Likewise, ye wives, _be_ in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives; Ver. 1. _Be in subjection to your husbands_] Yet with a limitation: subject the wife must be to her husband's lawful commands and rest... [ Continue Reading ]
While they behold your chaste conversation _coupled_ with fear. Ver. 2. _Whiles they behold_] Curiously pry into. Carnal men watch the carriages of prolessors, and spend many thoughts about them. _ Your chaste conversation_] When Livia the empress was asked how had she got such a power over her hu... [ Continue Reading ]
Whose adorning let it not be that outward _adorning_ of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; Ver. 3. _Whose adorning_] _Mundus muliebris._ A woman's world. See Isaiah 3:18. Where the prophet as punctually inveighs against this noble vanity, as if he had viewed the... [ Continue Reading ]
But _let it be_ the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, _even the ornament_ of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price. Ver. 4. _But let it be the hidden_] _Vestite vos serico pietatis, byssino sanctitatis, purpura pudicitiae. Taliter pigmentatae... [ Continue Reading ]
For after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their own husbands: Ver. 5. _Who trusted in God_] And therefore would not by unlawful means seek to get or keep their husband's love and favour; but trusted God for that. So H... [ Continue Reading ]
Even as Sara obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: whose daughters ye are, as long as ye do well, and are not afraid with any amazement. Ver. 6. _Calling him lord_] See here, how in a great heap of sin, God can find out his own, and accept of it. There was no good word in all the whole sentence, but th... [ Continue Reading ]
Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with _them_ according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered. Ver. 7. _Likewise ye_] _Officium ascendit, amor descendit._ According to knowledge] Where sh... [ Continue Reading ]
Finally, _be ye_ all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, _be_ pitiful, _be_ courteous: Ver. 8. _Be courteous_] Gr. φιλοφρονες, friendly minded, ready to any good office. Christianity is no enemy to courtesy, but includes it. See the practice of it in Abraham and the Hit... [ Continue Reading ]
Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing. Ver. 9. _Railing for railing_] _Convitium convitio regerere, quid aliud est quam lutum luto purgare?_ saith one. To render railing for railing, is... [ Continue Reading ]
For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile: Ver. 10. _Love life_] Man is ζωον φιλοζωον, a creature that loves life, saith Aristotle. Who is the man that willeth life? saith David, Psalms 34:12. And hereunto every man wi... [ Continue Reading ]
Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it. Ver. 11. _Seek peace and ensue it_] A contentious man never lacks woe. _Ut habeas quietum tempus, perde aliquid, _ was a proverb at Carthage, as Austin relates it; _Et concedamus de iure ut careamus lite._ For a quiet life let a ma... [ Continue Reading ]
For the eyes of the Lord _are_ over the righteous, and his ears _are open_ unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord _is_ against them that do evil. Ver. 12. _For the eyes of the Lord_] Should not God see as well as hear, his children should want many things. We apprehend not all our own wants,... [ Continue Reading ]
And who _is_ he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good? Ver. 13. _And who is he that will, &c._] Natural conscience cannot but do homage to the image of God stamped upon the natures and works of the godly; as we see in the carriage of Nebuchadnezzar and Darius toward Daniel. I... [ Continue Reading ]
But and if ye suffer for righteousness' sake, happy _are ye_ : and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled; Ver. 14. _But and if ye suffer_] _q.d._ Say you meet with such unreasonable men, made up of mere incongruities and absurdities, that will harm you for well doing, yet you shall be... [ Continue Reading ]
But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and _be_ ready always to _give_ an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: Ver. 15. _Sanctify the Lord God_] Consider and conceive of him, as he stands described in the Scriptures, and as related to hi... [ Continue Reading ]
Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ. Ver. 16. _Having a good conscience_] Which you cannot have if you deny or but dissemble the truth. George Marsh, martyr, being examined before t... [ Continue Reading ]
For _it is_ better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing. Ver. 17. _That ye suffer for well doing_] The cause, and not the pain, makes the martyr. Together with the Lord Cromwell was beheaded (in Henry VIII's time) the Lord Hungerford, neither so Christianly... [ Continue Reading ]
For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit: Ver. 18. _That he might bring us_] To reconcile and bring men again to God was the main end of Christ's coming and suffering. This is th... [ Continue Reading ]
By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison; Ver. 19. _He went and preached_] Righteousness, _i.e._ repentance, 2 Peter 2:5, and the faith of the gospel, 1 Peter 4:6, whereby some of those many that perished in the waters arrived at heaven, _Nunquam sero, si serio._ Christ went to... [ Continue Reading ]
Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water. Ver. 20. _Which sometimes were disobedient_] Gr. unpersuadable, uncounsellable. They jeered where they should have fe... [ Continue Reading ]
The like figure whereunto _even_ baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ: Ver. 21. _Baptism doth also now save_] It is of permanent use, and effectual to seal up salvation whe... [ Continue Reading ]
Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him. Ver. 22. _Angels and authorities_] Psalms 68:17. The word rendered angels signifieth seconds, as being second to Christ, or next to him. See Daniel 10:13 .... [ Continue Reading ]