mh_parser/vol_split/61 - 2Peter/Chapter 2.xml

<div2 id="iiPet.iii" n="iii" next="iiPet.iv" prev="iiPet.ii" progress="88.16%" title="Chapter II">
<h2 id="iiPet.iii-p0.1">S E C O N D   P E T E R.</h2>
<h3 id="iiPet.iii-p0.2">CHAP. II.</h3>
<p class="intro" id="iiPet.iii-p1">The apostle, having in the foregoing chapter
exhorted them to proceed and advance in the Christian race, now
comes to remove, as much as in him lay, what he could not but
apprehend would hinder their complying with his exhortation. He
therefore gives them fair warning of false teachers, by whom they
might be in danger of being seduced. To prevent this, I. He
describes these seducers as impious in themselves, and very
pernicious to others, <scripRef id="iiPet.iii-p1.1" osisRef="Bible:2Pet.2.1-2Pet.2.3" parsed="|2Pet|2|1|2|3" passage="2Pe 2:1-3">ver.
1-3</scripRef>. II. He assures them of the punishment that shall be
inflicted on them, <scripRef id="iiPet.iii-p1.2" osisRef="Bible:2Pet.2.3-2Pet.2.6" parsed="|2Pet|2|3|2|6" passage="2Pe 2:3-6">ver.
3-6</scripRef>. III. He tells us how contrary the method is which
God takes with those who fear him, <scripRef id="iiPet.iii-p1.3" osisRef="Bible:2Pet.2.7-2Pet.2.9" parsed="|2Pet|2|7|2|9" passage="2Pe 2:7-9">ver. 7-9</scripRef>. IV. He fills up the rest of the
chapter with a further description of those seducers of whom he
would have them beware.</p>
<scripCom id="iiPet.iii-p1.4" osisRef="Bible:2Pet.2" parsed="|2Pet|2|0|0|0" passage="2Pe 2" type="Commentary"/>
<scripCom id="iiPet.iii-p1.5" osisRef="Bible:2Pet.2.1-2Pet.2.3" parsed="|2Pet|2|1|2|3" passage="2Pe 2:1-3" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:2Pet.2.1-2Pet.2.3">
<h4 id="iiPet.iii-p1.6">False Prophets and Corrupt
Leaders. (<span class="smallcaps" id="iiPet.iii-p1.7">a.
d.</span> 67.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="iiPet.iii-p2">1 But there were false prophets also among the
people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who
privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord
that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.
  2 And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of
whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.   3 And through
covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of
you—</p>
<p class="indent" id="iiPet.iii-p3">I. In the end of the former chapter there
is mention made of holy men of God, who lived in the times of the
Old Testament, and were used as the amanuenses of the Holy Ghost,
in writing the sacred oracles; but in the beginning of this he
tells us they had, even at that time, false prophets in the church
as well as true. In all ages of the church, and under all
dispensations, when God sends true prophets, the devil sends some
to seduce and deceive, false prophets in the Old Testament, and
false Christs, false apostles, and seducing teachers, in the New.
