2. they may, without the doctrine,' be won over by contemplat3. ing your pious, chase behavior. Let your adorning not be the outward adorning of plaited hair, or of golden ornaments, 4. or of curious dress; but let the hidden man of the heart be adorned with the imperishable ornament of that meek and quiet 5. spirit, which, in the estimation of God, is of great value. For even thus, of old, the holy women who trusted in God adorned 6. themselves, submitting themselves to their own husbands (as Sarah, whose children you are, obeyed Abraham, calling him Lord'), doing what is good, and alarmed by no terrors.

7.

8.

Likewise, you husbands, dwell with your wives with a wise consideration of the greater weakness of the female frame giving them honor as also fellow heirs of the gracious gift of life, that your prayers may not be hindered.

6

5

8

Finally, be all of one mind and one heart,* love as brethren. 9. Be compassionate, be courteous. Do not render injury for injury, or railing for railing; but, on the contrary, bless, knowing that you are called to this, that you may obtain a blessing: 10. "For as to him who wishes to enjoy life and to see good days, let him restrain his tongue from mischief, and his lips 11. from speaking deceit; let him depart from mischief, and do 12. good, let him seek peace and pursue it; for the eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, and his ears towards their prayer; 13. but the face of the Lord is against evil-doers." And who 14. shall harm' you if you are imitators of Him who is good? But even if you should suffer for righteousness, you are blessed. 15. Be not then afraid of their terror, neither be troubled, but sanctify the Lord God in your hearts. And be always ready to vindicate, with meekness and reverence, your hope to every one 16. who asks of you an account of it, maintaining a good conscience, in order that in the thing regarding which they speak against you as evil-doers, those who slander your good chris17. tian behavior may be put to shame. For it is better that you should suffer, if so be the will of God, doing good rather than doing evil.

18.

For, even Christ, once on account of sins, suffered, the righteous in the room of the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God; having become, dead, with respect to the flesh, but,

1 As the article is wanting, a. 2. may not refer to 7. 2., but may mean without discourse or discussion.

2 Much set by.-COVERDALE. GENEVA. MATTHEWS.

2 CARPZOV. WAKEFIELD. Gal. iv. 31. Gen. xii. 13, 15; xx. 2; xxvi. 7. Prov. iii. 25. ̓Αγαθοποιοῦσαι non cum vocabulo τέκνα construendum, sed ex v. 5, αἱ γυναῖκες huic referendum est.-SCHOETGEN.

4 Be united in judgment and affection. Unanimes, compatientes.-VULGATE. Unanimes, codem modo affecti.-CASTALIO. Omnes eodem animo, eodem affectu.--CARPZOV. 5 BENSON. The opposite of áyarâv (wǹv is moeìv (wýv. Ecc. ii. 17. Desireth to live.-SYMONDS.

Επί

6 'ETί on.-WICLIF. Beholdeth.--COVERDALE. MATTHEWS. Upon.-GENEVA. RHEMISTS. Mali huic non latent.-CAMERARIUS.

7 Hurt.-SYMONDS.

8 WYNNE.

9 Melius enim est ut bene agentes, si ita velit Dei voluntas, aliquid patiamini, quam male agentes.-Beza,

19. quickened, with respect to the Spirit, whereby he went and 20. preached even to the spirits in prison, who were in former

times disbelieving, when the patience of God continued wait ing in the days of Noah, while the ark was preparing, in which 21. a few that is, eight-souls were saved by water, which also now-the anti-type baptism-saves us, not as the removal of the filth of the flesh,' but as the profession of a good conscience 22. towards God, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who is at the right hand of God, having passed into heaven, angels, and authorities, and powers having been subjected to him.

