The Second Part.
Vers. 12. Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery tryal, which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you.
The other part of the Chapter follows, wherein hee encourages Beleevers against persecutions, and exhorts them not to be offended or troubled with persecutions, as a new thing. The Arguments of the Exhortation are thirteen, all which prove that persecutions for the profes∣sion of the Gospel are not to be feared.
Tryal] Argum. 1. Persecution will not hurt you, but will try and purge you, as fire tryeth and purgeth gold and silver: Therefore yee ought not to fear afflictions.
Vers. 13. But rejoyce, in as much as yee are partakers of Christs sufferings; that when his glory shall bee re∣vealed, yee may be glad also with exceeding joy.
Argum. 2. Yee ought rather to be glad and rejoyce in afflictions for the Gospel sake: Therefore persecution is not to be feared.
That] Argum. 3. Confirming the former, whilst yee suffer persecutions, yee are made partakers of the af∣flictions appointed for the members of Christ, and are made conformable to him, who hath suffered the like things for the confession of Truth: Therefore yee ought not to fear persecution.
Yee may bee glad] Argum. 4. Because yee shall have the communion of glory and joy with Christ at his com∣ing: Therefore, &c.
Vers. 14. If yee bee reproached for the name of Christ, happy are yee; for the Spirit of Glory, and of God rest∣eth upon you: on their part hee is evil spoken of, but on your part hee is glorified.
Argum. 5. They that are but reproached for the name of Christ, have both the means and the sign of his bles∣sedness, much more they which suffer greater things: Therefore yee ought not to fear persecutions.
Because] Argum. 6. The bearing of the Cross of Christ, is a sign of Christs glorious Spirit resting upon you, that shall never depart from you: Therefore yee ought not to fear persecution.
For your part] Argum. 7. Confirming the former, Al∣though the Spirit of God, by those that persecute you, may be blasphemed, yet it is glorified by the faithful that s••f••er afflictions: Therefore yee ought not to fear per∣s••c••tion.
Vers. 15. But let none of you suffer as a Murderer, or as a Thief, or as an evil doer, or as a busie body in other mens matters.
16. Yet if a man suffer as a Christian, let him not bee ashamed, but let him glorifie God on this behalf.
Argum. 8. Although all affliction, and namely for e∣vil deeds, is not glorious, yet when any one is evilly en∣treated, not for his own desert (but for Christs sake, or because hee is a Christian) the affliction is glorious, nei∣ther doth it become the afflicted to be so troubled, as if he were ashamed of the name of Christ, but is rather obli∣ged to glorifie God, who by a certain degree of Martyr∣dome, hath honoured him: Therefore yee ought not to fear persecution.
Vers. 17. For the time is come that judgement must be∣gin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of those that obey not the Gos∣pel of God?
Argum. 9. The judgement that God will bring upon the sins of men, is begun in the Church, as in Gods fa∣mily towards his own houshold; whose sin God chasti∣seth and crucifies by the Cross of Christ: Therefore yee ought not to fear persecution▪
What shall] Argum. 10. The afflictions which the faithful suffer, will argue that Infidels and Persecutors will at length be most severely punished: Therefore yee ought not to fear persecution.
Vers. 18. And if the righteous scarcely bee saved, where shall the ungodly and sinner appear?
Argum. 11. Clearing the former Argument; Seeing that the condition of the faithful is so tedious, that they cannot be saved without great difficulty, and by afflicti∣ons, without doubt the condition of the wicked will be in∣tollerable: Therefore yee ought neither to backslide from the Faith, lest yee perish, nor fear persecutions, because they shall be brought to nought.
Vers. 19. Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God, commit the keeping of their souls to him in well-doing, as unto a faithful Creatour.
From hence hee infers an Exhortation, which hee con∣firms together with two other Arguments.
Argum. 12. They that are evil entreated for Christs sake, are not properly afflicted by the will of man, but by the will of God, who hath determined to perfect his work in those that are his, through afflictions: Therefore yee ought not to fear persecutions.
A faithful] Argum. 13. They that suffer any thing in the flesh for Christ, and they which have resolved to persevere in holiness, doing that which is good, may be certain and sure of the salvation of their souls, both be∣cause God is omnipotent, and because hee is faithful to perform all things which hee hath promised to them that are his: Therefore yee ought not to fear persecution.