1 Peter 5

If the Saints' glory in Heaven were but for a time, and they were in fear of losing it, it would eclipse and embitter the joys of Heaven, but eternity is written upon their joys. The garland made of flowers of Paradise fades not (1 Peter 5:4). I have read of a river which they c…

When all worldly honor shall lie in the dust, the mace, the star, the robe of ermine, the imperial diadem, then shall the saints' honor remain; not one jewel shall be plucked out of their crown; they shall gain at Death a blessed eternity. If the saints could have but the least…

The eagle that flies high cannot be stung with the serpent: death gives the soul the wing of the eagle, that it flies above all these venomous serpents here below. 5. Temptation: though Satan be a conquered enemy — yet he is a restless enemy (1 Peter 5:8). He walks about; the de…

Second, The best way for Christians to be settled, is to be well grounded. Doctrine 1. That it is the duty of Christians to be settled in the doctrine of faith: It is the Apostle's prayer, (1 Peter 5:10). The God of all grace stablish, strengthen, settle you. That they might not…

Christ makes all his subjects kings (Revelation 2:10): I'll give you a crown of life. This crown will be full of jewels, and it will never fade (1 Peter 5:5). 2. Christ is a King in reference to his enemies, in subduing and conquering them: he pulls down their pride, befools the…

Use 3. of Comfort. As God is a Spirit, so the reward that he gives is spiritual; that is the excellency of it; as the chief blessings he gives us in this life are spiritual blessings (Ephesians 1:3), not gold and silver; he gives Christ, his love; he fills us with grace; so the…

Secondly, if you would be growing Christians, be humble Christians. It is observed in some countries (as in France,) the best and largest grapes which they make their wine of, grow on the lower sort of vines; the humble saints grow most in grace (1 Peter 5:5). God gives grace to…

He is the ancient of days (Daniel 7:9), yet never decays, or waxes old. The joy he gives is eternal, the crown he gives fades not away (1 Peter 5:4). The glorified soul shall be ever solacing itself in God; it shall be feasting on his love, and sunning itself in the light of his…

Christ has sanctified the trouble, and removed the curse. Or rather, he has not only freed believers from misery, but purchased for them a crown of glory and immortality (1 Peter 5:4). When the chief Shepherd shall appear, you shall receive a crown of glory that fades not away.

God lets a poor humble Christian stand, when others of higher parts, and who have higher thoughts of themselves, fall off by apostasy. They are most likely to persevere who God will give most grace to; but he gives grace to the humble (1 Peter 5:5). They are most likely to perse…

1. He will give us peace in trouble: when a storm without, he will make music within: the world can create trouble in peace, but God can create peace in trouble: He will send the Comforter, who as a dove brings an olive branch of peace in his mouth (John 14:16). 2. God will give…

Christian, what does trouble you? You have a God to pardon your sins, to supply your wants: therefore roll your burden on the Lord (1 Peter 5:7). Casting all your care on him.

3. Serving the true God is beneficial; they have great vails here, the hidden manna, inward peace, and a great reward to come. They that serve God, shall have a kingdom when they die (Luke 12:32), and shall wear a crown made of the flowers of paradise (1 Peter 5:4). To serve the…

A crown is the highest ensign of worldly glory; and God has promised a crown of life to them that love him (James 1:12). And it is a never-fading crown (1 Peter 5:4). 4. By our loving God we may know that he loves us (1 John 4:19).

There are three characters. 1. God's covenant people are a humble people (1 Peter 5:5): be clothed with humility. God's people esteem others better than themselves; they shrink into nothing in their own thoughts (Philippians 2:3).

The Roman Emperors have three crowns set upon their heads: the first of iron, the second of silver, the third of gold. So the Lord sets three crowns on his children — grace, comfort, and glory; and this crown is eternal (1 Peter 5:4). You shall receive a crown of glory that fade…

2. The mixing wisdom and innocency, is seen in this; to be humble, but not base: humility is part of the dove's innocency. 1 Peter 5:5: "Be clothed with humility." Saint Paul, though the chief of the apostles, calls himself the least of saints.

Why what shall we be? Every son of God shall have his crown of glory (1 Peter 5:4), and white robes (Revelation 6:11). Robes signify dignity, and white signifies sanctity.

(1.) That starve souls. (1 Peter 5:2) Feed the flock of God which is among you. These feed themselves, and starve the flock: either through non-residing they do not preach, or through insufficiency they cannot.

How does he shoot fiery darts! The Devil is never idle: the Devil is a busy bishop in his diocese, he walks up and down seeking whom he may devour (1 Peter 5:8). Now is not this a reasonable request, to take but as much care for the saving of your souls as the Devil does for the…

When the Devil tempted our Saviour, he fetched armor and weapons from Scripture: It is written (Matthew 4:4, 7). 3. The Holy Scripture is a panacea, or universal medicine for the soul; it gives a receipt to cure deadness of heart (Psalm 119:50), pride (1 Peter 5:5), infidelity (…

Now that the sea, which is higher than the earth, should not drown the earth, is a wonder of Providence; and the prophet Jonah saw the wonders of God in the deep, when the very fish which did devour him and swallow him, did bring him safe to shore. 2. God's Providence reaches to…

3. The blessed promise annexed to perseverance; the promise is a crown of life (Revelation 2:10). Death is a worm that feeds in the crowns of princes, but behold here a living crown, and a never-fading crown (1 Peter 5:4 and Revelation 2:28). He that overcomes, and keeps my work…

Christ was sensible when he sweated great drops of blood, but there was submission to God's will (Matthew 26:39): Nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will. We are told to humble ourselves under God's hand (1 Peter 5:6), which we cannot do unless we are sensible of it. 2. A C…

