Practical Commentary of 1 Peter Volume 2, Commentary · Chapter 1 · Verse 3 – Verse 4
Verses 3, 4.
3. Whose adorning, let it not be that outward adorning, of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of Gold, or of putting on of apparel:
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 spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.
THat nothing may be wanting to the qualifying of a Christian Wife, she is taught how to dress her self, supposing a general desire, but especially in that Sex, of Ornament and Comeliness; the Sex, that began first our engagement to the necessity of cloathing, having still a peculiar propension to be curious in that, and to improve the necessity to an advantage.
The direction here given corrects the misplacing of this diligence, and addresses it right. i. e. Let it not be of the outward Man in plaiting, &c.
Our perverse crooked hearts turn all we use into disorder; these two necessities of our Life, Food and Rayment, how few know the right measure and bounds of them, unless Poverty be our Carver and cut us short, who almost is there, that is not bent to something excessive; far more are beholding to the lowliness of their estate, than to the lowliness of their mind, for sobriety in those things; and yet some will not be so bounded neither, but will profusely lavish out upon Trifles, to the sensible prejudice of their Estate.
'Tis not my purpose, nor do I think it very needful to debate many particulars of Apparel and Ornament of the Body, their lawfulness or unlawfulness: only,
First, 'Tis out of doubt, that though cloathing was first drawn on by necessity, yet all regard of Comeliness and Ornament in Apparel is not unlawful, nor doth the Apostle's expression here rightly considered, fasten that upon the adorning he here speaks of, and he doth no more universally condemn the use of Gold for Ornament, than he doth any other comely Rayment, which here he means by that general Word of putting on of Apparel, for his (not) is comparative; not this Adorning, but the Ornament of a meek Spirit, that rather, and as much more comely and precious; as that, I will have mercy and not sacrifice.
Secondly, According to the different place, and quality of Persons there may be difference in this: Thus the Robes of Judges and Princes are not only for personal Ornament, but because there is in them, especially to vulgar eyes, that seldom look deeper than the outside of things, there is, I say, in that Apparel a representment of Authority or Majesty, that befits their place; and besides this, in other Persons that are not in Publick Place, Men or Women, that are here particularly directed, yet may have in this some mark of their Rank, and in Persons otherways little distant, some allowance may be made for the Habitudes and Breeding of some beyond others, or the quality of their Society, and those with whom they converse.
Thirdly, 'Tis not impossible that there may be in some an affected Pride in the meaness of Apparel, and in others,Magnus qui fictilibus utitur tanquam argentis, nec ille min…r qui argento tanquam fictilibus. Sen. under either neat or rich attire a very humble unaffected mind, using it upon some of the aforemention'd engagements, or such like, and yet the heart not at all upon it.
Fourthly, 'Tis as sure as any of these, that real excess and vanity in Apparel will creep in, and will always willingly convey it self under the cloak of some of these honest and lawful Considerations. This is a prime peice of our hearts deceit, not only to hold out fair Pretences to others, but to put the trick upon our selves, to make our selves believe we are right, and single minded, in those things wherein we are directly seving our Lusts and feeding our own Vanity.
Fifthly, To a sincere and humble Christian very little, either dispute, or discourse in this will be needful; a tender Conscience, and a Heart purg'd from Vanity, and weaned from the World, will be sure to regulate this, and all other things of this nature, after the safest manner, and will be wary,
1. Of Lightness and fantastick garb in Apparel, which is the very Bush or Sign hanging out, that tells a vain Mind lodges within. 2. Of excessive costliness, which both argues, and …eds the Pride of the Heart, and defrauds, if not others of their dues, yet the poor of thy charity, which in God's sight, is a due debt too, and far more comfort shall thou have on thy death Bed, to remember such a time, in stead of Lace on my own Cloaths, I helped a naked back to cloathing. I abated somewhat of my former superfluities, to supply the Poors necessities, sweeter this, than to remember, that I could needlesly cast out many pounds to serve my Pride, rather than give a penny to relieve the Poor.
As conscientious Christians will not exceed in the thing it self, so in as far as they use lawful Ornament and Comeliness, they will do it without bestowing much, either diligence or delight on the business.
To have the mind taken and pleas'd with such things, is so foolish and childish a thing, that if most might not find it in themselves, they would wonder at many others, of years and common wit. And yet truely,Non bis pueri sed semper. 'tis a Disease that few escape, 'tis strange upon how poor things Men and Women will be vain, and think themselves some body; not only upon some comeliness in their face or feature, which though poor, yet is a part of themselves, but of things meerly without them, that they are well lodged, or well mounted, or well apparell'd, either richly, or well in fashion, light empty minds, as bladders blown up with any thing, and they that perceive not this in themselves, are most drown'd; but such as have found it out, and abhor their own follies, are still hunting and following themselves in these, to beat them out of their hearts, and to shame them from such fopperies. The Soul fallen from God hath lost its true worth and beauty, and therefore it basely descends to these mean things to serve and dress the body, and take share with it of its unworthy borrow'd Ornaments, hath lost and forgotten God, and seeks not after him, knows not that he is the alone Beauty, and Ornament of the Soul, Ier. 2. 32. his Spirit, and the Graces of it, its rich attire, as here particularly specified in one excellent Grace, and holds true in the rest.
The Apostle doth indeed expresly on purpose check and forbid vanity and excess in apparel, and excessive delight in lawful decorum, but his prime end is to recommend this other Ornament of the Soul, The hidden man of the heart.
