ing by. And in him this prophecy was accomplished. He had seen the kingdom of God come with power. Thirty years before, Jesus Christ had been put to death in Jerusalem. And now he had disciples, he had those who professed to believe in him, and were ready to seal their faith with their blood, in all these different countries of which Peter makes mention, spread over a surface of many hundred miles. And to them Peter writes this letter, as an apostle of Jesus Christ, as one commissioned by him to promote the fulfilment of his word, and to preach the kingdom of God.

He writes to them as strangers, or sojourners. and we scarcely know why he terms them so: whether he chiefly had in view his own converted countrymen, who were now scattered as sojourners in Pontus and Galatia and the other countries which he names: 1 or whether he speaks of them here, as he does elsewhere, as " strangers and pilgrims in the world," dwelling for a time in a land which they were not to consider as their home.

Such, undoubtedly, they were. They had become citizens of "a better country," being elect or chosen to such favour, according to the foreknowledge of God the Father. So Paul says concerning the Ephesians, that God had "chosen them before the foundation of the world, having predestinated them

1 That Peter could not only have had these in view, is plain from many passages in the epistle: and especially ii. 10.

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2 He uses the same word in that sense in chapter ii. 11. beseech you, as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts." So likewise St. Paul, Heb. xi. 13. "Confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims upon the earth."

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unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ unto himself, according to the good pleasure of his

will." 3

And, indeed, it was a wonderful proof of especial mercy, that God had made known to them the way of salvation, hidden from so great a multitude, and hitherto revealed to so few. Still greater was the blessing, that he had "opened their hearts to attend to the things spoken," and not left them to remain in ignorance, darkness, wickedness. "Upon them had the light shined." "Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in thy sight."+

There is much here to make us humble: humble in mind, and humble in spirit. Humble in mind, to think how little we understand of God's dealings with man: "how his thoughts are past finding out.” "He setteth up one, and pulleth down another:" and yet "there is no unrighteousness with him."

And then, we who are placed in the same condition as the strangers to whom Peter writes, may feel humbled in spirit too: remembering that it is God who causes any one to differ from the most unenlightened heathen. And also remembering, (as who has not reason to remember ?) how poor

3 Eph. i. 4, 5. "We should not be anxiously inquiring about the election of our brethren, which is rather to be reckoned from their calling: so that whosoever have been enrolled among the members of the church (co-optati) by faith, should be held as elect. For God separates them from the rest of the world, which is a sign of election. It does not contradict this, that some fall away, and others are merely pretenders: for this is the judgment of charity, not of faith, when we esteem all as elect, on whom the mark of divine adoption appears.”—Calvin in loco. 4 Matt. xi. 26.

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and unworthy a return we have made for the distinguishing mercy which has called us to SO great salvation."

Peter next mentions to what these Christians were chosen namely, through sanctification of the Spirit unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ.5

What he puts second in order is really first. They were first chosen to be purified from the stain of sin through that blood which "cleanseth from all sin." The phrase is taken from the rites in use amongst the Jews. In their sacrifices, "the vessels of the ministry" were sanctified by being sprinkled with the blood of the sacrifice. It is an example, how those who are partakers of God's mercy are purged from guilt by the atoning blood of Christ, the one great sacrifice, sprinkled upon the heart. And as they were chosen to be thus purified from former sins, so they were also chosen unto obedience; to "walk before God with a perfect heart," as "a peculiar people, zealous of good works." Such was the blessing which had been vouchsafed them, according to the foreknowledge or design of God" from the foundation of the world."

Change the disease of the soul for a bodily disease, and we may easily illustrate this. There were many lepers in Israel in Elisha's time: but to none of these was the prophet sent, though Naaman the Syrian was delivered from his le

5" Peter gathers their election not from the secret counsel of God, but from its effect; since he places it in sanctification.Calvin ubi supra.

6 See Heb. ix. 21-23.

prosy. So there are multitudes of sinners in the world; but to few comparatively is the word of salvation sent, as it had been made known to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus and Galatia : and fewer still have their hearts opened, that they should "not receive the grace of God in vain." It had, however, been "given to these to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God." They were selected for this mercy according to the foreknowledge of God the Father: after the same manner as in the providence of God Naaman was made acquainted that there was "a prophet in Israel" who would recover him of his leprosy.

Naaman, introduced to Elisha, was told to go and wash in Jordan seven times, and he should be clean. He obeyed. And the leprosy which had been upon him was healed: his flesh came again "as of a little child." An example of the manner in which those who receive by faith the offer of the gospel, and are sprinkled with the blood of Jesus Christ, "wash away their sins," and are accepted of God as "without spot and blameless."

But this is not all. Naaman, returning home as a new creature, was no longer an idolater, but a worshipper of the true God. He declared, "Thy servant will henceforth offer neither burnt-offering nor sacrifice unto other gods, but unto the Lord.”8 And so those who are sprinkled with the blood of Christ, are elect unto obedience: that they no longer should "live the rest of their time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God."

72 Kings v. Compare Luke iv. 27.

8 2 Kings v.

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Peter also tells us, how this sanctification is effected. Through sanctification of the Spirit. There must be an agency by which this change is wrought: and the Spirit is the agent. "Except a man be born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God." And thus the merciful design of God is accomplished; and they who are called according to his purpose, are made his children by adoption, walk religiously in good works, and are at length received into his heavenly kingdom. 9

For them St. Peter prays, that having peace with God, they may serve him with a quiet mind. Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied. That grace, in proportion to which their peace should be, leading them to obedience: and that peace, which comes from the sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ, which this world can neither give nor take away. This grace and peace be multiplied unto you:" that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith that being rooted and grounded in love, ye may be able to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, and be filled with all the fulness of God."1

9 See Article xvii.

1 Eph. iii. 17-19.