2 Peter

2nd Fruit. The unction of the Spirit (1 John 2:20): You have an unction from the holy one. This unction or anointing is nothing else but the work of sanctification in the heart, whereby the Spirit makes us partake of the divine nature (2 Peter 1:4). Such as speak of the philosop…

Quest. But is it not said, that we are made partakers of the divine nature? Resp. By divine nature there, is meant divine qualities (2 Peter 1:4). We are made partakers of the divine nature, not by identity or union with the divine essence, but by a transformation into the divin…

This is good, to grow out of conceit of oneself. 2. The right manner of growth is to grow proportionably, when a Christian grows in one grace as well as another (2 Peter 1:5). To grow in knowledge but not in meekness, brotherly love, good works, this is not the right growth; a t…

When a man adopts another for his son and heir, he may put his name upon him, but he cannot put his disposition into him; if he be of a morose rugged nature, he cannot alter it. But whom God adopts he sanctifies: He does not only give them a new name, but a new nature (2 Peter 1…

1. The first benefit flowing from Sanctification is assurance of God's love. 2 Peter 1:10: Give diligence to make your calling and election sure. Sanctification is the seed, assurance is the flower which grows out of it: assurance is a consequent of Sanctification.

Thus faith is the master-wheel, it sets all the other graces running. 3. As faith is the grace which God honors to justify and save: thus, indeed, it is precious faith, as the apostle calls it (2 Peter 1:1). The other graces help to sanctify, but it is faith that justifies (Roma…

9. God shows his mercy in sanctifying us (Leviticus 20:8): I am the Lord that sanctify you. This is the partaking of the divine nature (2 Peter 1:4). God's Spirit is a Spirit of consecration; though it sanctifies us but in part, yet in every part (1 Thessalonians 5:23).

Secondly, our subjection to his will. 1. Our holiness stands in our suitableness to the nature of God: Hence the saints are said to partake of the Divine nature (2 Peter 1:4), which is not a partaking of his essence, but his image. Herein is the saints' holiness, when they are t…

The image of Diana was had in veneration by the Ephesians, because they did suppose it fell from Jupiter (Acts 19:35). This book then of the Holy Scripture is to be highly reverenced and esteemed, because we are sure it came from Heaven (2 Peter 1:21). The two Testaments are the…

2. In the kingdom of Heaven there is a glorious fruition of all good. Had I as many tongues as hairs on my head, I could not fully describe this; I may say as (Judges 18:9-10), Heaven is called, The excellent glory, (2 Peter 1:17). I may as well span the firmament, or drain the…

Though it takes not away the life, yet the love of sin. 2. A positive part, Vivification, which is the spiritual refining of the soul, which in Scripture is called a renewing of our mind (Romans 12:2), and a partaking of the divine nature (2 Peter 1:4). The priests in the law no…

This grace of faith is Sanctissimum humani pectoris Bonum; of all others the most precious rich faith, and most holy faith, and faith of God's elect. Hence it is called precious faith (2 Peter 1:1). As gold is the most precious among the metals, so is faith among the graces.

That is the natural man coming out of the wilderness of sin, perfumed with all the graces of the Spirit. The new creature must needs be glorious, for it partakes of the divine nature (2 Peter 1:4). A soul beautified with holiness, is like the firmament bespangled with glittering…

Vers. 4. So they being sent forth by the Holy Ghost, departed into, &c. 2 Pet. 1:21. For the Prophecy came not in old time by the will of men, but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. It is evident upon the first consideration, that there is not any thing…

But that which nextly and most properly gives us the advantage and encouragement to believe in Christ, is that special revelation which God has been pleased to make of him, in which revelation he gives us to understand, that as he is a complete and all sufficient Savior, so he i…

To perform duties with the inward man half awake and half asleep, as it were; to pray as if we prayed not — as on the contrary we are to use the world as if we used it not — to do the work of the Lord negligently: this provokes God to absent himself, as he did there in Song of S…

Therefore further know that the state of one that fears God and obeys him may be such as he may have no comfortable light or remembrance of what grace he formerly had. 2 Peter 1:9: one that has true grace in him only lacks the exercise of it (for I take it that place is to be un…

These two persons, Isaac & Ishmael, are two types of these two sorts of people whom God doth elect, and reject: Isaac representeth those that are chosen to salvation, who become the true members of God's Church; and Ishmael is a type of those that are rejected. Now in regard of…

In the new testament we have a worthy commandment for this purpose; Saint Paul having instructed and taught Timothy in the ways of godliness and religion, charges him, that what things he had heard and learned of him, the same he should deliver to faithful men, which should be a…

We look for new heavens and a new earth, according to his promise. These be, as Saint Peter calls them, great and precious promises, 2 Peter 1:4. And surely it must be a great and precious faith, that can constantly believe these.

