god's goodness an encouragement to prayer.
1 Pet. v. 10, 11. But the God of all grace, who hath called tis unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you. To Him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
AMONGST the various testimonies of affection which faithful ministers will give to their people, that of praying for them is the most unequivocal, and most important. And in this the Apostles eminently distinguish themselves in all their epistles. In the petitions before us, we behold the glowing zeal of Peter, studious to exalt the honour of his God, and to promote to the utmost the welfare of the saints.
His words scarcely admit of any profitable distri- bution : we shall therefore make some observations on them, in the order in which they lie.
The first thing that calls for our attention is, the honourable appellation he gives to God —
[God is the only fountain of all grace. There is none in the creature, which has not been derived from hima. But in him is " all grace ;" converting, comforting, sanctifying, esta- blishing grace. He is " the God of" all grace : all kinds of it, and all degrees, are in him. Whatever be the grace that we severally want, we shall find an inexhaustible fulness of it treasured up in him. And, if we ask of him in terms of the most extensive import, and then stretch our imaginations far beyond what it is in the power of language to express, it still will be true, that "he giveth more grace b ;" and giveth it freely too, according to his own sovereign willc, even to the very chief of sinners.]
Next we have an account of what God has done for his believing people —
[God has " called them," not merely by the outward ministry of his Gospel, (for that he has vouchsafed to thou- sands who reject him,) but by the inward operation of his grace. Nor is it to any common mercy that he has called
a John i. 16. b Jam. iv. 6. c Matt. xx. 15. 1 Cor. xii. 11.
.w: l PETER, V. 10, 11. [2415.
them, but to " his glory," yea, to the " eternal" enjoyment of
it. What a stupendous act of grace! Yet this is greatly
heightened by the means which he has used for the communi- cation of this blessing. He has sent it by the ministry, (by the ministry, do I say? — hear, O ye heavens, and be astonished, O earth !) He imparts it through the mediation of " Christ Jesus," his only clear Son.
O that this glorious description of the Deity might always be remembered by us in our addresses at the throne of Grace!]
The petitions which the Apostle offered on behalf of the saints, were exactly such as their state re- quired—
[They were now enduring " a great fight of afflictions :" and, in order that they might persevere unto the end, it was necessary that they should be "established" in the faith, " strengthened" in the profession, and "settled" in the enjoy- ment of the Gospel. For these things therefore the Apostle prayed ; knowing, by bitter experience, that they must come from God, the only Author of such inestimable blessings d. For these things also should our prayers be offered : and the consideration of what God is in himself, and has done for us, may ivell encourage us to offer the most enlarged petitions. If we " open our mouth ever so wide, we need not doubt but that he will fill ite."]
His prayers, however, were qualified with a very necessary concession —
[God has not given us any reason to expect an exemption from suffering : on the contrary, he has told us plainly, that our road to heaven lies through much tribulation f. Even " Christ himself was made perfect through sufferings;" and every child of man must be conformed to him in this respect. Sufferings are sent to try, to illustrate, and to confirm our grace ; and finally, to work out for us a proportionable weight of glory. The Apostle therefore did not presume to interfere with the established order of things; but only to pray, that their trials might be as light and transient, as would consist with the accomplishment of their proper ends^. In this respect he sets us a good example ; and teaches us to desire rather a sanctified use of our afflictions, than a premature removal of them.]