An expositon of all St. Pauls epistles together with an explanation of those other epistles of the apostles St. James, Peter, John & Jude : wherein the sense of every chapter and verse is analytically unfolded and the text enlightened. / David Dickson ...

CHAP. V.

HEE proceeds in the same Argument. There are three parts of the Chapter: In the first hee con∣tinues the Doctrine concerning Christs comming to the general judgement, to vers. 6. In the second hee brings divers Exhortations to all kind of Christian virtues, to vers. 13. In the third the Epilogue and Conclusion of the whole Epistle is contained.

Vers. 1. But of the times and seasons, Brethren, yee have no need that I write unto you.

There are added four other Articles concerning the Lords comming.

Art. 1. The time and hour of the Lords coming is not revealed, but lyeth hid in the secrets of God, neither is it expedient to inquire curiously, or write any thing concerning it.

Vers. 2. For your selves know perfectly, that the day of the Lord so cometh as a th••ef in the night.

Artic. 2. Containing the reason of the former. No less suddenly will Christ come, than a thief in the night is wont, suddenly to creep into other mens houses.

Vers. 3. For when they shall say peace and safety, then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travel upon a woman with childe, and they shall not escape.

Art. 3. Explicating the former, and applying it to impenitent. As unawares, certainly and necessarily the pains of travel ceize upon those that are with childe; so the unexpected day of the Lords anger shall ceize upon impenitent secure sinners on the sudden.

Vers. 4. But yee, Brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.

Art. 4. In which hee further explains this Doctrine, and applies it to the consolation of the faithful; Yee beleevers need not fear that day, because yee lye not in the darkness of sin and ignorance: The last day cannot (as a Thief in the night) take hold of you.

Vers. 5. Yee are all the children of light, and the children of the day: wee are not of the night, nor of darkness.

Hee gives a reason, because as many as truly beleeve in Christ, are the sons of light, and of the day, living in the light of faith and godliness: And therefore none of us can bee in bondage to ignorance and sin.

The Second Part of the Chapter.

Vers. 6. Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch, and bee sober.

The second part of the Chapter containeth thirteen Exhortations to Christian duties:

Exhort. 1. An Exhortation inferred from the Do∣ctrine of the last Judgement, to watchfulness and so∣briety, that wee may expect that day without fear. That wee may not (sayes hee) sleep or indulge our selves in our sins, as Infidels, but on the contrary, studying mode∣ration in all earthly things, wee may earnestly endeavour after works of holiness.

Vers. 7. For they that sleep, sleep in the night, and they that bee drunken, are drunken in the night.

The Reasons of the Exhortation are six:

Reas. 1. Because they which sleep securely, and give themselves to drunkenness, use to do that in the night, and in darkness, which doth not become you.

Vers. 8. But let us who are of the day, bee sober, putting on the breast-plate of faith and love, and for an hel∣met the hope of salvation.

Reas. 2. Because Christians, who are the childr••n of the day, and live in the light of faith are engaged to endeavour after sobriety of body and minde.

Putting off] Reas. 3. Confirming the former. Be∣cause Christians ought to live as in a warfare, armed with spiritual Armour, putting on Faith and Love as a breast-plate, and the hope of salvation as an helmet: Hee adds Love to Faith, that wee may acknowledge that faith alone for a breast-plate, which worketh by love.

Vers. 9. For God hath not appointed us to wrath▪ bu•• to obtain salvation by our Lord Iesus Christ,

Reas. 4. God hath not predestinated us to wrath: Therefore let us not indulge our lusts and vitious desires, for which the wrath of God cometh upon the children of disobedience.

By the Lord] Reas. 5. God hath chosen and predesti∣nated us to salvation by Jesus Christ: Therefore let us strive unto salvation in the wayes of the Lord.

Vers. 10. Who dyed for us, that whether wee wake or sleep, wee should live together with him.

Reas. 6. Because Christ for this end dyed for us, not that wee should walk and live with the devil, and the world, in sin, but that wee should walk and live with him in the wayes of holiness, whether waking or sleep••ing, i. e. night and day, in obedience to him, and dying in the communion of his quickning life: Therefore wee must not sleep in sin, but awake in the works of holi∣ness.

Vers. 11. Wherefore comfort your selves together, and edifie one another, even as also ye do.

Exhort. 2. Inferred from the former; That they mu∣tually exhort, comfort, and build up one another in faith and holiness. In the mean while for the present their obe∣dience to this precept is commended.

Vers. 12. And wee beseech you brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you:

Exhort. 3. Which appertains to the people; That they observe the Pastors and Presbyters, with the whole assembly of the Elders, teaching & governing those which laboured amongst them in the Word and Doctrine, and who were over them in the Lord, ruling in Ecclesiastical affairs, and according to their duty, did admonish, when there was need: Concerning these hee commands them, that as Saints, and as it became thankful persons, they acknowledge in heart, words, and deeds, all the Presby∣ters appointed for the Ministers of Christ to their sal∣vation.

There are three Reasons of the Exhortation:

Reas. 1. Because I an Apostle do lovingly and earnest∣ly desire this.

Did labour] Reas. 2. Because Ministers are worthy of this honour, in as much as they labour for your edifica∣tion, and are over you, or govern you, in the name of Christ, in all Ecclesiastical matters, and those things which pertain to the worship of God, and do with autho∣rity admonish you of your duties both privately and publickly.

Vers. 13. And to esteem them very highly in love for their works sake. And bee at peace among your selves.