Concerning these observe, 1. Their business is to bring in
destructive errors, <i>even damnable heresies,</i> as the business
of teachers sent of God is to show the way of truth, even the true
way to everlasting life. There are damnable heresies as well as
damnable practices; and false teachers are industrious to spread
pernicious errors. 2. Damnable heresies are commonly brought in
privily, under the cloak and colour of truth. Those who introduce
destructive heresies <i>deny the Lord that bought them.</i> They
reject and refuse to hear and learn of the great teacher sent from
God, though he is the only Saviour and Redeemer of men, who paid a
price sufficient to redeem as many worlds of sinners as there are
sinners in the world. 4. Those who bring in errors destructive to
others bring swift (and therefore sure) <i>destruction upon
themselves.</i> Self-destroyers are soon destroyed; and those who
are so hardened as to propagate errors destructive to others shall
surely and suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iiPet.iii-p4">II. He proceeds, in the <scripRef id="iiPet.iii-p4.1" osisRef="Bible:2Pet.2.2" parsed="|2Pet|2|2|0|0" passage="2Pe 2:2">second verse</scripRef>, to tell us the consequence with
respect to others; and here we may learn, 1. Corrupt leaders seldom
fail of many to follow them; though the way of error is a
pernicious way, yet many are ready to walk therein. Men drink in
iniquity like water, and are pleased to live in error. <i>The
prophets prophesy falsely, and the people love to have it so.</i>
2. The spreading of error will bring up an evil report on the way
of truth; that is, the way of salvation by Jesus Christ, who is
<i>the way, the truth, and the life.</i> The Christian religion is
from the God of truth as the author, leads to true happiness in the
enjoyment of the true God as the end, and works truth in the inward
part as the means of acceptably serving God. And yet this way of
truth is traduced and blasphemed by those who embrace and advance
destructive errors. This the apostle has foretold as what should
certainly come to pass. Let us not be offended at any thing of this
in our day, but take care that we give no occasion to the enemy to
blaspheme the holy name whereby we are called, or speak evil of
that way whereby we hope to be saved.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iiPet.iii-p5">III. Observe, in the next place, the method
seducers take to draw disciples after them: they use <i>feigned
words;</i> they flatter, and by good words and fair speeches
deceive the hearts of the simple, inducing them to yield entirely
to the opinions which these seducers endeavour to propagate, and
sell and deliver themselves over to the instruction and government
of these false teacher, who make a gain of those whom they make
their proselytes, serving themselves and making some advantage of
them; for all this is through covetousness, with a desire and
design to get more wealth, or credit, or commendation, by
increasing the number of their followers. The faithful ministers of
Christ, who show men the way of truth, desire the profit and
advantage of their followers, that they may be saved; but these
seducing teachers desire and design only their own temporal
advantage and worldly grandeur.</p>
</div><scripCom id="iiPet.iii-p5.1" osisRef="Bible:2Pet.2.3-2Pet.2.6" parsed="|2Pet|2|3|2|6" passage="2Pe 2:3-6" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:2Pet.2.3-2Pet.2.6">
<h4 id="iiPet.iii-p5.2">Divine Judgments. (<span class="smallcaps" id="iiPet.iii-p5.3">a.
d.</span> 67.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="iiPet.iii-p6">—3 Whose judgment now of a long time lingereth
not, and their damnation slumbereth not.   4 For if God spared
not the angels that sinned, but cast <i>them</i> down to hell, and
delivered <i>them</i> into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto
judgment;   5 And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the
eighth <i>person,</i> a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the
flood upon the world of the ungodly;   6 And turning the
cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned <i>them</i> with
an overthrow, making <i>them</i> an ensample unto those that after
should live ungodly;</p>
<p class="indent" id="iiPet.iii-p7">Men are apt to think that a reprieve is the
forerunner of a pardon, and that if judgment be not speedily
executed it is, or will be, certainly reversed. But the apostle
tells us that how successful and prosperous soever false teachers
may be, and that for a time, yet their <i>judgment lingereth
not.</i> God has determined long ago how he will deal with them.
Such unbelievers, who endeavour to turn others from the faith, are
condemned already, and the wrath of God abideth on them. The
righteous Judge will speedily take vengeance; the day of their
calamity is at hand, and the things that shall come upon them make
haste. To prove this assertion, here are several examples of the
righteous judgment of God, in taking vengeance on sinners, proposed
to our serious consideration.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iiPet.iii-p8">I. See how God dealt with the angels who
sinned. Observe, 1. No excellency will exempt a sinner from
punishment. If the angels, who excel us vastly in strength and
knowledge, violate the law of God, the sentence which that law
awards shall be executed upon them, and that without mercy or
mitigation, for God did not spare them. Hence observe, 2. By how
much the more excellent the offender, by so much the more severe
the punishment. These angels, who had the advantage of men as to
the dignity of their nature, are immediately punished. There is no
sparing them for a few days, no favour at all shown them. 3. Sin
debases and degrades the persons who commit it. The angels of
heaven are cast down from the height of their excellency, and
divested of all their glory and dignity, upon their disobedience.
Whoever sins against God does a manifest hurt to himself. 4. Those
who rebel against the God of heaven shall all be sent down to hell.
