Whom resist
By no means give way to him, by indulging any sin, or yielding to
any temptation, but oppose him, and stand against his wiles, his
cunning and his power:
steadfast in the faith;
both in the doctrine of faith, which Satan endeavours to remove
from, or cause to stagger in; and in the grace of faith,
exercising it on the promises of God, and his perfections,
particularly his power and faithfulness concerned in them, and in
the blood, righteousness, sacrifice, and person of Christ, which
faith is capable of making use of, as a shield, to good purpose,
against all the fiery darts of Satan; as also in a profession of
faith, which, as it should be held fast without wavering, and
which the devil is very busy to keep persons from making, or to
cause them to drop it when they have made it, by violent
suggestions, strong temptations, and a flood of reproaches and
persecutions; all which should be disregarded:
knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your
brethren
that are in the world;
and therefore should not be surprised and staggered by them, nor
think them strange, but endure them without murmuring, and with
patience and cheerfulness; since they are the "same afflictions"
and trials which others have been exercised with in all ages: the
same which the fraternity, or "brotherhood", as the word
signifies, see ( 1 Peter 2:17
) who stand in the same relation to God and Christ as they do,
endure; yea, the same which Christ himself, who stands in this
relation to them, has endured: and which must be expected while
they are "in the world"; but this is the great mercy, that they
are only endured in this world; there will be none in the world
to come; they will be "accomplished" and finished here; and every
believer has his measure, which must be filled up; and so has the
whole of Christ, his church, and when they are fulfil they will
be no more.