IV.1. Christ, then, having suffered for us in the flesh, do

you even arm yourselves with this same thought that he who hath 2. suffered in the flesh hath been made to rest from sin,'-in order to the living the remainder of the time in the flesh, not accord3. ing to the lusts of men, but according to the will of God; for the time that is past is enough for us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, having walked in impurities, in lusts, in intoxication, in revels, in carousings, and lawless idolatrous rites; 4. wherein they think it strange that you run not with them, into 5. the same mire of profligacy, speaking evil of you; these shall render an account to Him who is in readiness to judge' the 6. living and the dead; for, for this purpose also was the gospel preached to the dead, that as to man they might be judged in the flesh, but as to God might live in the Spirit.

7.

6

4

3

Now the end of all things is at hand; be, therefore, prudent 8. and watchful with regard to prayers. But, above all things, have a fervent love of each other; for this love will cover a 9. multitude of faults. Be hospitable to each other without 10. grudgings; as good stewards of the manifold kindness of God,

let every one employ the gifts he has received for mutual ser11. vice (if any one speak as oracles of God," if any one minister as of the ability God has bestowed), that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, who is the glory and the power forever and ever, Amen.

12.

9

Beloved, be not surprised at the scorching 10 among you which is coming for your trial, as at some strange thing hap13. pening to you; but rejoice, inasmuch as you are partakers in the sufferings of Christ, that you may also rejoice with ex14. ultation at the revelation of his glory. If you suffer reproach in Christ's name, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of power," even the Spirit of God, resteth on you; with regard

1 Baptismus non ei rei servit, cui balnea sufficiunt.-DEYLINGIUS.

2 Cogitatione.-VULGATE. Armez-vous de cette pensée que, &c.-MONS VERSION.

• Robinson. ôç, îì, ŏ 2, a. ß. And thei schulen give resoun to hym.-WICLIF.

4

2 Cor. x. 6. Ἔχειν ἐν ἐτοίμῳ.

5 Inflict righteous judgment on.

6 James v. 8, 9.

7s veritatis. What are, indeed, divine oracles-speaking as the ¿punveùs of God.

8 Of the ability which God has really given him, as a divinely-qualified minister. 9 Cui est.-VULGATE.

10 Prov. xxvii. 21; lxx. 1 Cor. iii. 13, 14. Apoc. xviii. 19.

11. Avváμews is introduced into the text by GRIESBACH, MATTHAEI, and LACHMANN.

to them there is reproach, but with regard to you there is 15. glory.' But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or a 16. thief, or an evil-doer, or as an intermeddler; but if any

2

suffer as a Christion, let him not be ashamed, but let him 17. glorify God on this account. For it is the time of the

commencement of the judgment from the house of God; and if the beginning be from us, what will be the issue with those 18. who disbelieve the gospel of God? And if the righteous scarcely be delivered, where shall the ungodly and sinner ap19. pear? Wherefore let even those who suffer, according to the will of God, in well doing commit their souls to Him, who is a faithful Creator.

V. 1.

6

5

To the elders among you, I who am a fellow-elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and a sharer in the glory 2. that is about to be revealed, give this exhortation. Act as shepherds to the flock of God that is among you,' superintending them, not reluctantly, but willingly; not from a sordid love 3. of gain, but from a spirit of zeal; neither lording it over the 4. allotted portions, but being patterns for the flock; and when the chief shepherd 10 appears, you shall receive the unfading 5. crown of glory. In like manner, you juniors, submit yourselves to the elders," and all of you being subject to each other, be girdled with humility; " for God opposes the haughty, but to the humble he shows favor.

6.

8

12

13

Humble yourselves, then, under the mighty hand of God, 7. that he may exalt you in due season: 23 casting all your anxiety on Him, for he cares for you.

8.

Be sober, be wakeful; your adversary the devil, like a roar9. ing lion, is going about seeking whom he may devour; Him resist, standing fast in the faith," knowing that the same kinds of suffering are accomplished in your brotherhood while in 10. the world. But the God of all grace who has called you to his

1 They will reproach, but you will be honored. This clause is of doubtful authority. GRIESBACH and LACHMANN omit it.

2 Alienorum appetitor.-VULGATE. Rerum ad se non pertinentium curiosus inspector.-ERASM. SCHMID.

3 2 Cor. iii. 10; ix. 3.

