1 Peter 4

1 Peter 4:1

CHrist] as he had said, chap. 3. 1. The meaning is, seeing Christ hath suffered death and passion for us, of which no man partakes, by faith, to justification and purging, unlesse he have a spirituall conformity with him, in mortifying of the old man, and vivifying of the new one, Rom. 63. 4. looke that you firmely propound unto your selves to imitate him, and that shall be unto you in stead of Armour, or defence against any assault or temptation, see Rom. 6. 6, 7. & 7. 6 Gal. 2. 20. & 5. 24 He that hath] that is to say, the true Christian, that hath been crucified with Christ, in what concerned his old man, or naturall corruption Hath ceased] that is to say, sinne raigneth no more in him, to cause him to make a continuall practice of it, with a kinde of habit and delight, though indeed it doth yet dwell, and warre within him, so that he cannot choose but as yet commit some act of it, through weaknesse or at unawares, see Rom. 6. 12, 14. and 7. 18, 23. 1 John 3. 6, 9. and 5. 18.

1 Peter 4:2

In the flesh] namely, in this mortall life, Galatians 2:20. To the lusts] devoting his life and actions there unto, like to a servant, busied altogether in his masters businesses. Or, in such sort that you be as it were living instruments of sinne, to fulfill the desires and inclinations thereof, and be wholly possessed by it.

1 Peter 4:3

May suffice] a vulgar kind of speech: that is to say, We, though we be Jewes, and the people of God, have too much imitated the Gentiles, in the vices and sinnes in which they live, and take pleasure: it is now even time to turne over a new leaf, see Ezech. 44. 6. & 45. 9.

1 Peter 4:4

Wherein] that is to say, seeing you by the Gospell are quite changed from what you were wont to be Speake evill] the Italian, blaspheme; in contempt of you, and detestation of the Gospell, as a doctrine contrary to the sence and understanding; and which fighteth against common customes, and religions which are approved of, Acts 13. 45. and 18. 6.

1 Peter 4:5

The quicke] as well those as shall be still living, when he commeth to judgement, as those which are dead before his comming.

1 Peter 4:6

For, for this] for we must each moment expect Christs last comming. The Apostles, did put themselves, and those who lived in their daies, in the number of those that should be living in that day, 1 Corinthians 15:51. 1 Thessalonians 4:15; 1 Thessalonians 4:17. Whereupon Saint Peter restraining that which he had spoken (namely that Christ should judge both the living and the dead) unto the Church, as well of the Jewes who were already dead, as of the Christians who should be yet living: he proves it to be so, because they have all been alike under Christs Kingdome, having been partakers of his Gospell, which is as it were the law of his Kingdome, see 1 Corinthians 10:1-2; 1 Corinthians 10:4. Hebrews 4:2. That they might] namely, that the incredulous and rebellious should be condemned, as the rest of carnall men, corrupt by sinne But live] namely, that those amongst them who beleeved should be made partakers of Gods life in glory, by meanes of their being regenerate to the Image of God, produced in them by the power of the holy Ghost.

1 Peter 4:8

Shall cover] God respecting it, shall be favourable to the sinner to give him a more lively impression and feeling of the pardon of his sinnes in Christ, and shall also free him from many corporall punishments.

1 Peter 4:11

Speake] that is to say, hath the gift and office of teaching publikely in the Church As the Oracles] namely, with all reverence, purenesse, fidelity, and humblenesse, not attributing any glory to himselfe. And with authority as speaking in Gods Name, and as his Ambassadour, Matth. 7. 29. Titus 2:15. Minister] that is to say, is called to the Office of Deacon, to dispence the common goods of the Church, to relieve the poore, and to other uses, Acts 6:1. Romans 13:7-8. 1 Corinthians 12:28. As of the ability] that is to say, acknowledging that the outward meanes, and also the power of making use of them comes from God: that so making use of that power, as over other mens goods, he may referre, the glory boundennesse and service therefore to God Through Jesus] by whom the father distributeth all these gifts and vocations, by whose intercession, and under whose favour all thanksgiving ought to be yeelded to God, for to have it pleasing unto him, Romans 1:8.

Eph. 6 20. 1 Peter 2:5. Dominion] the Italian, command; or power, 1 Timothy 6:16.

1 Peter 4:12

Fiery tryall] of afflictions, see Daniel 12:10. 1 Peter 1:7.

1 Peter 4:14

For the name] for making profession of him and his Gospell as Christians, as v. 16. Of glory] as much as to say, the glorious Spirit, as well in the divine power of his operations, as in the impression of Gods Image and heavenly glory, which even in this world he imprinteth in beleevers, 2 Corinthians 3:18. He is] namely, Christ Glorified] that is to say, his glory is defended by you against the evill speeches of the world. You honour him by the constancie of your faith and service: and by your innocency and holinesse you make it appeare, what manner of one he is, to whose image you are regenerated, and that causeth all these vertues in you.

1 Peter 4:15

Busie-bodie] the Italian, a Bishop ever strangers; that is to say, an indiscreet reformer, and judge of those that are out of the Church, over whom God hath given him neither charge nor authority, see Matth. 7. 6. 1 Corinthians 5:12-13. Others translate it, Busie in other mens businesses. Others, a spie or disturber of the publike peace, an authour of practices and conspiracies against the state.

1 Peter 4:16

Let him glorifie God] that is to say, let him give him humble thankes as for a singular honour and benefit, Acts 5:41. Phil. 1. 7. 29.

1 Peter 4:17

The time is come] The time of the Gospel brings this with it, that God purifies his Church by the fire of afflictions, see Isai 4. 4. Matth. 3. 12.

1 Peter 4:18

If the righteous] that is to say, if believers, though they endeavour themselves to be pious and holy, ought (by reason of the reliques of sin which remain in thē) to passe through so many difficulties of Gods punishments, and combats of the world, before they can come to eternall salvation The sinner] namely, the unbeliever, who lieth wholly in sin, and is altogether given to it, and is drowned in it.

1 Peter 4:19

Unto a faithfull] namely, to God who hath not onely created them, but also having out of his meer grace promised them salvation and everlasting life, will infallibly grant it them.