fo an elder, and a witness of the fuffer ings of Christ, and allo a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed. your Churches to a fpecial Care of A.D. 66, one that is himself one of the chief τεροίο that faw the Sufferings of Chrift, and is ready to bear μáprus. Witness to the Truth of them, by fuffering for his Religion; and is under a fure Expectation of fharing in the future Glory promised to his true Difciples. 2 Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the overfight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind. 2 & 3. Let them govern their Churches with great Diligence, both in Doctrine and Example; with the utmoft Chearfulness and Freedom from all finifter and fecular Defigns. Neither exercifing any imperious Behaviour toward their People, nor difpofing of the Publick Revenues ‡ xúp committed to their Care, in an arbitrary or humourfome Manner: But acting like faithful Stewards over God's People, and looking on the Charitable Collections of the Church as dedicated to his Service. 3 Neither as being lords over God's heritage but being enfamples to the flock. 4. And when the chief fhepherd fhall appear, ye fhall re ceive a crown of glory that fadeth not away. ye 5 Likewife younger, fubmit your felves unto the elder; yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be cloathed with humility, for God refifteth the proud and giveth grace to the humble. 4. And, by fo doing, they fhall receive the Crown of Eternal Reward, at the Great Appearance of Chrift to Judgment, who is the Lord and Head over the whole Church. 5. In like manner, let all the Inferiour Clergy pay a juft Respect and Submiffion to thofe of the Superior Orders. And, in fine, be all, of every Degree whatever, ready to do all kind and good Offices to each other; making that great Virtue of Humility their chief and most valuable Ornament : Remembring thofe Words of Solomon, Prov. iii. 34. Surely he corneth the Scorners, but his Favour is with the Lowly. 6 & 7. And Ꮓ 3 όντες τῶν κλήρων. A. D. 65. 6 Humble your- 6 & 7. And let both Clergy and felves therefore under People commit themselves to the Dithe mighty hand of vine Care and Providence, with all God, that he may ex- pious and humble Refignation, unalt you in due time; der their prefent Sufferings; depend7 Cafting all your care upon him, for ing upon God for a seasonable De he careth for you. liverance, and a glorious Reward. 8 Be fober, be vigilant because your adverfary the devil as a roaring lion, walketh about, feeking whom he may devour. 9 Whom refift ftedfaft in the faith, know ing that the fame af Alictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. 10 But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Chrift Jefus, after that ye have fuffered a while, make you perfect, itablifh, ftrengthen, fettle 8. Let your Care and Circumfpection be particular, at this Time, when the Rage of the Devil and his wicked Inftruments your Perfecutors, is fo violent to draw you into Apoftacy from the Chriftian Faith. 9. Your Courage and Refolution therefore, ought to be proportionable to your Danger. And it will add fomething to it, to confider, that your Chriftian Brethren in other Parts of the World, are now labouring under the fame Perfecutions. 10 & 11. And may God, the Author of all Divine Favours and Bleffings, who has given us a fure Profpect of Eternal Glory and Happinefs, by the Christian Religion, fhorten your prefent Sufferings, and enable you to improve them into a compleat Refignation to his Divine II To him be glo- Will and Providence; whereby you ry and dominion for cannot fail of the final Rewards proever and ever. Amen. pofed to you. To Him be afcribed Amen. all Glory and Dominion for ever and ever. you. 12 By Silvanus a 12. This Epiftle, intended, in the fhorteft Compafs I could, to comfort and confirm you in the true Faith, I now fend by Silvanus (or Silas) of whofe Integrity I prefume you all have a great Opinion. 13 All 13. All your Fellow - Chriftians A.D. 66. here at Rome, fend their hearty Love to your Churches. And particularly (John) Mark, who has ferved and affifted me with the See Phil. ii. 22. 14. Salute each other with your ufual Kifs of Charity for my Sake. All Bleffing and Happiness attend every Chriftian in your refpective. Countries. Amen. *Babylon. So 'tis moft generally thought Rome, is here and in Rev. xvii and xviii. figuratively called, from its Heathen Idolatry and Superftition, as fome think, but much more probably as it was foreseen to be the Head and Mistress of vicious Corruptions in the Chriftian Church. The Learned Bp. Pearfon understands by Babylon, in this Place, the Egyptian Babylon. Op. Poft. de Succeff. Rom. Epifcop. cap. 8. A PARAPHRASE ΟΝ ΤΗΕ Second EPISTLE GENERAL O F St. PETER. NOTE, This Epiftle being Written in the latter End of the fame Year, to the fame People, and upon the fame Occafion with the foregoing; the Reader is referred to the Preface thereunto prefixed. CHAP. I. The CONTENTS. The Title and Salutation. The great Bleffings of the Christian Religion. Chriftians exhorted to the refolute Practice of fuch Virtues as are fuitable to fuch Bleffings. The Neceffity and glorious Effects of thofe Chriftian Virtues. The Defign of this Epiftle, much the fame with that of the Former. St. Peter foretels his own approaching Martyrdom. Reminds them of the Truth and Certainty of their Chriftian Religion, from the Teftimonies of a Divine Voice from Heaven, and the Completion of Scripture Prophecies. A.D. 66. St Imon Peter, a fer- 1. Simon Peter a Servant and Apoftle of Jefus Chrift, fend vant and an apo ftle of Jefus Chrift, to eth this Epiftle to the Chriftian them Churches them that have obtained like precious faith with us, through the righteousness of God, and our Saviour Jefus Chrift: peace Churches of Pontus, Galatia, Capa- A.D. 66. 2 & 3. Wishing you all that Hap- 2 Grace and be multiplied unto you, through the knowledge of God, and of Jefus our Lord. and of Jefus our Lord. 3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory * and virtue ; 4 Whereby are gi ven unto us exceeding great and precious promises; that by these you might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through luft. * i. I. 4. A Religion, whereby you are reformed from the Vices and Corruptions of the reft of Mankind; have enjoyed the Promifes made to the Chriftian Church, of being Infpired with the Holy Ghost here, I deías and wrought into such a Resemblance ots κοινωνοίο and Imitation of God, as cannot fail to render you, for ever, happy in him Hereafter. TXTO. 56, & 7. Wherefore, † feeing the † durò Bleffings of your Religion are such, make it your utmoft Endeavour to perform the reasonable and neceffary Conditions of finally enjoying them, viz. Courage in Profeffion, and Sincerity in Practice. Let that Cou rage * Ver. 3. Called us to Glory and Virtue: Aia dona agerñçBy his Glory and Power; or, By his glorious Power; the fame with Seia dúva in the former Part of the Verfe. So the Alexand. and other MSS. i ; and the Vulg. Propriâ fua Gloria & Virtute. |