(2) The Lord Christ intercedes that this faith may never fail, or be utterly lost (John 17:8, 11, 15, &c.). (3) The power of God is engaged in the preservation of it (2 Peter 1:3; 1 Peter 1:5; Ephesians 1:19, 20). (4) The promises of the covenant are expressly multiplied to this…

This tabernacle whereby he came an high priest, was his own humane nature. The bodies of men are often called their tabernacles (2 Corinthians 5:1; 2 Peter 1:14). And Christ called his own body the temple (John 2:19).

That which he there ascribes to their persons, here he attributes to their works. These Peter calls men's old sins; namely, which they lived in before their conversion (2 Peter 1:9): [〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉], forgetting that he was purged from his old sins. He has respect to…

[⟨in non-Latin alphabet⟩], We render and: and we desire; but yet, or moreover. The same with what is more largely expressed (2 Peter 1:5), [⟨in non-Latin alphabet⟩], and besides all this, besides what is past. [⟨in non-Latin alphabet⟩], to manifest, that is, evince it to all by…

I shall not give their reasons why it is so, because they are certainly mistaken in their observation. For both is the promise on the one hand mentioned with respect to them, as (Hebrews 11:39), and the promises frequently with respect to us (2 Corinthians 7:1; 2 Peter 1:4). The…

1. It is God alone who promises. He alone is the Author of all Gospel promises; by him are they given to us (2 Peter 1:4; Titus 1:1). Hence in the sense of the Gospel, this is a just periphrasis of God, He who has promised.

The world without the Gospel is the kingdom of Satan; [〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉] (1 John 5:19). The whole of the world, and all that belongs to it, in distinction and opposition to the new creation, is under the power of the wicked one, the Prince of the Power of Darkness, and…

As Cantilces 6:12. The Word of God is light (2 Peter 1:19). And one principal use of it, to us, is to give us light: even spiritual light, and spiritual discerning of spiritual things (Psalms 19:8 and 119:130).

And we read of the Spirit of wisdom, and of revelation (Ephesians 1:17). The word indeed is full of light (2 Peter 1:19): it is a light that shines &c. But the misery is, our minds are full of darkness: we walk in the thick, dark shades of our natural blindness, until God call u…

The Promises are the Breasts of the Gospel; and is not the Breast for the good of the Infant? They are called Precious Promises, 2 Peter 1:4. They are as Aquavitae to a soul that is ready to faint.

Quintus Curtius writes of one, who digging in his Garden was called to be King. Thus God calls us to Glory and Virtue, 2 Peter 1:3. First, to Virtue, then to Glory.

Yes, undoubtedly. And yet this is the spiritual madness that takes place everywhere among men: for God has prepared for us two houses, one is this our body which we bear about us, which is a house of clay, as Job says (Job 4:19), "We dwell in houses of clay whose foundation is d…

3. A righteous man has more excellent promises belong to him; what a sinner has, is rather by providence than by virtue of a promise; the saints are called heirs of the promise (Hebrews 6:17). The promises are precious (2 Peter 1:4). They are the beams of the Sun of Righteousnes…

It is an holy calling, because of the effect and purpose of it: man's calling may put dignity and honor upon us, but it cannot infuse grace; it may change our condition, but not our hearts. It is an heavenly calling, because of the author of it, God by his Spirit; and because of…

Again, works are to be done in regard of men: that our neighbor may be helped in worldly things — Luke 6:38; that he may be won by our example to godliness — 1 Peter 3:14; that we may prevent in ourselves the giving of any offense — 1 Corinthians 10:32; that by doing good we may…

When a man has a faith, that does him no good, that he is never the better for; the faith that brings no life into the heart, no quickening spirit into the soul; but a man is the very same after he has believed, as he was before; dead to all good works; when there is no working…

For it was not the lot of any of those Primitive Christians (of whom the Holy Ghost here speaks this) [He has wrought us for this thing] that they should be in that manner changed, and so enter into glory: but the contrary. For they all, and all saints since for these 1600 years…

Hence Mount Sinai might not be touched (Exodus 19). And upon this account the mount where Christ was transfigured is called the holy mount (2 Peter 1:18), but this holiness continued only while that extraordinary presence continued, there is no more holiness in Mount Sinai, or i…

According to the measure of our delight in the enjoyment is our grief at the loss of these things. The apostle links the two graces of temperance and patience together in the precept (2 Peter 1:6). And it is very observable how intemperance and impatience are inseparably linked…

All the corruption in the world arises from lust in us, not from the object which God in his providence presents to us. (2 Peter 1:4) The corruption that is in the world through lust. The creature is from God, but the abuse of it from corruption.

