Ver. 1.-True office-bearers in the Church (No. 1). "The elders therefore among you I exhort, who am a fellow-elder," etc. With the word" well-doing" in the last sentence of tho preceding chapter ~inging in our ears, we easily understand why the apostle thus proceeds to exhort men to their duties as office-bearers in the Christian Church. ,v e notice, as here indicated- I. '1'1rn SPIRIT OF OFFICE-BEARERS IN THE CIIRISTIAN CHURCil. The wor<l "elders," according to Dean Alford, simply here means" leaders" in the Church. Subsequontly it becomes clear that there were two orders of "elders," viz. bishops and deacons. But nt this time these offices bad not crystallized thus. All were included in the term here used. 'l'heir spirit is indicatecl by Peter's use of the word "fellow-elclers" as describing himself, nnd "exhort" as denoting his relationship to them. 'l'here is none of the spirit of au ecclesiastical princeling; no arrogance. But brotherliness permeates all tho iutercourso. 1'liat is tho supreme spirit of true oflice-bearers. 11. 'l'IIE QUALIFICATIONS FOR TRUE SERVIOE rn THE CHRISTIAN CHURCil. 1. Fellow- ship in sympathy. "Follow-elder;" burdened with the same cares, stirred with the same inspirations, etc. 2. Witness-bearing to most solemn realities. " ,vitness of the sufferings of Christ." All thrnugh this Epistle those sufferings are conspicuous as the theme of thought, the constrnint of will. The word " witness " implies that Peter felt 232 THE FffiST EPISTLE GENERAL OF J>ETlllR. (en. v.1-14.
he ;was, e.s regarded th~e s!1fferings, (1) a spectato1·; (2) a testifier. Ruskin says, "1:o!1 !~ok at m_arble which 1s the delight of the eyes, the wealth or the architecture or all civilized nations, and you find there is not a purple vein or flaming zone that is not the record of its ancient torture in raging fire and stormful convulsion." So is it with the beauty of the Christ, our Founrlation-stone, our Corner-stone. 3. Possession of a sublime inheritance. "Partaker of the glory," etc. (1) The glory of character. (2) That glory at present partial,ly hidden. (3) Yet a Christian already possesses it. "rhat wealth ! what dignity! How unspe.'lkably richer than the mere millionaire, and more honourable than the mere hero, is the true Christian worker 1-U. R. T.
Vers. 2-5.-lrue office-bea1·ers in the Church (No. 2). "Tend the flock of God which is among you," etc. The apostle's practical exhortation to leaders in the Church about well-doing opens up a view of- I. THEIR DUTY. "Tend "-a completer word than" feed." The word" flock" suggests what tending is needful; e.g. feeding, leading,--eontrolling, protecting, "exercisin<> the oversight." Keen and constant care. Of what sort of care he speaks, the word Peter coins to describe Christ, "chief Shepherd," eloquently tells. 1. Receive instructions from him. 2. Imitate him. II. Timm MOTIVE. 1. This motive is dealt with negatively. (1) Not constrainedly -a warning against perfunctoriness. (2) Not covetously. "Lucre" becomes filthy if it is a motive for spiritual work. (3) Not ambitiously. Not "lording it." 2. 'l'his motive is dealt with positively. (1) Voluntariness. "Ready mind." (2) Sympatliy. "Making yourselves ensamples." HI. THEIR HOPE. "The crown "-the symbol of dignity. "Of glory;" not tinselled or tarnished, but unalloyed. "That fadeth not away." Amaranthine; imperishable. We are advancing to such a coronation if we are true workers for Christ. IV. THEIR SPIRIT. l. Mut=l subjection. "Be subject," etc. 2. Peifect liumility. "Gird yourselves with humility;" persistent and constant lowliness of temper. V. 'l'BEIR HELP. "God giveth grace." Grace, the favour of God, the gentlest yet mightiest inspiration of souls.-U. R. T.
Vers. 6-11.-0ounsels for troubled Oliristians. "Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God," etc. Approaching the end of his letter, the apostle condenses into two or three almost electric sentences some most momentous practical directions for troubled Christian men. In these directions we learn- 1. 'l'HE TRUE RPIBIT FOR CHRISTIAN MEN TO CIIERIBH IN LIFE'S TRIALS. Here is: 1. Devout humility, and with it freedom from anxiety. The two are more closely associated than we sometimes imagine. Let us look at them separately, and then in their combination. "Humble yourselves ... under the mighty hand of God." (1) Self- bumbling is true humility. To be crushed by others or by circumstances may be only humiliation. (2) Humbling of self before God is true humility. Towar<1s God first and chiefly the emotion is to be cherished, the attitude maintained. (3) Humbling of self before a personal, great, ond loving God is true humility. "Mighty hand of God." Not a force, but a "hand "-a. band as gentle as mighty. ( 4) Humbling of self before, such a God will lead to exaltation. "In due time bt, will exalt." "Casting all your anxiety upon him, because he careth for you." "Anxiety ; " perplexing, dividing, cutting thought. "Cast;" by a brav~ and resolut~ and simple act of will. "For he care_t~." Nut anxiety now, but clear, lovmg, constant mterest. Now, we can see how true hum1hty leads to freedom from anxiety. The relationship and attitude of the soul towards God ie the kty to both. 2. Sober watclifulness, and with it stern conflict. "Be sober," etc. Note the need for the watchfulness. (1) An enemy. "Your adversary the devil." (2) An active enemy. "Walketh about." (3) A destructive enemy. "Whom he may devour." (4) An enemy wlio can be resisted. "Whom withstand." (5) Au enemy wl,om others have contended witli and conquered. "The same sufferings are accom- plished in your brethren who are in the world." Into that trial and battle and storm all the brotherhood, even the great elder Brother, have gone. ) [. '!'HE FINAL PURPOSE OF GOD WITH BEG ARD TO MEN WHO CHERISII BTTCH A SPIRIT 1N LIFE's TRIALS. 1. .A destiny that is wonderful. "God of grace "-compassion, favour, help. "Called." God compels rivers, oceans, in their courses, etc., but calls souls to their on. v. 1-14.] THE FIRS'l' EPISTLE GENERAL Olt' PETER. 233