accordance with God’s will; and if this purpose is mocked, judgment awaits them.”1 The other, and much preferable interpretation, takes the slandered Christians to be the persons first in view, and the thought of their ultimate vindication by the Judge of all to be the point of the encouragement. Thus understood the statement amounts to this: “Have done for ever with the coarse, pagan life; the heathen will persecute you, and justify their persecution by reviling your character; but be not moved