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<center><h1>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary
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on the Whole Bible</h1>
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<h3><a href="http://www.biblesnet.com" target="_blank">Back to Biblesnet.com Home Page</a>
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[<A HREF="MHC00000.HTM">Table of Contents</A>]<BR>
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[<A HREF="MHC60004.HTM">Previous</A>]
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<TD ALIGN="RIGHT" VALIGN="TOP">
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Matthew Henry<BR><I>Commentary on the Whole Bible</I> (1721)
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</TD></TR></TABLE>
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<!-- (Begin Body) -->
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<CENTER>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+3><B>F I R S T P E T E R.</B></FONT>
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<BR>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+2>CHAP. V.</FONT>
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<HR SIZE=1 WIDTH=50>
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</CENTER>
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<FONT SIZE=-1>
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<P>
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In which the apostle gives particular directions, first to the elders,
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how to behave themselves towards their flock
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Pe+5:1-4">ver. 1-4</A>);
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then to the younger, to be obedient and humble, and to cast their care
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upon God,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Pe+5:5-7">ver. 5-7</A>.
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He then exhorts all to sobriety, watchfulness against temptations, and
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stedfastness in the faith, praying earnestly for them; and so concludes
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his epistle with a solemn doxology, mutual salutations, and his
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apostolical benediction.</P>
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</FONT>
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<A NAME="1Pe5_1"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Pe5_2"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Pe5_3"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Pe5_4"> </A>
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<A NAME="Sec1"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>Advice to Elders.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT VALIGN=BOTTOM><FONT SIZE=-1>A. D.</FONT> 66.</TD></TR>
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<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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</TABLE>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>1 The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an
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elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a
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partaker of the glory that shall be revealed:
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2 Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the
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oversight <I>thereof,</I> not by constraint, but willingly; not for
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filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;
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3 Neither as being lords over <I>God's</I> heritage, but being
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ensamples to the flock.
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4 And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a
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crown of glory that fadeth not away.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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Here we may observe,</P>
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<P>
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I. The persons to whom this exhortation is given--to the presbyters,
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pastors, and spiritual guides of the church, elders by office, rather
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than by age, ministers of those churches to whom he wrote this
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epistle.</P>
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<P>
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II. The person who gives this exhortation--the apostle Peter: <I>I
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exhort;</I> and, to give force to this exhortation, he tells them he
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was their brother-presbyter or fellow-elder, and so puts nothing upon
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them but what he was ready to perform himself. He was also <I>a
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witness of the sufferings of Christ,</I> being with him in the garden,
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attending him to the palace of the high-priest, and very likely being a
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spectator of his suffering upon the cross, at a distance among the
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crowd,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+3:15">Acts iii. 15</A>.
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He adds that he was also <I>a partaker of the glory</I> that was in
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some degree revealed at the transfiguration
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+17:1-3">Matt. xvii. 1-3</A>),
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and shall be completely enjoyed at the second coming of Jesus Christ.
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Learn,
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1. Those whose office it is to teach others ought carefully to study
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their own duty, as well as teach the people theirs.
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2. How different the spirit and behaviour of Peter were from that of
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his pretended successors! He does not command and domineer, but exhort.
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He does not claim sovereignty over all pastors and churches, nor style
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himself <I>prince of the apostles, vicar of Christ,</I> or <I>head of
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the church,</I> but values himself upon being an <I>elder.</I> All the
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apostles were elders, though every elder was not an apostle.
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3. It was the peculiar honour of Peter, and a few more, to be the
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witnesses of Christ's sufferings; but it is the privilege of all true
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Christians to be partakers of the glory that shall be revealed.</P>
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<P>
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III. The pastor's duty described, and the manner in which that duty
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ought to be performed. The pastoral duty is three-fold:--
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1. <I>To feed the flock,</I> by preaching to them the sincere word of
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God, and ruling them according to such directions and discipline as the
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word of God prescribes, both which are implied in this expression,
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<I>Feed the flock.</I>
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2. The pastors of the church must <I>take the oversight thereof.</I>
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The elders are exhorted to do the office of bishops (as the word
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signifies), by personal care and vigilance over all the flock committed
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to their charge.
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3. They must be <I>examples to the flock,</I> and practise the
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holiness, self-denial, mortification, and all other Christian duties,
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which they preach and recommend to their people. These duties must be
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performed, <I>not by constraint,</I> not because you must do them, not
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from compulsion of the civil power, or the constraint of fear or shame,
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but from a willing mind that takes pleasure in the work: <I>not for
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filthy lucre,</I> or any emoluments and profits attending the place
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where you reside, or any perquisite belonging to the office, <I>but of
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a ready mind,</I> regarding the flock more than the fleece, sincerely
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and cheerfully endeavouring to serve the church of God; <I>neither as
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being lords over God's heritage,</I> tyrannizing over them by
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compulsion and coercive force, or imposing unscriptural and human
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inventions upon them instead of necessary duty,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+20:25,26;2Co+1:24">Matt. xx. 25, 26; 2 Cor. i. 24</A>.