Beyond experience, God himselfe threatens death to Adam, as the greatest evill; The day that you eatest of it, you shall dye the death (Genesis 3). Now all that live this life are living men, and have all things pertaining to life (2 Peter 1:2); they have all that pertaines to l…

Secondly, whoever were the pen-men of the Word, it is I that write it, I take it upon my self. The Word is so much his that God claims not only the truths that are in the Word, but the very ordering for the words; and in (2 Peter 1:21) it is said of holy men, they spake as they…

But you will say, That we must not look to it more than if God should reveal any thing to us, suppose it were a voice of God from Heaven. We have warrant to have regard to the written Word of God more than the voice of God from Heaven (2 Peter 1:19). There it's spoken of the voi…

It had advanced so far, that is, as to extend to all flesh, with only Noah excepted (ver. 8, vi. 1). He, moreover, "was a preacher of righteousness" (2 Peter 1:5). In whose ministry the Spirit of Christ "strove with the rebellious" (1 Peter 1:19), for a hundred and twenty years…

VII. For Noah was Saturn. He was the greatest herald of righteousness among the antediluvians (2 Peter 1:5), and the contempt shown to his warnings was followed by the dreadful destruction of the human race. Therefore, so long as his sons and grandsons either stood in awe of his…

We have indeed granted above that the theology of sinners in some sense may be called evangelical. Even as that theology was administered in whatever manner, its primary author was the Son of God Himself — the Spirit of Christ moving the holy men who declared it (1 Peter 1:11 an…

Second, he who is imbued with true theology "is light in the Lord" (Ephesians 5:8); being called, that is, "out of darkness into His marvelous light" (1 Peter 2:9; Ephesians 4:21-24). But notwithstanding that other science, he in whom it inheres is blind (2 Peter 1:9), and darke…

Furthermore: the things that are said on the one hand about all the unregenerate, and on the other about the communication of this theology, are such as to exclude them entirely from all communion with it; they cry out, indeed: "Every one of you is a stranger." They are "blind,"…

Theology as a complex of spiritual gifts — Extraordinary or ordinary gifts — Ordinary gifts peculiar to the ministry or common to all — Christ the bestower of all gifts (Psalm 68:19; Acts 2:33; Ephesians 4:8) — The Hebrew word signifies both to receive and to give — Christ the a…

What sort of persons they gathered into Christ's fold they themselves everywhere teach. They were born again, called with a holy and effectual calling, godly, faithful, holy, washed, justified, separated from the world and from all evil, children of God, instructed and anointed…

These are not pillars in the temple of God, but reeds shaken every way. The Apostle calls them damnable heresies (2 Peter 2:1). A man may go to hell as well for heresy as adultery.

2. Poena Sensus: Punishment of sense; the sinner feels the scalding vials of God's wrath: It is penetrating, abiding (John 3:36). Reserved (2 Peter 2:17). If when God's anger be kindled but a little, and a spark or two of it flies into a man's conscience here in this life, it be…

Heaven is not like Noah's Ark, that received clean and unclean. A sinner is compared to swine (2 Peter 2:22). And shall a swinish creature tread upon the golden pavement of heaven?

Question: How do the deliverances of the godly and wicked out of trouble differ? Answer: 1. The deliverances of the godly are preservations; of the wicked are reservations (2 Peter 2:9): The Lord knows how to deliver the godly, and to reserve the unjust to be punished. A sinner…

1. In Hell there will be a plurality of torments. 1. Bonds and chains (2 Peter 2:4). 2. The worm (Mark 9:44), this is the worm of conscience, and the lake of fire (Revelation 20:15) — other fire is but painted to this.