And for this end was that buffeting by Satan we have so often mentioned (2 Corinthians 12:7): 'to keep him from being exalted above measure.' So also, 'Humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God' (1 Peter 5:6) — and if in any other affliction his mighty hand lays hardest on,…

But herein believers wrestle not alone with flesh and blood and the darkness thereof, but do further conflict also with those spiritual wickednesses, the princes of darkness (Ephesians 6:12), about their interest in those heavenly privileges (as the phrase there used may be well…

Thus that Corinthian was in danger of being swallowed up — as the word signifies — with excessive sorrow, when Satan had to do with him (2 Corinthians 2:7). And the same word is again used of the devil: 'seeking whom to swallow up' (1 Peter 5:8). So as Satan inflames other membe…

For faith in God is the greatest enemy to Satan — it quenches all his darts (Ephesians 6:16). By standing steadfast in which, we resist him so that he flees from us (1 Peter 5:9). As therefore faith is that chief work of God and the master-grace (John 6), so despair and doubting…

Nay, rather take Saint Peter's holy counsel. 1 Peter 5:5. Humble yourself under this so mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time.

To them therefore here is matter of good advice. Let such a man learn but one promise of God out of the holy Scripture, as this; Seek first the Kingdom of God, and all things else shall be given unto you, Matthew 6:33: or this; Cast all your care on him, for he careth for you, 1…

As for the opinion of Erasmus, who thinks that in this so heavenly a prayer made to God the father, there should be no mention made of bread, that is, of earthly things, which even the gentiles bestow on their children; it is vain and frivolous. For it is God's will, that we sho…

Let them not debase themselves with earth: An earthly saint, is as great a contradiction as an orthodox heretic. It is called filthy lucre (1 Peter 5:2), because it does so befilthy a person. Earthliness is an enemy to grace.

In history therefore are three Babylons mentioned: one is, Babylon of Assyria standing on the river Euphrates, where was the confusion of languages, and where the Jews were in captivity: which Babylon is in Scripture reproached for idolatry and other iniquities. The second Babyl…

And as you gain nothing by your striving with him, so you lose nothing but gain much by your soft stooping and silent submitting to him. If you humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, he shall lift you up (James 4:10; 1 Peter 5:6). Humble yourselves therefore under the might…

God has called us to his kingdom and glory (1 Thessalonians 2:12). And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, you shall receive a crown of glory, that fades not away (1 Peter 5:4). This is the reward of faithful elders, that feed the flock of Christ.

4. But as every fullness is not all fullness, so every fullness is not the fullness of the Godhead; therefore, to me it's as much as the elect are drawn to Christ as the choicest, the rarest among all. 2. So among all choice things and all relations, he is the first and most emi…

The godly are yet in the way not at the end of the journey; in the field, not with the crown on their heads; and it is God's will, that the enemy should have leave to assault them. None go to Heaven without a trial, all these things are accomplished in your brethren that are in…

Satan is incessant in his attempts against the saints, and is ready to assault afresh upon every occasion. Now this comes to pass by Satan's unwearied malice, who is a sworn enemy to our peace and welfare, he still seeks to devour us (1 Peter 5:8). Also from God's Providence who…

This is assured to us by promises, and by experiences. By promises (1 Peter 5:7): Casting all your care upon him, for he cares for you. (Philippians 4:6-7): Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to…

More distinctly, that Satan is an enemy appears from his name, that signifies an adversary, and in many places of Scripture he is so called, as (Matthew 13:25): "While men slept, the enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat," compared with the 39th verse: "The enemy that sowed…

If you would look for a ceasing of the conflict, do as he did, carry it humbly, fruitfully, faithfully to God. 1. Humble carriage will become you under your conflicts (1 Peter 5:6). Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time.

And hence we learn, that ministers of the word must of necessity join with good doctrine, the example of good life. For first of all, it is the express commandment of God (1 Peter 5:3): Be patterns of the flock. (1 Timothy 4:12): Be an example in word, conduct, love, spirit, fai…

He sets forth that more plainly which he touched before: to wit, that this pride and cruelty which proceeds thereof, shall be the cause of Moab's ruin. For seeing the Lord resists the proud (James 4:6; 1 Peter 5:5), he must needs take down this haughtiness, under which the Churc…

The Prophet therefore reproves those which contend with God in adversity, in that they cannot bear their afflictions patiently. Such must learn to give ear to the admonition of Saint Peter; Submit yourselves under God, says he; and humble your souls under his hand: Bow your neck…

Let us fight then with cheerfulness; and keep our standing firm in the battle. (1 Peter 5:8) Verse 10. Take counsel together, yet it shall be brought to nothing: pronounce a decree, yet it shall not stand: for God is with us.

To this relates the exhortation of Peter, "Humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God," (1 Peter 5:6.) He hath scattered dieschorpisen, he utterly discomfits, a metaphor derived from putting to flight a defeated enemy.

11. For everyone that exalts himself shall be humbled. This clause makes it evident that ambition was the subject of which Christ was speaking; for he does not state what usually happens in the ordinary life of men, but declares that God will be their Judge, who resists the prou…

Though he meditates the destruction of all, and though the words of Peter apply to all without exception, that he goes about as a roaring lion, and seeks whom he may devour, (1 Peter 5:8,) yet we are plainly taught by these words of Christ, that Satan views with deeper hatred, a…

Accordingly, Peter calls himself a witness of the sufferings of Christ, (1 Peter 5:1,) whose badges he wore; and Paul boasts that he was

And were confident that they were Guides of the Blind, and a Light to them which are in Darkness, Instructors of the Foolish, Teachers of Babes; and so took upon them to judge others, see Verse 1 and 17, 18, 19, 20. And how arrogant must the Notion be, that they have, who imagin…