The analysis of all the epistles of the New Testament wherein the chiefe things of every particular chapter are reduced to heads, for help of the memory, and many hard places explained, for the help of the understanding / by John Dale ...

CHAP. I.

• 1. His Salutation of the same persons writ to in his for∣mer Epistle; wherein is,
  • 1. His calling; and this,
    • 1. Generall; a Christian. v. 1.
    • 2. Particular; an Apostle. ibid.
  • 2. Their calling; which is the profession of the Christian faith: whereof consider,
    • 1. The worth of it; as being pretious. ibid.
      • 1. In respect of its Object, (i.) Christ.
      • 2. In respect of its End, (i.) the sal∣vation of our soules.
    • 2. Its comparison with the faith of the A∣postle; which is the same,
      • 1. In respect of its virtue. v. ibid. Though not
      • 2. In respect of its degree.
    • 3. The cause of it; Gods mercy: in that it is, Not,

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      • 1. A worke of our selves: But
      • 2. A gift of God, through the righteous∣nesse of him, and our Saviour. ibid.
    • 3. His prayer for them. v. 2.
      • 1. For grace and peace. ibid.
      • 2. For their increase in both. v. ibid.
• 2. His Exhortation of them to holinesse of life;
  • 1. In leaving off the sinnes which they have fol∣lowed in the time past. v. 4.
  • 2. In becoming new men for the time to come, by a constant endeavour to get, by the assistance of Gods grace.
    • 1. A working, and no bare and naked faith, but such as is joyned with a good life. v. 5.
    • 2. Knowledge in the mysteries of Religi∣on. v. ibid.
    • 3. Temperance in prosperity, in the mode∣rate use of all temporall blessings. v. 6.
    • 3. Patience in adversity; in the meeke bear∣ing of all afflictions. v. ibid.
    • 5. Godlinesse towards God, in serving him. ibid.
    • 6. Charity;
      • 1. In a more especiall manner, to our brethren of the same profession. v. 7.
      • 2. In a more generall manner to all men whatsoever. ibid.
• 3. The Reasons of his Exhortation;
  • 1. Because we are engaged to live holy lives, by the goodnesse of God to us: which sufficiently appeareth,
  • 1. By his gifts; which

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    • 1. Are all things belonging to our temporall and spirituall life. v. 3.
    • 2. Are wrought, through knowledge, in Christ Jesus. ibid.
  • 2. Because by his reward of those gifts; which is, exceeding great promises, v. 4,
    • 2. Because we are called,
      • 1. To live holy lives here; That we may,
      • 2. Live happy lives hereafter. v. 3.
    • 3. Because, by a holy life, we are made like unto God: Not
      • 1. According to his Divine Nature, and Essence; as if we had thereby the God∣head in us: But
      • 2. According to his Divine Image; in righ∣teousnesse and purity of the soule. v. 4.
    • 4. Because the knowledge of Christ, without a good life, is,
      • 1. No true knowledge; for this is fruitfull in a good life. v. 8. But,
      • 2. False, hypocriticall, and boasting in a meer shadow and blindnesse. v. 9.
    • 5. Because a holy life doth strengthen our assu∣rance of our Election. v. 10.
    • 6. Because a holy life is the Pathway to Heaven. v. 11.
• 4. The Earnestnesse of his Exhortation, in pressing it so much upon them; and that by reason,
  • 1. Of the frailty of their memories, though their un∣derstandings were good. v. 12, 13.
  • 2. Of the frailty of his mortall body, whereby he was not to continue long with them to instruct them; and therefore, the shorter his time was to be with them, the more diligent he would be in his Ministry. v. 14.
• 5. His Defence of the truth of the doctrine, (which he preached) against all gainsayers, which was concerning Christ Jesus; whose wonderfull power was,

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  • 1. No lye and fable of his owne devising, to de∣ceive the people. v. 16.
  • 2. No new thing, never heard of before. But
  • 3. A Reall truth; which
    • 1. He had seene with his eyes. v. ib.
    • 2. They themselves had read with their eyes, in the Prophers. v. 19. who fore∣told all that power and Majestie of Christ Jesus: Not,
      • 1. Of their owne heads and fancies. v. 20, 21. But
      • 2. By the inspiration and direction of the Holy Spirit. v. last.