2 Peter 2

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…

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…

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.

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…

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…

The Angels were the first sinners; and God dealt first with them about sin. And what was his dealing with them, the Holy Ghost tells us, 2 Peter 2:4. , he spared not the sinning Angels, he spared them not; It is the same word which he useth where he speaks of laying all our iniq…

In which, these things are implied, 1. That Christ may have companions, (not who are indeed so, but) such who [reconstructed: set] themselves up equally beside him, and make it their design to have others to follow them, but do not follow Christ themselves; Thus heretics, false…

5. Extinguishing the vigor and life of Christian practice; diverting from what is more necessary, to hurtful and vain janglings, which do still increase to more ungodliness, and have never profited them who were occupied therein (Hebrews 13:7). 6. By ruining souls, carrying them…

So that the church of God never was, never shall be without this Law, both written upon their hearts, and likewise preached to them publicly by the ministry of the church. For so Noah is said to be a preacher of righteousness to the old world (2 Peter 2:5). Yet,

We have seen the sad experience of it already, and may justly fear, when we see them use the same methods, that they intend the same effects. The Apostle gives such a black brand (2 Peter 2:10). Presumptuous are they, self-willed; they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities.

How many false teachers have there been among us, which have crept in unawares? How many Jesuits and priests sent from Rome and other places, to rend and tear our Protestant Church to pieces, that they might make way for the introduction of Popery, at least to cast a disgrace up…

2. Men are violent in pursuing evil. 1. They are violent in their opinions (2 Peter 2:1). Secretly they shall bring in damnable heresies, denying the Lord that bought them.

Clouds that look as if they were full of Rain, yet bring nothing but Wind, Jude 12. Wells without Water, that do but cheat the thirsty Traveller, 2 Peter 2. 13. A deceitful Bow, that appears good, but fails the Archer, Psalm 78. 57. Hosea 7. 16.

For that departure is indeed no more than a politic retreat. Many that shall never escape the damnation of hell, have yet escaped the pollutions of the world, and that by the knowledge of the Son of God (2 Peter 2:20). Does the Spirit of the Lord produce that glorious and supern…

When Judas turns traitor to his Lord, he is quickly sent to his own place. Such as are again entangled and overcome of those lusts they once seemed to have clean escaped, these bring upon themselves swift damnation, and their judgment lingers not (2 Peter 2:3, 20). He that can e…

They who thus err, their error remains not with themselves, but this poisonous and malignant breath infects others. Words spoken against religion eat as does a canker (2 Timothy 2:17), and they who speak them, seldom perish alone in their iniquity, for many follow their pernicio…

You mayest think to live in pleasure is a brave life, but it is the basest life that is; so God judges it: Hence the same word which the Scripture uses for the sensual glutton, Deut. 21:20 is used for a vile person, Jer. 15:19 the word is the same in the Hebrew. Luxurious sporti…

I appeal to your consciences, when you have given yourselves leave to have content to the flesh, when you come to communion with God, what dead flat hearts have you? Let me speak to such this day from the Lord, this liberty you take to yourselves in the pleasures of the flesh, h…

Consider how the angels for sin were cast from heaven, shut up under chains of everlasting darkness until the judgment of the great day. Consider how Sodom and Gomorrah were condemned and burned to ashes as examples to those who afterward would live ungodly, 2 Peter 2:6. But far…

Third, by taking away the temptation itself when it grows so strong and violent that the poor soul knows not what to do. This is called delivering the godly out of temptation, 2 Peter 2:9. As a man is plucked out of a snare and the snare left behind.

The man is not presently killed, and destroyed, but he is entangled and detained: he does not know how to get free, or be at liberty: so it is expressed again to the same purpose (1 Corinthians 10:13): no temptation has taken you: it is to be taken by a temptation, and to be ent…

At this door have gone out from us, most of the professors that have apostatized in the days wherein we live, for a while they were most of them under convictions; these kept them unto duties, and brought them to profession. So they escaped the pollutions that are in the world,…

The goodness, or beauty of a Christian's conversation consisting in that symmetry and conformity to the word of God, as its rule — he ought diligently to study that rule, and to square his ways by it, not to walk at random, but to apply that rule to every step at home, and abroa…

God's children are troubled to see God dishonored. Lot's righteous soul was vexed, not with Sodom's injuries, but with Sodom's sins (2 Peter 2:8). And David says, Rivers of tears run down my eyes, because men keep not your law (Psalm 119:136).

A man may a little wash his polluted life, and abstain from gross sins, yet Satan have full possession of the inner man. A man may abjure his former ill life, and for a while carry it fair, but afterwards retain his former filthiness, and keep a secret league with his lusts, and…