communion with unbeleevers, in this maliciousnesse, that is, that we doe not willingly seeke or take occasion to speake against the Godly; for this is a certaine marke of impiety.

2. To beware also, that we give no occasion to the wicked,

either to speake against our persons or our professions.

Doct, 7: Good workes alone doe stop the mouthes of the wicked.

This is gathered from the 12. v: at the middle.

Reas. 1. Because men, especially unbeleevers, cannot judge of us, but by the works which they see.

2. Because the sincerity of our religion properly appeares in our works.

Vse. This may serve to exhort us, alwayes to endeavour to bring forth good works.

Doct. 8. The good works of the faithfull make others also to glorifie God.

This is gathered from the 12. v. at the end. So M. 5. 16.

Reas. 1. Because by this meanes they are convinced of the truth of our religion, whose author is God.

2. Because thereby they are drawne also to embrace the same religion, and to cleave unto God.

3. Because they are moved and stirred up to give God thanks, for those things that were the meanes of their conver∣sion.

Vse. This may serve to exhort us, to use this argument to stir up our selves to the practise of good works, because they make not only for our owne salvation, but for the glory of God also.

Doct. 9. We must looke for a day of visitation, that men may glorifie God therein.

This is gathered from the 12. v. at the end. But the day of visitation may be understood either in judgement, or in grace and mercy. Here it is to be understood of the grace of God. So Luke 1. 68.

Reas. Because without grace there is no inclination in the heart of man to glorifie God. The tree must be good, that shall bring forth good fruit, Men doe not gather grapes of thornes, or figges of thistles, Matth. 7. 16. 17.

Vse. This may serve to admonish us, to use all patience and meeknesse towards the wicked, alwayes provided, that we doe not faile in our duty to seeke their conversion. 2. Tim. 2. 25.