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chapter. He says, "Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: but rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when His glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. If ye be reproached for the Name of Christ, happy are ye; for the Spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you : on their part He is evil spoken of, but on your part He is glorified. But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men's matters." Now, Peter had been a busybody in other men's matters, and, to his sorrow, he knew it. He had interfered in things which did not concern him. We see this in the incident recorded in John xxi. 20-23. Jesus told Peter to follow Him, but the disciple heeded not the counsel of his Master, and, moved with what he must have felt to be his superior judgment, and thinking he had the right to order and regulate the movements of the beloved disciple, said to Jesus, "Lord, and what shall this man do?" The answer of Jesus must have fallen with humiliating effect upon Peter's impetuous spirit-" Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? Follow thou Me." This was a smart rebuke to Peter's forward disposition, and, from the chastened spirit breathed throughout his epistles, it is evident that he profited from his Master's faithful and loving reproof. From heart-felt experience he could counsel thus-"Let none of you suffer as a busybody in other men's matters."

It is very easy for proud, restless, inquisitive human nature to busy itself with the concerns of others. Aye, with their spiritual concerns. Frequently I have seen unwarrantable attention paid by persons, who prided themselves in their

clear views of truth, to feeble-minded ones whose conceptions of God's ways were hazy. Language not becoming the followers of a loving and gentle Saviour is too frequently used. I speak feelingly. If I meet a man giving evidence of life whose views of God's truth are cloudy, it becomes me in my dealings with him, as I believe myself under the Anointing, to ask myself the question, "Who maketh thee to differ from another? And what hast thou that thou didst not receive” (1 Cor. iv. 7). To be occupied with self in the presence of a just and holy God-not for self-assertion, but for self-judgment-not for self-exaltation, but for selfrenunciation—is the legitimate occupation of every child of God quickened into spiritual life, and blessed with the teaching and spirit of the Meek and Lowly Jesus Who pleased not Himself” (Rom. xv. 3).

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It is spiritually profitable to have the humility of Jesus for our daily study. "Who made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men; and being found in fashion as a Man, He humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross" (Phil. ii. 7-8). Those are three remarkable words-"HE humbled HIMSELF." That is more than we poor, proud mortals can do. It is altogether out of our line of things. Humbling self is an utter impossibility with man, such is the pride and haughtiness of his deceitful and desperately wicked heart. Humbling power comes alone from a once humbled, but now exalted and reigning Christ-from a humbling God. "The lofty looks of man shall be humbled, and the haughtiness of men shall be bowed down, and the LORD alone shall be exalted in that day. For the day of the LORD of hosts shall be upon every one that is proud and lofty, and upon

every one that is lifted up; and he shall be brought low" (Isa. ii. II, 12).

Now notice the context of the portion I have read for you by way of text. Peter declares himself to be simply an elder, and, what was far better, “a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed." There is something very blessed in that, but far beyond poor nature's vision. Peter waited not until he was divested of the burden of the flesh, or until he entered into that bright home where darkness never dwells, to know what glory really was. He was called to it. He was a partaker of it. This he states very clearly in his 2nd Epistle, 1st chap., 3rd ver.: "According as His divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him Who hath called us to glory and virtue." You see this again in the 10th verse of our chapter," But the God of all grace, Who hath called us unto His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you. To Him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen." Paul taught the same in Rom. viii. 30: "Moreover whom He did predestinate, them He also called: and whom He called, them He also justified; and whom He justified, them He also glorified." See also I Thess. ii. 12: "That ye would walk worthy of God, Who hath called you unto His kingdom and glory." With Paul glory was a present reality-not in its fulness I grant you; but, though not in its fulness, no less a fact. The elders Peter exhorts-" Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock. And when the Chief Shepherd shall

appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth

not away.'

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He then directs his attention to the young folk, saying, "Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder; yea, all of you be subject one to another." This is needful and very salutary advice. I felt it to be so recently in reading a letter from an aged saint, in which he apologised for his weakness. and insufficiency. Reigning and triumphing grace immediately asserted itself in my affections in that precious portion of the old law, "Thou shalt rise up before the hoary head, and honour the face of the old man, and fear thy God: I am the LORD" (Lev. xix. 32). Nothing will ever prove a loss to us through bowing down with due respect before our seniors, either in nature or in grace. Paul paid due respect to Andronicus and Junia, who were in Christ, experimentally, before him (Rom. xvi. 7). To be subject one to another by the power of sovereign grace is to enjoy sweet liberty from the spirit of self-sufficiency and self-assertion. Overcoming grace here proclaims its ascendancy-" And be clothed with humility; for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble." Then comes the covenant command given by the Holy Ghost from the exercised and matured experience of Peter the penitent-not Peter the pope "Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time."

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We will notice a few particulars in the text, and may God bless our meditation to His glory and to our permanent profit.

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I. The command-" Humble yourselves, thereore.' In that word therefore we discover a

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In the preceding

good reason for the command. context subjection to elders is enjoined upon the youngsters. Subjection one to another is required from all persons under the power and grace of the Spirit. But we must be careful to notice that we are not called upon, for one moment, to be subject to the imperious tempers or dispositions of those saints, who, through lack of grace, are determined upon having things all their own way! Peter gives a very good reason for our being subject one to another, and our being clothed with humility. Some of us can boast-and we thank God for this privilege of boasting that we stand before Him, accepted and welcome, in the righteousness of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. But there is a very great danger in our desire to tarry and stand still here. As justified ones in the obedience of Christ we are commanded to be clothed in the humility of Christ. Let our tongues and tempers, dispositions and doings, be characterised by the humility of Christ.. The heart of many here present may well sigh with mine, I greatly need it. Lord, clothe me with Thy humility! Quite right, dear friends; for, if the persons to whom Peter wrote had not felt as you do now, he would never have counselled them as he did. There was a necessity in their experience and conduct for this evangelical counsel, and we feel that necessity existing in us-all springing from the pride and conceit of our wretched nature. God's living children have many hard lessons to learn before they delight in this rare spiritual adorning, and ere they seek for nothing but Christ to be seen in them, and for the disposition of Christ to govern and guard them. Peter's reason why we should be clothed with humility is this "for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble."

Many instances of these-many displays of God's

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