There is no place nor state between the height of glory and the
depth of misery in which they shall be allowed to rest. If
creatures sin in heaven, they must suffer in hell. 5. Sin is the
work of darkness, and darkness is the wages of sin. The darkness of
misery and torment follows the darkness of sin. Those who will not
walk according to the light and direction of God's law shall be
deprived of the light of God's countenance and the comforts of his
presence. 6. As sin binds men over to punishment, so misery and
torment hold men under punishment. The darkness which is their
misery keeps them so that they cannot get away from their torment.
7. The last degree of torment is not till the day of judgment. The
sinning angels, though in hell already, are yet reserved to the
judgment of the great day.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iiPet.iii-p9">II. See how God dealt with the old world,
even in much the same way that he dealt with the angels. He spared
not the old world. Here observe, 1. The number of offenders
signifies no more to procure any favour than the quality. If the
sin be universal, the punishment shall likewise extend to all. But,
2. If there be but a few righteous, they shall be preserved. God
does not destroy the good with the bad. In wrath he remembers
mercy. 3. Those who are <i>preachers of righteousness</i> in an age
of universal corruption and degeneracy, <i>holding forth the word
of life</i> in an unblamable and exemplary conversation, shall be
preserved in a time of general destruction. 4. God can make use of
those creatures as the instruments of his vengeance in punishing
sinners which he at first made and appointed for their service and
benefit. He destroyed the whole world by water; but observe, 5.
What was the procuring cause of this: <i>it was a world of ungodly
men.</i> Ungodliness puts men out of the divine protection, and
exposes them to utter destruction.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iiPet.iii-p10">III. See how God dealt with Sodom and
Gomorrah; though they were situated in a country like the garden of
the Lord, yet, if in such a fruitful soil they abound in sin, God
can soon turn a fruitful land into barrenness and a well-watered
country into dust and ashes. Observe, 1. No political union or
confederacy can keep off judgments from a sinful people. Sodom and
the neighbouring cities were no more secured by their regular
government than the angels by the dignity of their nature or the
old world by their vast number. 2. God can make use of contrary
creatures to punish incorrigible sinners. He destroys the <i>old
world by water,</i> and Sodom by fire. He who keeps fire and water
from hurting his people (<scripRef id="iiPet.iii-p10.1" osisRef="Bible:Isa.43.2" parsed="|Isa|43|2|0|0" passage="Isa 43:2">Isa. xliii.
2</scripRef>) can make either to destroy his enemies; therefore
they are never safe. 3. Most heinous sins bring most grievous
judgments. Those who were abominable in their vices were remarkable
for their plagues. Those who are sinners exceedingly before the
Lord must expect the most dreadful vengeance. 4. The punishment of
sinners in former ages is designed for the example of those who
come after. "Follow them, not only in the time of living, but in
their <i>course and way of living.</i>" Men who live ungodly must
see what they are to expect if they go on still in a course of
impiety. Let us take warning by all the instances of God's taking
vengeance, which are recorded for our admonition, and to prevent
our promising ourselves impunity, though we go on in a course of
sin.</p>
</div><scripCom id="iiPet.iii-p10.2" osisRef="Bible:2Pet.2.7-2Pet.2.9" parsed="|2Pet|2|7|2|9" passage="2Pe 2:7-9" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:2Pet.2.7-2Pet.2.9">
<h4 id="iiPet.iii-p10.3">Divine Judgments. (<span class="smallcaps" id="iiPet.iii-p10.4">a.