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Learn,
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(1.) The eminent dignity of the church of God, and all the true members
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of it. These poor, dispersed, suffering Christians were the flock of
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God. The rest of the world is a brutal herd. These are an orderly
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flock, redeemed to God by the great Shepherd, living in holy love and
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communion one with another, <I>according to the will of God.</I> They
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are also dignified with the title of God's <I>heritage</I> or
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<I>clergy,</I> his peculiar lot, chosen out of the common multitude for
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his own people, to enjoy his special favour and to do him special
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service. The word is never restricted in the New Testament to the
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ministers of religion.
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(2.) The pastors of the church ought to consider their people as <I>the
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flock of God, as God's heritage,</I> and treat them accordingly. They
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are not theirs, to be lorded over at pleasure; but they are God's
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people, and should be treated with love, meekness, and tenderness, for
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the sake of him to whom they belong.
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(3.) Those ministers who are either driven to the work by necessity or
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drawn to it by filthy lucre can never perform their duty as they ought,
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because they do not do it willingly, and with a ready mind.
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(4.) The best way a minister can take to engage the respect of a people
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is to discharge his own duty among them in the best manner that he can,
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and to be a constant example to them of all that is good.</P>
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<P>
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IV. In opposition to that filthy lucre which many propose to themselves
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as their principal motive in undertaking and discharging the pastoral
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office, the apostle sets before them the crown of glory designed by the
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great shepherd, Jesus Christ, for all his faithful ministers. Learn,
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1. Jesus Christ is <I>the chief shepherd</I> of the whole flock and
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heritage of God. He bought them, and rules them; he defends and saves
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them for ever. He is also the chief shepherd over all inferior
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shepherds; they derive their authority from him, act in his name, and
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are accountable to him at last.
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2. This chief shepherd will appear, to judge all ministers and
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under-shepherds, to call them to account, whether they have faithfully
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discharged their duty both publicly and privately according to the
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foregoing directions.
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3. Those that are found to have done their duty shall have what is
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infinitely better than temporal gain; they shall receive from the grand
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shepherd a high degree of everlasting glory, <I>a crown of glory that
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fadeth not away.</I></P>
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<A NAME="1Pe5_5"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Pe5_6"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Pe5_7"> </A>
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<A NAME="Sec2"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>Humility Recommended.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT VALIGN=BOTTOM><FONT SIZE=-1>A. D.</FONT> 66.</TD></TR>
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<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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</TABLE>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>5 Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea,
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all <I>of you</I> be subject one to another, and be clothed with
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humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the
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humble.
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6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God,
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that he may exalt you in due time:
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7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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Having settled and explained the duty of the pastors or spiritual
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guides of the church, the apostle comes now to instruct the flock,</P>
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<P>
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I. How to behave themselves to their ministers and to one another. He
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calls them <I>the younger,</I> as being generally younger than their
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grave pastors, and to put them in mind of their inferiority, the term
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younger being used by our Saviour to signify an inferior,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+22:26">Luke xxii. 26</A>.
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He exhorts those that are younger and inferior to <I>submit themselves
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to the elder,</I> to give due respect and reverence to their persons,
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and to yield to their admonitions, reproof, and authority, enjoining
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and commanding what the word of God requires,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Heb+13:17">Heb. xiii. 17</A>.
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As to one another, the rule is that they should all <I>be subject one
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to another,</I> so far as to receive the reproofs and counsels one of
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another, and be ready to <I>bear one another's burdens,</I> and perform
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all the offices of friendship and charity one to another; and
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particular persons should submit to the directions of the whole
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society,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eph+5:21;Jam+5:16">Eph. v. 21; Jam. v. 16</A>.
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These duties of submission to superiors in age or office, and
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subjection to one another, being contrary to the proud nature and
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selfish interests of men, he advises them to <I>be clothed with
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humility.</I> "Let your minds, behaviour, garb, and whole frame, be
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adorned with humility, as the most beautiful habit you can wear; this
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will render obedience and duty easy and pleasant; but, if you be
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disobedient and proud, God will set himself to oppose and crush you;
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for <I>he resisteth the proud,</I> when he <I>giveth grace to the
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humble.</I>" Observe,
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1. Humility is the great preserver of peace and order in all Christian
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churches and societies, consequently pride is the great disturber of
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them, and the cause of most dissensions and breaches in the church.
