Vse. This may serve to admonish us, never to forget that misery which did hang over our heads.
Verse 11. Dearely beloved, I beseech you, as strangers and pilgrims, abstaine from fleshly lusts, which warre against the Soule, Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles.
Verse 12. That whereas they speake against you, as evill doers, they may by your good workes which they shall behold, glorifie God in the day of visitation.
The Analysis.
Here the Apostle doth in generall exhort to lead such a life as is answerable to that happy condition, which was spoken of before: Now this life consists of two parts: The one is abstinence from evill, abstaine from fleshly lusts; the other is, to follow that which is good, having your conversation honest. The first of which he doth perswade them unto by an argument taken 1. From the disagreement that is betwixt the Godly, and the fleshly lusts of this world in respect of their state and condition, because in this world, they are strangers and Pilgrims, and therefore they ought not to set their hearts and desires upon this world, but upon another. 2. From the danger that hangs over them, from the desires of this world, because they tend to the destruction of their soules, in these words, which warre against the Soule. The second part together with the former, he doth perswade them unto, by an argument taken from those witnesses which they ought to have regard of in their conversation; among the Gentiles, by whose testimony hee shewes there will a twofold benefit arise from their honest conversation.
1. That they will cease to speake against them as evill doers.
2. That in beholding their good workes, they will not only give them an honest testimony, but they will also glorifie God for them; which benefit is shewed by the adjunct of time, wherein it should be expected, to wit, in the day of visitation: Now this whole exhortation, that it might be the more effectuall, and the more acceptable unto them, is set forth with a double affection, in the manner of proposing it; of love or charity, in that title which is given unto them, Dearely beloved; and of humility, in that he doth not so much [♦]command these things, as intreat them, I beseech you.
[♦] “commad” replaced with “command”
The Doctrines arising herehence.