The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Peter — Section 156

v crs. 14-17.-Sujferers fortified. There were providential reasons why the early Christians should have been exposed to many trials of faith, purity, and patience. This reason is obvious to us-that thus opportunity was afforded for the administration of such fortifying and consolatory principles as are serviceable to the afllicted and the tempted in every age. I. TnE TRIALS A1'"1) SUFFERINGS CHRISTIANS SHOULD EXPECT. These, of course, are many and various; but it is instructive to notice what those are which are here Ringled out and placed in prominence, doubtless by the wisdom of the inspired apostle. 1. Christians may expect to suffer for well-doing. That is, they will have to endure injustice from the world, which will not appreciate their character and their efforts for its good. 2. They may expect to be evil spoken of, as if evil-doers. That is, they will have to endnre calumny from those who will take pleasure in detracting from their merits, magnifying their faults, misrepresenting their motives, and traducing their life. lL 'fHE REFLECTIONS BY WHICH IN BUCH CASES CHRISTIANS :MAY DE COMFORTED, 1. They should not forget that it is the will of God that his people should suffer, even wrongfully. 2. They should cherish the assurance that none can really harm them. 3. They should consider that their lot is compatible with happiness. 4. And they may even believe that some who have ill treated and slandered them may come tc be ashamed of their sinful conduct. JIL THE PRACTICAL PRINCIPLES BY WRICH CHRISTIANS MAY IN SUCH CASES FORTIFY THEMSELVES. 1. Let them sanctify in their hearts Christ as Lord. 2. Let them be prepared with a reasonable account of their hope, the hope which sustains and cheers the afflicted follower of Christ. 3. Let them discard all fear of their sinful adversaries, and confront them with boldness and cheerfulness.-J. R. T. Ver. 18.-Sacrificial sufferings. To Peter, the memory of his Lord's Passion must have been peculiarly pathetic and peculiarly precious. He could not but connect the Master's constancy with the servant's unfaithfulness, and the servant's penitence with the Master's grace and pardoning favour. The woe he had witnessed could never be long absent from his recollection. And the bearing of Christ's sufferings upon human redemption and upon Christian consecration muHt have constantly occurred to him \vben communicating Divine truth, and inspiring his fellow-believers to devotion and endurance., le this verse, compact with precious fact and doctrine, we have set before us- I. THE FACT OF CHRIST'S SUFFERING, JI. THE CHARACTER IN WHICH CHRIST SUFFERED. It is here that the mystery of the fact is to be found. The Sufferer was the Righteous One, blameless in character, upright in conduct, beneficent in ministry. Yet he suffered, notwithstanding all this. That the unrighteous should suffer, this appears to us natural; they eat of the fruit of their doings; they reap as they have sown. But in the agony and death of Jesus of N~7.Rreth we see the undeserved sufferings of" the Holy One and the Just." J: l, Trm PERSONS FOB wnou CHRIBT BUFFERED. This consideration increases tl1e on. ru. 1-22.] THE FIRST EPISTLE GENER.AL OF PETER. 15l