You love him even though you have not seen him; and, though you do not see him now, you believe in him and rejoice with an indescribable and glorious joy, for you are obtaining the goal of your faith, which is your salvation.

1:1-9 This epistle is addressed to believers in general, who are strangers in every city or country in which they live, and are scattered throughout the nations. These are to ascribe their salvation to the electing love of the Father, the redemption of the Son, and the sanctification of the Holy Spirit; and thus to give glory to one God in three persons, in whose name they had been baptized. Hope, in the words of the world, refers only to an uncertain good, for all worldly hopes are tottering, built on sand, and the hopes of the worldlings of heaven are blind and groundless conjectures. But the hope of the children of the living God is a living hope; not only as to its object, but as to its effect also. It cheers and consoles in all distresses, enables all difficulties to be met and overcome. Mercy is the spring of all this; yea, the great mercy and the collector of mercy. 

And this well-founded hope of salvation is an active principle and a life of obedience in the soul of the believer. The question of the Christian's joy, is the memory of happiness kept for him. It is incorruptible, which can come to nothing, it is an estate that cannot be spent. It is also undefiled; this signifies its purity and perfection. And it is incorruptible; it is not sometimes more or less pleasant, but always the same, still as its own. All possessions here are tainted with defects and faults; being something is wanting: fair houses have sad worries flying over golden roofs and timbered; full beds and tables are often with sick bodies and restless stomachs. All possessions are stained with sin, either in getting or in their use.  How ready are we to turn the things we possess into occasions and instruments of sin, and to think that there is no liberty or delight in their use, without abusing them! Worldly possessions are uncertain and will soon pass away, like the flowers and plants of the field. That must be of the greatest worth, which is laid up for you in the highest and best place, in heaven. Happy are those whose hearts the Holy Spirit sets on this inheritance. God not only gives his people grace, but preserves them to glory. Every believer always has something that he can greatly enjoy; must be shown in countenance and conduct. The Lord does not afflict, however, his wise love often appoint sharp trials, to show his people of their hearts, and make them good in old age. Gold does not increase by trial by fire, it becomes less; but faith becomes firm, and multiplies, by troubles and afflictions. Gold must perish at last, and only things that perish can be bought, while the trial of faith can be found to praise, honor, glory.  Let this reconcile us to present afflictions. Seek then to believe Christ's excellency in himself, and his love for us; this will kindle a fire in the heart, such as will increase it in a sacrifice of love to him. And the glory of God and our own happiness are so united, that if we sincerely seek the one now, we shall attain the other when the soul will no longer be subject to wickedness. The certainty of this hope is as if the believers had already received.