3. The persons to whom the apostle here speaks were also full of a living hope. For thus he speaks, ver. 3. _Blessed be the GOD and Father of our_ Lord Jesus Christ, _who according to his abundant mercy, hath begotten us again_, me and you, all of us who are _sanctified by the Spirit_, and enjoy the _sprinkling of the blood of_ Jesus Christ, _unto a living hope unto an inheritance_, that is unto a living hope of an inheritance _incorruptible, undefiled, and that fadeth not away_. So that notwithstanding their heaviness, they still retained an hope full of immortality.
4. And they still _rejoiced in hope of the glory of_ God. They were filled with joy in the Holy Ghost. So ver. 8. the apostle having just mentioned the final _revelation of_ Jesus Christ (namely when he cometh to judge the world) immediately adds, _In whom though now ye see him not_ (not with your bodily eyes) _yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory_. Their heaviness therefore was not only consistent with living hope, but also with _joy unspeakable_: at the same time they were thus heavy, they nevertheless rejoiced with _joy full of glory_.
5. In the midst of their heaviness they likewise still enjoyed the love of God which had been shed abroad in their hearts, _Whom_, says the apostle, _having not seen, ye love_. Tho’ ye have not yet seen him face to face, yet knowing him by faith, ye have obeyed his word _My son give me thy heart_. He is your God, and your love, the desire of your eyes, and your _exceeding great reward_. Ye have sought and found happiness in him: ye _delight in the_ Lord, _and he hath given you your hearts desire_.
6. Once more, though they were heavy, yet were they holy: they retained the same power over sin. They were still _kept_ from this _by the power of_ God: they were _obedient children, not fashioned according to their former desires_, but _as he that had called them is holy_, so were they _holy in all manner of conversation. Knowing they were redeemed by the precious blood of_ Christ, _a lamb without spot and without blemish_, they had thro’ the _faith and hope which they had in_ God, _purified their souls by the Spirit_. So that upon the whole, their heaviness well consisted with faith, with hope, with love of God and man! with the peace of God, with joy in the Holy Ghost, with inward and outward holiness. It did no way impair, much less destroy, any part of the work of God in their hearts. It did not at all interfere with that _sanctification of the Spirit_, which is the root of all true _obedience_; neither with the happiness which must needs result from _grace and peace_ reigning in the heart.