The younger should submit to the elder. 223 v. 3 itage, but being en- but being humble, and behaving towards SECT. samples to the flock. them with such gentle tender solicitude for ix. their souls, and such an entire freedom from 1 Pet. the very appearance either of avarice or ambition, that your examples may be rendered worthy the imitation of the flock, and your conduct as instructive as any of your cautions and 4 And when the precepts can be: And if this be indeed your 4 chief Shepherd shall character and behaviour; you will render up appear, he shall receive a crown of glo- your account hereafter with joy; for when he, ry that fadeth not who does you the honour to acknowledge him away. self the chief Shepherd of the flock, shall appear, 5 Likewise, ye But it is proper that I should likewise ad- 5 younger, submit dress some exhortations to others besides minyourselves unto the elder: yea, all of you isters; and particularly to you, ye younger be subject one to an- persons; and that I should urge you to be in other, and be cloth- subjection to those [who are] more advanced in ed with humility : for God resisteth the age, and to pay a decent respect to their hoary proud, and giveth hairs. Yea, let all [of you] be subject to one angrace to the humble. other, endeavouring, by mutual condescension, to make each other as easy and happy as possi- Humble 6 6 Humble your grace and favour to the humble soul. selves therefore un- yourselves therefore with that just reverence der the mighty hand of God, that he may under the mighty hand of God, (under all exalt you in due the dispensations of Divine Providence, even though wicked men should be made the instruments of effecting its purposes,) that so he time : nor, the flock of God, it seems to establish the common interpretation. What the learned Mr. Dodwell had offered in support of the sense Dr. Whitby mentions, is particularly considered and refut ed by Wolfius, Cura Philolog. Vol. V. page 163. с Mighty hand of God.] Perhaps by this expression, the apostle may intend to remind them, that the hand of a righteous Providence was concerned in those events which were owing to the wickedness of men; so far concerned, as to overrule them, and render them instrumental and subservient to the accomplishment of his own wise designs; as is strongly intimated Isa. x. 5; Psal. xvii. 14, and in many parallel places. 224 They should resist their adversary, the devil. ix. SECT. may exalt you in due time; for in his own most proper and well chosen season, he will certainly raise you up, though for the present you may seem to be depressed to the lowest condition. 1 Pet. V. 7 In the mean while, whatever uncertainties and 7 Casting all your dangers may attend you, endeavour to live as care upon him, for easy as possible; casting all your anxious care,f he careth for you. and all those burdens that might otherwise occasion it, upon him; leaving it to his all wise and all gracious Providence to determine every event of your lives; for he careth for you in a manner the most effectual; and his tender care will accomplish infinitely more, than your ut8 most anxiety can possibly effect. Turn your 8 Be sober, be vig. solicitude therefore into the right channel; be ilant; because your sober in the government of your appetites and adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, passions; be watchfuls against every occasion of walketh about, seekmischief from your spiritual enemies; for your ing whom he may great and inveterate adversary the devil is con- devour. tinually walking about, like a roaring lion, or evening wolf, prowling round the fold, seeking whom he may assault with the greatest likelihood of success, and may suddenly devour and 9 swallow up: Whom therefore, as you regard 9 Whom resist, your safety and life, be careful stoutly to resist, steadfast in the faith, being steadfast in your adherence to the Christ knowing that the ian faith, and armed with the most heroic cour- accomplished in your age and resolution in its defence. And to this brethren that are in you should the rather attend, as knowing that the world. the trials, with which you are exercised, are not peculiar to you; but that the same afflictions, which you are called out to encounter, are accomplished in others of your Christian brethren, who are in the world; and you may reasonably hope, the same grace which is their 10 support, will be also yours. But may the God who is the great fountain of all grace, from whom descendeth every good and every per same afflictions are 10 But the God Your anxious care.] So I have render- mediately after, for want of the watchfuled μgivar, because that is the proper