Julian Period, 4778, or 4779.

Vulgar Æra, 65 or 66.

ON THE TYPICAL SALVATION OF NOAH-CHAP. XV.

which were now shut up or reserved, as it were, in Prison Rome.
under the Divine Justice, to receive the Punishment due
to their Sins-The long suffering of God delayed 120
Years, to see if they would repent and be saved, while the
Ark was preparing, (Gen. vi. 3.) when the Family of
Noah, who believed, were saved by Water—which was a
Figure of the Salvation of the Family of Christ, in the
Ark of the Church, by the Waters of Baptism-by which
they are admitted into a new State of Being, and saved
from the Grave, through the Resurrection of Jesus Christ
-who having gone into Heaven, Angels and every Deno-
mination of Beings, both in Heaven and Earth, are sub-
jected to him, that he may bestow Salvation on all who be-
lieve on him.

18 For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just
for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put
to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:

19 By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison;

20 Which sometime were disobedient, when once the long-suffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls, were saved by water.

21 The like figure whereunto, even baptism, doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the

25

25 Macknight considers the salvation of Noah in the ark typical of baptism, in the three following particulars:-" 1st. By building the ark, and by entering into it, Noah shewed a strong faith in the promise of God concerning his preservation by the very water which was to destroy the antediluvians; so, by giving ourselves to be buried, in the water of baptism, we shew a like faith in God's promise, that though we die and are buried, he will save us from death-the punishment of sin-by raising us from the dead the last day. 2d. As the preserving of Noah alive, during the nine months he was in the flood, is an emblem of the preservation of the souls of believers while in the state of the dead; so the preserving believers alive while buried in the waters of baptism, is a prefiguration of the same event. 3d. As the waters of the deluge destroyed the wicked antediluvians, but preserved Noah, by bearing up the ark in which he was shut up till the waters were assuaged, and he went out of it, to live again on the earth; so baptism may be said to destroy the wicked, and to save the righteous, as it prefigures both these events: the death of the sinner it prefigures by the burying of the baptized persons in the water; and the salvation of the righteous, by raising the baptized person out of the water to lead a new life."

Macknight further observes, "that Noah gave the answer of a good conscience towards God, (which was the baptism signified by the deluge) by entering into the ark, in the firm belief that God, according to his promise, would preserve him

617

Julian Period, 4778,

or 4779. Vulgar Æra, 65 or 66.

flesh, but the answer of a good conscience towards God,) Rome, by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:

22 Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him.

§ 11. 1 PET. iv. 1-6.

Christ having suffered a painful Death in the Flesh for
Man, the Apostle calls upon them to crucify also the
Flesh, for they that have mortified the Flesh have ceased,
or are dead to Sin, living the remainder of their Lives not
according to its Lusts, but agreeably to the Will of God
-For too much of their past Life has been passed in the
shameful Abominations and Vices to which the Gentiles
were addicted, who are now astonished, and calumniate
them for not continuing the same profusion of Riot, for-
getting they are accountable to him who will judge both
the Righteous and the Wicked-For which cause the Gos-
pel was preached to the Gentiles, who were dead in Tres-
passes and Sins, that those who believed might be judged
or condemned by Men who are governed by the Flesh,
although they live according to the Will of God in the
Spirit.

1 Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the
flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he
that hath suffered in the flesh, hath ceased from sin ;

2 That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God.

3 For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries:

4 Wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you;

5 Who shall give account to him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead.

and his family-Baptism, understanding thereby the answer of
a good conscience, now saveth us also, through the resurrec-
tion of Jesus Christ; because, if Christ had not risen, being an
impostor, he could not have saved any one."-Macknight in
loc. As Noah prepared the ark for believers, so Christ prepares
his Church for Christians; to conduct them in safety through
the waves of this troublesome life, in which so many perish-and
as Noah was preserved in the general destruction of sinners
and the world, and brought into a new creation; so shall Chris-
tians, at the general judgment and dissolution of all things, be
preserved, and admitted into a new state of being; carried
safely with Jesus Christ through the waves of death, triumph-
ing over them.

or 4779.

AFFLICTION ESSENTIAL TO CHRISTIAN PERFECTION.

Julian Pe- 6 For, for this cause was the gospel preached also to Rome. riod, 4778, them that are dead, that they might be judged according Vulgar Era, to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit.

65 or 66.