9. The serpent (as is noted of the Stellio, a kind of serpent) no sooner casts his skin but he eats it up again. In this be not like the serpent, to forsake sin and then take it up again (2 Peter 2:22). It is happened according to the proverb, the dog is returned to his own vomi…

Original sin is become connatural to us. A man by nature cannot but sin; though there were no Devil to tempt, no bad examples to imitate, yet there is such an innate principle in him, that he cannot forbear sinning (2 Peter 2:14). A peccato cessare nesciunt, who cannot cease to…

6. It is a shame to have the name of a Christian, yet want sanctity, as to have the name of a steward, yet want fidelity; the name of a virgin, yet want chastity. It exposes religion to reproach to be baptized into the name of Christ, yet unholy; to have eyes full of tears on a…

The meaning is, (1.) He will judge them assuredly; they shall not escape the hand of justice. (2.) He will punish them severely (2 Peter 2:10): The Lord knows how to reserve the unjust to the day of judgment to be punished, but chiefly them that walk in the lust of uncleanness.…

(2.) If we give over our obedience it is a loss of all that has been already done; as if one should work in silver, and then pick out all the stitches; all a man's prayers are lost, all the sabbaths he has kept are lost, he does unravel all his good works (Ezekiel 18:24), all hi…

Can that traitor be happy who is fed by his prince in prison, only to be kept alive for execution? God feeds the wicked as prisoners, they are reserved for the day of wrath (2 Peter 2:9). How should this fright men out of their natural condition, and make them restless till they…

Q. Do the Angels continue in that estate wherein they were first created? A. Not all, for a great many fell away from that happy condition who are now become devils (John 8:44; 2 Peter 2:4; Jude 6). Q. May the rest also fall away, and perish with the devils?

For the first, it may be asked, what is meant by the world? Saint Peter answers (2 Peter 2:5) The world of the ungodly; that is, that generation of sinful men, who lived in the days of Noah, whom also in the first Epistle, 3:20 he calls disobedient: and their more particular sin…

And from there he describes what a blessed deliverance they had by the Gospel (1 Peter 1:18, 20, 21). And when he declares the apostacy of some to their former courses, he shows it to be like the returning of a dog to his vomit, after they had escaped them that live in error, an…

It is not an unaccountable severity that they are threatened withal, but it is a just and righteous sentence denouncing punishment proportionate to their sin and crime. Judgment is taken sometimes for punishment itself (Psalms 9:16; James 2:13; 1 Peter 4:17; 2 Peter 2:3). But mo…

For as at the giving of the Law, or the establishing of the Covenant at Sinai, the people being sprinkled with the blood of the beasts that were offered in sacrifice, were sanctified, or dedicated to God in a peculiar manner: so those who by baptism, and confession of faith in t…

But this spiritual illumination gives the mind some satisfaction with delight and joy in the things that are known. By that beam whereby it shines into darkness, although it be not fully comprehended, yet it represents the way of the Gospel as a way of righteousness (2 Peter 2:2…

For the Gospel is at present so stated in the world, at least many parts of it, that great multitudes make more benefit by a pretence of it or what belongs to it, and have greater secular advancements and advantages thereby, than they could possibly by the utmost of their dilige…

The first generation of great provoking sinners, were those of the old world before the flood. To these Noah had been a preacher of righteousness (2 Peter 2:5). In his ministry did the Spirit of Christ strive with them, until God affirmed it should do so no more (Genesis 6:3), b…

(1) Some think, they have paid their debt, by their repentings, and reformings, and other good works; and hence their minds are at rest, in some measure; but there comes an after reckoning at death, when it appears that their coin is not current: and what they trust to will not…

They further taught (as Saint Augustine did) that man using ill his free will, lost both himself and it. That, as one by living is able to kill himself, but by killing himself is not able to live, nor has power to raise up himself when he has killed himself, so when sin had been…

If we love God, our hearts ache for the dishonors done to God by wicked men: To see, not only the Banks of Religion, but Civility, broken down, and a Flood of wickedness coming in; to see God's Sabbaths profaned, his Oath violated, his Name dishonored; if there be any love to Go…

2. Again, we must here bewail the sin of the world, as ignorance, schisms, hypocrisy, pride, ambition, contempt of God's word, covetousness, oppression, want of love of God and his word, etc. 2 Peter 2:7: Lot was vexed, and his righteous heart was vexed with the unclean conversa…

5. Romans 14:15. Destroy not him with your meat for whom Christ died. 2 Peter 2:1. Denying the Lord that bought them, and bringing upon themselves swift damnation. Therefore Christ died for them also which are condemned.

