Chapter II.—An exhortation to virtue.

“Wherefore, girding up your loins,”³⁴⁴³⁴⁴    Comp. 1 Pet. i. 13; Eph. vi. 14. “serve the Lord in fear”³⁴⁵³⁴⁵    Ps. ii. 11. and truth, as those who have forsaken the vain, empty talk and error of the multitude, and “believed in Him who raised up our Lord Jesus Christ from the dead, and gave Him glory,”³⁴⁶³⁴⁶    1 Pet. i. 21. and a throne at His right hand. To Him all things³⁴⁷³⁴⁷    Comp. 1 Pet. iii. 22; Phil. ii. 10. in heaven and on earth are subject. Him every spirit serves. He comes as the Judge of the living and the dead.³⁴⁸³⁴⁸    Comp. Acts xvii. 31. His blood will God require of those who do not believe in Him.³⁴⁹³⁴⁹    Or, “who do not obey him.” But He who raised Him up from the dead will raise³⁵⁰³⁵⁰    Comp 1 Cor. vi. 14; 2 Cor. iv. 14; Rom. viii. 11. up us also, if we do His will, and walk in His commandments, and love what He loved, keeping ourselves from all unrighteousness, covetousness, love of money, evil speaking, false witness; “not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing,”³⁵¹³⁵¹    1 Pet. iii. 9. or blow for blow, or cursing for cursing, but being mindful of what the Lord said in His teaching: “Judge not, that ye be not judged;³⁵²³⁵²    Matt. vii. 1. forgive, and it shall be forgiven unto you;³⁵³³⁵³    Matt. vi. 12, 14; Luke vi. 37. be merciful, that ye may obtain mercy;³⁵⁴³⁵⁴    Luke vi. 36. with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again;”³⁵⁵³⁵⁵    Matt. vii. 2; Luke vi. 38. and once more, “Blessed are the poor, and those that are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of God.”³⁵⁶³⁵⁶    Matt. v. 3, 10; Luke vi. 20.