1 Peter 4

Here are two ends of life specified, 1. The glorifying of God. 2. The enjoying of God. First, I begin with the first, the glorifying of God (1 Peter 4:11): That God in all things may be glorified; the glory of God is a silver thread which must run through all our actions (1 Cori…

Affliction on the godly is like bruising of spices which are more sweet and fragrant: Affliction on the wicked is like stamping of weeds with a pestle, which makes them more unsavory. Use 1. It shows us that we are not to wonder to see Israel in the House of Bondage (1 Peter 4:1…

Our [〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉], our fellowship is with the Father. 3. That he may bring more glory to God (1 Peter 4:11; Philippians 1:20). That Christ may be magnified.

Some here present are in their youth, others in the flower of their age, others have gray hairs, the almond tree blossoms, and perhaps they have been very regardless of their souls or Heaven. Time spent unprofitably is not time lived, but time lost; if there be any such here who…

A gracious soul makes God his center, as Joab when he had taken Rabbah sent for King David, that he might carry away the glory of the victory (2 Samuel 12:27). So when a gracious soul has done any duty, he desires that the glory of all may be given to God (1 Peter 4:11): That in…

Stars are nevertheless glorious, though they have ugly names given them, as the Bear, and the Dragon. A saint's reproaches are like a soldier's scars, honorable (1 Peter 4:14). If you are reproached for the name of Christ, a Spirit of God, and of glory rests upon you.

First, this very knowledge of it prepares men for such a condition if it should befall them. Therefore, to prepare them for afflictions beforehand, the apostle bids them not think it strange concerning the fiery trial (1 Peter 4:12). For if they are strange to anyone, then if th…

Secondly, the world knows them not, 1 John 3:1 and therefore speaks evil of them, Jude, 10. Thirdly, the wicked measure others by themselves; and therefore despise the godly, that join not with them, 1 Peter 4:3. Lastly, there is a secret enmity between the seed of the wicked, a…

Hence we learn, that it is not always a token of God's wrath, to suffer affliction. If any man or people be laden with crosses, it is no argument, that therefore they are not the children of GOD: for, as Peter says, Judgments begin at God's house, 1 Peter 4:17: and any cross upo…

Poverty shall starve our sins; sickness shall make grace more healthful, 2 Corinthians 4.16. Reproach shall cause the Spirit of God, and of Glory to rest upon us, 1 Peter 4.14. [...]; death shall stop the Bottle of Tears, and open the Gate of Paradise.

Now in the third place follow the consolations to God's church and people. First as Saint Peter says, God is a creator, yea a faithful creator (1 Peter 4:19). The properties of a faithful creator are two: 1. He will preserve his creature: no man is so tender over any work as he…

Such as want a principle of grace, faint in the day of adversity they cannot bear a frown from a great man, or digest a reproach: If the bough of a tree be rotten, the least weight hung upon it breaks it. But the righteous has the heart of a lion; he is not startled at the disco…

For as by this, Christian fellowship has become a flavorless thing, so the attracting beauty that used to shine from the conversations of the saints upon the faces and consciences of the world — which if it did not allure and bring them in love with the ways of God, yet at least…

2. God at this season, forgets not, but full well remembers his relation of being [THEIR CREATOR] both by the new, and also first creation (the new reviving and ingrating the remembrance of the first) [The SOULS which I HAVE MADE] said he in Isaiah. But in our Peter this is more…

Then saints may fall a swooning at the very sight of the cross in others. And Peter (1 Peter 4:12) says, [illegible], Be not stricken with wonders, or astonished, as at new things and miracles (Acts 17:20) when you are put to a fiery trial. The comforts of the cross are the swee…

Assertion 2. The soul or its faculties are not destroyed in conversion: Peter's will which he had when he was young, was the same when converted, but renewed (John 21:18). The saints that Peter writes to, are not to run to the same excess of riot as of old they worked the will o…

