The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Peter — Section 145

husband with ~ue reverence; le~ tbem carefully avoid giving any unnecessary ofl"e,n,;e, or unduly puttmg forward the differences, great and fundamental as they were, wbich separated them from one another. ThuR let them hope and pray for their husbands' conversion. The silent eloquence of a holy, self-denying life will generally be more powerful than argument and controversy. Thus they would have the best hope of winning their husbands to Christ, of "gaining them," as the word literally means. Compare Archbishop Leighton, "A soul converted is gained to itself, gained to the pastor, or friend, or wife, or husband who sought it, and gained to Jesus Obrist; added to his treasury, who thought not his own precions blood too dear to lay out fur this gain." The earnest words of Christian men and women are sometimes greatly blessed, but a humble holy life will often win souls which no eloquence could touch. 2. Simplicity in dress. . Christian women should be quiet and modest in their attire. St. Peter's language is, of course, comparative, like Hosea's words, twice quoted by our Lord, "I will have mercy, and not sacrifice." He does not mean to forbid all plaiting of hair or wearing of gold any more than putting on of apparel; he means that these are poor and contemptible compared with the costlier ornaments which he recommends in their stead. Christian women should be simple and unaffected in dress as in behaviour. In general, the best rule is to avoid singularity. "There may be," Leighton says, "in some an affected pride in the meanness of apparel, and in others, under either neat or rich attire, a very humble, unaffected mind.... 'Magnus qui fictilibui utitur tanquam argento, nee ille minor qui argcnto tanquam fictilibus,' says Seneca. 'Great is he who enjoys his earthenware as if it were plate, and not less great is the man to whom all his pla.te is no more than earthenware.'" In this, as in other aspects of Christian duty, the enlightened conscience is the best guide. But Christians must never allow their thoughts to dwell on these things; they must learn not to care for finery, no~ to love display. To quote Leighton again, "Far more comfort shalt thou have on thy death- bed to remember that at such a time, instead of putting lace on my own clothes, I helped a naked back to clothing, I abated somewhat of my former superfluities to rnpply the poor man's necessities; far sweeter will this be than to remember that I could needlessly cast away many pounds to serve my pride, rather than give a penny to relieve the poor." 3. The true adorning. The soul is far more precious than the body. It is of far greater importance to adorn the soul than to decorate the body. 'l'he soul is unseen, so is its garniture; it is hidden from the eye of man, but seen of God. '!'he proper ornament of Christian women is" the hidden man of the heart "-the hidden life of the regenerate soul. It is hidden; it will not always be asserting itself; it is retiring in its modest beauty. But that inner man is very fair and lovely, for it is renewed after the image of the Saviour; its beauty lieth in the incorruptibleness of a meek and quiet spirit. The beauty of the Christian life consists in these softer graces rather than in self-assertion and denunciation of the faults of others. Chri,tbn women should be meek and calm, not angry, not fretful; they should bear tbe;r daily cross quietly and submissively; they should not allow the unkind words or deeds of others to excite them to wrath. This true adorning of the soul is incorruptible; it is not lost by death, it will follow the holy dead into the paradise of God; and it is of great price in the sight of God. The world admires rich dress and costly jewels; God prizes the meek and quiet spirit. Which of the two should Christians seek to plea,e -God or the world? 4. The example of holy women. They hoped in God. They '"ho have that high and holy hope cannot care for the pomps and vanities of this sinful world. They adorned themselves with the more precious ornaments, meekness and humi;ity and wifely obedience. Such a one was Sarah, the wife of the father of the faithful. Christian women are her daughters in the faith, while they persevere in tl.e way of holiness, and preserve a calm unruffled spirit, not easily excited, not tcrrifiell by every sudden scare, but resting in the Lord. 11. 'l°HE DUTIES OF HUSDA!ilnS. 1. Arising from the greater ireaknes&-0/ the wife. Husband and wife are both vessels: they should be ",·t·ssels unto honour, sanctifieu and meet for the Master's use, and prepared unto every good \\·ork." But both ure weak; the woman, as a rule, is tho weaker. The weaker tho vessel the more tenderly it should be treated. The husband must dwell with his wife according to knowledge; he must treat her with thoughtful consideration. True love (and niarringe without love is !l. profanation of God's holy ordinuncP ), e,pcciully if refined by religion, will  140 THE FIRST EPISTLE GENERAL OF PETElR. [ou. tn. 1-22,