ness he here recommends. signification of it; what does, as it were, rend and tear the mind to pieces. Tillotson's Works, Vol. II. p. 629. b Walking about.] I chose to express Seegal with this exactness, that the force of its signification in this similitude might be observed. The word xalan expresses more than devouring, even swallowing up; and so represents the insatiable rage of the enemy of our salvation, with great advantage. Be watchful] St. Peter might well give such a caution as this, having himself received such particular and express warning from Christ his Master, (Luke xxii. 31, &c.) and so shamefully fallen im The apostle gives them his benediction. strengthen, settle you. 225 1 Pet. v. 10 of all grace, who fect gift, and who hath displayed his goodness SECT. hath called us unto in innumerable important instances, even He ix. his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after who has called us to the hope and enjoyment of that ye have suffer his eternal glory in Christ Jesus; may he ed awhile, make you grant you his perpetual presence and enlivenperfect, stablish, ing favour; and when you have suffered for a little while, such trials as his infinite wisdom shall see fit to appoint, may he make you perfect in every good disposition; in whatever improvements you are enabled to make, may he confirm, strengthen, and establish [you] upon 11 To him be glo- a firm and unshaken foundation. To him, 11 ry and dominion for therefore, who of all beings is infinitely most ever and ever. A- worthy of it, [be] glory and dominion ascribed 12 By Silvanus, a for ever and ever: amen. I have written brief- 12 faithful brother un- ly unto you by the bearer Silvanus, in whom I to you (as I suppose) I have written brief place great confidence, as I suppose and conly, exhorting and tes- clude him to be a sincere Christian and faithtifying, that this is ful brother one who hath the interest of the true grace of Christ at heart, and on whose fidelity we may God wherein ye rely; and I send it, exhorting and testifying men. stand. with the greater solemnity, that this is the true grace of God wherein ye have hitherto stood; and urging it therefore upon you, that you steadily adhere to it in the midst of all your 13 The church that difficulties and persecutions. The [church, 13 is at Babylon, elect- which is] here in Babylon, chosen with [you] ed together with you, to partake of the privileges of the gospel, sadoth Marcus my son. luteth you; and [so doth] Marcus, whom I may call my son, as being my convert, and saluteth you; and so • Make you perfect.] If any one please to peruse Archbishop Leighton's excellent discourse on these words, he will have a fine specimen of his commentary on this epistle; which I esteem to be among the most instructive and useful books our language affords, and cannot but consider it as a great honour conferred upon me by Providence, to have been an instrument of presenting it to the world in so correct a form; as well as of rescuing many other instructive pieces of that excellent and amiable author from the oblivion in which they had so long been buried. k Silvanus, as I suppose, a faithful brother. Whether this was the Silas, or Silvanus, mentioned several times in the Acts as the companion of St. Paul, and by St. Paul himself, 2 Cor. i. 19; 1 Thes. i. 1; 2 Thes. i. 1, we cannot certainly say. The phrase, as I suppose, does not seem to imply any doubt. Compare Rom. iii. 28, and viii. 18, in the original. At Babylon] Hence Bishop Cumber m land and Mr. Cradock argue, that probably St. Peter wrote from the neighbourhood of Babylon, and found many Jews remaining there ever since the Babylonish captivity, among whom he had preached the gospel with considerable success. Marcus my son.] That is, my convert, or at least my assistant in the ministerial work. I have observed, Vol. III. sect. xxviii. note b, that John Mark, who was the companion of Barnabas and Paul, was a different person from Mark the evangelist, who was the intimate companion of the Apostle Peter. And as he was so, it is likely that the evangelist is the Mark of which the apostle here speaks. Under St. Peter's instructions he is said to have written his gospel, probably receiving at different times historical facts from him, which he records without very exact order, and which St. Luke afterwards greatly illustrated, without changing the order, by adding many more important circumstances. 226 Reflections on the regard due to St. Peter's testimony; SECT. behaving to me with all filial tenderness and ix. 1 Pet. respect. Salute one another with a kiss of 14 Greet ye one pure and unfeigned love in your Christian another with a kiss 7. 