When we see the Lord's hand in all the punishments and judgments that befall us, and we bear it willingly, this is solemnly to worship him, and to be wrought upon as clay in the hand of the potter, and in thus doing we have him. And if the case should be, that we should come to…

Yet if he meet with two or three like himself, they presently begin to kindle one another; and the breath of such Christians, is like bellows, to blow up sparks — savory and sweet expressions of their hearts, and edify themselves by their mutual fellowship one with another. Inde…

It is good to have the Word of God abide in our memories, but chiefly in our hearts by a sound belief and fervent love to the truth. 2. Partly by Resolution (1 Peter 4:1): Arm yourselves with the same mind, namely, that was in Christ. When Satan grew bold and troublesome Christ…

And though they may be very pinching, yet we should still remember that God is good to them that are of a clean heart (Psalm 73:1). God has in himself all-sufficiency, who knows both what we want, and what is fittest for us, and is engaged by his general providence as a faithful…

David adds a seventh in (Psalm 119:164.) Seven times a day will I praise you, which may only denote frequency in the duty: Some of these may seem extraordinary cases: The ordinary seasons the saints have taken have been morning and evening, according to the Jews' sacrifice of a…

Here first we see the proper matter of the Ministry, which is not the word or doctrine of man, but of God. By this the Ministers of the Gospel are taught to handle their doctrine with modesty, and humility, without ostentation, with reverence, and with a consideration of the maj…

Yet this limitation must be added, that the curse was not upon the Godhead of Christ, but only in his flesh, or manhood. For he suffered (says Peter) in the flesh (1 Peter 4:1). Moreover, the soul of Christ was the more principal seat of the curse, as it was the principal seat o…

For if spiritual men must restore them that are fallen, the more a man is endowed with spiritual graces, the more he ought to restore. For the Apostle says, As every man has received a gift, so let him minister it to others (1 Peter 4:10). This duty was practiced by our Savior C…

From the first Chapter hitherto, the Prophet has denounced judgment against the two kingdoms of Judah and Israel: from the beginning of the Chapter following, to the 24th, the Prophet foretells what horrible calamities should befall the enemies of the Church. And thus God judges…

And yet the chief mark that Isaiah aims at in these prophecies, is to show the Jews how dear and precious their salvation was in God's eyes, when they saw that he took their cause into his own hand, and executed vengeance upon the wrongs which had been done them. Now in the begi…

When he says he heard this of the Lord of hosts, it is as it were a seal to ratify the prophecy: for he protests that he brought forth none of his own conjectures, but received them of the Lord himself. Wherein we may note that God's servants ought to be furnished with this assu…

It has been abundantly found to be true in fact, by the experience of the Christian church; that Christ commonly gives, by his Spirit, the greatest, and most joyful evidences to his saints, of their sonship, in those effectual exercises of grace, under trials, which have been sp…

Nay, so ordinary is this with God, that from the observations of their own frames and ways, many Christians have fore-boded and preaged troubles at hand. I do not say, that God never afflicts his people, but for their sin; for he may do it for their tryal, 1 Peter 4:12 Nor do I…

Only upon himself shall you not put forth your hand — you shall not move an inch further, not a hair's breadth further. As our afflictions for the matter of them are by the will of God (as the Apostle speaks, (1 Peter 4:19), 'While you suffer,' says he, 'according to the will of…

When the Holy Ghost would set out the certainty, and dreadfulness of the perishing of ungodly men, he does it by such a kind of expression, wherein there is a deeper sense intimated into the minds of men, than any words can well cloath or declare. 1 Peter 4:17. What shall be the…

Surely there is no way for men to escape, they shall unavoidably perish who neglect so great salvation. So the Holy Ghost sayes, 1 Peter 4:11. What shall be the end of them that obey not the gospel?

