By which he preached to the sinners of the old world. when once the long while the ark was a preparing wherein few, that is, eight souls, were saved by water. 21 285 vii. 20 Which some the great day. I speak of those, who were long SECT. time were disobedient, since disobedient, when once the abused and insuffering of God wait- sulted long-suffering of a compassionate God, 1 Peter ed in the days of Noah, waited upon them, in the days of the patriarch III. 20. Noah, during the succession of one hundred and twenty years, while the ark was preparing; in which few, that is, eight souls, of Noah and his wife, his three sons and their wives, were carried safely through the water, in which the 21 The like figure residue of mankind perished. The antitype whereunto even bap- to which, (or that which corresponds to, and tism, doth also now was figured by it, that is, by the preservation save us (not the put of Noah's family in the ark,) does now save us, of the flesh, but the or is the instrument of our safety and preservaanswer of a good con- tion, as the ark was of theirs; [I mean baptism] science towards God) by the resurrection of whereby we are received into the Christian Jesus Christ: church, and numbered amongst the heirs of salvation; but then it is to be remembered, that it is not merely the putting away the pollution of the flesh by the use of material water, for that would be very insignificant; but the answer of a good conscience, the reply that it makes when interrogated in the presence of God, and ting away of the filth + others of those in hell, whom he delivered, d Carried safely through the water: & υδαίος.] Raphelius abundantly justifies this sense of the particle dia, when used with a genitive case. See Annol. ex. Xenoph. in loc. e The antitype to which.] That is, the thing which corresponds, not with the water, but with the ark. Baptism, not the pulling away the pol lution of the flesh, but the answer of a good Barrow's Works, Vol. I. p. 355, It is a credible fact, sup- custom. & Being 286 vii. .1 Peter As Christ then hath suffered for us in the flesh; SECT, and spoken in such a language as he only is capable of hearing and understanding; and when this likewise is found, then we attain salvation, 1.21. by that great event in which at baptism we declare ourselves believers; I mean the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ from the dead; 22 Who is gone inWho is now set down at the right-hand of God, to heaven, and is on being gone into heaven, there to take possession the right-hand of God; of the glory prepared for him, where he reigns angels, and authorities supreme over all worlds; all the angels, and authorities and powers, which are there enthroned, being made subject to him, and humbly bowing before his superior dignity and authority. 22 IV 1. As Christ therefore has suffered for us in the flesh such extreme and amazing sufferings as are not to be described, and even when their weight lay heaviest upon him, even in the agony of death, persisted in his generous design to ac complish all that was needful for our redemption and salvation; I beseech you, arm yourselves likewise with the same fortitude and resolution of mind in his cause, whatever extremities And let this you may be called out to endure. engage you,on the like principles to mortify all your irregular desires, and to die to sin; for he who hath, in conformity to our Lord Jesus Christ, suffered this crucifixion in the flesh of which I now speak, he has ceased from the habitual practice of all sin whatsoever, and considers himself as absolutely and finally dead to it, And no 2 so as never to return to it any more: longer to live [his] remaining time in the flesh, whether it be shorter or longer, according to the lusts of men, those lusts by which they are too frequently and generally governed; but according to the will of God in a holy conformity and obedience to the Divine precepts, how contrary soever they are to his own carnal and sensual 3 inclinations, or to his worldly interests. For surely the time of life that is past [may] appear g Being gone into heaven, &c.] When the apostle speaks of the resurrection and glory of Christ, he means not only to represent him as the object of our confidence, but to intimate, that if we imitate him in his courageous fidelity, we may hope to partake with him in bis glory. h He who hath suffered, in the flesh hath ceased from sin, &c.] It is plain, that suffering in the flesh, cannot signify suffer to and powers, being made subject unto him. IV. 1. Forasmuch then as Christ hath suf fered for us in the flesh arm yourselves like wise with the same mind; for he that hath suffered in the flesh, hath ceased from sin; 2 That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh, to the lusts of men, but to the will of God. 3 For the time past of our life may suffice ing death; because the apostle in the very next verse mentions the remaining part of life as not to be spent in the lusts of the flesh. The sense, to be sure, is something obscure and I have sometimes doubted whether it may not intimate, that the consciousness of having endured suffering for Christ, greatly confirms our motives to obedience. i Unlawful able idolatries: 4 We should live according to God in the spirit. you run not with them you: 287 vii. 1 Peter fice us to have to [be] sufficient, and more than sufficient for SECT. wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we us, to have forgotten the great end for which life walked in lascivious- was given, and to have wrought the will of the ness, lusts, excess of Gentiles; following those pleasures and pursuits IV. 3, wine, revellings, banquetings, and abomin- to which the heathens that know not God, are addicted; when ye walked in all the variety of lasciviousness, inordinate desires, excess of wine, banqueting, drunkenness, and unlawful detestWherein they able idolatries: In respect to which abomi-4 think it strange that nable course of life, they who were once your to the same excess of partners in such enormities, now think it strangek riot, speaking evil of that you run not with them, as ye once did, into the same profusion of the most profligate riot': speaking evil [of you,] wretched creatures as they are, Who, though forgetful