The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Peter — Section 186

St. Peter WM writin.~. H w:i~ n. burning furnace, n. fiery trial, the be'!inning of the cruel persecutions through which believers were to pass; the prison and the torture, the sword, the stake, the lion, were threatening the infn.nt Church; the savage shout, "Christianos ad leones ! " would soon be heard in the towns of Asin. Minor. Hitherto the Roman magistrates had generally been on the side of justice; they hacl often pro- tected the Christians from the violence of the Je\vs. But Christianity was a.bout to be regarded as e. religio illicita; the giant power of Rome was to be arrayed a'.(ainst it• emperors would e.ttempt to blot out the very name of Christian. This frenzy of per: eecution was strange, unheard of; there bad never been the like before; tbe rulers of the earth had never before banded together to root out a religion by fire and sword ; conquered nations had been allowed to worship their own gods and to retain their ancient rites. But the Son of God had come to be the Saviour of the world; the malice of Satan was stirred to the utmost; he would make a mighty effort to crusli the Church of Christ. St. Peter shows a deep sympathy witli his suffering brethren; he speaks to them in the language of tenderness; he calls them "beloved." He doe!! not depreciate the severity of the coming persecution ; he calls it a fiery trial; he teaches us by hie example how to deal with the afflicted. But he encourages them. It was to try them, to prove their faith. They must not think it strange. Indeed, this bitterness of persecution was a new thing now; but suffering would be the por- tion of Christians; they must regard it as belonging to their profession, and accustom themselves to patient endurance. 2. They must even rejoice in it. For it brings them nea.r to Christ. He bore the cross ; the cross is the badge of his chosen. The cross of knightiy orders is reckoned a high honour now; but there is no cross of gold to be compared for true honour and for preciousness with that spiritual cross which makes the faithful Christian partake in the sufferings of Christ. For Christ is our King, and to be made like unto the King is of all honours the highest-far above all earthly distinctions. Leighton reminds us that Godfrey of Bouillon refused the royal crown when it was offered to him at Jerusalem: "Nolo auream, ubi Christus spineam "-" No crown of gold where Christ Jesus was crowned with thorns." But suffering does not only make the faithful Christian like unto his Lord; it does more, it brings him into communion with the sufferings of Christ. Suffering borne in faith helps the Christian to realize the sufferings of the Lord; it brings the cross into nearer view; it enables him to approach, to grasp, to cling to it, to take it into bis heart. And suffering thus endured in the faith of Christ crucified is united by faith with his sufferings and becomes part of them, and by that mystical union is sanctified and blessed to the soul's salvation (Col. i. 24). 3. It is the preparation for heaven. Suffering weans the Christian from earthly enjoyments; it helps him to lift up his eyes from earth and to see by faith the glory which shall be revee.led. Those who now suffer with Christ shall then rejoice, and that with a joy which the heart of man cannot conceive. Even now they are blessed; the blessedness of the eighth Beatitude is theirs; for the Spirit ol glory e.nd of God resteth upon them. Men may revile them; they will do so; when other persecutions cease, these persecutions of the tongue continue; "when all other fires of martyrdom are put out, these burn still" (Leighton). But the spirit of glory resteth on those who for Christ's sake patiently endure. His presence is the foret:iste and the pledge of the everlasting glory. He comes from the throne of glory; he brings with him the glory of holiness ; he sheds the glory of a saintly life around the followers of Christ. And he resteth upon them; he en.me down from heaven on the great Day of Pentecost, not for a passing visit, but to abide for ever with the Church. He abode upon Christ (John i. 32); be abideth with his true disciples (John xiv. 16). Christ was anointed with the Holy Ghost (Acts x. 38). Christians too partake in that Divine anointing; it abideth in them (1 John ii. 27). 'L'he Holy Dove restetb on the meek and patient Christian, preparing him by its sanctifying influences for the ever- lasting glory of heaven. Such men are truly bles~ed. Men may revile thPm, and, reviling them, revile the Holy Spirit who abideth in them; but they glorify hi,n by the light which shines around from their holy lives-the light which wati kim1led by the sacred fire of his presence. II. NoT ALL BUFFERING IS BLESSED. 1. Let Christians not suffer for evil-doing. They must be very careful to set a good example, and to give none occasion to tile 11dversary to speak reproachfully. They must not suffer as evil-doers; nor eveu :i,  183 'l'HE FrnST EPISTLE GENERAL OF PETEU.. [cu. IV. 1-10.