To the Epistle it selfe there belong two common adjuncts. _An Inscription_, verses 1, 2. _A Subscription_, in the three last. In the _Inscription_ there is contained, according to the usuall manner of Epistles, a holy _salutation_, shewing first, by whom this Epistle was written, secondly, to whom, thirdly, with what minde or affection it was written unto them; which is set forth by that pious wish, wherein he wisheth unto them the greatest good, _Grace and Peace_. In the person writing, and the good wished there are all things the same with those that are spoken of in the second Epistle. But the description of the persons to whom it was written, is something fuller here then there; now they are described, first by their outward condition, _strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Asia, Galatia, Cappadocia_. Secondly, by their inward spirituall condition, which is set forth, 1. by the fundamentall cause of it, _Election_, to wit, of God, 2. by the finall cause, _Sanctification_, 3. by the subservient cause, _Reconciliation_, to wit, _conferred in obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Iesus Christ_: which three causes of our sanctification are set forth by the three persons of the Deity, to whom as to the authors thereof they are distinctly ascribed, Election to God the Father, Sanctification to the holy Spirit, Reconciliation to Jesus Christ. By the _strangers scattered_, to whom this Epistle is chiefly directed, we are to understand the Jewes, together with the other Israelites, who did imbrace the faith. For _Iames_, _Iohn_ and _Peter_, discharged their Apostleship amongst the circumcised Israelites, _Galatians 2.8,9_. Therefore as _Iames_ doth expresly direct his Epistle to the twelve Tribes scattered, so here also by the same reason, by the strangers scattered we are to understand the twelve Tribes scattered. By the _foreknowledge of God_, according to which the faithfull are here said to be _elect_, we are to understand election it selfe, as it is in God, _Romans 8.29._ and by election the same act of God, as it is terminated in the faithfull, and put in execution by effectuall vocation. _By sanctification of the Spirit_, we are to understand the whole spirituall change of our condition, even unto perfect holinesse and glory, because sanctification is the meanes of salvation unto which we are chosen, _2 Thessalonians 2.13._ _By obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Christ_ we are to understand the whole worke of Redemption, together with the application thereof unto justification and reconciliation with God, _Ephesians 1.6,7._ The Doctrines that we may draw from this are these. Doctrine 1. _The beginning and fountaine of all our happinesse and consolation consists in this, that we are the elect of God._