1 Peter 4
17 (16) For the time is come that (*) judgment must begin at the house of God. (17) If
it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them which obey not the Gospel of
God?
(16) The third reason: because the Lord of all the world being especially careful for them in his
household, doeth therefore chastise them first of all, yet so that he keepeth a measure in his greatest
severity. And as he hath always used to do heretofore, so doth he now specially when as he exhibited
himself in person to his Church.
(*) Or, punishment.
(17) Lest the godly should be offended and stumble at that vain shadow of felicity of the wicked, as
though God were not the governor of the world, for that the wicked are in good case, and the godly
in evil, the Apostle teacheth by an argument of a comparison of them together, that God who spareth
not his own, but nurtureth them under the cross, will at length in his time handle the rebellious and
wicked far otherwise, whom he hath appointed to utter destruction.