The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Peter — Section 200

character will be as an asbest?s robe en~apping their spirits. Notbi~g can violate the charm of that good conscience, nothmg bum or even singe the asbestos robe of that true character. Remember his defiant inquiry, "Who is he that can harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good?" This be has been showing in many verses; and the possession of that charm, the possession of that character is the burden of bis exhortation here. The key-note of this chapter is-Live to the will of God. I. LIVE TO THE WILL OF GoD. 'rhis is the lesson of man's past evil life. St. Peter urges that "the time past may suffice to have wrought the desire of the Gentiles." What was the desire of the Gentiles in time past P What they desired for themselves and others. The life of that century throughout the Roman empire, where these scattered Christians were, has never, perhaps, been equalled in the hideousness of its private and public vices. The names of the Emperors Tiberius, Gaius, and Claudius Nero are so many symbols of cruelty, lust, and buffoonery, The walls of Pompeii, the pages of the poets, the annals of the historian, all testify how voluptuous, how debased, how heinously immoral, were the desires of the Gentiles. 1. Lasciviousness; outrageous debauchery in general, including all that follow-wine-swillings, roysterings, revels, and the filthy festivals of idolatry. So many forms-alas! scarcely exaggerated-of selfism prevalent in cultured and Christian England to-day. The apostle says, "The time past may suffice to have wrought the desire of the Gentiles." There is deep sadness in the irony here about time past. And yet there is deeper hope, for the past is past, and need not return. 2. Sadness. Enoitgh sin I and such sin as we have been gazing at I Enough; for such time past-hour, or day, or year, or years-was simply (1) A time of degradation to self. Men in such indulgences become coarse, vulgar, low, bestial. (2) A time of imperiousness to others. Such a life was the breathing out of pollution into the social atmosphere; the opening up of fcetid and poisonous fountains that pour forth disease and death. (3) A time of rebellion. The human misery in scenes of riot and shame tell of Divine anger. Enough; let not the wheels of time bring back an hour of such life as that to you, my brother. 3. Hope. Time past may be left behind. (1) There is forgiveness for time past. "Depths of the sea;" not shallow river, not near shore, where the tide ruay wash on to the beach. (2) '!'here is deliverance for time past. 'l'he charm of evil can be broken; the spell of wrong-doing can be dissolved. With all the energy you have, get away from that past time. 'l'he pirate bears down upon the vessel and captures her when her sails are down aud she is making no headway. Oh, press on I "EEcape for thy life I" "Let the dead po.et bury its cl cad. Act, act in the living present- Hearl within, o.nd God o'erhead.'' II. LIVE TO THE WILL OF GOD, NOTWITHSTANDING BAD MEN'S WON DEB AT GOOD MEN'S CONDUCT. St. Peter said, nearly two thousand years ago, what can be truly said to-day, that worldly men, sinful men, sensual men, think it strange that Christian men do not run with them into the same excess of riot. Dissimilar characters often find it difficult to understand each other; the thoroughly corrupt man seems to find it impossible tc understand the Christian. 1. He thinks his conduct strange, and so perhaps he ignores him altogether. He does not invite him to his carousals; he does not know him iu society ; still less is he on visiting or calling terms with him. He is an enigma he does not care to understand. 2. Or he thinks his conduct strange, and he is aggravated by it. Ile is contemptuous; he sneers; he tempts. He says about him, or to him, with curled lip, as he declines the wine-party, or gaming-table, or clubs of voluptuous pleasure. "Oh, you are 'green;' you are 'soft;' you are 'melancholy;' you're not 'half a man.'" And soon their irrito.tiou makes them scandal-mongers and slanderers, as were the pagan scandal-mongers and slanderers of the early Christians. 3. Or, better fa.r, he thinks his conduct strange, and it leads him to inquire. \Yonder ends in respect, and respect in admiration, and admiration in imitation. Not a few of the men who have been reclaimed from lives of silly, not to say sensual, self-indulgence, began to climb the higher path and to breathe the purer nir of Christian manhood because they so.w a. change come over some old companion that they at first thought strange, but soon found to be fascinating and ennobling. Who of you would not wish so to live that men should say, "We will go with you, for 'i'e have seen that God i.s with you,,?  198 THE FIRST EPISTLE GENERAL OF PETER. [oH. rv.1-19.