2 Peter 3

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.

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 (…

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…

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…

Easy, in that the entrance into the word gives light and understanding to the simple (Psalm 119:130). Difficult, in that some things are hard to be understood (2 Peter 3:16) and hard to be interpreted (Hebrews 5:11). Easy, to invite us to read and learn them; difficult, to exerc…

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…

From where it comes, that by abusing the testimony of Peter, they labor to persuade the unlearned, that the Epistles of Paul are hard to be understood and obscure: indeed such as minister causes of errors to the unskillful, and therefore are not to be read of the common sort, bu…

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…

This then is fully evident, that there could be no sufficient reason assigned of the patience of God towards sinners, but that there is forgiveness prepared for them that come to him by Christ. And this the scripture clearly testifies unto, 2 Peter 3:9. The question is, what is…

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…

And so, when men of devilish spirits spue out their slanders, and broach all the malicious accusations that their father, the great Accuser, has ever suggested to them, return not slander for slander; for so the Devil would teach you to be a devil; but with all quietness and mee…

The last instance of God's speaking terribly by fire will be the last day, when the Lord Jesus Christ, the Judge of quick and dead, shall come down from heaven in flaming fire, to take vengeance on all those that know not God, and obey not the Gospel (2 Thessalonians 1:7-8). And…

When the water in the Thames is lowest, a high tide is ready to come in. God is on truth's side, and so long there is no fear but it will prevail: The heavens being on fire shall be dissolved (2 Peter 3:12), but not that truth which came from heaven (1 Peter 1:25). Truth has nob…

"Behold, I create new heavens, and a new earth; and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind." 2 Peter 3:13. "Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens, a new earth, wherein dwells righteousness."

It is now a very dark time with respect to the interests of religion, and such a time as this prophesied of in this place; wherein there is but little faith, and a great prevailing of infidelity on the earth. There is now a remarkable fulfillment of that in 2 Peter 3:3. "Knowing…

7. When they are gone, this world shall be set on fire, and be turned into a great furnace, wherein all the enemies of Christ and his church shall be tormented forever and ever. This is manifest by 2 Peter 3:7. "But the heavens and the earth which are now, by the same word are k…

Does not the scripture describe the saints by their earnest looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus to eternal life (Jude 21)? By their hastening to the coming of the day of God (2 Peter 3:12)? What is the matter that my heart hangs back?

What does this admirable patience, this long-suffering drawn out to a wonder, speak concerning me? Does it not tell me, that the Lord is not willing I should perish, but rather come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9)? And what argument is like his pity and patience, to lead a soul to r…

And beside all this, how many difficult things are there to be born and suffered for Christ? And yet will not God allow his people in the neglect of any one of them: neither can he be a Christian that has not respect to every command, and is not holy, in all manner of conversati…

The tree that is to be hewen down for the fire, stands in the Orchard among other flourishing trees, where it has enjoyed the benefit of a good soyl, a strong fence and much culture; but being barren, these priviledges secure it not from the fire. It is not our standing in the v…

Does not our own plain nature tell us that the Lord will fold up the old garment and lay it aside, and that the heavens shall be folded together as a scroll and this plague-house shall be burned with fire, and that both furnishings and walls shall melt with fervent heat? For at…

Does not our own plain nature tell us that the Lord will fold up the old garment and lay it aside, and that the heavens shall be folded together as a scroll and this plague-house shall be burned with fire, and that both furnishings and walls shall melt with fervent heat? For at…

To those whose moderation is known to all men, it will be no ungrateful news, to hear that the Lord is at hand (Philippians 4:5). It is therefore prescribed as that which ought to be our constant care, that whenever our Master comes, we may be found of him in peace (2 Peter 3:14…

That he who has so much said against him, yet does himself keep silence (Psalm 50:12), and does not answer all these reproaches and contradictions (as he easily could) in thunder and lightning. Though his silence and forbearance is turned to his reproach even by those that have…