Verse 1. Peter an Apostle of Iesus Christ, to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia;
Verse 2. Elect, according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit unto obedience, and sprinkling of the blood of Iesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace be multiplyed.
The Analysis.
The Scope of this Epistle is to exhort the
faithfull to continue stedfast in that grace
of God wherein they stood, as it is expresly
set downe, chap.5.vers.12. But because
that grace of God is considered in a twofold
respect; either as it doth put a man
into the state of grace, and so it equally
belongs unto all the faithfull; or as it doth direct the faithfull
in the performing of their duties towards others, according
to that speciall condition wherein they are placed:
therefore in the first place the Apostle exhorts them to hold
fast that grace, because it belongs to the state of the regenerate
man: from the beginning of the Epistle to the 13 verse of
the 2 chap. and then he commends and perswades them unto
that speciall grace, which doth in the first place direct subjects
in their obedience towards the Magistrates, to the 18