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2. There is a mutual opposition between God and the proud, so the word
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signifies; they war against him, and he scorns them; <I>he resisteth
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the proud,</I> because they are like the devil, enemies to himself and
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to his kingdom among men,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Pr+3:34">Prov. iii. 34</A>.
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3. Where God giveth grace to be humble, he will give more grace, more
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wisdom, faith, holiness, and humility. Hence the apostle adds:
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<I>Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he
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may exalt you in due time,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Pe+5:6"><I>v.</I> 6</A>.
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"Since God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace to the humble,
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therefore humble yourselves, not only one to another, but to the great
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God, whose judgments are coming upon the world, and must begin at the
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house of God
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Pe+4:17"><I>ch.</I> iv. 17</A>);
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his hand is almighty, and can easily pull you down if you be proud, or
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exalt you if you be humble; and it will certainly do it, either in this
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life, if he sees it best for you, or at the day of general
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retribution." Learn,
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(1.) The consideration of the omnipotent hand of God should make us
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humble and submissive to him in all that he brings upon us.
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(2.) Humbling ourselves to God under his hand is the next way to
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deliverance and exaltation; patience under his chastisements, and
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submission to his pleasure, repentance, prayer, and hope in his mercy,
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will engage his help and release in due time,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jam+4:7,10">Jam. iv. 7, 10</A>.</P>
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<P>
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II. The apostle, knowing that these Christians were already under very
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hard circumstances, rightly supposes that what he had foretold of
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greater hardships yet a coming might excite in them abundance of care
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and fear about the event of these difficulties, what the issue of them
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would be to themselves, their families, and the church of God;
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foreseeing this anxious care would be a heavy burden, and a sore
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temptation, he gives them the best advice, and supports it with a
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strong argument. His advice is to <I>cast all their care,</I> or <I>all
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care of themselves, upon God.</I> "Throw your cares, which are so
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cutting and distracting, which wound your souls and pierce your hearts,
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upon the wise and gracious providence of God; trust in him with a firm
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composed mind, <I>for he careth for you.</I> He is willing to release
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you of your care, and take the care of you upon himself. He will either
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avert what you fear, or support you under it. He will order all events
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to you so as shall convince you of his paternal love and tenderness
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towards you; and all shall be so ordered that no hurt, but good, shall
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come unto you,"
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+6:25;Ps+84:11;Ro+8:28">Matt. vi. 25;
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Ps. lxxxiv. 11; Rom. viii. 28</A>.
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Learn,
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1. The best of Christians are apt to labour under the burden of anxious
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and excessive care; the apostle calls it, <I>all your care,</I>
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intimating that the cares of Christians are various and of more sorts
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than one: personal cares, family cares, cares for the present, cares
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for the future, cares for themselves, for others, and for the church.
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2. The cares even of good people are very burdensome, and too often
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very sinful; when they arise from unbelief and diffidence, when they
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torture and distract the mind, unfit us for the duties of our place and
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hinder our delightful service of God, they are very criminal.
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3. The best remedy against immoderate care is to <I>cast our care upon
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God,</I> and resign every event to the wise and gracious determination.
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A firm belief of the rectitude of the divine will and counsels calms
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the spirit of man. <I>We ceased, saying, The will of the Lord be
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done,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+21:14">Acts xxi. 14</A>.</P>
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<A NAME="1Pe5_8"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Pe5_9"> </A>
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<A NAME="Sec3"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>Sobriety and Vigilance Enjoined.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT VALIGN=BOTTOM><FONT SIZE=-1>A. D.</FONT> 66.</TD></TR>
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<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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</TABLE>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a
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roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
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9 Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same
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afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the
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world.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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Here the apostle does three things:--</P>
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<P>
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I. He shows them their danger from an enemy more cruel and restless
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than even the worst of men, whom he describes,</P>
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<P>
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1. By his characters and names.
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(1.) He is an adversary: "<I>That adversary of yours;</I> not a common
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adversary, but an enemy that impleads you, and litigates against you in
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your grand depending cause, and aims at your very souls."
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(2.) <I>The devil, the grand accuser of all the brethren;</I> this
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title is derived from a word which signifies to strike through, or to
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stab. He would strike malignity into our natures and poison into our
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souls. If he could have struck these people with passion and murmuring
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in their sufferings, perhaps he might have drawn them to apostasy and
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ruin.