2. This faith is said to be once given: This will also hold concerning grace; for where 'tis once planted it cannot be totally and finally destroyed, rather 'tis continually supplied by the care and faithfulness of God: see (1 Corinthians 1:8) and (1 Thessalonians 5:24) and (Phi…

Is he not as able to save it now as formerly? Though we know not where deliverance should arise, 'the Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations' (2 Peter 2:9). Direction 7. If you can fetch no comfort from any of the former arguments, then in the last place try whet…

God shall allure Japhet, the Gentiles of Europe to dwell in the tents of Shem, and Canaan the head of the cursed posterity, shall be servants to the Church beside their will, and sometimes against it by an over-ruling hand. And Christ has bought them to be his servants (2 Peter…

2. Sensuality and uncleanness of life. It is said of some, that they have their eyes full of adulteries, and that they cannot cease from sin (2 Peter 2:14). That is, their imaginations are continually working about the objects of their unclean lusts.

The law has frightened them with divine vengeance. And sometimes they proceed so far in this resolution, they seem escaped the pollution of the world; yet soon again they return to their former ways and follies (2 Peter 2:20, 21, 22). Their goodness is as the morning cloud, and…

But mens hearts are full of darkness; they see not, neither do they understand it. 2 Peter 2:12. They speak evil of the things they know not; it is true they know the things, [illegible], they know them not experimentally and really, and that deceives them. 1 Corinthians 8:2. If…

Secondly, if by custom and engagement in evil we have no power to get out, this will be no excuse to us. In (2 Peter 2:14) they have eyes full of adultery, and they cannot cease to sin: this is the aggravation of sin, no excuse. A learned man of late has an excellent note upon t…

2 Again, we must here bewail the sins of the world, as ignorance, heresies, schisms, hypocrisy, pride, ambition, contempt of God's word, covetousness, oppression, want of love of God and his word, &c. 2 Peter 2:7. Lot was vexed, and his righteous heart was grieved, with the uncl…

Genesis 6:8, 9: "Noah was a just man, blameless in his generations, and he walked continually according to God"; and also ver. 1 of ch. 7: "I have seen that you are righteous before Me in this age." Moreover, honorable mention of him is made — in a manner consistent with this te…

Yet when it has come to this point, the work of conversion to God is not always carried through to completion. For many, ensnared again by the lures of pleasures, shaking out of their breasts this whole beginning of divine work, whatever it may be, return again to the wallowing…

Whether that same philosophical theology has since recovered its place in the very schools of the reformed churches and among learned men of every kind — let others be the judges of that. I will add what the most learned Johannes Drusius says on (2 Peter 2:22), on the words "A d…

These three may further confirm it: 1. If we look in general to what the Scripture speaks of men by nature (Ephesians 2:1-3; Romans 3 and 5); they being as it is (Isaiah 57, penultimate verse), as the raging sea that casts out dirt and mire continually — it is always moving and…

6. If we look to the Scriptures' account of it, and of the propagators of it, we will find that (2 Corinthians 11:13), they are called false apostles, deceitful workers, ministers of Satan, not common sins, transforming themselves into the ministers of Christ, and no marvel, for…

Shall be cast out. There is a two-fold casting out of Satan; one for his first sin (2 Peter 2:4): God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell (Jude 6). This is a personal casting out, not spoken of here: But Satan must have two hells; for though the Gospel…

It were a poor comfort to weak ones, who sin daily, and are liars, if they should say they have no sin, that there is no better salve in heaven for their sin than such a one, as they may no less perish eternally having it than Pharaoh, Cain, Judas; it were better for them to wan…

Many after Baptism fly to Satan's camp. There are a sort of men in the visible church, who though they do not deny their Baptism, as those did (2 Peter 2:9), who have forgotten that they were purged from their old sins, yet they carry themselves as if they were in league with th…

We need not warp, nor run to our shifts; he is enough to help, to defend or reward us; he can help us without means, though there be no supply in the view of sense, or full heaps in our own keeping. God knows when we know not (2 Peter 2:9): The Lord knows how to deliver the godl…

He is able either as to wisdom or power. Wisdom (2 Peter 2:7): The Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptation. Many times we know not which way, but God knows, he is never at a loss.

