Here we are first directed what to lay aside, in order to our fruitful and profitable entertainment of the word of God, namely, these five sins, MALICE, GUILE, HYPOCRISY, ENVY, and EVIL-SPEAKING. Whence note in general, That if any sin, much more if many sins, be kept close and lie dormant within u... [ Continue Reading ]
St. Peter having directed us, in our preparation before we come to hear the word, and shown the necessity of laying aside an evil frame of spirit, he now directs us what we are to do when under the word, namely, that there be found with us. spiritual appetite to it, and that we have the same longing... [ Continue Reading ]
In these words our apostle declares the condition whereon our profiting, growing, and thriving, by the word, doth depend, namely, upon our tasting and experiencing its power, as it is the great instrumental cause both of our spiritual birth and growth. This taste is. spiritual sense of the goodness,... [ Continue Reading ]
Observe here, 1. The denomination, or title, given to Christ, he is styled. LIVING STONE, and THE CHIEF CORNER-STONE. 1. A LIVING STONE, that is,. lively stone, no dead foundation;. life-giving stone, having not only life in himself essentially but communicatively, imparting spiritual life to the w... [ Continue Reading ]
To you belongs the honour of being built. spiritual house upon Christ, the chief corner-stone, which renders him deservedly precious to you, and of. very high estimation with you; whatever mean, low, and undervaluing thoughts, the wicked world have of Jesus Christ, yet he is highly esteemed by, and... [ Continue Reading ]
In these words our apostle acquaints these believing Jews, who were built upon Christ, the foundation-stone, that the same titles did now belong to them in. more excellent manner as Christians, which were formerly given to their ancestors of the Jewish nation by God himself, Deuteronomy 7:6-7 As th... [ Continue Reading ]
Observe here, 1. dehortation, ABSTAIN FROM FLESHLY LUSTS. Quest. What is here meant by LUSTS? Ans. Lust is either habitual or actual: habitual or original lust is the corruption and depravation of the faculties of the soul, an aversion to every thing that is good, and. proneness to all evil: actua... [ Continue Reading ]
From the apostle's dehortaton in the former verse, he comes to an exhortation in this, and the duty exhorted to is strict godliness or holiness in all manner of conversation, HAVING YOUR CONVERSATION HONEST; it is not. single action, but our general course and conversation, that denotes us either go... [ Continue Reading ]
Our apostle having exhorted them in general to take care that their conversation be honest among the Gentiles, he now decends to particular duties, which he advises them to be very exemplary in the performance of. And the first is, in their subjection to governors and government; submit yourselves,... [ Continue Reading ]
Here our apostle answers an objection, which he foresaw the Christian Jews ready to make against this duty of subjection, namely, "that they were. free people, as Jews, and ought to preserve their liberty, and own no governors that were not of their own nation: and as Christians they looked upon the... [ Continue Reading ]
Here are four very important duties recommended to us in this short verse. 1. To HONOUR ALL MEN; no man is to be despised by us, but every man duly respected according to his place and station. There is. common honour, and. tribute of civil respect, payable to every man; though some men forfeit it... [ Continue Reading ]
Observe here, 1. The order and method of our apostle in the exhortations given to Christians in this epistle: he first excites them in the general practice of their duty, and TO BE HOLY IN ALL MANNER OF CONVERSATION, and next binds upon them the performance of relative and particular duties. In the... [ Continue Reading ]
Observe here, two farther arguments to excite and move Christians to patience under unjust sufferings. 1. HEREUNTO, says the apostle, WERE YE CALLED, that is, by your profession of Christianity: religion obliges you to suffer with patience; you must bear the cross, before you wear the crown; to thi... [ Continue Reading ]
Our apostle proceeds to represent and recommend our Lord Jesus Christ as the mirror and perfect pattern of patience under the sharpest sufferings; he acquaints us, 1. With his pure and spotless innocency; he did no sin, therefore could not suffer for doing evil; NO GUILE WAS FOUND IN HIS MOUTH neit... [ Continue Reading ]
Observe here, 1. The state and condition in which both Jews and Gentiles were found before their conversion to Christianity; they were like sheep going astray and lost; wandering in the ways of sin and unbelief, to their threatened ruin and destruction. Observe, 2. The tender care of Christ, that g... [ Continue Reading ]