Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin; (2) That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God. (3) For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries: (4) Wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you: (5) Who shall give account to him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead. (6) For this cause was the gospel preached also to them that are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit. (7) But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer. (8) And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins. (9) Use hospitality one to another without grudging. (10) As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. (11) If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
Certainly there are no arguments, in a way of persuasion, equal to those, which are drawn from the view of the love of Christ to his Church; and especially as manifested towards the Church in Christ's sufferings and death. And when God the Holy Ghost sweetly blends his grace with his word, the child of God, cannot but feel the persuasiveness of it, on his soul. We have in this Chapter, some very blessed directions of the Holy Ghost, to this amount. And, Reader! why may we not hope, that He who so affectionately recommends, will as effectually give his blessing; and work in us both to will, and to do, of his good pleasure?
And, perhaps of all the arguments, within the compass of these verses, there is not one which comes home to the soul, of the regenerated with more endearedness, than that of Christ having suffered for us in the flesh, that we no longer should live to ourselves, but to him. Jesus having all fulness, emptied himself for his people. And when redemption work was finished, and he returned to glory, yet will he now not consider himself again filled, until the whole purposes of his sufferings and death be answered. If it could be supposed possible for one of Christ's little ones to remain behind, in the ruins of this world, Jesus could not consider himself completely blessed without him. He must have his members by tale and number. The flocks must all pass under the hand of him that telleth them, Jeremiah 33:13. Reader! what think you of being armed with the same mind. Can we be content without Christ? Will a fulness of the creature, a fulness of ordinances, a full house, a full table, yea heaven itself, and Jesus not there, would these satisfy?
I detain the Reader no longer over these verses, (for they are all too plain to need a comment), than just to observe, how blessedly the direction is given, for the ministering to God's glory, by all the redeemed, whether private believers or public preachers, when they are called upon to do it, according to the ability which God giveth. And the reason is, because God must give in to his people grace, before that they can give out to Him praise. But when the heart is turned in all its chords, with God's love, then, and not before, the true melody of the soul will vibrate on every string. The soul wound up to praise, is in perfect harmony with the numberless chants of old saints, and finds Christ, and enjoys Christ in every one. I will love thee, he will say, O Lord my strength. I will extol thee my God and King. I will bless thy Name forever and ever. If the Reader would desire hymns to this purpose, the Bible is full of them, Exodus 15:11; Psalms 18:1; Psalms 41:13; Isaiah 25:1; Psalms 104:33-34. On the subject of covering a multitude of sins, see James 5:20 and Commentary.