The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Peter — Section 185

unblemi~hed honour, with a diligence and zeal wbich are beautiful in th.i sight of tho t.ru!r g_ood. 'l'he _grace of _God varies in its manifestations, in the diversities of gifts "·h1ch issue from it, accordmg to the needs of the Church, a,:,cording to the capacity of the_ individual se:vant_; it is like a p~ece of beautiful embroirlery, various in colour and design, but_ combmed 1D one han:nomou~ whole. Every Christian, even the humblest, has ~ome !P-ft; _ea.eh_ sho_uld contribute _his pa;t, howe:ver email, to the general welfaro; ?hanty Wlll gmde him_ m the use of his particular gift. The apostle proceeds to give rnstances. (1) The gift of utterance. St. Paul asks for the prayers of his converts '' that utterance may be gi\·cn unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to mak~ known the mystery of the gospel" (Eph. vi. 19). It is a great gift, often a powerful meatJs of winning souls to Christ. The utterances of spiritual experience must flow out of a sanctified life. Words witho1;1t _heart have little power; they soon betray their unreality. The words of~ rea~ C~nstian must be as oracles of God; if they issue out of a heart cleansed by the mspirat1on of the Holy Ghost, then they are his utterances. "It is not ye that speak," said our Lord to his apostles," but the Spirit of my Father which speaketh in you." This should be our aim and constant desire-to live so near to God that we may be filled with the Holy Ghost, and so speak the words which the Spirit teacheth; only he can give the spiritual tact, the ready sympathy, the loving persuasiveness, which are so remarkable in some of his saints. But if our words are to be as oracles of God, we must be deeply versed in the oracles of God; our memories must be stored with precious words of Holy Scripture. The lessons which the blessed Spirit teaches now are in all things o.ccordant with the sacral truths which holy men of old spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. (2) Gifts of ministering. St. Peter combines under one word all other ministrations, such as the gift of government, of teat -hing the little children; services to be rendered to the poor, the sick, the afflicted. .All these are necessary for the well-being of the Church, and all must be performed in the strength which God giveth. .All these ministrations require love, zeal, energy, self- denial ; a.nd these holy tempers come of God. We are weak, but his strength is made perfect in weakness ; we are selfish, but his Spirit can kindle the fire of holy love in the heart tha.t once was cold and dead. He supplies the stren~th which we need for the work which he bas given us to do; he has appointed to every man his work, and will enable every man to do the work appointed him, if he seeks for that strength in faith and prayer; "I can do all things,'' said St. Paul," through him that strengtheneth me." 7hen let us work in the strength of God, and let us ascribe any measure of success which l!lay be granted to us wholly to that strength which God giveth. "Lord, thou deliveredst UI1to me five talents; behold, I have gained beside them five talents more." The faithful servant ascribes his gains to his Lord's original gift. (3) .All gifts to be exercised to the glory of God. The Saviour said, "I have glorified thee on the earth." His disciples should imitate him, learning of him to seek the glory of God in all things and above all things. The love, the zeal, the energy, which true Christians exhibit in the use of the gifts given them by God show forth the glory of God; for that love and zeal can only come from his grace; weak, selfish creatures such as we are could not live holy, self-denying lives save by the help of God's gracious presence. Every act of Christian self-denial, every labour of love, is au additional proof of the reality of God's power and gra.ce. '!'hen God is glorified in his saints, and that through Jesus Christ; for it is the Lord Jesus who by his atonement hath brought us near to God, and enabled his true disciples to know and love and glorify their Father which is in heaven. The glory and the dominion are his, for all power is given to him in heaven and in earth; and with that gift of power he strengthens his chosen, enduing them with power from on high, enabling them to glorify God by a holy life and by a blessed death. LESSONS. 1. "The end of all thingB is at hand." "Prepare to meet thy God." 2. Be self-restrained; be sober. Much prayer is needful for preparation against the hour of death; the self-indulgent cannot pray aright. 3. Above all things, follow after charity. 4. Make proof of your love in the forgiveness of injuries, in hospitality, in the use of spiritual gifts for the welfare of others. 5. Seek first the glory of God, and that through Je1;us Christ our Lord. Vers. 12-19.-Sufferinq. I. THE PORTION OF CHRISTIANS. 1. Therefore they must not think it 6trange. 'l'he Lord had foretold it; it must come; it was coming when 011. 1v, 1-HJ.] THE FIRST EPISTLE GENETIAt OF PETER. 181