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.

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…

It is not grateful to them (Job 21:14): We desire not the knowledge of your ways. Men are ignorant willingly of that God, who made the world, and all things therein (2 Peter 3:5): For this they are willingly ignorant, etc. They will not know God, though his visible works show hi…

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…

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…