d.</span> 67.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="iiPet.iii-p11">7 And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy
conversation of the wicked:   8 (For that righteous man
dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed <i>his</i>
righteous soul from day to day with <i>their</i> unlawful deeds;)
  9 The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of
temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to
be punished:</p>
<p class="indent" id="iiPet.iii-p12">When God sends destruction on the ungodly,
he commands deliverance for the righteous; and, if he rain fire and
brimstone on the wicked, he will cover the head of the just, and
they shall be hid in the day of his anger. This we have an instance
of in his preserving Lot. Here observe, 1. The character given of
Lot; he is called <i>a just man;</i> this he was as to the
generally prevailing bent of his heart and through the main of his
conversation. God does not account men just or unjust from one
single act, but from their general course of life. And here is a
just man in the midst of a most corrupt and profligate generation
universally gone off from all good. He does not follow the
multitude to do evil, but in a city of injustice he walks
uprightly. 2. The impression the sins of others made upon this
righteous man. Though the sinner takes pleasure in his wickedness,
it is a grief and vexation to the soul of the righteous. In bad
company we cannot escape either guilt or grief. Let the sins of
others be a trouble to us, otherwise it will not be possible for us
to keep ourselves pure. 3. Here is a particular mention of the
duration and continuance of this good man's grief and vexation: it
was <i>from day to day.</i> Being accustomed to hear and see their
wickedness did not reconcile him to it, nor abate of the horror
that was occasioned by it. This is the righteous man whom God
preserved from the desolating judgment that destroyed all round
about him. From this instance we are taught to argue that God knows
how to deliver his people and punish his enemies. It is here
presupposed that the righteous must have their temptations and
trials. The devil and his instruments will thrust sore at them,
that they may fall; and, if we will get to heaven, it must be
through many tribulations. It is therefore our duty to reckon upon
and prepare for them. Observe here, (1.) <i>The Lord knows those
that are his.</i> He has set apart him who is godly for himself;
and, if there is but one in five cities, he knows him; and where
there is a greater number he cannot be ignorant of nor overlook any
one of them. (2.) The wisdom of God is never at a loss about ways
and means to deliver his people. They are often utterly at a loss,
and can see no way; he can deliver a great many. (3.) The
deliverance of the godly is the work of God, that which he concerns
himself in, both his wisdom to contrive the way and his power to
work out the deliverance <i>out of temptation,</i> to prevent their
falling into sin and their being ruined by their troubles. And
surely, if he can deliver out of temptation, he could keep from
falling into it if he did not see such trials to be necessary. (4.)
God makes a very great difference in his dealings with the godly
and the wicked. When he saves his people from destruction, he
delivers over his enemies to deserved ruin. The unjust has no share
in the salvation God works out for the righteous. The wicked are
<i>reserved to the day of judgment.</i> Here we see, [1.] There is
a day of judgment. <i>God has appointed a day wherein he will judge
the world.</i> [2.] The preservation of impenitent sinners is only
a reserving of them to the day of the revelation of the righteous
judgment of God.</p>
</div><scripCom id="iiPet.iii-p12.1" osisRef="Bible:2Pet.2.10-2Pet.2.22" parsed="|2Pet|2|10|2|22" passage="2Pe 2:10-22" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:2Pet.2.10-2Pet.2.22">
<h4 id="iiPet.iii-p12.2">False Teachers. (<span class="smallcaps" id="iiPet.iii-p12.3">a.
d.</span> 67.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="iiPet.iii-p13">10 But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in
the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous
<i>are they,</i> selfwilled, they are not afraid to speak evil of
dignities.   11 Whereas angels, which are greater in power and
might, bring not railing accusation against them before the Lord.
  12 But these, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and
destroyed, speak evil of the things that they understand not; and
shall utterly perish in their own corruption;   13 And shall
receive the reward of unrighteousness, <i>as</i> they that count it
pleasure to riot in the day time. Spots <i>they are</i> and
blemishes, sporting themselves with their own deceivings while they
feast with you;   14 Having eyes full of adultery, and that
cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: a heart they have
exercised with covetous practices; cursed children:   15 Which
have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way
of Balaam <i>the son</i> of Bosor, who loved the wages of
unrighteousness;   16 But was rebuked for his iniquity: the
dumb ass speaking with man's voice forbad the madness of the
prophet.   17 These are wells without water, clouds that are
carried with a tempest; to whom the mist of darkness is reserved
for ever.   18 For when they speak great swelling <i>words</i>
of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, <i>through
much</i> wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who
live in error.   19 While they promise them liberty, they
themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is
overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage.   20 For if
after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the
knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again
entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them
than the beginning.   21 For it had been better for them not
to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known
<i>it,</i> to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them.
