no avail that to us Christians human
doctrines should be preached, but we should be taught of such a power
as subdues the devil, sin and death. And here St. Peter has once more
brought together many proof-texts, and it is throughout common with
him thus to heap passage on passage, for all the prophets speak of
this, that God's name and honor, and his arm or power should be
honored and extolled, and that he would perform such a work that the
whole world would sing and speak of it. Of this are the prophets in
all places full. On this same St. Peter here expatiates. Besides,
they have spoken much of light and darkness, that we must be
enlightened with God's light, thereby showing that all human reason
is darkness.--St. Peter says, further:

V. 10. _Ye who once were not a people, but are now a people of God,
to whom God did not show mercy, but to whom he is now merciful._ This
passage is found written in the prophet Hosea, chap. ii., and St.
Paul has also quoted it in Rom. ix.: "I will make those to be called
my people, who were not my people." The import of all is this:
Almighty God chose his people Israel as a peculiar people, and
manifested his great power in their behalf, and gave them many
prophets, and performed many wonderful works toward them, that He
from that people might permit Christ to become man; and for the
children's sake has it all taken place. Therefore they are called in
Scripture the people of God. But the prophets have extended this
further, and said that this election should be more comprehensive,
and should even include the Gentiles. Therefore St. Peter says here,
ye are now the people of God, who once were not the people of God.
Hence it is evident that he wrote the epistle to the Gentiles and not
to the Jews. Thereby he shows that the passage out of the prophet has
been now fulfilled--that they are now a holy people--they have the
property, priesthood, kingdom, and all which Christ has, if they
believe.--It follows further, in Peter:

V. 11-12. _Dearly beloved, I admonish you as strangers and pilgrims,
abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul, and lead an
honest life among the Gentiles, so that they, if they slander you as
evildoers, may see your good works, and praise God when it shall come
to that day._

St. Peter here uses a somewhat different mode of speech from St.
Paul, who would not speak in the same manner, as we shall hear: for
every Apostle has his own way of speakin