'Tis the thing the best Philosophy aim'd at, as some of their choice men do express it, to reduce men, as much as may be, from their Body to their Soul, but this is the thing that true Religion alone doth effectually and throughly, from the pampering and feeding of a Morsel for the Worms to the nourishing of that immortal being infus'd into't, and directs it to the proper nourishment of Souls, the Bread that came down from Heaven, Io. 6. 27.
So here the Apostle, pulls off from Christian Women their vain outside Ornaments: but is not this a wrong to spoil all their dressing and fineness? No, he doth but this, to send them to a better Wardrobe: there's much profit in the change.
All the Gold and other riches of the Temple, figuring the Excellent Graces of Christians of Christ indeed first, as having all fullness in himself, and furnishing them: but secondarily of Christians, as the living Temples of God, so the Church all glorious, but within: and the embroidery, the variety of Graces, the lively colours of other Graces shining best on the dark ground of Humility. Christ delights to give much Ornament to his Church, commends what she hath, and adds more, Cant. 1. 10. 11.
The particular Grace he recommends is particularly suitable to his subject in hand, the conjugal duty of Wives, nothing so decoring their whole carriage as this meekness and quietness of Spirit, but it is withal the comeliness of every Christian in every estate, 'tis not a Womans Garment or Ornament improper for Men, there is somewhat (as I may say) of a particular cut or fashion of it for Wives towards their Husbands, and in their domestick Affairs, but Men, all Men ought to wear of the same stuff, yea so to speak of the same piece, for it is in all one and the same Spirit, fits the stoutest and greatest Commanders. Moses a great General, and yet no less great in this Virtue, the meekest Man on Earth.
Nothing more uncomely in a Wife than an uncomposed, turbulent Spirit, that is put out of frame with every trifle, and inventive of false causes of disquietness and fretting to it self. And so of a Husband, and of all, an unquiet passionate Mind lays it self naked, and discovers its own deformity to all. The greatest part of things that vex us, are not from their Nature or weight,Nulla nos …ffendunt quae n… …dunt. but the unsettledness of our Minds. How comely is it to see a composed firm Mind and Carriage that is not lightly moved.
I urge not a Stoical stupidness: but that in things that deserve sharp reproof, the Mind keep in its own Station and Seat still, not shaken out of it self, as the most are; that the Tongue utter not unseemly rash words, nor the Hand act any thing that discovers the mind hath lost its command for the time; but truly the most know so ill how to use just anger, upon just cause, that it is easier, and the safer extream, not to be angry, but still calm and serene, as the upper Region, not the place of continual tempest, and storms, as the most are: let it pass for a kind of sheepishness to be meek, 'tis a likeness to him that was a Sheep before the shearers not opening his Mouth, 'tis a Portion of his Spirit.
The Apostle commends his exchange of Ornaments from two things. 1. Incorruptible, and therefore fits an incorruptible Soul. Your varieties of Jewels and Rich Apparel are perishing things, you shall one day see an heap made of all, and that all on a slame; and in reference to you, they perish sooner, when death strips you of your nearest Garment, your flesh, all the other that were but loose upper Garments above it, must off too, it gets indeed a covering to the Grave, but the Soul is left stark naked, if no other Cloathing be provided for it, for the Body was but borrowed; then it is denuded of all. But spiritual Ornaments, and this here amongst them, remain, and are incorruptible, they neither wear out, nor out of fashion, but are still the better for the wearing, and shall last Eternity, and shine there in full lustre.
And 2dly, because the opinion of others is much regarded in matter of Apparel, and 'tis most for that we use Ornament in it, he tells us of the account of this, Men think it poor and mean, nothing more expos'd to contempt than the Spirit of Meekness, mere folly with Men, that's no matter, this overweighs all their disesteem, 'tis with God of great price, and things are indeed as he values them, and no otherways. Tho' it be not the Country fashion yet it is the fashion at Court, yea 'tis the Kings own fashion, Matth. 11. 29. Learn of me for I am meek and lowly, &c. Some that are Court-bred will send for the Masters of fashions tho' they live not in the Court; and tho' the Peasants think them strange dresses, yet they regard not that, but use them as finest and best: Care not what the World say. You are not to stay long with them, desire to have both fashions and stuff from Court, from Heaven, this Spirit of meekness, and it shall be sent you, 'tis never right in any thing with us till we attain to this, to tread on the opinion of Men, and eye nothing but Gods approbation.
Verses 5, 6.
5. For after this manner in the old time, the holy Women also who trusted in God adorned themselves.
6. Even as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him Lord: whose Daughters ye are as long as ye do well, and are not afraid with any amazement.
THe Apostle inforces his Doctrine by Example. The most compendious way of teaching. Hence the right way to use the Scriptures is to regulate our manners by them, as by their precepts so by examples. And for this end it is that a great part of it is historical. There is not in the Saints a transmigration of Souls, but there is, so to speak, an oneness of Souls, being in all Ages partakers of the self same Spirit, hence the Daughters of Sarah are called pious and obedient Wives. Women here designed, 1. Holy. 2. Believing. 3. Firm and resolute, not afraid with any Amazement. tho' by nature they are fearful, yet rendred of undaunted Spirits by a holy, clean, and pure conscience. Believing Wives, and fearers of God are not terrify'd, their Minds are established in a due obedience to God and also toward their Husbands.