Exposition Upon 1 Peter, Biblical exegesis · Chapter 3 · Verse 2
Verse 2. While they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear.
THis Verse is an exposition and opening of the former,How bad husbands may be won. shewing how their Husbands should be won, even by beholding their behavior and life, to be pure, holy, honest, and good, and that not at some times, nor in some things onelyonly, but at all times, and in all things (the neglect whereof doth occasion that their Husbands do often despise their forwardness and profession of Religion, even because they do not observe them alike conscionably in every thing, and at all times) as also that they are of them reverenced and regarded, and that there is in them a loathness at any time to displease them; These things considered, do much prevail with them: So then, our Apostle requireth two things of Wives, Chastity and Reverence, and that for that their Husbands would look into these things, and that diligently.
While they behold] A good reason to perswade wives to those vertues;Chastity and reverence why required of Wives. they professing Religion, may be sure their Husbands which do not profess the same, will look narrowly into their behavior, measuring their Religion thereby: Thus they that be of diverse Religions, look into the lives one of another, as the Papists do into ours, and we into theirs; we disliking their Religion, because they make no conscience of an Oath, of the Sabbath day, of soundness in any duty, &c. as they ours, for that they see many that profess our Religion, to be dissolute and notoriously wicked (yet have there been at all times some professors,2 Tim. 3. 5. which have denyed the power of godliness) so the common sort among our selves, pry into the conversation of those which seem more forward and eminent in duties then others.
1. Therefore,Use 1. It behoves us all to look well to our selves; We are as a city set on an hill, Matth. 5. 14.many eyes be open upon us, the eyes of all the Canaanites and Perizzites in the Land; when such observe our conversation, not to be answerable unto our profession, it sets them quite off from the love of Religion, which though it be their fault, yet we give the occasion.
2. Let Wives that have ill Husbands look to themselves;Use 2. Their Husbands observe them at an inch, and pry into their conversation, to take them tardy, for want of subjection and reverence, for want of patience, or of careful looking to houshold affairs, &c. that so they may reproach them for Profession, and cut them short of their liberty: But when after long looking they finde them sound and careful every way, it overcomes their hearts, and makes them have a reverent opinion of them, and thereupon by little and little they are wrought upon, and come to the Word, and through Gods blessing grow unto a love thereof: Happy are those Wives, thrice happy those Husbands that have such.
Your chaste conversation] Chastity is a part of temperance,What Chastity is, and by whom it is to be observed. whereby we keep our bodies and souls pure and undefiled Temples of the Holy Ghost, and Members of Christ Jesus; This is to be observed through our whole life, whether in single or married estate: In single estate there must be abstaining from all uncleanness, not onelyonly of the outward act natural or unnatural, but from all uncleanness of the ear, delighting to hear beastly speech, of the tongue to utter it, of the eye, so to behold any object as to lust after it, as also a diligent use of all good means to preserve from these, till God call to Marriage, and then to embrace that holy and honorable remedy, which God hath appointed for many good uses and ends: In married estate, Chastity must also be preserved; Wives must be chaste, not onelyonly avoyding all outward and detestable acts of uncleanness with strange men, but even of tongue or heart, and all the least shews and appearances of immodesty in Countenance, Gesture, Apparel, Speech, Company, or the like, which might cause suspition or jealousie.
This condemns,Use. as all immodest behavior in Wives, rowling eyes, naked breasts, laying out the hair, painting the face, wanton talk, and delighting to be in company of strangers at home or abroad, &c. so especially that foul and odious sin of Adultery; when the Wife breaking the Covenant of God, and forsaking the guide of her youth, gives her self to Strangers, O how do such wrong God, Gods Church, their Husbands, their own Souls! O the Judgements whereunto such are lyable here, and which shall be inflicted on them (if they repent not) hereafter! As they have burnt in vile lusts against God and his Commandments, so they shall burn in Hell for ever and ever:Prov. 7. 25, 27. Their paths tend to death, their houses to Hell and destruction.
Coupled with fear.] How wives ought to fear their husbandsNot a base fear, as to do what she doth for fear of his anger, who else would do as she list, and cross him if she durst (this is forbid in the end of the sixth Verse) but a reverend regard of her husband, as being her Head, and from the love she bears to him, being loath to grieve him in any thing, but willing and careful to please him every way.
This rebukes those wives that set lightly by their husbands,Use. neither regarding how much they themselves do grieve them, nor how much their servants do, affording as it were continual matter of grief and unquietness unto them: Well, be the husband rich or poor, wise or unwise, the wife should so carry her self, as whereby he may receive most content.