I Peter - Ferrar Fenton Bible Translation page 1249

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I. PETER.

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you were than LIKE WANDERING sHE1zI>;* but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Guardian of your souls. IO II I2 mniriuwniai gzpurimzni. Wives should likewise be obedient

to their own husbands ; so that should any be careless about the Message, they may, apart from the Message, be gained by the conduct of their wives; observing your blameless conduct with esteem -you, whose adornment should not be merely the external, such as plaited hair, the wearing of golden trinkets, or decoration in putting on of dress; but rather the unseen woman of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a kind and gentle spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God. Because formerly this was the way in which the holy women, who hoped in God, adorned themselves, being obedient to their own husbands ; as Sarah, for instance, obeyed Abraham, calling him master; whose daughters you may now be~ come by well-doing, and by not being frighten ed by any passionate emotion. In the same way, the husbands

should live sensibly with them, assigning honour to their feminine nature, as to a weaker vessel, but as equal inheritors of the gift of life; so that your prayers may not be hindered. Qixlynriaiinu in ®¤hli¤2¤s. Finally, let there be unanimity of

mind : be sympathetic, friendly, com- passionate, gentle; not returning wrong for wrong, nor abuse for abuse; but, on the contrary, speaking plea- santly; because your object in being called was that you may inherit blessing: for, WHOEVER DESIREST0 ENJOY LIFE, AND SEE PLEASANT TIMES, LET HIM RESTRAIN HIS TONGUE FROM ANNOYANCE, AND HIS LIPS FROM SPEAKING DECEIT ; AND LET HIM TURN ASIDE FROM VICE, AND DO GOOD; LET HIM SEARCH FOR PEACE, AND FOLLOW IT. FOR THE EYES OF THE LORD ARE UPON THE RIGHTEOUS, AND HIS EARS ATTENTIVE TO THEIR PRAYER ; 1 Isa. llli. 5——g. BUT Tux LORD is 0PPOsE¤ T0 THB DOERS OF EVIL. And who will injure you, if you x3

become zealous for beneficence? if 14 you suffer, however, for the sake of righteousness, you are happy ; and DRBAD Nor THEIR 'rmzizoxz, Nm- IHER BE TROUBLED; Bur Love rua Loan Cnxrsr IN YOUR Imaurs. Ready at all times to give a defence

to all who assail you concerning the reason of the hope that is in you, yet_ with gentleness and respect; having a clear conscience, so that those wantonly insulting you, although they libel, may be ashamed by your blameless conduct in Christ. For, if the will of God so decides, it is better to suHer for righbdoing than for wrongdoing. Because even Christ once suffered for sinners, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring you to God; having been physically put to death, but spiritually living; in that condition He also went and preached to the spirits under guard who were formerly apathetic, when the patience of God was waiting in the time of Noah, whilean ark was in preparation, in which a few, that is to say, eight lives, were saved through water. And you are now saved by a corresponding baptism; not only by a removal of bodily unclean- ness; but, on the contrary, the acquisition of a pure conscience toward God, through the resurrection of jesus Christ, who is at the right hand of God, having proceeded into heaven, subjecting to Him angels, governments, and powers. — Since then the Messiah sutferedin

the body, arm yourselves also with a similar intention, because he who has suffered physically casts oil` sins ; so that his remaining time in the body he no more lives for human lusts, but for a Divine purpose. For to have been practising in the past time the wishes of the heathen is sumcient; proceeding in excesses, lusts, love of drinking, revellings, drunkenness, and lawless idolatries-·—in which excess of prodigacy they, while re- viling you, wonder that you do not join them; but they must render an account to Him Who is ready to judge the living and dead. For this x8 20 2I 22 1 Psa. xxxiv. 12——16. Y Isa. viii. xs. 1249