If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live
peaceably,
&c.] Or be at peace, seek after peace, pursue it, and
cultivate it:
with all men;
with those that we are immediately concerned with, in a natural
relation; so husbands should live peaceably with their wives, and
wives with their husbands; parents with their children, and
children with their parents; masters with their servants, and
servants with their masters; and one brother, relation, and
friend, with another: and so with all we are concerned with in a
spiritual relation, as members of Christ, and in the same church
state; such should be at peace among themselves, ( 1
Thessalonians 5:13 ) ; peace should rule in their hearts, (
Colossians 3:15 ) , and
they should study to keep "the unity of the Spirit, in the bond
of peace", ( Ephesians
4:3 ) : yea, with all we are concerned in a civil sense;
saints should live peaceably in the neighbourhood, towns, cities,
and countries, where they dwell, and show themselves to be the
quiet in the land; should pray for the peace of the place where
they are; and do all that in them lies to promote it, by living
themselves peaceably and quietly, in all godliness and honesty;
yea, they should live peaceably with their very enemies, "if it
be possible"; which is rightly put, for there are some persons of
such tempers and dispositions, that it is impossible to live
peaceably with; for when others are for peace, they are for war;
and in some cases it is not only impracticable, but would be
unlawful; as when it cannot be done consistent with holiness of
life and conversation, with the edification of others, the truths
of the Gospel, the interest of religion, and the glory of God;
these are things that are never to be sacrificed for the sake of
peace with men: the apostle adds another limitation of this rule,
"as much as lieth in you"; for more than this is not required of
us; nothing should be wanting on our parts; every step should be
taken to cultivate and maintain peace; the blame should lie
wholly on the other side; it becomes the saints to live peaceably
themselves, if others will not with them.