ree gift, we shall go farther and do ourselves as He has
done for us, and imitate Him in His whole life and sufferings. In
this manner St. Peter presents it here. But he does not speak here
particularly of those marks of the love which leads us to befriend
our neighbor, and do good, which are called, specifically, good works
(for he had said enough of this above), but of such evidences as
concern our personal experience, and are of service in strengthening
our faith, that sin may be put to death in the flesh, and we thereby
become of so much better service to our neighbor. For if I control my
body so that it be not lustful, then can I leave my neighbor, his
wife or child, at peace; while if I subdue hate and envy, I shall
become so much better prepared to be kind and friendly toward my
neighbor.

We have repeated often enough already that we are justified through
faith, and thus have the Lord Christ as ours; still we must also do
good works and show kindness to our neighbor. For we are never
entirely purified while we live on earth, and every one still finds
in his body evil lusts. The believer indeed prays for the death of
sin and the gift of heaven, but is not yet become entirely and
completely strong; but as Christ described the Samaritan, who was not
yet healed, but was laid under restrictions and directions that he
might become sound, so it is also with us. If we believe, then is our
sin restrained,--that is, the disease which we have derived from
Adam, and we begin to recover. But it is the case, in one more, in
another less, that in proportion as one mortifies and subdues the
flesh, so much does his faith increase. So that if we have these two
things, faith and love, our future experience will be, that we shall
continue to drive sin before us till we die.

Therefore St. Peter says, _arm yourselves with the same mind_; that
is, take up a firm purpose, and strengthen yourselves with the mind
which you receive from Christ; for, if we are Christians, then must
we also say, My Master has suffered and spilt His blood for me, and
has died for my sake. Should I then be so base as not to love Him?
While the Master runs upon the spears' points in the conflict, how
much more should the servant advance with joy? Thus do we awaken a
courage such that we press onward, and arm ourselves in our own minds
so as joyfully to persevere.

The word _flesh_ refers in Scripture not only outwardly to the body,
but includes all that i