Vers. 17-21.-The awe of the ?·edeemed. 'l'he one injunction of this passage is, "PI\Ss your time i~ fear"-~' the time of your sojourning." Peter had already addressed them as SOJourners as to country; now he addresses them as sojourners in this "'orld altogether. "In fear" does not mean in dread or in terror; that meanin" is contradicted by the whole tenor of this Epistle, and by the very name of God in thi~ verse, "Father." "Fear" is synonymous with "piety" in Old Testament langua"e, and might be rendered "reverence," or better still by the less frequently used, but :fi"M Saxon word "awe." You are in the midst of great things, of stupendous realities; cherish awe. This is not to be a passing paroxysm, but au abiding, settled habit o! soul. Notice- I. THE A WE OF THE REDEEMED TOW ARDS THE REDEEMING GoD. "If ye call on him as Father;" the call being, not simply an appeal, but a claim of kindred, an acknowledgment of close, tender, and withal solemnly responsible relationship. The relationship is: 1. To the supremely impartial Father. (Ver. 17.) 2. To the supi·emely omniscient Judge. (Ver. 17.) The twofold thought is gathered up in Christ's cry, "0 righteous Father! " II. THE AWE OF THE REDEEMED IN RE0OLLECTION OF THE EVIL FROM WIIICH THEY HA VE BEEN DELIVERED. Out of what have they been bought and brought ? 1. .A course of conduct. "Conversation;" not only the circle of behaviour, but centre of motive. 2. A course of conduct that was evil. "Vain." Frivolous, empty, unworthy, 3. A course of conduct that was inherited. " Handed down." The legacy of evil is with some nnchastity, with some insobriety, with all sin. We are the sons of a slave race, and tendency and imitation continue us in bondage. III. THE AWE OF THE REDEEMED BECAUSE OF THE COST AT WHICH 'l'HEY HAVE BEEN EMANCIPATED. Not silver and gold, that may redeem from the brigands, that may be the ransom of the Crusader king. But see the cost: I • .As revealed in Ohrist Jesus. "But with precious blood." The pouring forth of a priceless life. "As of a lamb," etc. And that priceless life the life of a Spotless One. 'l'hat mystic blood detaches us from the dominion of sin. 2. .As felt by the heart of the infinite God. "Foreknown." Raised by God, who with unspeakable care felt that part of himself was there. IV. THE AWE OF THE REDEEMED BECAUSE OF THE BLESSEDNESS TO WHICH THEY ARE DESTTh'ED. Faith and hope. Faith now in the invisible ; hope of perpetual g.lory in the Etemal.-U. R. T. Vers. 22-25.-The life of the True, and the Word of truth. The direct precept of this passage is, "Love one another.'' Many other duties are implied in the words that surround these, but the kernel of duty here is, "Love one another.'' L MUTUAL LOVE A DUTY OF THE PURE AND THE OBEDIENT. "Seeing ye have purified your souls, in your obedience . . . unto unfeigned love.'' The very end and purpose of becoming pure, which is only by obedience, is not to be safe or happy, but to be able in the highest sense and for ever to love, and to live a life of love when it is the life of God. This love is to be unfeigned. Dissemble anywhere rather than in the region of love. It is counterfeiting the coin of the Divine mint. This love is to be deep--" from the heart;" not of band only, or of purse only, or of life only, but of the fontal source whence all activities and gifts will flow. This love is to be intense- " fervently." The powers are to be on stretch. The harp only yields music when its strings are tightened to their fullest tension. II. THIS LOVE AND PURITY AND OBEDIENCE ABE THE SIGNS OF A NEW LIFE WHICH EVERY CHBt~TIAN IB LIVING. 1. The life is indeed new, for it has a wondrous origin. "Begotten again." No stronger ~gure could tell of loftier thought a_nd nobl~r affectjon of the Christly man in contrast with the meaner views and selfish aims of his old life. 2. 'l'he life bas a wondrous Originator. The quickening is from God. III. T.HE FORCES OUT OF WHICH THIS NEW LIFE ARE DEVELOPED. The life of holiness is developed from seed. It has its origin in forces that (1) appear insigni- ficant; (2) are often hidden; (3) are vital. IV. TIIE WORD OF GoD IS THE MEANS DY WHICH THESE FOllCES OPERATE ON THE HEAnT OF MAN. "Through the Word of God.'' The Word of God is not the seed, but the vehicle by which the seed is communicated to man. The seeds are the thought11 OH. 1. 1-26.) 'fHE FIRST EPISTLE GENERAL OF PE'fER. 59
of God, the truth of God; and they are seeds out of which the life of holiness muRt burst and grow. But even the Word of God that conveys these is imperishable. "It liveth and abideth.'' It lives and continues to live, though men, like the grass, perish and pass away. This word of" gooll tidings" is preached to men. Amonast those to whom it is preached, the penitent who receives its pardon, the mourner who receives its consolation, the dying who is strengthened by its hope, all witness to us with clear, convincing tone," The ·word of the Lord endureth for ever."-U. R. T.