5. Besides, they may have need of awakening judgments to rouse them, and humble them for sin, to loosen and wean them from the world; and it is in love and faithfulness, that God does inflict such judgments upon them. 6. Lastly, we must remember, that it is God's usual course to…

You must make God's glory the ultimate end of all your actions and expressions in all things natural, as eating, and drinking: Civil, in buying and selling, and spiritual in praying and conferring. Take that notable text in (1 Peter 4:10-11) — As every man has received the gift,…

Write after these fair copies. 23. If the saints with all their violence have much ado to get to Heaven, how shall they come there who use no violence, (1 Peter 4:18). If the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and sinner appear! If they that strive as in an ago…

In other Places the Word is used so as to have Respect not only to real Saints, but to such as were Saints in Visibility, Appearance, and Profession; and so were outwardly, as to what concerns their Acceptance among Men and their outward Treatment and Privileges, of the Company…

The power of religion is not only disliked and denied, but contradicted and condemned by those that rest in the form. They that call the evil, good, will call the good, evil (Isaiah 5:20); and it is not strange if they, who abandon themselves to work all uncleanness with greedin…

Now the world judges this to be pride, stubbornness, not knowing what the power of godliness means: A reed that yields, is not shattered by the wind: So those who will be time-servers, whose consciences will bow any way, those shall suffer no great matter; but if men be unyielda…

For his graciouspromise, in Isa. 43:2 When you passest thorow the waters, I will be with you, and thorow the rivers, they shall not overflow you; when you walkest thorow the fire you shall not be burnt, neither shall the flame kindle upon you. Again, his glorious presence and hi…

Oh ponder them in your heart. [I say to you] I that have always been in the Fathers bosome, and do fully know his mind, I that am constituted the Judge of quick and dead, and do fully understand the rule of Judgment; and the whole process thereof, I say, and do assure you, that…

This is either withered upon, or blown off from it, while the stalk abides. Many a man out-lives his estate and honor, and stands in the world as a bare dry stalk in the field, whose flower, beauty, and bravery is gone: One puff of wind blows it away, one churlish easterly blast…

3. In coming in so opportunely in the time of their great distress, with relief and comfort, 1 Peter 4:14. Then the Spirit of Glory, and of God resteth on them. As that Martyr cried out to his friend Austin, at the very stake, He is come, he is come.

Barnabas also was carried away with their dissimulation (Galatians 2:13). And the wills of men is one of our snares (1 Peter 4:2). And besides, we are in danger to be terrified by their frowns, and act unseemly.

Saints are able to make use of this common relation. And therefore it is said, (1 Peter 4:19) that we should commit our souls to him, in well-doing, as to a faithful Creator. The Apostle speaks of such times, when they carried their lives in their hands, from day to day: they di…

And when we desire the coming of the kingdom of glory, we do two things; we express our readiness for it, or our desire after it. 1. Our readiness for it; at least, the kingdom of God is ready for us, if we were ready for it; as the Apostle says (1 Peter 4:5). God is ready to ju…

3. Your Will, in opposition to the wills of men. (1 Peter 4:2) That he no longer should live to the lusts of men, but to the will of God; not according to the wills of men, but according to the will of God. In our natural state we are apt to be swayed by the lusts and humors of…

How will he endure the Stake, who cannot bear a Scoff? Reproaches for Christ, are Ensigns of Honor, Badges of Adoption, 1 Peter 4:14. Let Christians bind these as a Crown about their Head.

Finally he became like to us in all things, saving only in sin, to the intent that we having a High Priest which could be touched with the feeling of our infirmities, might boldly draw near to the throne of grace, to obtain mercy and favor, to our relief and help in due time (He…

True it is that charity covers a multitude of sins (as says Solomon) (Proverbs 10:12) and that it behooves us to be patient, and to bear with many infirmities. For it is not fitting that we should defame one another, as diverse do, who in stead of warning those whom they see to…

Therefore from where do you fetch your support? 5. If religion be kept up in height and majesty, the world will count you strangers, they will stand wondering at your conversation (1 Peter 4:4). Men gaze upon those that come here in a foreign habit, that do not conform to the fa…