1 Peter 3

The dove is the emblem of meekness; 'tis sine Felle, without gall; we should be as doves for meekness, we must avoid unruly passion, which is brevis Insania, a short frenzy; we must be without the gall of bitterness and revenge; we must be of mild spirits, praying for our enemie…

Whereas it was in your heart to build a house to my name, you did well that it was in your heart. God punishes intentional wickedness, and crowns intentional goodness; you did well that it was in your heart: God takes notice of the least scintilla, the least spark of grace in hi…

2. Sanctification is an intrinsic thing; it lies chiefly in the heart. It is called the adorning the hidden man of the heart (1 Peter 3:4). The dew wets the leaf, the sap is hid in the root; the religion of some consists only in externals, but Sanctification is deeply rooted in…

Wives submit yourselves to your own husbands as to the Lord. It is observable the Holy Ghost passes by Sarah's failings; he does not mention her unbelief; but he takes notice of that which was good in her, her reverence and obedience to her husband (1 Peter 3:6). Sarah obeyed Ab…

Q. Why else may we not pray for the dead? A. Because such prayers cannot avail at all, but are altogether vain (1 Peter 3:19; Hebrews 9:27). Q. For whom else must we not pray?

And then examine whether it is a true ground or not. As the apostle bids us give a reason for our faith (1 Peter 3:15), so ask of your soul the reason for its doubting. Thus David in Psalm 42:5: 'Why are you cast down, O my soul?'

This is that very thing which we say: this is the language of the Apostles and of the Church, which therefore we may use without the least suspicion of blasphemy. But to the former testimonies I will add one place out of Peter, 1 Peter 3:17: It is better (if the will of God be s…

And therefore Peter exhorts the Christians to have their conversation honest among the Gentiles; that they which speak evil of them as of evil doers, might by their good works which they should see, glorify God in the day of their visitation. 1 Peter 2:12. And he bids godly wive…

He must curse, that has absolute power and authority to inflict the same, when he will. But we are not absolute Lords over any man, or any creature; and therefore we must remember Saint Peter's lesson, 1 Peter 3:9, We must not render evil for evil, nor rebuke for rebuke; But con…

The Ark of Noah and our baptism, are figures correspondent one to the other: that, that Noah's Ark was to them, Baptism is to us. Thus teaches Saint Peter, 1 Peter 3:20-21. To the Ark of Noah the figure which now saves us, even Baptism agrees.

For the preventing whereof, the Apostle here, or rather the Holy Ghost by him teaches us, that true faith and salvation by the Messiah, belongs to Sarah, as well as Abraham; to women as well as to men. And Saint Peter also most plainly (1 Peter 3:7) teaches us, that they are hei…

Seeing the same wrath is fallen on them (as was on the Jews, for killing the Lord Jesus and their own Prophets, 1 Thessalonians 2:14, 15, 16,) seeing they crucifie Christ in his members, that contend for the faith of Jesus the Christ (as Paul did, Acts 9). Now so many as shall g…

2. As to the use of these Holies, they were [in non-Latin alphabet] is sometimes used for [in non-Latin alphabet], that which is signified by the Type; and this we commonly call the Antitype. So is the word used by the Apostle Peter (1 Peter 3:21). The substance of what is typif…

2. He did this once; [in non-Latin alphabet] which is opposed to [in non-Latin alphabet], often. The Apostle uses this word on this occasion, ver. 28; Chap. 10. 2. So (1 Peter 3:18). So he does [in non-Latin alphabet], once for all, Chap. 10. 10.

But yet there is no doubt an especial respect to those great outward enormities which they lived in during their Judaism, even after the manner of the Gentiles. For such the Apostle Peter writing to these Hebrews describes their conversation to have been (1 Peter 3:3), as we sho…

Salvation (Hebrews 1:14). The grace of life (1 Peter 3:7). Eternal life (Titus 3:7).