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(3.) He is <I>a roaring lion,</I> hungry, fierce, strong, and cruel,
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the fierce and greedy pursuer of souls.</P>
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<P>
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2. By his business: <I>He walks about, seeking whom he may devour;</I>
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his whole design is to devour and destroy souls. To this end he is
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unwearied and restless in his malicious endeavours; for he always,
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night and day, goes about studying and contriving whom he may ensnare
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to their eternal ruin.</P>
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<P>
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II. Hence he infers that it is their duty,
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1. To <I>be sober,</I> and to govern both the outward and the inward
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man by the rules of temperance, modesty, and mortification.
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2. To <I>be vigilant;</I> not secure or careless, but rather suspicious
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of constant danger from this spiritual enemy, and, under that
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apprehension, to be watchful and diligent to prevent his designs and
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save our souls.
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3. To resist him <I>stedfast in the faith.</I> It was the faith of
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these people that Satan aimed at; if he could overturn their faith, and
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draw them into apostasy, then he knew he should gain his point, and
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ruin their souls; therefore, to destroy their faith, he raises bitter
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persecutions, and sets the grand potentates of the world against them.
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This strong trial and temptation they must resist, by being
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well-grounded, resolute, and stedfast in the faith: to encourage them
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to this,</P>
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<P>
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III. He tells them that their care was not singular, for they knew that
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the like afflictions befel their brethren in all parts of the world,
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and that all the people of God were their fellow-soldiers in this
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warfare. Learn,
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|
1. All the great persecutions that ever were in the world were raised,
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|
spirited up, and conducted, by the devil; he is the grand persecutor,
|
|
as well as <I>the deceiver and accuser, of the brethren;</I> men are
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|
his willing spiteful instruments, but he is the chief adversary that
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wars against Christ and his people,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+3:15;Re+12:12">Gen. iii. 15; Rev. xii. 12</A>.
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2. The design of Satan in raising persecutions against the faithful
|
|
servants of God is to bring them to apostasy, by reason of their
|
|
sufferings, and so to destroy their souls.
|
|
|
|
3. Sobriety and watchfulness are necessary virtues at all times, but
|
|
especially in times of suffering and persecution. "You must moderate
|
|
your affection to worldly things, or else Satan will soon overcome
|
|
you."
|
|
|
|
4. "If you would overcome Satan, as a tempter, an accuser, or a
|
|
persecutor, you must resist him stedfast in the faith; if your faith
|
|
give way, you are gone; therefore, <I>above all, take the shield of
|
|
faith,</I>"
|
|
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|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eph+6:16">Eph. vi. 16</A>.
|
|
|
|
5. The consideration of what others suffer is proper to encourage us
|
|
to bear our own share in any affliction: <I>The same afflictions are
|
|
accomplished in your brethren.</I></P>
|
|
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<A NAME="1Pe5_10"> </A>
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|
<A NAME="1Pe5_11"> </A>
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|
<A NAME="1Pe5_12"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="1Pe5_13"> </A>
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|
<A NAME="1Pe5_14"> </A>
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|
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<A NAME="Sec4"> </A>
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|
<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>The Apostle's Prayer.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT VALIGN=BOTTOM><FONT SIZE=-1>A. D.</FONT> 66.</TD></TR>
|
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<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
|
|
</TABLE>
|
|
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|
<P>
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|
<FONT SIZE=+1>10 But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his
|
|
eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a
|
|
while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle <I>you.</I>
|
|
11 To him <I>be</I> glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
|
|
12 By Silvanus, a faithful brother unto you, as I suppose, I
|
|
have written briefly, exhorting, and testifying that this is the
|
|
true grace of God wherein ye stand.
|
|
13 The <I>church that is</I> at Babylon, elected together with
|
|
<I>you,</I> saluteth you; and <I>so doth</I> Marcus my son.
|
|
14 Greet ye one another with a kiss of charity. Peace <I>be</I> with
|
|
you all that are in Christ Jesus. Amen.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
We come now to the conclusion of this epistle, which,</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
I. The apostle begins with a most weighty prayer, which he addresses to
|
|
God as <I>the God of all grace,</I> the author and finisher of every
|
|
heavenly gift and quality, acknowledging, on their behalf, that God had
|
|
already called them to be partakers of that eternal glory, which, being
|
|
his own, he had promised and settled upon them, through the merit and
|
|
intercession of Jesus Christ. Observe,</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
1. What he prays for on their account; not that they might be excused
|
|
from sufferings, but that their sufferings might be moderate and short,
|
|
and, <I>after they had suffered awhile,</I> that God would restore them
|
|
to a settled and peaceable condition, and perfect his work in them--that
|
|
he would establish them against wavering, either in faith or duty, that
|
|
he would strengthen those who were weak, and settle them upon Christ
|
|
the foundation, so firmly that their union with him might be
|
|
indissoluble and everlasting. Learn,
|
|
|
|
(1.) All grace is from God; it is he who restrains, converts, comforts,
|
|
and saves men by his grace.
