II, 2-411, The brotherhood which is in the world, and its duties.—{1) 2Uf.. General introductory counsels. Be like mere sojourners in the world. Let the moral beauty of your con- duct make your very detractors watch you, so that in the ey, of decision they may glorify God. (2) 918-813, Duty of mission to every Divine institution a men. (a) 214-17, Subjects and civil magistrates. For Christian freedom must not be a cloak for (social or political) disaffection. ‘Honcur the king’ is one practical application of the universal rule “Honour all men.’ (ὁ) 218-25. S/aves and masters. Obey even unreasonable masters. He who does right and patiently suffers wrong, pleases God. To nothing less than this were you called. For Christ suffered for us; and in all His sufferings left us the
attern-sketch of a life of sinless endurance and constant trust ey 314. Wives and husbands. To watch the wife’s serious and pure life may win the husband who has been deaf to the spoken message. Her adornment must be within—a spire placid in itself, gentle towards others. Such is the example of the wives of ancient story. (d) 37. Husbands. Husbands have a corre- sponding duty—to pay their wives the reverence dae to theis
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weakness. Those who share an earthly home irmeeae) must behave to each other as those who share (συνκληρόνοισι
the heavy
inheritance. (¢) 3512, A summary of mutual duties (ct. 55). 2 ne
In a word, let kindness rule. Do not return evil for e but bless your revilers; for the inheritance of blessing the end of the Christian calling (Ps 34218). 318-23, Suffering and its reward. 1 spoke of evil. Who 1 do you evil, if you be champions of good? But even you suffer for righteousness’ sake, you are happy. Do not fear, but make your hearts a sanctuary for the Cinrist. Towards others, be always ready to explain and defend your faith to any questioner. In yourselves, maintain a good con- science, that your conduct may shame your detractors. For, should this be God’s will, it is better that you, like Christ, should suffer for well-doing than forevil-doing. For Christ once for all, i.6. dealing decisively with sins, died, the just on behalf of the taped at He eRe bring you (then afar off) to God. But these sufferings had (as yours will have) their issue in blessing. (i.) On the one hand, His being put to death in regard to His flesh was His quickening in regard to His (human) spirit. Clothed in that human spirit He extend = His sphere of ministry. He journeyed and made ion to the spirits in prison, spirits who slighted God's ng-suffering in the days when the ark was being built. In the ark only eight souls were saved, the water (which to others was the instrument of judgment) bearing up the ark and so becom- ele instrument of σωτηρία. The reality, of which the water of the Flood was a type, even baptism, saves (¢é{u) you ; not the external cleansing of the flesh, but the inquiry of a oon con- science after * the final source of its efficacy being the resurrection of Jesus Christ. (ii.) The patient ta οἵ Christ had a second issue—His triumph. He journeyed (as before into Hades 319, so now) into heaven and is at God’s ‘bt oe victorious sovereign over all spiritual powers. ΟἹ 415. ideal of Christian life. Christ then suffered in tion to the flesh. Hence the true conception of life. Let it be your armour. To have suffered in regard to the flesh means to have ceased to exist in re tosins. Realize your spiritual position by living no longer by the rule of the manifold lusts of men, but by the one will of God. It is enough to have given the past to the heathen vices of gps ee τ drunken- ness, idolatry. The heathen wonder that you hold aloof from their vile riot, and traduce your motives. But the injustice is not for ever. They will have to give an account to Him with whom the judgment of living and dead is ‘as a ΕΣ little thing’ (ὑτοίμως). Such ju ent of the dead is just. For the procfamation of the gospel to the dead had this for its object, t, while the dead must be judged after the pattern of men in reference to the flesh (the earthly life), they may nevertheless be enabled to live after the pattern of God (cf. 115) in reference to the Lae (hk) 47-1, Christian life in view of the approachi ond. e end of all things is near. Therefore be serious an: eros Most of all, cultivate mutual love. Let each man
use endowment for the of the whole body —his gift of utterance, relying on Divine inspiration; his gift of ministry, resting on Divine strength. So God will be
lorified.
εἰν 412-514. The trials of the brethren.—(1) 41919, Trust in the midst of suffering. Let not God's process of testing and refining you seem to you strange, as if some strange chance were befalling you. ther rejoice at your participation in the sufferings of the Christ, that when His glory is revealed your joy may be intensified. To bear Christ’s reproach is an nat sign of a spiritual | Sirved resting on you. I say Christ's reproach, for I would not have any of you suffer for any criminal act or for any social indiscretion. But to suffer asa Christian is a reason not for shame but for thanksgiving. You must es suffering. For the set time has come for the judgment to begin with God’s household. What, then, shall be e end of those who wilfully reject the 1? Hence let those who have even to suffer in fulfilment of the Divine pur- pose do right and commend themselves to a Creator who will not ‘ fo: 6 the work of his own hands.’ (2) 6!, Pastors and I who share their office (and so can lg erm with ), and am a witness to the sufferings of the Christ (and so pak with sad charge your elders to shepherd God's lock, not in the spirit of slaves or hirelings or tyrants. Then when the Chief Shepherd is manifested they will have their reward. You younger men have δ Sorrespomiing duty, to be subject to elders. All of you—your duty is umility and mutual service. (8) 6611. Final counsels. Humble yourselves under God's d τ that He may exalt you. your anxiety on Him owing His providential care for you. Watch ; for the devil ravins for you asa Ῥτον. Firm through your talth resist him, conscious that for your brethren through- out the worlc the same — ET God who