(5) Wherever there is mention made elsewhere in the Scripture of the Holy Spirit, or the Eternal Spirit, or the Spirit absolutely with reference to any actings of the Person of Christ, or on it, either the Holy Spirit, or his own Divine Nature is intended. See Isaiah 61:1, 2; Ro…

This at first view would seem to refer to the outward administration of the ordinance of Baptism required of all, antecedently to their orderly conjunction to a church-state in the causes of it; and so it is carried by many expositors. But, (1.) The Apostle Peter tells us that s…

The will of God is twofold; (1.) the will of his purpose and good pleasure, the eternal act of his counsel, which is accompanied with infinite wisdom concerning all things that shall come to pass; (2.) the will of his command presenting to us our duty, or what it is that he requ…

To these Noah had been a preacher of righteousness (2 Peter 2:5). In his ministry did the Spirit of Christ strive with them, until God affirmed it should do so no more (Genesis 6:3), but they were disobedient and barren (1 Peter 3:19, 20). And this issued in those provoking sins…

Faith and Fear go hand in hand; Faith keeps the heart cheerful, Fear keeps the heart serious; Faith keeps the heart from sinking in despair, Fear keeps it from floating in presumption; all the Graces display themselves in their beauty: Hope is the Helmet, 1 Thessalonians 5.8. Me…

Then he answered, I believe in God the father, etc. And thus did every one of years make profession of his faith: and it is likely that Peter alluded to this, saying the stipulation or answer of a good conscience makes request to God (1 Peter 3:21). The second cause is, however…

What is required in particular, that any of them may be meet to be joined to such a Church, we shall afterwards enquire. 7. It is generally said, that out of the Church there is no salvation; and the truth hereof is testified to in the Scriptures (Acts 2:47; 1 Peter 3:20, 21; Ma…

2. That whereas regeneration is expresly required in the Gospel, to give a right and privilege to an entrance into the Church or Kingdom of Christ, whereby that kingdom of his is distinguished from all other kingdoms in and of the world, to an interest wherein never any such thi…

If any should be so foolish as to object the unsuitableness of dedicating a comment on the Scripture to one of your sex (as it seems some did to Jerome) I shall not plead, that two of the books of Scripture are named from women, Ruth and Esther, that an epistle which makes up a…

How are they at peace with God and all his creatures? I answer, The privileges of Christ's kingdom are spiritual; whatever troubleth the saints, nothing can harm them (1 Peter 3:13), they may harm the man, but not the Christian: All things are at peace with them, because they ar…

Works are to be done in respect of God: that his commandments may be obeyed — 1 John 5:12; that his will may be done — 1 Thessalonians 4:3; that we may show ourselves to be obedient children to God our Father — 1 Peter 1:14; that we may show ourselves thankful for our redemption…

3. Keep down your vain heart by this consideration: that God values no man a jot the more for these things. God values no man by outward excellencies but by inward graces; they are the internal ornaments of the spirit which are of great price in God's eyes (1 Peter 3:4). He desp…

Thus David was not satisfied with having the word of God hid in his heart, but says, I will speak of your testimonies before Kings, and will not be ashamed (Psalm 119:46), and (which makes the argument more forcible) the Kings of his time were Pagans, both strangers and open ene…

There are bounds of divine patience. The long suffering of God for a time waits for repentance (1 Peter 3:20; 2 Peter 3:9). But there is a time, when it does only endure vessels of wrath, fitted for destruction (Romans 9:22), which is commonly after a long continuance in known s…

This a ruling Elder ought to do by virtue of his calling, and with authority (1 Thessalonians 5:12). Private Christians ought in charity to instruct the ignorant (John 4:29; Acts 18:26), to exhort the negligent (Hebrews 3:15 & 10:24, 25), to comfort the afflicted (1 Thessalonian…

Genesis 6:8, 9: "Noah was a just man, blameless in his generations, and he walked continually according to God"; and also ver. 1 of ch. 7: "I have seen that you are righteous before Me in this age." Moreover, honorable mention of him is made — in a manner consistent with this te…

13. And the wife which has an unbelieving husband, which is content to dwell with her, let her not forsake him. 1 Peter 3:7. Likewise let the men dwell together, as becometh them that have knowledge, giving honor to the woman's vessel, as to the weaker, that when as you be heirs…