|
|
|
|
(2.) All who are called into a state of grace are called to partake of
|
|
eternal glory and happiness.
|
|
|
|
(3.) Those who are called to be heirs of eternal life through Jesus
|
|
Christ must, nevertheless, suffer in this world, but their sufferings
|
|
will be but for a little while.
|
|
|
|
(4.) The perfecting, establishing, strengthening, and settling, of good
|
|
people in grace, and their perseverance therein, is so difficult a
|
|
work, that only the God of all grace can accomplish it; and therefore
|
|
he is earnestly to be sought unto by continual prayer, and dependence
|
|
upon his promises.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
2. His doxology,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Pe+5:11"><I>v.</I> 11</A>.
|
|
|
|
From this doxology we may learn that those who have obtained grace from
|
|
the God of all grace should and will ascribe glory, dominion, and
|
|
power, to him for ever and ever.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
II. He recapitulates the design of his writing this epistle to them
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Pe+5:12"><I>v.</I> 12</A>),
|
|
|
|
which was,
|
|
|
|
1. To testify, and in the strongest terms to assure them, that the
|
|
doctrine of salvation, which he had explained and they had embraced,
|
|
was the true account of the grace of God, foretold by the prophets and
|
|
published by Jesus Christ.
|
|
|
|
2. To exhort them earnestly that, as they had embraced the gospel, they
|
|
would continue stedfast in it, notwithstanding the arts of seducers, or
|
|
the persecutions of enemies.
|
|
|
|
(1.) The main thing that ministers ought to aim at in their labours is
|
|
to convince their people of the certainty and excellency of the
|
|
Christian religion; this the apostles did <I>exhort and testify</I>
|
|
with all their might.
|
|
|
|
(2.) A firm persuasion that we are in the true way to heaven will be
|
|
the best motive to stand fast, and persevere therein.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
III. He recommends <I>Silvanus,</I> the person by whom he sent them
|
|
this brief epistle, as a brother whom he esteemed faithful and friendly
|
|
to them, and hoped they would account him so, though he was a ministers
|
|
of the uncircumcision. Observe, An honourable esteem of the ministers
|
|
of religion tends much to the success of their labours. When we are
|
|
convinced they are faithful, we shall profit more by their ministerial
|
|
services. The prejudices that some of these Jews might have against
|
|
Silvanus, as a minister of the Gentiles, would soon wear off when they
|
|
were once convinced that he was a faithful brother.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
IV. He closes with salutations and a solemn benediction. Observe,
|
|
|
|
1. Peter, being at Babylon in Assyria, when he wrote this epistle
|
|
(whither he travelled, as the apostle of the circumcision, to visit
|
|
that church, which was the chief of the dispersion), sends the
|
|
salutation of that church to the other churches to whom he wrote
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Pe+5:13"><I>v.</I> 13</A>),
|
|
|
|
telling them that God had <I>elected</I> or chosen the Christians at
|
|
Babylon out of the world, to be his church, and to partake of eternal
|
|
salvation through Christ Jesus, together with them and all other
|
|
faithful Christians,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Pe+1:2"><I>ch.</I> i. 2</A>.
|
|
|
|
In this salutation he particularly joins Mark the evangelist, who was
|
|
then with him, and who was his son in a spiritual sense, being begotten
|
|
by him to Christianity. Observe, All the churches of Jesus Christ ought
|
|
to have a most affectionate concern one for another; they should love
|
|
and pray for one another, and be as helpful one to another as they
|
|
possibly can.
|
|
|
|
2. He exhorts them to fervent love and charity one towards another, and
|
|
to express this by giving <I>the kiss of peace</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Pe+5:14"><I>v.</I> 14</A>),
|
|
|
|
according to the common custom of those times and countries, and so
|
|
concludes with a benediction, which he confines to those <I>that are in
|
|
Christ Jesus,</I> united to him by faith and sound members of his
|
|
mystical body. The blessing he pronounces upon them is <I>peace,</I> by
|
|
which he means all necessary good, all manner of prosperity; to this he
|
|
adds his <I>amen,</I> in token of his earnest desire and undoubted
|
|
expectation that the blessing of peace would be the portion of all the
|
|
faithful.</P>
|
|
|
|
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[<A HREF="MHC00000.HTM">Table of Contents</A>]<BR>
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Matthew Henry<BR><I>Commentary on the Whole Bible</I> (1721)
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