Julian Period, 4778, or 4779.

65 or 66.

§ 4. 1 PET. i. 22, to the end.

Vulgar Era, The Apostle exhorts those who have their Hearts purified from fleshly Lusts by believing in Christ Jesus, to love one another, not in deceitful Forms and Expressions, but with a pure Heart unmixed with carnal Passions, as Brethren born again, not by virtue of any Descent from human Parents, but by a divine and heavenly Principle the Doctrine of the living God, which remains for

ever.

22 Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently:

23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.

24 For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away ;

And

25 But the word of the Lord endureth for ever.
this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.

$5. 1 PET. ii. 1—10.

The Apostle exhorts them to lay aside all the evil Disposi-
tions of their former Nature, and, as Infants born again,
by divine Grace, earnestly desire the unadulterated Milk
of the Gospel, that their regenerated Nature may be
nourished to maturity, seeing they have already tasted
the Goodness and Excellency of the Lord in their second
or spiritual Birth, (Ps. xxxiv. 8.)-To whose coming,
by Faith, as to a living Foundation-Stone, they are built
upon him, partaking of his Life; so as to make a spiri-
tual Temple, forming a Company of Priests, (Exod.
xix. 6. Rev. i. 6.) appointed to offer Sacrifices of Prayer
and Praise through Christ, according to Isaiah, (xxviii.
16.) who has declared that in Sion a chief Corner-stone
should be laid, chosen and honourable, for the Founda-
tion of the new Temple of God, uniting the two Sides of
the Building, both Jews and Gentiles, in one Church,
(Eph. ii. 21.)—Those who believe belong to this Build-
ing-but to the Disobedient it is written, (Psalm cxviii.
22.) that this rejected Foundation-Stone is become the
Head of the Corner of God's new Temple-and a Stone
of stumbling to those who believed not in Christ, against
which they shall fall, and be broken, as predicted by

Rome.

Julian Period, 4778, or 4779. Vulgar Æra, 65 or 66.

THE HOME OF THE CHRISTIAN IS IN HEAVEN.

Isaiah, (viii. 14, 15.)-The Apostle describes the high Rome.
Privileges of Christians, by the Titles formerly given to
the Jewish Church, to all who were taken into Covenant
with God.

1 Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and
hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings,

2 As new born babes, desire the sincere milk of the
word, that ye may grow thereby :

3 If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious.
4. To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed
indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious.

5 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual
house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices,
acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.

6 Wherefore also it is contained in the Scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner-stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded.

7 Unto you therefore which believe, he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner,

8 And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.

9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light;

10 Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.

§ 6. 1 PET. ii. 11—17.

The Apostle, in allusion to the Israelites of old, (Heb. xi.
13.) calls on them, as Strangers and Pilgrims, (which
they literally were in Asia, Pontus, &c.) having no Inhe-
ritance on Earth, to seek for a heavenly Country-to ab-
stain from carnal Lusts, which bring into Captivity or
destroy the Soul-living in such a manner that the Ca-
lumnies of their Enemies may be confuted by their good
Works-To submit to every human Constitution of Go-
vernment for the Lord's sake, that they may put to
silence the Ignorance of those foolish Men, who asserted
that their Religion made them averse from Subjection to
Kings and Magistrates-As the chosen People of God,
the Jews boasted of being Freemen, governed by their own
Laws-in reference to which, the Apostle calls upon them
to be governed inwardly by the Laws of their Religion,

613

Julian Period, 4778, or 4779. Vulgar Æra, 65 or 66.

but not to use their Liberty as a covering for Rebellion, Rome. as the Jews did-but, as the Servants of God.

11 Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul:

12 Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles that whereas they speak against you as evil doers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.

13 Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake: whether it be to the king as supreme;

14 Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evil doers, and for the praise of them that do well.

15 For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men:

16 As free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God.

17 Honour all men.

God. Honour the king.

Love the brotherhood.

§ 7. 1 PET. ii. 18, to the end.

Fear

The Apostle exhorts domestic Slaves and Servants to obey
their Masters with Submission and Reverence—even the
severe and perverse-not suffering their Obedience to de-
pend on the Characters of those they serve-
To suffer
for well-doing, after the Example of Christ, who suffered
for them that they might follow in his Footsteps-In
whom was no Sin, (Isa. liii. 6.)—Who bore the Punish-
ment due to Sin, that he might deliver Man from its
Power.

18 Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear;
not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward.
19 For this is thank-worthy, if a man for conscience
toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully.

20 For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God.

21 For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:

22 Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth :

23 Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:

Julian Pe

DUTIES OF HUSBANDS AND WIVES-CHAP. XV.

24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on Rome. riod, 4778, the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto Vulgar Era, righteousness; by whose stripes ye were healed.

or 4799.

65 or 66.

25 For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.

§ 8. 1 PET. iii. 1-7.

St. Peter proceeds by enforcing on them the higher relative
Duties-He enjoins Christian Wives to submit to their
Husbands, although they were Heathens, that they may
gain them over by their holy Conduct, to the Love and
Practices of the Gospel-To secure their Husband's Af-
fection, let them not confine their adorning to their outward
Persons only-but rather to the inner or hidden Soul-
after the Example of Sara, who acknowledged her Sub-
jection to Abraham, by calling him Lord-whose Daugh-
ters they are as long as they act consistently with their
Christian Character-Christian Husbands are command-
ed to conduct themselves towards their Wives as becomes
those who have been instructed in the Duties of the Chris-
tian Religion.

1 Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own hus-
bands; that if any obey not the word, they may also
without the word be won by the conversation of the
wives;

2 While they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear.

3 Whose adorning, let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel;

4 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.

5 For after this manner in the old time, the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection to their own husbands:

6 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.

7 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.

615

Rome.

Julian Period, 4778, or 4779.

65 or 66.

9. 1 PET. iii. 8-17.

The Apostle, in Conclusion, exhorts all, married or unVulgar Era, married, to Christian Unity-Compassion and Lovereturning Evil and Reproaches with Blessings-Acting always according to the Dictates of their Conscience, that those who falsely speak against them as Evil Doers, may be put to shame by their good Behaviour in Christ—If the Will of God appoints them Sufferings, it is better to do so for doing Well, than for doing Evil.

8 Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another; love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous :

9 Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing; but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing.

10 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 :

11 Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it.

12 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.

13 And who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good?

14 But and if ye suffer for righteousness' sake, happy are ye and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled;

15 But sanctify the Lord your 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 :

16 Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evil doers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ.

16 For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing than for evil doing.

$ 10. 1 PET. iii. 18, to the end.

The Apostle, in a kind of Digression, that their Sufferings
might not be regarded as a token of God's displeasure,
encourages them with the Consideration of the Sufferings
of Christ-who, though perfectly righteous, suffered for
the Sins of others, that he might bring Man to God-
He was put to death in his human Nature, but was made
alive again by the Spirit of God-by which Spirit, giving
spiritual Power to Noah, he preached to those Spirits