It was the manner of Paul to abase himself, and to mourn for the sins of others (2 Corinthians 12:24), and he reproves the Corinthians that they were puffed up, and did not mourn for the incestuous person. Like was the practice of David (Psalm 119:136), of Lot (2 Peter 2:7), of…

Now these things are not proper to God otherwise than accidentally, if we may so speak: for his proper office is rather to draw men to him, and to give them assured ground of their salvation; which was very well known and seen most clearly in Christ. In regard whereof, Saint Pet…

“God has not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness,” (1 Thessalonians 4:7.) We are “redeemed with a great price,” (1 Corinthians 6:20,) “the precious blood of Christ,” (1 Peter 1:18-19,) not that we may serve “the lusts of the flesh,” (2 Peter 2:18,) or indulge in unbrid…

This warning differs from the former, in which Christ foretold that many would come in his name. For there he spoke only of impostors, who, shortly after the commencement of the Gospel, gave out that they were the Christ; but now he threatens that in all ages false teachers will…

And the Apostle Jude, speaking of some in the primitive Times, that crept in unawares among the Saints, and having a great Show of Religion, were for a While not suspected, These are Clouds (says he) without Water, carried about of Winds, Jude verses 4, and 12. And the Apostle P…

And therefore although the skill and wisdom mentioned differed not in the kind of it from that which others attained by industry; yet he received it by an immediate Afflatus or Inspiration of the Holy Ghost, as to that degree at least, which he was made Partaker of. Sect. 27 Las…

Besides, this of [[original in non-Latin script]] is the best and softest term that is given in the Scripture to unregenerate Men, with respect untoth[•]e Things of God; and there is no reason why it should be thought only to express the worst sort of them thereby. The Scripture…

Though a godly man may die in a corrupt opinion, for every error is not a badge of damnation; but errors that are fundamental, that strike at the foundation of religion, wherein men run so far as never to repent of their error — that the Scripture makes the badge of a man whose…

The world is a place where Satan's seat is; a place where we see God daily dishonored. Lot (who was a bright star in a dark night) his righteous soul was vexed with the unclean conversation of the wicked (2 Peter 3:8). To see God's sabbaths broken, his truths adulterated, his gl…

Use 1. See the reason why so many people are unsettled, ready to embrace every novel opinion, and dress themselves in as many religions as they do fashions; it is because they are ungrounded. See how the Apostle joins these two together, [〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉], unlearned an…

As a vesture shall you change them, and they shall be changed. The matter of the elements as it is more pure, so more firm and solid; the heavens are the most ancient records where God has written his glory with a sun-beam; yet these shall change, though I do not think they shal…

(2 Peter 3:18) But grow in grace. Fruit 4. Growth of Grace.] True grace is progressive, of a spreading growing nature; it is with grace as with the light, first there is the Crepusculum or day-break; then it shines brighter to the full meridian: A good Christian is like the Croc…

The godly have in the use of the ordinances had such divine raptures of joy and soul-transfigurations, that they have been carried above the world, and despised all things here below. Use 1: Is the enjoying God in this life so sweet — how prodigiously wicked are they that prefer…

But Secondly, More particularly, they profane God's Word, and take his name in vain, 1. That speak scornfully of God's Word (2 Peter 3:4): "Where is the promise of his Coming? For since the Fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the Creation.…

The world is a tyring-room to dress our souls in, not a place where we are to stay for ever. The Apostle tells us of the world's funerals (2 Peter 3:10): The elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burnt up. 2. Positively; Go…

Surely the devil has taken great possession of men, when they have arrived at such a degree of sin as to scoff at holiness. It was foretold as a sin of the last times (2 Peter 3:3): "There shall come in the last days scoffers." Some scoff at the authority of Scripture, the deity…

They surely must needs go wrong who slight their guide; such as lay the reins upon the neck of their lusts, and never use the curbing bit of Scripture to check them, are carried to hell and never stop. 5. It condemns the abusers of Scripture: 1. who do muddy and poison this pure…

He shoots off his warning-piece, that he may not shoot off his murdering-piece. (2 Peter 3:9). The Lord is long-suffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish. God adjourns the assizes, to see if sinners would turn; he keeps off the storm of his wrath.

20. Consideration, How much does God bear at our hand, and shall not we be content to bear something at his hand? It would tire the patience of the angels to bear with us one day; (2 Peter 3:9). The Lord is long-suffering towards us, [illegible]: How often do we offend in our ey…

Philippians 3:21: The Lord Jesus shall change our vile bodies, and make them like to his own glorious body. Of a new world, 2 Peter 3:13. We look for new heavens and a new earth, according to his promise.

