death: "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." 3

To Him these had come as their example: and such was the example which he gave. Into his fold they had entered: were numbered among his flock, that they might no longer wander in ignorance of the way, or wantonly turn aside from the way which they knew.

25. For ye were as sheep going astray: but are now returned unto the shepherd and bishop of your souls.

In your former ignorance, ye might have indulged in that anger, malice, or revenge, which is natural to man when left to himself, and going astray like sheep which have no shepherd. But you have been recalled to the state from which Adam turned aside: have been brought back unto him, who, like a bishop or overseer, leads and guides the flock and therefore you must "hear his voice, and follow him."

You must follow him, when he leads the way to patience under wrongs, to forgiveness of injuries. You must hear his voice, when he says: "Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you and persecute you: that ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven."

3 Luke xxiii. 32.

4 Matt. v. 44.

LECTURE XXXII.

THE DUTIES OF WIVES AND HUSBANDS.

1 PETER iii. 1—7.

1. Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives, 2. While they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear.

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Subordination, mutual submission, is the law of the world. Therefore, St. Peter having spoken of the obedience due to magistrates and due to masters, proceeds to say, Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands. So it was ordained from the beginning; when God said to the woman, Thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee." But an encouragement is here added. It might often happen that a woman should be converted to the christian faith, whilst her husband obeyed not, believed not, the word. He does not suppose that a christian woman would marry one who remained a heathen; but the cases would be frequent when after marriage one party was converted, and not the other. St. Paul provides for it. (1 Cor. vii. 12.) "If any brother hath a wife that

1 Gen. iii. 16.

believeth not, and she be pleased to dwell with him, let him not put her away. And the woman which hath an husband which believeth not, and if he be pleased to dwell with her, let her not leave him." One only thought would be in the mind of the christian wife, how she might bring her husband to hopes and prospects like her own. "For what knowest thou, O wife, whether thou shalt save thy husband?" 2

There are two modes of preaching, by the lips, and by the life. The silent persuasion of the life may often accomplish what never could be effected by words. The husband might perceive a change of tastes and inclinations: the vanities of the world no longer influencing the heart; domestic duties more carefully and cheerfully performed; the temper regulated by meekness and charity; all the signs of a chaste conversation coupled with fear; the whole deportment respectful and submissive. Thus he might be led to reflect on the cause of such change, and without the word preached, be won by the conversation of the wife to open his heart to the Spirit of God, and seek the same Lord, the same faith, the same baptism in which she had found shelter from the wrath to come."

But this must depend upon a wise and consistent behaviour. The bent of the heart must be manifested in all things. The personal appearance must correspond with the profession.

3. Whose adorning, let it not be that outward adorning, 21 Cor. vii. 16.

of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel;

4. But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.

There was nothing contrary to that spirit in Rebecca, wife of Isaac, nor anything deserving blame in what was done by Eliezer, (Gen. xxiv. 22,) when, after conversing with Rebecca, and having reason to believe that she had been providentially made known to him as the destined wife of Isaac," he took a golden ear-ring of half a shekel weight, and two bracelets for her hands of ten shekels weight of gold," and placed them in her hands. There may be these tokens of affection, and these signs of rank and situation, and the heart may regard them as such, and nothing more. The adorning in St. Peter's mind is rather that which was assumed by Jezebel, Ahab's queen, when Jehu came to Jezreel as the instrument of God's vengeance against her wickedness and idolatry. Thinking, perhaps, to entrap Jehu, we are told that at his approach she "painted her face and tired. her head, and looked out at a window." This was that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, and of putting on of apparel, which the apostle forbids. It is not thus that love is to be sought, or affection retained. These ornaments savour of "the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life," and are "not of the Father, but of the world." Let the first ambi

32 Kings ix. 30.

tion be, to please God: and there is an ornament which is in his sight of great price, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit: not of silver and gold, which is corruptible, soon lost and easily tarnished; but a renewed heart, "first pure, then peaceable:" acceptable to God, and approved of

men.

Of this spirit Scripture furnished them with excellent examples.

5. For after this manner, in the old time, the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their own husbands;

6. Even as Sara obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: whose daughters ye are as long as ye do well, and are not afraid with any amazement.

Many of those to whom this letter would come, were not daughters of Abraham according to the flesh, but of Gentile birth. And yet high honour was attached to the children of Abraham. It was much to say that they "they had Abraham to their father." This then they had attained, through the adoption in Christ Jesus. God had raised up in every country" children unto Abraham," in those whose heart and practice were like Abraham's: as long as they did well, and whilst under proper subjection to their own husbands, still were not afraid with any amazement: were not so submissive to him, as to fear him more than God, or obey him when God ought rather to be obeyed.