Observe here, 1. The design of both St. Peter's epistles was one and the same, even to put them in remembrance of, and to call to their minds what they had formerly heard and understood, but possibly not retained, nor duly considered. THIS SECOND EPISTLE. WRITE; IN BOTH WHICH. STIR UP YOUR MINDS BY... [ Continue Reading ]
Observe here, 1. The persons foretold, or what sort of men should be found in these last days; namely, SCOFFERS. These are the dregs of mankind, found in the dregs of time; they scoff sometimes at the word of God, sometimes at religion and the ways of good men; sometimes at sin, and the follies of t... [ Continue Reading ]
These scoffers had declared in the former verse, that the world was the same it was from the beginning; that nature always had, and therefore ever would keep its course. But, says the apostle here, these scoffers know better; if they be ignorant, they are willingly ignorant what. change God made in... [ Continue Reading ]
Our apostle here answers the cavil and objection of the fore-mentioned scoffers, namely, That if Christ intends to come to judgment, why does he so long defer his coming? To this our apostle replies, 1. By assuring them that this delay ought not to be judged according to our sense and apprehension... [ Continue Reading ]
Our apostle having asserted, that this solemn day of judging the Jews, at the destruction of Jerusalem first, and then of all mankind at the end of the world, will certainly come; he next shews the manner how, and that although this great day of the Lord comes slowly, yet it will come unexpectedly,... [ Continue Reading ]
These words are St. Peter's practical improvement of the foregoing doctrine, concerning the certain, sudden and terrible judgment of Christ to come. If the whole frame of heaven and earth shall be so wonderfully changed, and. new world made, how holy should they be, and how great. degree of purity s... [ Continue Reading ]
Having exhorted persons by holiness to prepare for Christ's coming to judgment in the foregoing vcerse, he now directs them to expect and look for it, to desire and long after it, LOOKING FOR AND HASTING UNTO THE COMING OF THE DAY OF GOD, that joyful day of our perfect deliverance and salvation, whe... [ Continue Reading ]
Observe here, 1. What is the subject matter of the Christian's expectation, he looks for new HEAVENS, and. new EARTH in which DWELLETH RIGHTEOUSNESS, that is, only righteous persons, and perfectly righteous persons, where sin shall no more prevail. Observe, 2. What is the ground and foundation of t... [ Continue Reading ]
In these words St. Peter advises them to make an holy and wise construction of the forbearance of God in his delaying to come to judgment, not to think that God neglects them under sufferings, or is well-pleased with the perverseness of the wicked world in sinning; but his patience and long-sufferin... [ Continue Reading ]
Our apostle concludes his epistle with an exhortation to watch against the errors and false doctrines of seducers, lest we, being led away thereby, do fall from our own stedfastness in the faith of the gospel. It ought to be our care not only to be sound in the faith, but stedfast in the faith; and,... [ Continue Reading ]