The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Peter — Section 221

strength to obey. They must look unto Jesus (A<f,opi»vns, Heb. xii. 2); they must look away from the troubles which were surrouuding them-their light afiliction, which was but for a moment, to the Author and Finisher of their faith. .And that because it is by ~race that men are saved, and God is the God of all grace. All the various mani- f~statwns ?f grace-pardoning grace, sanctifying grace, supporting grace-all flow from him who 1s the Fountain of grace. That grace is sufficieut for the Christian in all his trials, however great and many they may be. It is made perfect in weakness. It was God who began the good work, and he will complete it. He giveth more grace. The fountain of grace is ever open, ever flowing. "The Spirit and the bride say, Come. . . . And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely." We may come always, and come boldly; for it was God who first called us. And it was his 9wn eternal glory to which he called us; not to a transient enjoyment of his pre- sence, nor to a few feeble intermittent efforts, but to his own eternal glory. This was the very end and purpose for which he called us. But for this he would not have called us at all ; for the God of truth doth not mock men with vain promises. The glory to which he called us is eternal; then he will not desert us in the midst of our course, but will complete his gracious work. It is his glory, true, real glory. "All here that is so named," says Leighton, "is no more than a name, a shadow of glory; it cannot endure the balance, but is found light. . . . The glory above is true, real glory, and bears weight, and so bears aright the name of glory, the term for which in the Hebrew signifies 'weight; ' and ihe apostle's expression seems to allude to that sense; speaking of this same glory to come, he calls it 'a far more exceeding weight of glory.' It weighs down all labour and sufferings in the way, so far as that they are not worth the speaking of in respect of it. It is the hyperbole, 1<a.6' ~...•p/Jo}l.¾/v ,ls li7r•p/Jo}l.~v. Other glory is over-spoken, but this glory is over-glorious to be duly spoken ; it exceeds and rises above all that can be spoken of it." It is this to which God hath called us, and he hath called us in Christ. The grace by which the spiritual life is given, sustained, strengthened, comes through union with Christ. That life flows from Christ, who is the Life, through all the members of his mystical body. .As long as wa abide in Christ we are safe, for then he abideth in us, and the life that comes from Christ dieth not; it will live on, growing from grace to grace, from,strength to strength; till it reaches that eternal glory. 2. What God will do for us . . (1) He will make .us perfect. There is much which is lacking in our faith; there are many stains, many rents, in what should be the white robe of righteousness. It is, alas I like filthy rags. But God will repair that which is torn, and cleanse that which is defiled. Our cha- racters show many faults, many shortcomings, many stains of past sins. But let us uot despair. It was God who began the work; he will complete it. Let us do our poor ~st to work out our own salvation, and he will work within us both to will and to do; for he is faithful (2) He will "stablish" us. We are unstable; we are easily driven this way and that by the changeful currents of temptation. Our course is marked by much wavering, much inconstancy. This is the reason why we make so little progress. If we are not to fall short of the glory of God, we must run, not as uncertainly, but with a firm and steadfast step, with our eyes fixed upon the pdze of the high calling. It is that glory to which God bath called us, He will stablish us if we persevere and if we pray. (3) He will "strengthen" us. Our adversary is strong-strong as a roaring lion; but the Lion of the tribe of Judah is stronger. He will brnise Satan under our feet. He is the Strength of bis chosen; through bim they can do all things. "He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strengLh." For he does not leave his people to wrestle alone against the evil one; he endues them with power from on high-the power of the presence of the Spirit of God. With that presence there comes the gift of strength-power and strength to have the victory, and to triumph against the devil, the world, and the flesh. ( 4) He will "settle" us. He hath built his Church upon a Rock, and that Rock is Christ. He will build up each faithful 8bristian as a living stone upon that one Foundation once laid," which is Jesus Christ" {l Cor. iii. 11). That Foundation is" like !fount Zion, which cannot be moved, but standeth fast for ever." The house built thereupon is s,ife. 'l'hc rain may descend, ths floods may come, the winds may blow; they may beat hard upon the house whi<ih is the 11helter of the faithful Christian's soul; but (thanks be to God through our Lord Jesus Christ) it cannot fall, for it is fouuded upon a Rock. 3. Thanksgiving fol' it. He can on. v. 1-14,] 'fHE FIRST EPISTLE GENERAL OF PETER. 217