Faithful Under-Shepherd
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you out of darkness into His marvelous light: which in time past were
not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained
mercy, but now have obtained mercy.
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“Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain
from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul; having your conversation
honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as
evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold,
glorify God in the day of visitation.”
The apostle plainly outlined the attitude that believers should sus-
tain toward the civil authorities: “Submit yourselves to every ordinance
of man for the Lord’s sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme; or
unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment
of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well. For so is the
will of God, that with well-doing ye may put to silence the ignorance
of foolish men: as free, and not using your liberty for a cloak of ma-
liciousness, but as the servants of God. Honor all men. Love the
brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king.”
Those who were servants were advised to remain subject to their
masters “with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to
the froward. For this is thankworthy,” the apostle explained, “if a
man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully.
For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall
take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take
it patiently, this is acceptable with God. For even hereunto were ye
called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that
ye should follow His steps: who did no sin, neither was guile found
in His mouth: who, when He was reviled, reviled not again; when
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He suffered, He threatened not; but committed Himself to Him that
judgeth righteously: who His own self bare our sins in His own body
on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness:
by whose stripes ye were healed. For ye were as sheep going astray;
but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.”
The apostle exhorted the women in the faith to be chaste in con-
versation and modest in dress and deportment. “Whose adorning,” he
counseled, “let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and
of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; 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.”