Exposition Upon 1 Peter, Biblical exegesis · Chapter 3 · Verse 17
Verse 17. For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well-doing, then for evil doing.
NOw follow some reasons to perswade to willing suffering for righteousness sake (which was then common,Why we ought willingly to suffer for righteousness. and the profession of the faith dangerous) 1. For that this being a world wherein we must suffer, its better a great deal to suffer for well, then for ill doing. 2. Because the Lord will have it so, to whose will we must be subject.
For its better, Its better to suffer for well then evil doing.&c.] Naturally we will chuse the better, if we know it, so should we in this, seeing we are subject to suffering, and that we are apt by nature to evil, and so to suffer for it; we must chuse rather, as being far better, to suffer for well, then for ill-doing: Its every way better;Reasons. better, as being more pleasing to God, he delights in the one,Mat. 5. 10, 11. not in the other; pronounceth those blessed, these accursed: Besides,Acts 5▪ 41. its no credit to suffer for ill doing, but matter of shame and reproach,Phil. 1. 29. whereas its honor to suffer for a good cause: That of the penitent Thief seems to import so much, we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds (and so have cause to be humbled) but this man hath done nothing amiss:Luke 23. 41. Again, there's no comfort in suffering for ill-doing, as there's for well-doing. Suffering of it self is ill and grievous, therefore there had need be somewhat to mitigate it, but if it be for well-doing, a good conscience will bear it out; its for Gods sake, its that wherewith all his servants have met, and hereof the conscience takes notice, and that to this there's a reward, none at all for the other.
1. This rebukes those that suffer for their foul offences,Use 1. Theft, Adultery, and the like; howsoever they be punished, yet have they cause of hanging down the head, not for the punishment, but for the cause: O how many refusing to be ruled by God and his Word, bring misery upon themselves and ruine? The Gaols are full, the gallows catch many: Its a fearful thing when they go to their punishment impudently, and be not ashamed and humbled, its but the forerunner of fearful judgements: When therefore men have brought themselvs into trouble justly, their best way is to be humbled, and repent, so shall they finde favor with God and men: We must avoid evil, as we would avoid suffering for ill-doing, avoid the sin, if we would avoid the punishment: We are also to be careful that we suffer not for Railing, Slandering, Backbiting, Meddling with other folks matters.
2. This may comfort them that suffer for well-doing;Use 2. its pleasing to God, they are fellows to the Saints, Prophets and Apostles; the honor is great, the cause is good, how base or grievous soever the punishment be: Both John the Baptist and Barabbas were imprisoned; Achan and Steven stoned; and Witches and Martyrs be burnt; the cause was not the same, and in the cause the shame lies: If a Christian (as Paul) be a prisoner, and have chains on him, and being demanded why he came there, and is there so used; if he can truly say, Its neither for Treason nor Fellony, I thank God, but for preaching the truth of God to the world, then its well; yea, this will quiet his conscience, when he knows its Gods cause, who will take care of him, strengthen him, and receive him to glory.
If the will of God be so,] Heres the other Reason: We must be patient and comfortable in suffering for well-doing, for its Gods will it should be so. Here note, that
No affliction or persecution comes to us,No affliction comes to us but by Gods▪ will. but by the will of God: Whatsoever was done to our Savior Christ, was done by Gods determinate counsel; not an hair falls from our heads without our heavenly Father:Acts 2. 23. and 4. 28. Christ foretold Peter of his bands before they came, and so Agabus forewarned Paul of his,Mat. 10. 17, 18. which sheweth that they came by the will of God.Acts 21. 11.
Obj. How can this be by the will of God, seeing its a wicked thing, and displeasing to God that his servants should be persecuted for well doing, and he hath both forbid it, and will punish the same.
Answ. As it comes from the Devil and persecutors,How far God hath an hand therein. its a sin, and they do wickedly, and its forbid, but God hath an hand in it so far forth as it is good, and he that brought light out of darkness, can and doth bring good out of the evil of the wicked: They intend evil, but God good, as in Jobs losses; so in crucifying Christ, Judas, the High Priests, the Jews, Soldiers and Pilate did evil, yet all this was by the will of God, even so far forth as it was the mean of our Salvation, and thereupon Peter that gave counsel against it,Mat. 16. 23. was rebuked sharply; so in the affliction of Gods children by the ungodly, the devil and they of spite punish them for their goodness, and to discourage them quite, but God wills this for many good reasons;Iames 1. 12. as, to try his, that they which be approved might be known,Rev. 2. 10. and to exercise and try their faith and patience, and shew, that they serve not in shew, and for wages; to confirm the truth, not for it self, for their sakes which are weak ones, and to leave the others inexcusable; to manifest the wickedness of the wicked, and make way for the manifestation of the glory of Gods justice in plaguing them, as the glory of God is made manifest by the constant and patient suffering of the Righteous, which they could never have done of themselves.
1. Heres a comfort to Gods servants,Use 1. that we are not left here to the will of the Devil and wicked men, to do what they list against us: O no, they are set their bounds, beyond which they cannot pass: The Devils could not enter into the Swine without permission, nor go one whit further with Job then God gave Commission: A Sparrow falls not to the ground without his providence,Mat. 10. 31. and we are of more value then they: The Lord appoints out our troubles, and measures them; they shall not be as little as we would, for then should they be too little (our tender nature loathing troubles, and being unwilling to undergo the same) nor so great as our adversaries would (for then would they be too great) but as God will:Simile. The wicked are but the Lords drudges to scour us and make us bright; They are his Landresses to wash us white, not so little as we should be never the better, nor so much as should rend the Lords linen.
2. When we be ill dealt with in word or deed by the men of the world,Use 2. we should sit down quietly and bear it: Its the will of God it should be so, and he doth all things in infinite wisdom, and lovingly for the good of his; accordingly when Paul would needs go to Jerusalem, Acts 21. 15.where he was to be in great danger, his friends said, The will of the Lord be done; thou mayest say, If the Lord hath sent this to try me, I pray God strengthen me; if to chasten and purge me, then to awaken me out of security and love of the world: I thank God for it, if he will any way have glory by me, I am glad, blessed be God, its his will, I am content to wait upon him; not but that we may with our Savior and the Apostle Paul, plead our innocency, as also use lawful means for our freedom, if God see it good.
3. But yet let the wicked think never the better of themselves,Use 3. nor look ever the more to be freed from punishment, because its Gods will, for they do it to no such end, and therefore he will cast the rod into the fire when he hath chastened his children, as he did by Ashur, and the enemies he used to punish his people: Did Judas, or the Priests and Jews, aym at the Salvation of the world in Christs death? Nothing less; Covetousness drave on the one, malice the other: If God brought good out of it, what thanks to them? He is to be praised for his goodness, they to be plagued for their sin.
4. We must not bring trouble upon our selves,Use 4. for in that we can have no comfort, but if God bring us into it, we may comfortably look up to him.