  22 But it is happened unto them according to the true
proverb, The dog <i>is</i> turned to his own vomit again; and the
sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iiPet.iii-p14">The apostle's design being to warn us of,
and arm us against, seducers, he now returns to discourse more
particularly of them, and give us an account of their character and
conduct, which abundantly justifies the righteous Judge of the
world in reserving them in an especial manner for the most severe
and heavy doom, as Cain is taken under special protection that he
might be kept for uncommon vengeance. But why will God thus deal
with these false teachers? This he shows in what follows.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iiPet.iii-p15">I. <i>These walk after the flesh;</i> they
follow the devices and desires of their own hearts, they give up
themselves to the conduct of their own fleshly mind, refusing to
make their reason stoop to divine revelation, and to <i>bring every
thought to the obedience of Christ;</i> they, in their lives, act
directly contrary to God's righteous precepts, and comply with the
demands of corrupt nature. Evil opinions are often accompanied with
evil practices; and those who are for propagating error are for
improving in wickedness. They will not sit down contented in the
measure of iniquity to which they have attained, nor is it enough
for them to stand up, and maintain, and defend, what wickedness
they have already committed, but they <i>walk after the flesh,</i>
they go on in their sinful course, and increase unto more
ungodliness and greater degrees of impurity and uncleanness too;
they also pour contempt on those whom God has set in authority over
them and requires them to honour. These therefore despise <i>the
ordinance of God,</i> and we need not wonder at it, for they are
bold and daring, obstinate and refractory, and will not only
cherish contempt in their hearts, but with their tongues will utter
slanderous and reproachful words of those who are set over
them.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iiPet.iii-p16">II. This he aggravates, by setting forth
the very different conduct of more excellent creatures, even the
<i>angels,</i> of whom observe, 1. They <i>are greater in power and
might,</i> and that even than those who are clothed with authority
and power among the sons of men, and much more than those false
teachers who are slanderous revilers of magistrates and governors;
the good angels vastly exceed us in all natural and moral
excellences, in strength, understanding, and holiness too. 2. Good
angels are accusers of sinful creatures, either of their own kind,
or ours, or both. Those who are allowed to behold the face of God,
and stand before his throne, cannot but have a zeal for his honour,
and accuse and blame those who dishonour him. 3. <i>Angels
bring</i> their <i>accusations</i> of sinful creatures <i>before
the Lord;</i> they do not publish their faults, and tell their
crimes to their fellow-creatures, in a way of calumny and slander;
but it is before the Lord, who is the Judge, and will be the
avenger, of all impiety and injustice. 4. Good angels mingle no
bitter revilings nor base reproaches with any of the accusations or
charges they bring against the wickedest and worst of criminals.
Let us, who pray that God's <i>will may be done on earth as it is
in heaven,</i> imitate the angels in this particular; if we
complain of wicked men, let it be to God, and that not with rage
and reviling, but with compassion and composedness of mind, that
may evidence that we belong to him who is meek and merciful.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iiPet.iii-p17">III. The apostle, having shown (<scripRef id="iiPet.iii-p17.1" osisRef="Bible:2Pet.2.11" parsed="|2Pet|2|11|0|0" passage="2Pe 2:11"><i>v.</i> 11</scripRef>) how unlike seducing
teachers are to the most excellent creatures, proceeds (<scripRef id="iiPet.iii-p17.2" osisRef="Bible:2Pet.2.12" parsed="|2Pet|2|12|0|0" passage="2Pe 2:12"><i>v.</i> 12</scripRef>) to show how like they
are to the most inferior: they are <i>like the horse and mule,
which have no understanding;</i> they are <i>as natural brute
beasts, made to be taken and destroyed.</i> Men, under the power of
sin, are so far from observing divine revelation that they do not
exercise reason, nor act according to the direction thereof. They
<i>walk by sight, and not by faith,</i> and judge of things
according to their senses; as these represent things pleasant and
agreeable, so they must be approved and esteemed. Brute-creatures
follow the instinct of their sensitive appetite, and sinful man
follows the inclination of his carnal mind; these refuse to employ
the understanding and reason God has given them, and so are
ignorant of what they might and ought to know; and therefore
observe, 1. Ignorance is the cause of evil-speaking; and, 2.