See Titus 2:13. Looking for and hasting to (2 Peter 3:12). (4) Patient waiting for it, in the midst of all discouragements.

Hence Enoch's prophecy and preaching among them was to confirm the faith of the Church therein (Jude 14, 15). And probably the hard speeches which are specified as those which God would severely revenge, were their contemptuous mockings and despisings of God's coming to judgemen…

In that faith and patience, in those supplications and expectations, wherein in every age of the Church the faithful have abounded with respect to the difficulties that have lain in the way of the Promise, has God been exceedingly glorified; as also they were the means of drawin…

Judgment is taken sometimes for punishment itself (Psalms 9:16; James 2:13; 1 Peter 4:17; 2 Peter 2:3). But most commonly it is used for the sentence of judicial condemnation and trial, determining the offender to punishment; and so 'tis most commonly used to express the general…

He does oftentimes exercise great patience and forbearance, even then when vengeance might justly be expected and is called for; how long do you not avenge our blood? This commonly adds to the security of wicked men, and they learn to despise the threatenings of all the judgment…

There is in the Prophet a supposition that it seems to be delayed, and the accomplishment of it to be retarded; though it tarry, says he; that is, seem to you so to do. For believers are apt to think long under their sufferings of the seeming delays of the accomplishment of God'…

And this is that property of God, without a due conception whereof we can never understand aright his righteousness in the government of the world. Ignorance of the nature of it and how essential it is to the Divine Being, is the occasion of security in sinning and atheism to un…

This doctrine did the Apostle much insist upon, especially in the Epistles, but now mentioned: neither did any of the Apostles of Christ teach otherwise, or contrary thereunto: howbeit, it seems there were some, that made an ill use of this doctrine, as also they did of some oth…

In handling of it we must observe five things: 1. the person that suffered; 2. the place where he suffered; 3. the time when he suffered; 4. the manner how he suffered; 5. the excellency of his passion. For the first, the person that suffered was Christ the just, as Peter says (…

Peace must be had now, or else it can never be had hereafter; the day of patience will not always last; therefore let us get into the Ark before the flood comes. 'Tis a dreadful thing to be under the wrath of God, and you know not how soon it will light; our care should be to be…

But because they met with a company of empty, notional professors who never knew what belongs to practical godliness and the study of their own hearts. If professors did but give diligence to study, search, and watch their own hearts, they would have that steadfastness of their…

There are bounds of divine patience. The long suffering of God for a time waits for repentance (1 Peter 3:20; 2 Peter 3:9). But there is a time, when it does only endure vessels of wrath, fitted for destruction (Romans 9:22), which is commonly after a long continuance in known s…

For by the same reason men might still continue in their sins, and not make any progress in knowledge and holiness, that so they may not seem unconstant, which were contrary to the Scripture, wherein we are commanded not to fashion ourselves according to the former lusts of our…

Roots will make the weeds grow again, not being taken heed of: the long suffering of God should draw us to repentance, but it does not so. 2 Peter 3:3. In the last time shall come mockers, walking after their own lusts, and saying, where is the promise of his coming? for all thi…

That the true Berosus also consecrated the flood to memory in his history is attested by Josephus, Antiquities lib. i, cap. iv. XVII. The end or issue of this catholic apostasy was the flood-destruction of the apostates — namely, "the world that then existed perished, being floo…

2 Pet. 3:5-7, The new heaven and new earth — What the old world was — The new world, (Isaiah 51:15, 16; 65:17; 66:22) — The age to come — The future world — Noah a just man — The antediluvian had faith — Theology restored and enlarged in his family after the flood — The first ex…

For in those places where the unbelieving Jews openly began to rage against the believers on account of their profession of faith and the religious worship shown to Christ, they proclaimed to them that dreadful judgment of God which He was about to execute most swiftly upon the…

In this we should delight and grow as the chiefest knowledge (Jeremiah 9:23, 24). Here is forbidden, first atheism, to persuade our heart there is no such true God in heaven (Psalm 14:1; Exodus 5:2); mockers of him and his works (2 Peter 3:4, 5, etc.); those that oppose themselv…

It's much to walk evenly and steadfastly under the pure doctrine of grace, and neither from it to take occasion to give way to looseness and carnal liberty, nor to become faint and discouraged, and fearful at the way of God; corrupt nature is ready to abuse the best things. That…