The Apostle comforts them with the Assurance that the
Power of their bitter Persecutors would soon be destroyed,
in the approaching Destruction of the Jewish People and
Polity, and admonishes them, that they may be saved from
it to watchfulness against all Impurity, and to Prayer
having fervent Love, which leads to bearing or blotting
out the Faults of each other; and in this Time of Perse-
cution to be hospitable one to another, not regarding the
inconvenience-Every Man ministering according to the
Gifts of Providence and Grace he may have received from
the Lord-If any discourse on God's Word, let him do so
according to the Oracles of God-If any minister to the
Necessities of the Poor, let him do so as of the Means
which God has bestowed on him, giving God the Glory
through Jesus Christ.

7 But the end of all things is at hand: be ye there-
fore sober, and watch unto prayer.

8 And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves for charity shall cover the multitude of sins. 9 Use hospitality one to another, without grudging.

10 As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.

11 If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ; to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

13. 1 PET. iv. 12, to the end.

The Apostle cautions the Christians not to be surprized at
the Calamities and Persecutions coming upon them, which
were intended as the Trials of their Faith, but rather to
rejoice, as by them they are made Partakers of the Suf-
ferings of Christ, that they may be glorified with him—
They are happy who are reproached for being Christians,
for the divine Spirit which rested on Jesus, rests also on
them: by their Persecutors Christ is blasphemed, but by
their Sufferings he is honoured-On which account he
admonishes them not to suffer for any Crime of their own
(mentioning those to which the unbelieving Jews were ad-
dicted) which brings neither Glory nor Reward-But if

619

Julian Period, 4778, or 4779.

65 or 66.

any suffer for being a Christian, let him not be ashamed, Rome. however ignominious the Punishment, but let him rather Vulgar Era, glorify God, who suffered also for being Holy-The Time is now come for the Punishment of the Jews as a Nation, which is to begin at the House of God (John xvi. 2. Matt. xxiii. 35. Ezek. ix. 6.); and if it begin first with the believing Jews, what fearful Destruction will come upon those who obey not the Gospel-And if Christians shall, with extreme difficulty, escape from the Judgment of God on Jerusalem, how shall the Ungodly and Sinners hope for Deliverance-The Apostle enjoins Gentiles as well as Jews, who suffer for Righteousness sake, to commit their Lives to God as to a faithful Creator, who will regard them as his Creatures and Children, giving them eternal Life, if they continue in well-doing.

12 Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:

13 But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.

14 If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye for the Spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.

15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evil-doer, or as a busy-body in other men's

matters.

16 Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.

17 For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?

18 And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?

19 Wherefore, let them that suffer according to the will of God, commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.

$ 14. 1 PET. v. 1-4.

The Apostle exhorts the Elders as one who was an Eye-
witness of the Sufferings of Christ (in the Garden, at his
Apprehension, and in the High Priest's Hall), and a
Beholder and Partaker of the Glory of the Transfigura-
tion, faithfully to feed the Flock of Christ, discharging
the Office of Bishops, or Superintendents, in these Times
of Persecution not by reason of importunity, but wil.

Julian Period, 4778, or 4779. Vulgar Æra, 65 or 66.

PRIESTS AND DEACONS TO SUBMIT TO THEIR BISHOPS.

lingly; not for the sake of a Maintenance, but with an Rome.
active desire to promote the Glory of God-Not lording
it over the Flocks, which are the Heritage of God, but
being to them Ensamples of Humility and every Christian
Grace-And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, to
whom the Flocks belong, they who have discharged their
Duties shall receive from him a Crown of Glory.

1 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:

2 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;

3 Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.

4 And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.

14. 1 PET. v. 5—11.

The Apostle commands those who hold inferior Offices in
the Church to submit to the Elders, and then calls on
them all indiscriminately to be subject or to strive and
serve each other in the relative Situation in which they
stand, to be clothed, guarded, and protected by Humility
-As God opposes himself to the Proud, they should
humble themselves, and patiently submit to his Dispensa-
tions under every Danger and Affliction, casting all their
Anxiety on God, who interests himself for them (Psalm
lv. 22.), being anxious only for the Government of their
Passions, temperate, and always watchful over them-
selves, because their spiritual Adversary is going about
in this Time of their Trials and Calamities, seeking whom
he may swallow down, hoping to make them apostatize,
whom they must stand against stedfast in the Faith of
the Son of God, knowing that it is the Portion of Christ's
Disciples to suffer Persecution from Men and Devils-
The Apostle prays to God to strengthen and to make
them Perfect in the Faith of Christ.

5 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.

6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand
of God, that he may exalt you in due time :

7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for

you.

8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the

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