Also lifting up of the hands and eyes, &c. (Psalm 123:1, 141:2). For even as a husband looks that he alone should not only have the heart, but also the reverent and loving behaviour of the body (1 Peter 3:6; Genesis 26:6), so the Lord requires these, both as testimonies of our s…

Answer: That is denied, he died for them as they were sinners, but as within the pale and under the covering of the fair and sweet shadow of eternally choosing love, otherwise, if Christ died for sinners as sinners; he died for all sinners; and for those that are finally obstina…

So when we read of him fulfilling all or any part of righteousness, let us take his mind in also, to be that the law might be fulfilled in us (as it follows there), who were then represented in him, and so the fulfilling of it is accounted ours. Let us behold him in his lifetime…

And when was that done, or to be done, but at his Resurrection? So the phrase in Timothy imports, if you compare it with another in Peter, (1 Peter 3:18), Being put to death in the flesh, [and quickened in (or by) the spirit.] Paul, he says, [Justified in the spirit;] Peter, he…

These two latter that remain here in the text (Christ's sitting at God's right hand and his interceding for us) are brought in here by the Apostle as those which have a redundant force and prevalence in them for the non-condemnation of the elect, that although the two former abu…

There are four things in easiness to be entreated. First, easy to be pleased (1 Peter 3:18), anything that you do about them, is pleasing to them, that is a point of gentleness; and a gracious man in whom is the life and power of godliness, he is easy to be pleased. If you go ab…

And this practice must be enlarged to all his works without exception, to his judgments, as well as to his works of mercy. Therefore we are commanded in persecution to sanctify God in our hearts (1 Peter 3:17). And Moses, because he failed in the doing of this duty, was barred t…

The sixth: in all things we do or suffer, we must depend on the goodness, providence, and mercy of God, for the success of our labors, and for ease or deliverance out of misery. This is to live by faith: and, as Peter says (1 Peter 3:17), to sanctify God in our hearts. The last:…

And that we may be able to suffer for the name of God, we must pray for this gift at God's hand. For power to suffer is the gift of God (Philippians 1:29): and we must observe the commandment of God, not to fear the terrors of men (Revelation 2:10; 1 Peter 3:14). And for this ca…

Answer. The words were uttered by Sara, but they were afterward approved by God (Genesis 21:12), and thus they are the voice of scripture. Objection 2. Sara is commended for her subjection to Abraham (1 Peter 3:6), yet here she speaks imperiously, "Cast out the bondwoman." Answe…

I answer, the outward baptism is nothing without the inward. Not the washing of the flesh, but the stipulation of a good conscience saves (1 Peter 3:18). Circumcision is profitable, if you keep the law (Romans 2:25).

Meekness is, the settling, or quieting of the mind, freeing it from perturbation, especially in repressing the revengeful affection. A meek and quiet spirit are joined together (1 Peter 3:4). A notable example hereof we have in Moses, who being provoked, instead of anger, showed…

For Isaiah stirs us up to covet after this latter; and teaches us to be assured that those with whom God is appeased, shall enjoy a peace that is blessed and happy indeed. Thus he sets integrity before them for the object of their desires, that so they may attain that peace whic…

And so Peter says, "Who is he that will harm you, if you be followers of that which is good?" (1 Peter 3:13). Yet, in consequence of the unbridled wickedness of the world, it too frequently happens, that good men, through a zeal of righteousness, arouse against them the resentme…

Though the report of the last judgment is now widely circulated, and though there are a few persons who have been taught by God to perceive that Christ will come as a Judge in due time, yet it is proper that those persons should be aroused by this extraordinary kindness of God,…

For not only does he abstain from revenge, but pleads with God the Father for the salvation of those by whom he is most cruelly tormented. It would have been a great matter not to think of rendering evil for evil, (1 Peter 3:9;) as Peter, when he exhorts us to patience by the ex…

And therefore although the skill and wisdom mentioned differed not in the kind of it from that which others attained by industry; yet he received it by an immediate Afflatus or Inspiration of the Holy Ghost, as to that degree at least, which he was made Partaker of. Sect. 27 Las…