4 Finis judicii.-ERAS. SCHMID.

5 Kái, etiam, concessivé cum participio, idem quod ei kaí et si cum verbo: ei kaì TúσXOɩTε ch. iii 14. Non debemus ex passione diffidentiam capere.-BENGEL.

6 'ç àλnows HESYCHIUS. Revera, vere SCHLEUSNER. Answering to the Heb. Caph veritatis. Neh. vii. 2. Hos. v. 10; 1xx. John i. 14.

7 As much as lieth in you.-CRANMER.

8 The clergy.—WICLIF. RHEMISTS. The parishes.-COVERDALE. MATTHEWS. CRANYour charges.—HAMMOND.

MER.

9 THEOPHYLACT and ECUMENIUS consider καὶ as an αἰτιολογικός σύνδεσμος.

10 Prince of shepherds.-WIOLIF. Prince of pastors.-RHEMISTS.

"The Syriac version has "your elders," which shows us how its author understood νεώτεροι.

12 Put on humility as your badge.-HAMMOND.

13 1 Tim. vi. 15. 2 Cor. vi. 2. Whether here or hereafter, certainly at a seasonable time.--STEIGER.

14 Erga diffidentes robur habet, erga fideles imbellis est.-BULLINGER.

2

3

eternal glory in Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a little, shall himself' make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle 11. you; His is the glory and the power, forever and ever. Amen. By Silvanus, to you a faithful brother, as I judge, I have briefly written, exhorting you, and testifying to you that this is 13. the true grace of God, with regard to which do

12.

5

4

you stand." The church in Babylon, chosen as you are, saluteth you: also 14. Marcus, my son. Salute each other with a kiss of love. Peace be with you all who are in Christ Jesus. Amen.

1 Phil. i. 6.

2 The elder English versions-CoVERDALE, MATTHEWS, and CRANMER―render this in the future; and the reading on which this rendering rests, that of the Vulgate, is recognized by GRIESBACH, SCHOLZ, and LACHMANN, as genuine. Digna Petro oratio: confirmat suos fratres.--BENGEL.

3 If, as is generally admitted, the verbs in the previous verse be in the future, is seems a more suitable supplement than be.

4 ΣTÕTε.--LACHMANN. See the authorities in GRIESBACH and SCHOLZ.

5 Literally she, that is, either έkkλŋoía or dikoñopά.

EXPOSITORY DISCOURSES.

DISCOURSE I.

INTRODUCTORY.

THE AUTHOR THE ADDRESS-AND THE SALUTATION.

1 PETER i. 1, 2.-Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.

INTRODUCTION.

THE Holy Scriptures-the inspired record of the revealed will of God-are not occupied with a systematic view of religious and moral truth and duty, but consist of a great variety of separate treatises, some of them historical, others didactic, others prophetical, most of them written in prose, though some of them in verse, composed at irregular intervals during a period of fifteen hundred years, and generally having a peculiar reference to the circumstances of those to whom they were originally addressed. The miscellaneous and occasional character thus impressed on the sacred writings, like everything else about them, bears in it indications of their divine origin. It prevents the appearance of human art or contrivance; proves that the harmony which prevails in them could not be the result of a preconcerted plan on the part of the writers; and leads us to inquire for a reason-which can only be found in the fact that they were given by the inspiration of Him who is "the only wise God"-why writings, so plainly occasional in their origin, should, notwithstanding, be so well fitted to serve the purpose of a universal and permanent rule of religious belief and moral conduct.

A considerable part of the second volume of the inspired writing -the CHRISTIAN Scriptures-consists of letters, addressed by Apostles of Christ, some of them to individual Christians, most of them to bodies of Christians resident in particular cities or districts. These epistles form one of the most valuable portions of the Book of God. They embody in them much evidence, in a peculiarly satisfactory form, of the truth of the Gospel history, and of the divine origin of