Exposition of the Two Epistles of Peter, Epistle and exposition 1 · Chapter 2 · Verse and commentary 12
Verſ. 12. Having your converſation honeſt among the Gentiles, that whereas they ſpeak againſt you as evil doers, they may by your good works which they ſhall behold, glorifie God in the day of viſitation.
In this Verſe, the Apoſtle preſſeth the effect of his former exhortation; and withall preſcribeth a ſpecial mean of ſhewing forth the praiſes of God, to wit, That Chriſtians ſhould labour to expreſs holineſs in their outward converſation: and this he beareth in by two arguments. The firſt, is, That their lot was to converſe among the enemies of the Goſpel, and ſuch as would be glad to find occaſion from their miſcarriage to ſlander them as evil doers. The ſecond, is, That their holy walking among ſuch, might prove a bleſſed mean, not only to ſtop the mouthes of their ſlanderous enemies; but likewiſe to being about their converſion, and conſequently bring much glory to God, when it ſhould pleaſe him to viſit them with his ſaving grace. Hence Learn, 1. In ſo far as the power of ſin is weakened in the heart, there will be a beauty and lovelineſs upon the outward converſation; which, if it be defiled with out-breakings, doth clearly evidence the power and prevalency of unmortified luſts in the heart: …or, as a neceſſary conſequent, or effect of the former exhortation, to abſtain from fleſhly luſts, the Apoſtle bringeth in this, having your converſation honeſt. 2. It is not ſo much by a fair profeſſion, or good expreſſions, that Chriſtians do ſhew forth the praiſes of God, as by an honest converſation, made beautiful and lovely (as the word here tranſlated honeſt ſignifieth) to on-lookers, by the right ordering of all the parts of it in duties to God and men, Pſal. 50.23. by the manifeſting of wiſdom and meekneſs therein joyntly, Jam. 3.13. and eſpecially, by the faithful diſcharge of the duties of their particular callings and relations, 1 Theſſ. 4.11, 12. Tit. 2.9, 10. for, the way of the Apoſtle's bringing in this exhortation, giveth ground to take this as an mean of attaining to what he had preſt before, to wit, their ſhewing forth of the praiſes of God, mentioned, ver. 9. having your converſation honeſt, &c. 3. The more wicked the ſociety be, with whom Believers lot is to converſe, the more ſhould they be ſtirred up to the ſtudy of an honeſt converſation, for the conviction or gaining of ſuch: for, by this that theſe Chriſtian Hebrews were among Heathens (whom many profeſſors of Chriſtianity reſemble, in living like Heathens without reſpect to the Law of God, Rom. 2.14. purſuing ſtrongly their Idols, as Heathens do, 1 Cor. 12.2. and being unacquainted with the priviledges and duties of the Covenant of Grace, as Heathens are, Eph. 2.11. and ready to perſecute all that run not their courſe, 1 Pet. 4.3. All which, the Scriptures cited, make characters of Heathens) the Apoſtle perſwades them to ſtudy holineſs of life: having your converſation honeſt among the Gentiles. 4. Thoſe of whom the world is unworthy, are often repreſented to the world as unworthy to live in it, by thoſe whoſe diſhoneſt wayes are reproved by their honeſt converſation: for, it is here ſupponed to be the lot of the choſen Generation, the royal Prieſthood, &c. to be ſpoken againſt as evil doers. 5. It is one of the characters of them that are without God in the world, to be enemies to, and ſlanderers of thoſe, who will not run with them to the ſame exceſs of riot: for, it is here a deſcription of the Heathens, that they ſpeak againſt thoſe who are of an honeſt converſation, as evil doers. 6. The beſt way for Chriſtians to ſtop the mouthes of their ſlanderers, is, by an honeſt converſation: without which, any other means they can uſe, will readily prove ineffectual for maintaining their reputation: for, here the Apoſtle preſcribeth to Chriſtians the ſtudy of a holy walking, as a mean to put their very enemies upon an exerciſe inconſiſtent with ſlandering of the Godly, having your converſation honeſt among the Gentiles, that whereas they ſpeak against you as evil doers, they may by your good works which they ſhall behold, glorifie God. 7. Although the Word, accompanied with the powerfull bleſſing of God, be the principal mean of ſinners converſion, Rom. 10.17, 15. Yet the Lord may make uſe of the very carriage and viſible acting of his People, (ſuch as, their equity in their dealings, even with their enemies; their patient bearing of injuries from them, and continuing to expreſſe love and reſpect to them notwithſtanding thereof) to allure wicked men to fall in love with his way, and to give him glory that ever ſent them ſuch a mean, and bleſſed it to them, for their reclaiming from the way of perdition: for, here, an honeſt converſation is preſſed, as a mean of gaining the enemies of Chriſt and his People, to glorifie God in the day of viſitation. 8. Neither the beſt uſe of natural power of free-will, that unrenewed men may attain …nto, nor all the pains that the Godly can take upon them▪ will be ſufficient to bring about that glorious work of their Converſion, whereby the Lord is ſo much glorified, till he be pleaſed to viſit them with his power, Pſal. 110.3. and with his love, to make the change, Ezek. 168. for, here, as a neceſſary pre-requiſit, for the gaining of ſinners to glorifie God, the Apoſtle ſupponeth that there muſt be a day of viſitation, whereby muſt be underſtood a viſitation in ſpecial mercy, in regard it gains ſinners to glorifie God. 9. It is not any glory to our ſelves from men, that ſhould be our motive to an honeſt walking among them; but that we may thereby bring ſome glory to God from them: which being honeſtly aimed at by us, ſhall bring ſufficient glory to us along with it, 1 Sam. 2.30. for, this is here made the principal motive to an honeſt walking, That thereby others might be moved to glorifie God in the day of viſitation. 10. The Children of the Lord ſhould not loſe their hopes, nor quite their endeavours of gaining the greateſt enemies to God or themſelves, among whom they live, conſidering how ſoon and eaſily the Lord can make a change upon them: for, the Apoſtle would have them looking upon thoſe that were Heathens, and ſpeaking againſt them as evil doers, as ſuch whom God might viſit in mercy, and in whoſe converſion they might be made inſtrumental, having your converſation honeſt among the Gentiles, that whereas they ſpeak againſt you as evil doers, they may by your good works which they ſhall behold, glorifie God in the day of viſitation.