of the true 5 honour and happiness of the human nature, shall nevertheless give an account of all this disorder and abuse, to him who is ready in a little time to appear, that he may judge the living and the dead: For it was to this purpose that the gos-6 pel was preached also to the dissolute Gentiles, who might truly be said to be dead in trespasses be and sins, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh; that they might be brought to such a state of life, as their carnal neighbours will look upon as a kind of condemnation and 5 Who shall give account to him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead. € For, for this cause was the gospel preachdead, that they might ed also to them that are i Unlawful idolatries.] Considering how very averse the Jews were, in the apostle's times, to idolatry, I cannot think in this passage he hath a respect to them, and therefore I look upon this as one argument among many, which might be urged, to prove that this epistle was written to Gentile, as well as Jewish Christians. k Think it strange: Viovra.] Raphelius (Annot, ex Polyb. in loc.) and others, have observed that the original word is very emphatical, and expresses a perfect amazement and consternation of mind. The same word is used below at the 12th verse. 1 Profusion of riot.] This is a very literal translation of Archbishop Leighton. m That they might be judged, &c.] This interpretation, which is preferred by Brennius and Dr. Whitby, appeared to me, on a full examination, most probable; though the text must be confessed to be extremely difficult. Some have thought the apostle refers to those who then suffered martyrdom for Christianity; as if he had said, "It was gospel indeed, good tidings, even to those who died for it; for though men condemned their bodies, yet the salvation of their souls, which is of infinitely greater importance, has been death; But secured by it." Dr. Whitby renders the 288 Reflections on the benefits we receive by Christ's death. vii. 1 Peter live according to God SECT. death; but might live according to God in the be judged according to spirit, might be brought to a truly spiritual and men in the flesh, but Divine life and if when men hear of the gos- in the spirit. IV. 6. pel, they will not receive and improve it for this important purpose, they must expect to render to God an impartial and severe account for their abuse of it, and must stand by all the terrible consequences of their folly. Chap. IMPROVEMENT, LET our devoutest meditations frequently dwell on the benefits we receive by the death of Christ, and the wonderful manner in which they are conveyed. The important end, for which he iii. 18, suffered, the just for the unjust, was to introduce us into the presence and favour of God: let us rejoice, that we are brought nigh to the Infinite Majesty of heaven, the indefectible source of perfection and blessedness? and always live as in a state of nearness and intimacy with him; dreading the most distant approach to that disobedience to the heavenly message, which even after the 20 patience of God waited on them, proved fatal to the sinful inhabitants of the old world. That patience indeed waits upon us; but as their time was limited, so is ours.-For ever blessed be the Father of mercies, that by Christ he hath made provision for our salvation, as he did of old for Noah and his family, by command21 ing him to prepare an ark. But then let us remember, the baptism that saves, is not the putting away the filth of the flesh, but 22 the answer of a good conscience towards God. If we have this inward witness, let the resurrection of Christ, and his exaltation to supreme glory at the right hand of the Father, encourage our sublimest hopes; and let us triumph in him as our all-sufficient Saviour, who, though he were once crucified, now sits on the throne of his glory, principalities and powers being made subject Chap. to him. Let the recollection of his bitter sufferings excite our zeal and iv. 1. courage in his sacred cause, and arm us with a conformity of sentiments and resolutions to his own; that we may cease from sin; that we may spend the residue of our lives, not in following the lusts of the flesh, but in fulfilling, in all respects, the will of our God. Let us often reflect, that, perhaps, we were long insensible of his sacred authority, and in many instances were the 3 sport of irregular appetites and passions: let the past part of our lives suffice, and be deemed more than sufficient, to be spent in this inglorious and detestable slavery. By mortification let us assert our liberty. And though others wonder at our abstinence, severity, and The end of all things is at hand. 239 vii. and self-denial, let us not envy that excess of riot into which, SECT. with unbridled eagerness, they allow themselves to run. But seriously considering the awful account they must render, (though 4 alas! so ill prepared for it,) to the great Judge of quick and dead; 5 let us readily choose, and chearfully submit to the severest mortification which God may require of us. Let us rather embrace a life which infidels would esteem death, than expose our immortal 6 souls to the judgment of God, to his condemnation, from which there lies no appeal, and which will consign over impenitent sinners to an execution infinitely dreadful, beyond their utmost fears and apprehensions. SECT. VIII. The Apostle exhorts the Christian converts to watchfulness and to fidelity, that they might rightly improve their several talents, and discharge the duties of their respective stations in the church; and to courage and fortitude amidst their discouragements and persecutions; and by way of inference from the trials to which good men were exposed, he observes that a tremendous inevitable destruction will overwhelm the impenitent and unbelieving.1 Pet. IV. 7—19. 1 PETER IV. 7. HOW 1 PETER IV. 7. BUT the end of all a The end of all things, &c.] I cannot think this signifies the destruction of Jerusalem; an event, in which most of those to whom the apostle wrote, were compa. ratively but little concerned. It must undoubtedly signify either death, which may be considered as the end of the whole world to every particular person; or the consum- b Love SECT. viii. 1 Peter IV. 7. |