Destruction will be the effect of it. These persons shall be
utterly destroyed in their own corruption. Their vices not only
expose them to the wrath of God in another world, but often bring
them to misery and ruin in this life; and surely such impudent
offenders, who <i>glory in their shame,</i> and to whom openness in
sin is an improvement of the pleasure of sinning, most justly
deserve all the plagues of this life and the pains of the next in
the greatest extremity. Therefore whatever they meet with is the
just <i>reward of their unrighteousness.</i> Such sinners as sport
themselves in mischief deceive themselves and disgrace all they
belong to, for by one sort of sins they prepare themselves for
another; their extravagant feastings, their intemperance in eating
and drinking, bring them to commit all manner of lewdness, so that
their <i>eyes are full of adultery,</i> their wanton looks show
their own impure lusts and are designed and directed to kindle the
like in others; and this is what they <i>cannot cease</i> from—the
heart is insatiate in lusting and the eye incessant in looking
after what may gratify their unclean desires, and those who are
themselves impudent and incessant in sin are very diligent and
often successful in deceiving others and drawing others into the
same excess of riot. But here observe who those are who are in the
greatest danger of being led away into error and impiety, even the
<i>unstable.</i> Those whose hearts are not established with grace
are easily turned into the way of sin, or else such sensual
wretches would not be able to prevail upon them, for these are not
only riotous and lascivious, but <i>covetous</i> also, and these
practices their hearts are exercised with; they pant after riches,
and the desire of their souls is to the wealth of this world: it is
a considerable part of their work to contrive to get wealth; in
this their hearts are exercised, and then they execute their
projects; and, if men abandon themselves to all sorts of lusts, we
cannot wonder that the apostle should call them <i>cursed
children,</i> for they are liable to the curse of God denounced
against such <i>ungodly and unrighteous men,</i> and they bring a
curse upon all who hearken and adhere to them.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iiPet.iii-p18">IV. The apostle (<scripRef id="iiPet.iii-p18.1" osisRef="Bible:2Pet.2.15-2Pet.2.16" parsed="|2Pet|2|15|2|16" passage="2Pe 2:15,16"><i>v.</i> 15, 16</scripRef>) proves that they are
<i>cursed children,</i> even such covetous persons as <i>the Lord
abhors,</i> by showing, 1. They <i>have forsaken the right way;</i>
and it cannot be but such self-seekers must be out of the right
way, which is a self-denying way. 2. They have gone into a wrong
way: they have erred and strayed from the way of life, and gone
over into the path which leads to death, and takes hold of hell;
and this he makes out by showing it to be <i>the way of Balaam, the
son of Bosor.</i> (1.) That is a way of unrighteousness into which
men are led by the wages of unrighteousness. (2.) Outward temporal
good things are the wages sinners expect and promise themselves,
though they are often disappointed. (3.) The inordinate love of the
good things of this world turns men out of the way which leads to
the unspeakably better things of another life; the love of riches
and honour turned Balaam out of the way of his duty, although he
knew that the way he took displeased the Lord. (4.) Those who from
the same principle are guilty of the same practices with notorious
sinners are, in the judgment of God, the followers of such vile
offenders, and therefore must reckon upon being at last where they
are: <i>they shall have their portion</i> with those in another
world whom they imitated in this. (5.) Heinous and hardened sinners
sometimes meet with rebukes for their iniquity. God stops them in
their way, and opens the mouth of conscience, or by some startling
providence startles and affrights them. (6.) Though some more
uncommon and extraordinary rebuke may for a little while cool men's
courage, and hinder their violent progress in the way of sin, it
will not make them forsake the way of iniquity and go over into the
way of holiness. If rebuking a sinner for his iniquity could have
made a man return to his duty, surely the rebuke of Balaam must
have produced this effect; for here is a surprising miracle
wrought: <i>the dumb ass,</i> in whose mouth no man can expect to
meet with reproof, is enabled to speak, and that with a human
voice, and to her owner and master (who is here called a
<i>prophet,</i> for the Lord appeared and spoke sometimes to him,
<scripRef id="iiPet.iii-p18.2" osisRef="Bible:Num.22.23-Num.22.24" parsed="|Num|22|23|22|24" passage="Nu 22:23,24">Num. xxii. 23, 24</scripRef>, but
indeed he was among the prophets of the Lord as Judas among the
apostles of Jesus Christ), and she exposes <i>the madness</i> of
his conduct and opposes his going on in this evil way, and yet all