Reas. 3. Because the work of God for the salvation of beleevers, which the faithful Ministers earnestly endea∣vour, requireth, that after a singular manner they bee beloved by the people, and esteemed very highly,

And peace] E••••••rt. 4. Chiefly to the people; That they bee at peace both amongst themselves, and with the Pastors from whom the Devil is wont to alienate the mindes of the people, even when the Pastors deserve best at their hands.

Vers. 14. Now wee ex••ort you, brethren, warn them that are ••••ruly, comfort the fe••ble-minded, support the weak, bee patient toward all men.

Exhort. 5. To the P••••sbyters (which in the former verse hee distinguished from the people, and here hee describes them from their Offices, which especially be∣long to the Government of the Church▪ from the au∣thority of their Office) That they diligently execute their Office, by admonishing those that live dissolutely, of their duty, by comforting the feeble, by supporting the weak in their love; lastly by shewing a gentle minde towards all: Lest if they should do otherwise, abusing their authority, they hinder the work of the Lord which they intend.

Vers. 15. See that none render evil for evil unto any m••n, but ••ver follow that which is good; both among your selves and to all men.

Exhort. 6. Promiscuously to all: That they abstaining from 〈◊〉〈◊〉 revenge, follow that which is good, as well mutually among themselves as towards 〈◊〉〈◊〉 tha•• are without.

Vers. 16. Rejoyce evermore.

Exhort. 7. That rooted by faith in the free love of God towards them, they endeavour through Christ and

his Righteousness imputed to life eternal, to rejoyce and advance Peace in their hearts, both in prosperity and ad∣versity.

Vers. 17. Pray without ceasing.

Exhort. 8. That they look towards God in every con∣dition, prosperity and adversity, and in every business, praying as the matter required.

Vers. 18. In every thing give thanks: For this is the Will of God in Christ Iesus concerning you.

Exhort. 9. That seeing they know that all things fall out for good to those that love God, they should in every condition, but chiefly in adversity, seek for matter of thanksgiving to God.

For this] The Reason of the Exhortation is, because God requireth this duty from all, and chiefly from Chri∣stians, upon whom hee hath poured forth his grace and love in Christ.

Vers. 19. Quench not the Spirit.

Exhort. 10. That they stifle not the gifts of the ho∣ly Spirit whatsoever, either by negligence, or by evil-doing; but on the contrary, that they continually stir up, and daily encrease them by labour, prayer, or all other means sanctified by God.

Vers. 20. Despise not prophesyings.

Exhort. 11. That they contemn or neglect not the ho∣ly publick exercises, wherein the Ministers of the Churches do interpret the Scripture.

Vers. 21. Prove all things: hold fast that which is good.

Exhort. 12. That they do not rashly embrace every thing in matters of Religion, but that they examine eve∣ry thing by the Rule of the Divine Word, or by the analogy of Faith, and that they constantly hold, and strongly defend that which is sound and good, and found acceptable unto God.

Vers. 22. Abstain from all appearance of evil.

Exhort. 13. That they take heed not onely of that which is evil in the worship of God, or their conversa∣tions, but also of every thing that hath the appearance of evil: of which sort are dangerous phrases in Doctrine, and indifferency in practice, which because of the appea∣rance of evil, may yeeld offence to others.

The Third Part.

Vers. 23. And the very God of Peace sanctifie you wholly, and I pray God your whole Spirit, soul, and body bee preserved blameless unto the comming of our Lord Iesus Christ.

The third part of the Chapter containeth the Epilogue or Conclusion, whereof there are six Articles. In the first hee praies the God of Peace, or the fountain of holiness and happiness, that hee would more and more sanctifie them. (1) As to the Spirit or mind (already illuminated by the Spirit of God) which is the supream faculty of the rational soul. (2) As to the soul, or will and affecti∣ons, and (3) As to the body or outward actions, that so at the comming of the Lord, when the holiness of the faithful is to bee perfected, there may bee nothing found, but that which is blameless and commendable.

Vers. 24. Faithful is hee that calleth you, who also will do it.

Artic. 2. In which hee certifies them, concerning Gods hearing the preceding prayer. (1) From Gods pre∣ceding efficacious vocation. (2) From the faithfulness of God, whereby hee performs that in them, to which hee calls them, and doth not de••••rt a good work begun.

Vers. 25. Brethren, pray for us.

Artic. 3. Wherein the Apostle doth not disdain to ask the help of the prayers of the least amongst the faith∣ful.

Vers. 26. Greet all the Brethren with an holy kiss.

Artic. 4. Wherein hee salutes all the Brethren in his own name, by this Epistle, no less lovingly, than if hee had saluted them, being present, with the ordinary sign of salutation, (i. e. with a kiss, not counterfeited, but pro∣ceeding from Christian love.)

Vers. 27. I charge you by the Lord, that this Epistle bee read unto all the holy Brethren.

Artic. 5. Wherein hee commands and charges in the Name of God, that the Ministers or Governours of the Church (to whom immediately it appears that this Epistle was sent) would produce this part of Scripture for the common use of the Church, and take care, that it might bee publishly, read threatning divine revenge, ex∣cept they published it to the whole Church.

Vers. 28. The Grace of our Lord Iesus Christ bee with you. Amen.

Artic. 6. And lastly, wherein hee concludes the whole Epistle, by wishing to them the Grace of Christ, which containeth in it self all good things. Amen.