Exposition Upon 1 Peter, Biblical exegesis · Chapter 4 · Verse 4
Verse 4. Wherein they think it strange that you run not with them to the same excess of ryot, speaking evil of you.
HEre's the prevention of an Objection:The prevention of an Objection. If we should now break off, might some say, and no longer live as we have done, but take the course that you prescribe, we should be wondred at as an Owl among Birds: They would think strangely of us, as of fools and mad folks, and hate us, and speak evil of us, that we should not be able to abide it: Others also might say, We which have followed your counsel, have made our selves a gazing stock, and pulled all men upon our tops; even those that liked us well before, speak ill of us, and what we shall do, we know not: The Apostle Answereth, I know it is so with some of you, and will be so with the rest, but be not dismaid, for (as its set down in the following Verse) they shall answer for this wickedness at the time which God hath appointed, when we shall receive the Crown of glory for our well-doing, and constant continuance therein.
In this Verse note, 1. The minde of the wicked towards Gods children, their course seems strange to them. 2. The effect hereof in their words, They speak evil of them. 3. The ground or reason hereof, For that they run not with them into the same excess of riot.
Wherein they think it strange] Hence note, that
Such as mean to renounce their sins,Such as live holily shall meet with opposition. and take an holy course, shall finde much opposition, undergo the hatred and ill will of most. Lot was wondred at in Sodom, as doubtless the old world wondred at Noah for making the Ark, and Pharaohs Courtiers at Moses his choyce, Michol mockt & despised David in her heart when he danced before the Ark, Nebuchadnezzar wondred that the three children refused to bow to his Image which others did, Festus thought Paul mad; In time of Popery they wondred at the Martyrs, that they would not at some times yield a little, as to speak a few words, &c. Thus it is now (for the world lives still, and is like it self) If any dare not play or riot, or talk of the world on the Lords Day, they are thought to be mopish fools, who had rather be poring on a book, then doing as others: If any care not to get by Lying, Deceiving, and the common ways of the world, they are wondered at as fools; so if any now and then omit some of their businesses, and go to hear the Word, they are accounted idle (as Pharaoh said to the Israelites) and such as have little to do: If any be humbled for their sins, they think them melancholy, and that they will be out of their wits, and they would not be in their case for no good, and would have them be merry, and play it away. If any at the hearing of the Word, perceiving it to be high time to forsake his old wont, and take a better course, now dare not do as he hath formerly, they wonder at him: What! art thou turned Puritan, will they say? Wiltst thou forsake thy sports and merriments (which they think a little heaven) cast off thine old companions and sworn brethren? &c. What, wondrest thou at them for thus doing? What, for coming out of the fire? for taking pains to save their souls? for not daring to wound, poyson or destroy themselves by provoking God? for taking pains to do that which must keep them by Gods appointment, with all needful graces? for being troubled about their sins, and the danger thereof? for longing to be in the favor of God, &c? Assuredly thou hast small reason so to do; but its for that they savor not the things of the Spirit of God, for that they perceive not the things that are of God, are blinde, and cannot see afar off.Simile. If we should see one of a strange Country come through our Town, we would wonder at their strange attire, nothing like ours: The children of God be not of this world, but chosen out of the world, and may not fashion themselves like the world, but be of the fashion of Heaven, the world therefore wonders at them.
1. Therefore let none think,Use 1. that if they turn to God, and take a good course, that they shall be generally beloved and well thought of; of God, Angels and good men they shall, but of the world they shall be wondered at and hated; ere you begin, make account hereof, even to have the ill will of those which have loved you, yea, it may be, the displeasure and frown of Father, Mother, &c. yet let not this hold you off, nor keep you still in your old course; as long as God and good men love you,Luke 6. 26. what need you care? Wo be to you, when all men speak well of you; better be wondered at and hated of the world for well-doing, then condemned of God for ill-doing.
2. For those that are entred into a good course already,Use 2. and finde it thus, let them not be discouraged; its no new thing, the worthy servants of God have been counted fools and madmen for well-doing: We must have an Heroical courage not to be daunted herewith; we must not think the worse of our selves, because the world thinks basely of us, who know us not, nor our course, which of them that be very fools indeed, is counted foolishness; we may wonder as much (and much more) at them, that be so desperate to go on in their sins, and take no thought for death,Simil. or day of Judgement, that hang over a pit, and yet can be merry; that run on in the score, and never think of reckoning; that dare buy a few short profits and pleasures at so dear a rate, at the loss of their souls, that deprive themselves of the inward and true comfort and peace they might have in God and spiritual things, as the Word and Sacraments, for the short and vain pleasures of honor and deceiveable riches; that prefer Hogs meat before Angels food: We have cause, I say, to wonder at their folly and madness, and to pity them, thanking God that hath not left us in their woful blindeness, and miserable estate: If thus by wondering at them we can do them any good, so it is, but let not their wondering hurt us.
3. For those that think strange of Gods servants for not doing ill,Use 3. or for well doing, they bewray themselves to be of the world, and so to be carnal: They that mislike the fashion of Gods children, its a sign they be of another Countrey, not of Heaven, and that they be none of wisdoms children,Matth. 11. 19. for all they justifie wisdom wheresoever they see her, and in whomsoever: Labor therefore not onelyonly not to think their course strange, but to acknowledge it the best course in the world, and accordingly to follow it.
That you run not with them] This sheweth, that
Though we be dull and dead,Mans proneness to evil exceeding great. and slow to that that is good, yet our proneness and eagerness to that that is naught is exceeding great: We can run to Play-sports, Vanities and Follies please us, but we come to the Word, Prayers and good Duties with a leaden heel; at this we are drowsie, but at the other watchful enough. Many run so fast in the ways of sin, and make such haste, that they run themselves quite out of state and credit with God and man, and out of their health too, and have brought untimely destruction upon themselves; they have made such haste, that it seemeth they thought long till they were in hell: Too too many also are now a running (but its in the broad way) wherein the faster they run, the sooner they come to destruction; if it were well considered, they can see small cause to make such haste: O that they could be perswaded to turn head, and enter into the way of good men,Heb. 12. 1. and then let them run as fast as they will, run the race set before them, 1 Cor. 9. 24.so run, that they may obtain; and as before we rejected all counsel that might do us good, so now let us shake off all impediments, whether within or without us, that would hinder us in our Christian course, or from running the way of Gods Commandments: The faster we have heretofore run in vanity, run we now the faster in the right way; we could then take great pains, think the time short, spend our money in vanity, now after the same maner lets do the contrary; its our great fault, that we did run apace after the world,See Rom. 6. 19 with the profits and pleasure thereof, but now our fault is, that we go a foot pace, nay, a Snails pace in goodness.
To the same excess of riot,] The ungodly follow after sin eagerly.When men give way to sin, and their hearts are set on evil, there is no hoe, but they will run over head and ears;Simile. As the Sea if it break over a bank, it can scarcely be stopt, it runs so violently; so small beginnings in sin, grow to excess quickly, and by degrees till they are past hope.
Let no man therefore give way to them,See Iob 31. stop them at first: If Peter a good servant of God, having made a breach in his conscience, and sinned once in denying his Master, was thereby stirred up to adde another breach, and another thereto, what shall become of the wicked? Do not therefore say, Is this such a matter, &c? for one sin draws on another.
Speaking evil of you.] Its the nature of the ungodly to speak evil of Gods servants.It is the nature of the wicked to speak evil of Gods servants, they not onelyonly think ill, but they speak ill too, it shall out: It were good that we were so wise, when we have good things in our minde, that we would utter them; we sometimes mislike things that be amiss, but we will say nothing, though we both might and ought.