in vain. Those who will not yield to usual methods of reproof will
be but little influenced by miraculous appearances to turn them
from their sinful courses. Balaam was indeed restrained from
actually <i>cursing the people,</i> but he had so strong a desire
after the honours and riches that were promised him that he went as
far as he could, and did his utmost to get from under the restraint
that was upon him.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iiPet.iii-p19">V. The apostle proceeds (<scripRef id="iiPet.iii-p19.1" osisRef="Bible:2Pet.2.17" parsed="|2Pet|2|17|0|0" passage="2Pe 2:17"><i>v.</i> 17</scripRef>) to a further description of
seducing teachers, whom he sets forth,</p>
<p class="indent" id="iiPet.iii-p20">1. As <i>wells,</i> or fountains,
<i>without water.</i> Observe, (1.) Ministers should be as wells or
fountains, where the people may find instruction, direction, and
comfort; but (2.) False teachers have nothing of this to impart to
those who consult them: the word of truth is the water of life,
which refreshes the souls that receive it; but these deceivers are
set upon spreading and promoting error, and therefore are set forth
as empty, because there is no truth in them. In vain then are all
our expectations of being fed and filled with knowledge and
understanding by those who are themselves ignorant and empty.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iiPet.iii-p21">2. As <i>clouds carried with a tempest.</i>
When we see a cloud we expect a refreshing shower from it; but
these are clouds which yield no rain, for they are driven with the
wind, but not of the Spirit, but the stormy wind or tempest of
their own ambition and covetousness. They espouse and spread those
opinions that will procure most applause and advantage to
themselves; and as clouds obstruct the light of the sun, and darken
the air, so do these <i>darken counsel by words without
knowledge</i> and wherein there is no truth; and, seeing these men
are for promoting darkness in this world, it is very just that the
mist of darkness should be their portion in the next. Utter
darkness was prepared for the devil, the great deceiver, and his
angels, those instruments that he uses to turn men from the truth,
and therefore for them it is reserved, and that for ever; the fire
of hell is everlasting, and the smoke of the bottomless pit rises
up for ever and ever. And it is just with God to deal thus with
them, because (1.) They allure those they deal with, and draw them
into a net, or catch them as men do fish; and, (2.) It is <i>with
great swelling words of vanity,</i> lofty expressions, which have a
great sound, but little sense. (3.) They work upon <i>the corrupt
affections</i> and <i>carnal fleshly lusts of men,</i> proposing
what is grateful to them. And, (4.) They seduce persons who in
reality avoided and kept at a distance from those who spread and
those who embraced hurtful and destructive errors. Observe, [1.] By
application and industry men attain a skilfulness and dexterity in
promoting error. They are as artful and as successful as the
fisher, who makes angling his daily employment. The business of
these men is to draw disciples after them, and in their methods and
management there are some things worth observing, how they suit
their bait to those they desire to catch. [2.] Erroneous teachers
have a peculiar advantage to win men over to them, because they
have sensual pleasure to take them with; where as the ministers of
Christ put men upon self-denial, and the mortifying of those lusts
that others gratify and please: wonder not therefore that truth
prevails no more, or that errors spread so much. [3.] Persons who
have for a while adhered to the truth, and kept clear of errors,
may by the subtlety and industry of seducers be so far deceived as
to fall into those errors they had for a while <i>clean
escaped.</i> "Be therefore always upon your guard, maintain a godly
jealousy of yourselves, search the scriptures, pray for the Spirit
to instruct and establish you in the truth, walk humbly with God,
and watch against every thing that may provoke him to give you up
to a reprobate mind, that you may not be taken with the fair and
specious pretences of these false teachers, who promise liberty to
all who will hearken to them, not true Christian liberty for the
service of God, but a licentiousness in sin, to follow the devices
and desires of their own hearts." To prevent these men's gaining
proselytes, he tells us that, in the midst of all their talk of
liberty, they themselves are the vilest slaves, for they are the
servants of corruption; their own lusts have gotten a complete
victory over them, and they are actually in bondage to them, making
<i>provision for the flesh,</i> to satisfy its cravings, comply
with its directions, and obey its commands. Their minds and hearts
are so far corrupted and depraved that they have neither power nor
