Vera. 1-3.-The introductory greeting. Hue is for our consideration, as introductory and preparatory to an intelligent study of this Jetter, some suggestions about- I. 'l'IIB GREETER. "Peter." 'l'he allusions to incidents in hiA life, and the chcckcred light thrown upon his character, which are found in this Epistle, are in harmony with what we gather from the Gospels and the Acts concerning him. For instance: 1. Hi,a name. The Rock-man. What a reminiscence of the giving of that name! What it tells (1) of his former character; (2) of Christ's knowlerlge of him; (3) of the ideal at which he is to aim I 2. His vocation. ".An apostle." Here is a hint of (1) his dignity; (2) his brotherliness, not the, but "an apostle;" (3) his allegiance, "Jesus Christ." .As Keble sings- " Friend thrice denied and thrice beloved- Master, Redeemer, King." II. THE DES0Ril'TION OF THOSE HE GREETS. Who were these? Here at once we open the vein of sadness which runs through this Epistle, and again and again rises to the surface. "Sojourners of the Dispersion." Homeless through persecution. Jewish and Gentile Christians, carried, as seed on the wings of the storm, to many lands where they would fertilize and multiply. Where were they? Widely scattered, from under the shadows of the mountains of Galilee to the shores of the Black Sea. This fisherman is casting his net in a deep and wide ocean. What are they? Divinely chosen to per- fection of character. 1. They are being made holy. 2. They are being made holy by the Spirit. 3. They are being made holy by the Spirit in the fruits of obedience. 4. .And this by self-sacrificing consecration. 5. .And all this through the power of the sacri 6ce of Christ. III. THE SUBSTANCE OF THE GREETING. "Grace and peace." The highest ideal of both Greek and Hebrew as to true blessedness. "Grace "-the thought in Greek sculpture, architecture, and oratory, the very name and charm of Greek divinities, and signifying the beauty of gentleness in strength, the favour of the high to the lowly, and all its effects in the lowly. "Peace "-the salutation of Hebrew prophet and patriarch, the wish for the city in the midst of enemies, for the soul in its relations to God and man. .And both these combined, and both these multiplied tenfold, a thousandfold, on and on indefinitely and infinitely, for of such blessing a soul canuot have too much.-U. R. 'l'.
Vera. 3-5.-.An outburst of p1·aise. "Blessed be the God and Father," etc. So the wiiter passes from himself and from his readers up to God; and with this elevation of theme there is an outburst of praise. Meditating on this outburst of praise, we note it is- I. PnAISE TO Goo. He traces the great joy he is describing up to its Fountain- God; he sees the gift of which he almost seems to be singing, in the open I.and of the Giver-God. "Blessed be," etc. 1. Here is reverent praise. "Blessed." The word is consecrated to God alone, and is completely different to the word in the Beatitudes. The He brow meaning is "speaking him well." 2. Here is loving praise. It is not alone to God as God, the infinitely Good One of transcendent perfection, but the insertiL,n of this conception of Father, and Father of Jesus, makes him nearer and dearer to the heart than the old description," God of Israel." 3. Here is intelligent praise. "Father of our Lord Jesus." How vividly Peter could recall the form antl voice and countenance of Jesus! It was his Fatl,er he would have men praise. Novague,dim,unrelatcd,infinite essence e.nd origin of all things do we worship, but the Father of Je:;us, revealed to us in the face of Jesus Christ. 4. Here is grateful, praise. It is praise for great mercy. Pity is love to the weak; mercy is love to the undese,-ving-is therefore the climax and crown of love. 'l'his is God's iove to man. St. Bernard had a familiar sayiug to the effect that" great sins !lnd great miseries n&1d great mercy, and many sius r111d many 54 'l'HE FIRST EPISTLE GENERAL OF PE'rER. [cH. I, 1-25.