Or, 7. if we look to the effects that follow upon error, and upon the propagation of it, we will find them to be dreadful; for as it is (2 Peter 2:1), they draw upon themselves swift destruction. And (2 Peter 3:16), they wrest, or pervert the Scriptures to their own destruction.…

Will, as well as the mind, can frame syllogisms; every unrenewed man has a faith of his own in the bottom of his will. Some are willingly ignorant (2 Peter 3); some, through deceit, refuse to know the Lord (Jeremiah 9); whereas lust puts out reason, and takes the chair. Lust has…

2. Justification does not grow; the sinner is either freed from the guilt of sin, and justified, or not freed; there is not a third. But in Sanctification, we are said to grow in grace (2 Peter 3:14), and advance in sanctification: nor is it ever consummate and perfect, so long…

5. Paul must here speak of the Lord's effectual will, whom he saves, and will have to be saved, and to hear the Gospel, they must be saved. So the Apostle, (2 Peter 3:9): The Lord is long-suffering, [illegible], to us, willing none (of us to whom he is long-suffering) to perish,…

Notable is that speech of our Savior (John 5:35, speaking of John): He was a burning and a shining light, not only a shining light to give clear instruction in the knowledge of the Messiah, and the true meaning of the Law, but withal a burning light; so as that he had a notable…

It is a hard saying, they thought it incredible (verse 52), they would think it a savage brutishness to fall upon him in that manner, and therefore our Savior so confesses, that it is no part of his meaning, that they should eat and drink his real body and blood: but he means th…

This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased, hear him. So Peter who was one present urges it (2 Peter 3:16-18). We have not followed cunningly devised fables when we made known to you, the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eye-witnesses of his majesty.

Now, when faith is come, the schoolmaster is constrained to give place with his heavy and grievous office. Christ comes also spiritually when we still more and more know and understand those things which by him are given to us, and increase in grace and in the knowledge of him (…

Again, if grace does there abound (say they) where sin does abound, let us then abound in sin that we may become righteous, and that grace may the more abound. These are the malicious and proud spirits, which spitefully and wittingly slander the Scriptures and sayings of the Hol…

This place also informs us what manner of Church there is in the Papacy, where the light of holy doctrine being smothered, indeed almost completely extinguished, their whole religion is to be blindfolded in a brutish ignorance. Now if it so fall out that we have not a perfect kn…

Thus the Prophet recounts the speeches of the wicked, whereby they showed in what contempt and disdain they had his word, not only saying let his work come: but let it come quickly and let it draw near: for in regard it came not suddenly, they concluded, that whatever he execute…

Afterward, when the time of their deliverance was accomplished, then he encountered with an outstretched arm, with the profane nations, and never ceased to give them diverse signs of his coming; by which he showed himself present to his people, and came in fire to judge his enem…

Many plainly scoff at them, and despise them as the most contemptible Notions that Mankind can exercise their Reasons about. Such were of old Prophesied concerning, 2 Pet. 3. 3, 4. and things at this day are come to that pass. The World swarms with Scoffers at Spiritual Things,…

An Encrease and Growth in Sanctification or Holiness is frequently in the Scripture enjoyed us, and frequently promised to us. So speaks the Apostle Peter in a way of Command: 2 Pet. 3. 18. Fall not, be not cast down, from your own steadfastness; but grow, or encrease, in Grace.

Luke 16:30: 'Nay Father Abraham, but if one went to them from the dead, they would repent.' 2 Peter 3:9: 'The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness, but is long-suffering toward us, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to r…

We looked for peace, but no good came; for a time of health, and behold trouble, Jeremiah 8:15 And hereupon is it that we fret at the delays of Providence, and suspect the faithfulness of God in their performance. But his thoughts are not our thoughts, Isaiah 55:8 The Lord is no…

Augustine once preaching to his Congregation, forgot the Argument which first he propos'd, and fell upon the Error of the Manichees beside his first intention: by which discourse, he converted one Firmus his Auditor; who fell down at his feet weeping, and confessing he had lived…

8. Because the more diligent you are in this employment, the more peace, and the more profit will accrue to your own souls. The more peace will accrue, the more industrious you are (2 Peter 3:14). Be diligent, says the Apostle, for what?

Godly people may be in a state of ignorance but they love it not. Therefore (2 Peter 3:5) the Scripture tells us of wicked men, that they are willfully ignorant. So that if your ignorance have not this bad quality in it, to be a stubborn and willful ignorance, it may stand with…