Vse. This may serve to reprove those, that doe any way sever or disjoyne these duties, to wit, such as seeme to feare God, but doe not love or honour men; or such as seeme to honour men, but doe not feare God at all.
Vers. 18. Servants, be subject to your masters with all feare, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward.
Verse 19. For this is thank-worthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure griefe, suffering wrongfully.
Verse 20. For what glory is it, if when ye be buffetted for your faults ye shall take it patiently? but if when ye doe well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God.
Verse. 21. For even hereunto were you called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps.
V. 22. Who did not sinne, neither was guile found in his mouth?
V. 23. Who when he was reviled, reviled not againe; when hee suffered, he threatned not, but committed himselfe to him, that judgeth righteously.
V. 24. Who his owne selfe bare our sinnes in his owne body on the tree, that we being dead to sinnes, should live unto righteousnesse, by whose stripes ye were healed.
V. 25. For ye were as sheep going astray, but are now returned unto the shepheard and Bishop of your soules.
The Analysis.
Here the Apostle makes a speciall exhortation about the duty of servants to their masters; and this duty he doth 1. As it were define by a speciall kind of subjection wherein it consists. Be subject with all feare. 2. He doth illustrate it by a distribution of the object, or the masters, to whom this subjection is due; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward. 3. He proves that this subjection is to be made to both sorts, by an argument taken from the adjuncts thereof, grace and glory, that is, Gods praising and approving of it, which accompanies the subjection that is made unto wicked masters verse 19. For this is thank-worthy. The reason of which con-