will to refuse the task that is imposed on them. They are conquered
and captivated by their spiritual enemies, and yield their members
servants of unrighteousness: and what a shame it is to be overcome
and commanded by those who are themselves <i>the servants of
corruption, and slaves to their own lusts!</i> This consideration
should prevent our being led away by these seducers; and to this he
adds another (<scripRef id="iiPet.iii-p21.1" osisRef="Bible:2Pet.2.20" parsed="|2Pet|2|20|0|0" passage="2Pe 2:20"><i>v.</i>
20</scripRef>): it is not only a shame and disgrace to be seduced
by those who are themselves the slaves of sin, and led captive by
the devil at his pleasure, but it is a real detriment to those who
have clean escaped from those who live in error, for hereby their
latter end is made worse than their beginning. Here we see,
<i>First,</i> It is an advantage to escape the pollutions of the
world, to be kept from gross and scandalous sins, though men are
not thoroughly converted and savingly changed; for hereby we are
kept from grieving those who are truly serious and emboldening
those who are openly profane; whereas, if we run with others to the
same excess of riot and abandon ourselves to the sins of the age,
we afflict and dishearten those who endeavour to walk as becomes
the gospel, and strengthen the hands of those who are already
engaged in open rebellion against the Most High, as well as
alienate ourselves more from God, and harden our hearts against
him. <i>Secondly,</i> Some men are, for a time, <i>kept from the
pollutions of the world, by the knowledge of Christ,</i> who are
not savingly renewed in the spirit of their mind. A religious
education has restrained many whom the grace of God has not
renewed: if we receive the light of the truth, and have a notional
knowledge of Christ in our heads, it may be of some present service
to us; but we must receive the love of the truth, and hide God's
word in our heart, or it will not sanctify and save us.
<i>Thirdly,</i> Those who have, for a time, escaped the pollutions
of the world, are at first ensnared and entangled by false
teachers, who first perplex men with some plausible and specious
objections against the truths of the gospel; and the more ignorant
and unstable are hereby made to stagger, and brought to question
the truth of doctrines they have received, because they cannot
solve all the difficulties, nor answer all the objections, that are
urged by these seducers. <i>Fourthly,</i> When men are once
entangled, they are easily overcome; therefore should Christians
keep close to the word of God, and watch against those who seek to
perplex and bewilder them, and that because, if men who have once
<i>escaped are again entangled, the latter end is worse with them
than the beginning.</i></p>
<p class="indent" id="iiPet.iii-p22">VI. The apostle, in the <scripRef id="iiPet.iii-p22.1" osisRef="Bible:2Pet.2.21-2Pet.2.22" parsed="|2Pet|2|21|2|22" passage="2Pe 2:21,22">last two verses of the chapter</scripRef>, sets
himself to prove that a state of apostasy is worse than a state of
ignorance; for it is a <i>condemning of the way of
righteousness,</i> after they have had some knowledge of it, and
expressed some liking to it; it carries in it a declaring that they
have found some iniquity in the way of righteousness and some
falsehood in the word of truth. Now to bring up such an evil report
upon the good way of God, and such a false charge against the way
of truth, must necessarily expose to the heaviest condemnation; the
misery of such deserters of Christ and his gospel is more
unavoidable and more intolerable than that of other offenders; for,
1. God is more highly provoked by those who by their conduct
despise the gospel, as well as disobey the law, and who reproach
and pour contempt upon God and his grace. 2. The devil more
narrowly watches and more closely confines those whom he has
recovered, after they had once gone off from him and professed to
be the followers of the Lord Jesus Christ (<scripRef id="iiPet.iii-p22.2" osisRef="Bible:Matt.12.45" parsed="|Matt|12|45|0|0" passage="Mt 12:45">Matt. xii. 45</scripRef>); they are kept under a
stronger guard, and no wonder it should be so when they have licked
up their own vomit again, returning to the same errors and
impieties that they had once cast off and seemed to detest and
loathe, and wallowing in that filthiness from which they appeared
once to be really cleansed. Well, if the scripture gives such an
account of Christianity on the one hand, and of sin on the other,
as we have here in <scripRef id="iiPet.iii-p22.3" osisRef="Bible:2Pet.2.21-2Pet.2.22" parsed="|2Pet|2|21|2|22" passage="2Pe 2:21,22">these two
verses</scripRef>, we certainly ought highly to approve of the
former and persevere therein, because it is a way of righteousness,
and a holy commandment, and to loathe and keep at the greatest
distance from the latter because it is set forth as most offensive
and abominable.</p>
</div></div2>