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1: Arm yourselves with the same mind - Which will be
armour of proof against all your enemies. For he that hath
suffered in the flesh - That hath so suffered as to he thereby
made inwardly and truly conformable to the sufferings of Christ.
Hath ceased from sin - Is delivered from it.
2: That ye may no longer live in the flesh - Even in this
mortal body. To the desires of men - Either your own or those of
others. These are various; but the will of God is one.
3: Revellings, banquetings - Have these words any meaning
now? They had, seventeen hundred years ago. Then the former
meant, meetings to eat; meetings, the direct end of which was,
to please the taste: the latter, meetings to drink: both of
which Christians then ranked with abominable idolatries.
4: The same - As ye did once. Speaking evil of you
- As proud, singular, silly, wicked and the like.
5: Who shall give account - Of this, as well as all their
other ways. To him who is ready - So faith represents him now.
6: For to this end was the gospel preached - Ever since it
was given to Adam. To them that are now dead - In their several
generations. That they might be judged - That though they were
judged. In the flesh according to the manner of men - With rash,
unrighteous judgment. They might live according to the will and
word of God, in the Spirit; the soul renewed after his image.
7: But the end of all things - And so of their wrongs, and
your sufferings. Is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch
unto prayer - Temperance helps watchfulness, and both of them help
prayer. Watch, that ye may pray; and pray, that ye may watch.
8: Love covereth a multitude of sins - Yea, "love covereth
all things." He that loves another, covers his faults, how many
soever they be. He turns away his own eyes from them; and, as
far as is possible, hides them from others. And he continually
prays that all the sinner's iniquities may be forgiven and his
sins covered. Meantime the God of love measures to him with
the same measure into his bosom.
9: One to another - Ye that are of different towns or
countries. Without murmuring - With all cheerfulness.(Pr 10:12).
10: As every one hath received a gift - Spiritual or
temporal, ordinary or extraordinary, although the latter seems
primarily intended. So minister it one to another - Employ it
for the common good. As good stewards of the manifold grace
of God - The talents wherewith his free love has intrusted you.
11: If any man speak, let him - In his whole conversation,
public and private. Speak as the oracles of God - Let all his
words be according to this pattern, both as to matter and
manner, more especially in public. By this mark we may always
know who are, so far, the true or false prophets. The oracles
of God teach that men should repent, believe, obey.
He that treats of faith and leaves out repentance, or does not
enjoin practical holiness to believers, does not speak as the
oracles of God: he does not preach Christ, let him think as
highly of himself as he will. If any man minister - Serve his
brother in love, whether in spintuals or temporals. Let him
minister as of the ability which God giveth - That is, humbly and
diligently, ascribing all his power to God, and using it with
his might. Whose is the glory - of his wisdom, which teaches us
to speak. And the might - Which enables us to act.
12: Wonder not at the burning which is among you - This
is the literal meaning of the expression. It seems to include
both martyrdom itself, which so frequently was by fire, and
all the other sufferings joined with, or previous to, it;
which is permitted by the wisdom of God for your trial.
Be not surprised at this.
13: But as ye partake of the sufferings of Christ -(1Pe 4:1), while ye suffer for his sake,
rejoice in hope of more abundant glory. For the measure of
glory answers the measure of suffering; and much more abundantly.
14: If ye are reproached for Christ - Reproaches and
cruel mockings were always one part of their sufferings.
The Spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you - The same
Spirit which was upon Christ, (Lu 4:18). He is here termed,
the Spirit of glory, conquering all reproach and shame, and
the Spirit of God, whose Son, Jesus Christ is. On their part
he is blasphemed, but on your part he is glorified - That is,
while they are blaspheming Christ, you glorify him in the
midst of your sufferings, (1Pe 4:16).
15: Let none of you deservedly suffer, as an evildoer
- In any kind.
16: Let him glorify God - Who giveth him the honour so
to suffer, and so great a reward for suffering.
17: The time is come for judgment to begin at the house
of God - God first visits his church, and that both in justice
and mercy. What shall the end be of them that obey not the
gospel - How terribly will he visit them! The judgments which
are milder at the beginning, grow more and more severe.
But good men, having already sustained their part, are
only spectators of the miseries of the wicked.
18: If the righteous scarcely be saved - Escape with the
utmost difficulty. Where shall the ungodly - The man who knows
not God. And the open sinner appear - In that day of vengeance.
The salvation here primarily spoken of is of a temporal nature.
But we may apply the words to eternal things, and then they are
still more awful. (Pr 11:31).
19: Let them that suffer according to the will of God
- Both for a good cause, and in a right spirit. Commit to him
their souls - (Whatever becomes of the body) as a sacred
depositum. In well doing - Be this your care, to do and suffer
well: He will take care of the rest. As unto a faithful Creator
- In whose truth, love, and power, ye may safely trust.