14 assemblies; and may grace and peace, and the of charity. Peace be with you all that are truest happiness, ever [be] with you all who are in Christ Jesus. Ain Christ Jesus, who is the corner stone which men. God hath laid in Sion, and the great foundation of all our eternal hopes. Amen. verse IMPROVEMENT. THIS apostolic charge should be received with the profoundest regard and submission, by all those who profess to reverence the authority of Christ, who thus, by the mouth of his servants, 1 bespeaks their attention; and it should both regulate their conduct, and animate and exalt their hopes. Let us therefore attend to this venerable elder, this witness of the sufferings of Christ, who on the mount of transfiguration had been favoured with an illustrious representation of that glory, wherein our Lord shall be hereafter revealed, and with which he will then invest all those, who, in his cause, have approved themselves faithful until death. Let ministers, especially, ever maintain a most affectionate and 2 respectful regard for the flock of God, and take the oversight thereof with a ready and generous mind, and be examples to it in the mild 3 and condescending temper of their common Master, as well as in all other graces and virtues. It is indeed possible, they may pursue such a conduct as this, and meet with very little esteem or recompense, yea, with injurious and unworthy treatment, 4 from their fellow men. But a crown of glory, a royal diadem, incorruptible and immortal, will be hereafter conferred on them by their exalted Saviour, in the day of his triumphant appearance; and this crown, in itself so illustrious, will be a mark of still more distinguished honour, as it will be placed on their victorious heads in a season of such solemnity, in the view of the whole assembled world, and of the innumerable company of angels. But in the mean time, while we are continued in so lowly a condition in the present world, let us all cultivate humility of mind, being clothed with that amiable virtue, which is certainly the most graceful ornament of our nature; an ornament of singular value in the eye of that God, whose approbation is the surest mark and criterion of excellence and honour. And that we may accordingly entertain the more humble and lowly conceptions of ourselves, and the more grand and venerable ideas of the almighty Creator, Preserver, 6 and Disposer of all things, let us often and seriously reflect upon his mighty hand; how gloriously it hath been displayed in the infinite variety of the works of nature, in the continual agency and operation of Providence, and in the wonderful . and on the wiles and powers of Satan. 227 verse scheme of redemption and salvation; how powerful and resist- SECT. less it is in the execution of all its works; and yet how gracious- ix. ly its awful power is tempered and moderated, and to what kind and merciful purposes it hath been already exerted, and still is, in behalf of such degenerate and unworthy creatures as ourselves. By these considerations, let us be disposed to bow to every Divine dispensation with all resignation and submission; fixing our dependence upon a power so wisely and graciously exerted; rejoicing that we are permitted to cast our cares on God, and abhorring both the ingratitude and folly of fainting and sinking under our burdens, when we are favoured with the permission of relying on him; indeed, with a paternal 7 command, as well as permission; which accordingly requires our obedience in point of duty, as well as of gratitude and hon our. Our great adversary the devil is still continually prowling round the fold of Christ; and therefore it behoves us to be constantly on our guard. And if we would escape both his wiles and his 8 power, let us be especially careful, that neither our security, nor intemperance, give him an advantage over us: but, on the contrary, as it is nothing less than our utter and eternal destruction he aims at, let us strenuously resist him, in the exercise of a steady 9 faith, and with a firm resolution. Let us also remember, that trials and afflictions have been the lot of all the people of God in all generations and that the God of all grace is able, if it seem good to his infinite wisdom, to shorten and contract the time of our sufferings, and by means of them whilst they last, to strengthen and perfect our immortal souls. Let us, therefore, as the close of 10 all, continue to stand fast in what is so authentically testified to be the true grace of God; and real substantial peace will be with us, will be our everlasting portion, in Christ Jesus. Amen. The END of the FAMILY EXPOSITOR on the FIRST CATHOLIC |
