of the grace of life._ The husband is not to dwell
on this, that the wife is weak and fragile, but on this, that she
also is baptized, and has the same that he has,--all blessings in
Christ. For inwardly we are all alike, and there is no difference
between man and woman, but as to the outward condition, it is God's
pleasure that the husband rule, and the wife be subject to him.

_That your prayers be not hindered._ What does St. Peter mean by
that? This is his meaning; if you do not act in accordance with
reason, but will find fault, and murmur, and proceed arbitrarily, and
in this give occasion for error, so that neither can overlook
another's fault, and take all for the best, then will you be unable
to pray, and say, "Father, forgive us our sins as we forgive." By
prayer we are to strive against the devil, therefore we must be
subject one to another. These are the truly precious good works which
we are to do. If this is preached and understood, we shall all have
our homes full of good deeds.--Thus we have heard how a Christian
should conduct himself in all varieties of condition, but especially
in his relations to others. It follows now, further, how we all, in
common one with another, should lead, as to our outward condition, a
christian life.

V. 8-12. _Finally, be ye all like-minded, have compassion one of
another, be compassionate, affectionate as brethren, heartily kind,
courteous. Render not evil for evil, or railing for railing, but on
the contrary, blessing; and know, that ye are hereunto called, that
ye should inherit the blessing. For whoso loveth life and would see
prosperity, let him refrain his tongue, that it speak not evil, and
his lips that they bear no guile. Turn thyself from evil and do good,
seek out peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the Lord behold the
righteous, and His ears are open to their prayer, but the face of the
Lord is against them that do evil._

All this is said only to this end, that we should have mutual love
one to another. For here that which the Scripture sometimes expresses
in few words, is much enlarged upon. St. Peter would say, the _summa
summarum_ as to how you are to treat one another in your outward
conduct is, that ye be like-minded. This matter the Apostles Peter
and Paul often bring forward, and this much is said, that we all
should have one mind, one spirit, one thought; what seems to one
right and good, let this also seem to another right and good. It is