fear. versation coupled with ought to pay all Submiffion and Re- A.D.66. fpect to their Husbands, though Unconverted; endeavouring, if poffible, by a Meek, Chafte, ‡ See 1 Cor. Loving, and Modeft Behaviour, to win them over to 14, 15, 16. the Chriftian Faith, that hath fo vifible good Effects upon their Conduct. 3 Whofe adorning, let it not be that outward adorning, of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of appare! : 4 But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet fpirit, which is in the fight of God of great price. 5 For after this manner in the old time, the holy women alfo who trufted in felves, being in fubjection unto their own God adorned them hufbands. 6 Even as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him Lord, whofe daughters ye are as long as ye do well, and are not afraid ye 7 Likewife bands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving ho nour 3 & 4. Let thefe Women ftrive to recommend themselves to their Hufbands Affections, not by the Nicety and Sumptuoufnefs of their Dress, and outward Gaiety of their Perfons; but by the Virtue of their Lives, and Sweetnefs of their Tempers: Those lovely Ornaments of the Mind, that infinitely furpass all External Beauty and Artificial Accomplishments, and render them amiable in the Eyes of God. 5 & 6. In this you will truly imitate thofe famous Women, that were Wives of the Patriarchs, and Mothers of your Nation: You will approve your felves the genuine Daughters of Sarah, that Dutiful Spouse of Faithful Abraham, fo long as you keep firm to your Duty *, and be difcouraged from no Inftance of it by any prefent Dangers and Inconveniences. with any amazement. 7. In like manner, let all Chriftian Husbands treat their Wives in a tender and condefcending Manner, as the weaker Sex; performing all Conjugal *With any Amazement; alluding, perhaps, to that Paffage of Sarah, Gen. xx. 20. or Gen. xviii. 15. vii. 12, 13, A. D. 66. nour unto the wife as Conjugal Duties to them *, as Chriftianity requires; looking upon a Chriftian Wife in the Notion of an Heiress of the fame Heavenly Happinefs with himself, and endeavouring to render an Unbelieving one fo, by converting her to the Faith, by this virtuous and obliging Carriage toward her: That fo their Religious Devotions be not hindered, by any Differences in Principles, or Difagreement of Tempers. dered. 8. In fine: Be all unanimous in your Principles, compaffionate to the Infirmities of each other; and let your whole Converfation run in that Strain of Charity, Tenderness, and Courtefy that becomes Chriftian Brethren. 9. Seek no Revenge against your Perfecutors, but return Prayers and good Wishes to fuch as Revile and Reproach you: Remembring that the Bleffings you enjoy by your Chriftian Profeffion, are the strongest Argument to make you defire the Good and Happiness of all your Fellow Creatures. 10, 11 & 12. Confider the Bleffings annexed to an Even, Juft and Peaceable Difpofition (Pfal. xxxiv. defireth (a happy Life) and loveth to 12, 13, &c.) What Man is he that fee (many) good Days? Keep thy Tongue from Evil (Speaking) and thy Lips from Speaking Deceit. Depart from Evil (or Mifchief) and do Good, feek, and purfue Peace. The Eyes of the Lord are upon the Righteous (the fuft, or Merciful) and his Ears are open to their Prayers. But the Face (i.e. Dif face of the Lord is against them that do evil. 13 And who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good? (i. e. Difpleasure) of the Lord is a- A. D. 66. gainst them that do Evil. 13. And, as this Providentially tends to procure you the Divine Bleffing, fo does it Naturally prove the best Means to preferve you from the Malice of Mankind. For, there are scarce any People of fo Savage a Temper, as without any Provocation, to injure a Person of a kind * and inoffenfive Behaviour. 17 For it is better, if the will of God be fo, that ye fuffer for well doing, than for evil doing. 14. But, whenever it shall happen, that you fuffer for the fake of your Religion; look upon That as your Happiness. Be not difcouraged at any Threats, or the worst that can befal you, of that Kind. 15. Be but poffefs'd of a Religious Fear of offending God, believe his Truth, depend upon his Power, Juftice and Goodness; and you need not fear to own, and be ready to defend your Christian Principles, in a modeft and humble Way, upon either private or publick Examination. 16 For, thus to demonftrate the Innocence and Peaceableness of your Carriage, is the most direct Way to fhame and confound those that would reprefent you as Men of Turbulent and Seditious Principles. † ὡς κακε ποιῶν. 17. And, whether it fucceeds in 12, G. fecuring you from Their Malice, or no; yet you will have the inward Satisfaction of fuffering with a good Confcience, and for a good Cause; without which your Afflictions would indeed be infupportable. 18. You 4 * τοῖς ἐγε φυλακή 18. You will, then, copy after the great Example, and fhare in the Glories of your Innocent Saviour, who laid down his fpotless Life to procure the Pardon and in Reward of thofe Sufferings, Salvation of a Guilty World; and, was raised again from the Dead, Holy Spirit. by the Power of the 19 By which alfo he went and preached unto the fpirits in prifon : * 20 Which sometime were difobedient, when once the ave long fuffering of God Gen. vi. 3. waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is eight fouls, were faved by water. 19 & 20. Even of that Divine Spirit, wherewith he Infpired Noah to Preach Repentance and Reformation to the Wicked People, before the Flood; those diffolute Wretches, that were enslaved to * their brutish Lufts; and after the merciful Space of a Hundred Years || given them to Repent in, and Noah perfwading them to it, with particular Earneftnefs, all the while he was preparing the Ark; were, at last, like Condemned Prifoners, justly Senten ced to Destruction, for their incurable Impiety; and .. Gen. vii. none faved in the ... Ark, befide Noah, and Seven more of his Family . 13. 21 The like figure whereunto, even bap tifm, doth also now fave us (not the put ting away of the filth of 21 & 22. Now our Baptifm is the fame to us, as the Ark was to Noah, and his Family, viz. A Means of our Salvation from Sin and Eternal Death, as the Ark faved them from the Not * Ver. 19. By which [ ] He went and Preached· that Chrift Himself preached, but preached by the Spirit, i. e. by fending the Spirit upon Noah ; agreeably to 2 Pet. ii. 5. and 1 Pet. i. 11. + Ver. 20. When once, isɛ añαk, When once for all. See the Note on Heb. ix, 26. Saved by Water. A quite wrong Tranflation: düdar, is out of, or from the Water; in the fame Manner as dia úpavos, faved by Fire, fhould be rendered, As out of the Fire, 1 Cor. iii. 15. of the flesh, but * the anfwer of a good confcience towards God) by rhe refurrection of Jefus Chrift, 22 Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right-hand of God, angels, and authorities, and powers being made fubject unto him. * the Flood. For, Christian Baptifm is A. D. 66. not a mere External Ceremony of Washing and Cleanfing the Body; but its Nature and Advantage lies in its being a Solemn Engagement on Our Part, to dedicate our felves to the Service of Chrift; and the Promife of Eternal Life, on God's Part, on Condition of our performing that Engagement. A Promise we are certain to fee performed, as having now a perfect Pledge and Earneft of it, by the Refurrection of Chrift from the Dead, and his Glorious Exaltation into Heaven, to the utmost Degree of Glory and Majefty; whereby Angels and Archangels, Men and Devils, all Ranks and Degrees of Creatures are put under his Government and Dominion. *The Anfwer of a good Confcience: ispárna fignifies either a Question, or an Answer. It moft probably alludes to the Questions put to, and Anfwered by the Perfon Baptized, and fo fignifies the Stipulation of Baptism. CHAP. |