Exposition Upon 1 Peter, Biblical exegesis · Chapter 2 · Verse 15
Verse 15. For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men.
A Third Reason of the foregoing Exhortation;The third Reason. Its Gods will that we submit our selves, that by this means we may stop bad mens mouthes that would,Its Gods will that we should obey. if we did not obey, speak ill of Professors, and of the name of God, and the Gospel it self.
For so is the will of God,] That Gods will ought to be that which should lead and binde us, I have heretofore proved at large on the third Petition of the Lords-Prayer; which as it should upon all other particulars, so ought to prevail with us in this duty of obedience.
That with well doing ye may put to silence, &c.] Of good works what they be, and how needful they are, I have spoken on verse 12. adde we here one end more; Namely, that
Good works,The godly through their good works stop the mouthes of bad minded persons. or a godly innocent life in obedience to Magistrates, and all things else is of necessity to stop up the mouthes of bad minded persons that wait for offences: Every one that professeth, must know that he hath many eyes on him, that watch him narrowly, and some very badly minded, our duty is to take away all matter of ill talk from them; as if the wood be taken away, the fire goeth out; and if the water run not, the Mill goes not: By well-doing we stop up their mouthes, as David did Sauls, and Daniel his accusers: Or if we cannot stop their mouthes, but that they will needs talk, yet that they may have no just cause to speak ill of us, but though in general terms they make a railing, yet being urged in particular to tell what we have done, or with what they can chargeus, or what sin we live in, or what corruption we yield to, which we strive not against, they may be driven to silence.
This rebukes the wonderful carelesness of some Christians, that walk so losely, and lie so open, as the wicked have their will, even matter enough to talk of their covetousness, of their wonderful impatience, and the like; such had need to repent much, and by the contrary to labor by their well-doing to stop their mouthes, which they have justly opened against Religion and the professors thereof: O how far are some to blame, who by too severe and sudden censuring, cause many to loath the professors of the Word, as if they were all such proud fellows,They are ignorant and foolish which speak ill of the Gospel and the professors thereof. and did condemn all but themselves: O its good to have charity, yet I mean not that we are to call black white, &c.
The ignorance of foolish men.] Here is shewed what they be that are ready to rail and speak ill of Religion, and open their mouthes against the Professors of the Gospel, even ignorant foolish men.
Oh,Obj. but many be great men for Wit, and Parts, and Learning, that do thus.
Its all one,R. such they be, and no other; They that will rail at a Trade for the fault of a Tradesman, and condemn all of a Trade, for the fault of some one of that Profession, might they not be taxed of ignorance and folly? So what ignorance and foolishness is it in a number to speak ill of the way of God, and of the Word Preached, and of the Preachers thereof, and all for the fault of some that profess Religion: Its true, that some speak evil of Gods people, not of ignorance, but of hatred and contempt of the Gospel; A good life will stop all cavils of the former, not of these.
Ignorance] Whoso speaketh ill of God, of his Truth, of his Servants that profess his Name, are ignorant, know not what they do, as our Savior said of them that Crucified him;Luke 23. 34. As the Sadduces, They erre, Matt. 22. 29.not knowing the Scriptures: Iohn 8. 19.Had the Pharisees known the Father, they would not have hated and persecuted Christ the Son; Had the Jews known,1 Cor. 2. 8. They would not have Crucified the Lord of glory: When men rail on Gods people, O they know not what they say, nor whom they despise, for if they knew them, and whose they be, and their great Glory and Dignity, they would catch them about the neck, and earnestly desire that they may be like unto them! But they know them not; one brings Religion thus complaining, I Religion am a meer stranger in the world, therefore I do not wonder that the Dogs of this world do bark at me, which I do not greatly regard, my Pedegree, my Father, my Brother, my Countrey is above, yet I wish that while I stay among you, you would not speak evil of me, because you know me not: And assuredly if men knew Christianity and the revenues thereof, they would not onelyonly not speak evil thereof, but all the good they could; yet this is not simple, but affected ignorance, therefore their judgement will be the more just and fearful.
1. If therefore we hear any,Use 1. whosoever they be (rich or poor) reproaching the way of Salvation, and calling it preciseness, and niceness, and railing on the best Preachers, and most zealous Christians, let us not be much troubled at it; Its but the speech of ignorant men, that know not what they say; blinde, that cannot judge of colours, but through the darkness that is in them, they call good evil, and evil good, who will one day see otherwise, though it may be when it will be too late.
2. While any is of this minde (let him be what he will be,Use 2. have what knowledge he will or can have) he is but an ignorant man, that speaks and does he knows not what, and walks in darkness, and knoweth not how soon he may fall.
Foolish men.] Every natural man is a fool.Every natural man as long as he so continueth, is but a fool, even till God the fountain of all true wisdom, do give him his Spirit of grace into his heart, and make him wise unto Salvation, whose fear is the beginning of wisdom: Let men have wit to rule a Countrey, to compound Controversies, contrive businesses, and to be so deeply fighted in the world, as no man can go beyond them, yet if they be in their natural and unregenerate condition, they are fools, the greatest fools that are; such is Solomons fool throughout the Proverbs, not he that wants wit, but true wisdom; nor one that wants natural parts,Reasons. but grace: For, is not he a fool that prefers toys and bables, before matters of great and good worth? such are they that are careful for the world, for Profits, Pleasures, Honors, and such transitory toys, never regarding what shall become of their souls, having no care of the pardon of their sins, to escape from Hell, and to obtain the Kingdom of Heaven;Luke 12. 20. such was the rich man in the Gospel: Were not he a fool, that in the Summer would neglect to prepare his Winter provision, as having then no use thereof? such is he that hath no care in the Summer of the Gospel, and in the time of his health, to lay up against the stormy time of sickness, temptations and death: Is not he a fool that runs on in the score, and takes no care to discharge it? such are they that go on in sin, and in the abuse of Gods creatures:1 Pet. 4. 4. Is not he a fool that will wallow himself in mire, and think and speak ill of them that will not so do? such are the wicked that wallow in their sins, even wondring that others run not with them into the same excess of riot: A fool will play with firebrands, arrows, and mortal things, so the wicked make a sport of sin: He is a fool that being condemned of Treason, and yet in possibility to get a pardon, defers to sue for it till it be too late; such are the wicked that put off their repentance: He is a fool that will laugh, being in extream danger, or being told he is going to execution, doth jest at it, yea, if it were but to the stocks, or house of correction; yet thus do the wicked every day go nearer and nearer the place of their torment: A fool hates those that tell him he is in danger, and would help him out of it, and can sleep soundly, though it be told him the house is on fire over his head; yet thus do the wicked, being told of their sins, and their danger thereby.
Thus are we to repute our selves,Use. being unregenerate, and to labor by all means for the fear God, which is the beginning of true wisdom.