2 Peter 1

2 Peter 1:1

LIke precious] namely, of the same nature vertue, propertie, price, as that of us Apostles, though we have it not all in an equal degree, see Romans 1:12. 2 Corinthians 4:13. Titus 1:4. Through the] the Italian, in the] whose foundation and object is Christs righteousnesse, which comprehends all that he hath done, and suffered for his, others expound the word Righteousnesse for mercie and goodnesse, or for loyaltie in holding to his promises according to the Hebrew terme.

2 Peter 1:3

Unto life] namely, to the happy and everlasting life Of him] namely, of God, who revealeth himselfe in the Gospel to salvation To glorie] the Italian, or glorie; that is to say, employing his glorious power to convert us, see Ephes. 1. 19. and 3. 16.

2 Peter 1:4

Whereby] namely, by the foresaid glorie and vertue some copies have: By whose love Promises] namely, the effects of the promises made to our forefathers You might be] you may be regenerated to the Image of God in holinesse, righteousnesse, and other vertues, which are originally and essentially in God, and the like: of which are created in the believer, and do increase, untill this conformitie do come to its perfection in heaven Having escaped] having freed your selves, and with-drawn your selves farre from it, Acts 2:40. Hebrews 6:18. 2 Peter 2:18; 2 Peter 2:20. Through lust] which corruption consists in the concupiscence or lust which reigneth in the world.

2 Peter 1:5

Vertue] that is to say, holy and vertuous customes, and an honest life Knowledge] namely, the progresse and confirmation in the knowledge and mysteries of the Gospel.

2 Peter 1:7

Brotherly kindnesse] towards believers Charitie] that is to say, the general and common charitie towards all men, see 1 Thess. 3. 12. and 5. 15.

2 Peter 1:8

Unfruitfull] namely, in fruits of righteousnesse and holinesse, which are the end of the knowledge and faith which God plants in the hearts of his.

2 Peter 1:9

But he] the Italian, for he; he proves the same by the contrary, thus; Where these vertues are, the knowledge shewes it selfe true and lively in efficacie; contrariwise, where they are wanting, knowledge appears but as a shadow, without life and vertue, James 2:17; James 2:20; James 2:26. Cannot see a far] the Italian, Dnzeling; he seems to set forth the image of false faith, by the similitude of a blinde mans eyes which are dazled, who can perceive some dim and confused light, but cannot thereby be guided in his motions Hath forgotten] that is to say, Hath rejected Gods grace, through which he had felt some small sparke, beginning and appearance of, being purged and reformed from his sins, Heb. 10 29.

2 Peter 1:10

Your calling.] not in it selfe, which hath all its vertue and subsistency from God and from his pleasure, Romans 9:11; Romans 9:16. but in the feeling certainty and apprehension which the beleever ought to have of it Ye shall never fall] you shall run on the race of your heavenly calling with a sure pace without disturbance or hinderance as in a plain way; and finally, you shall come to the end of it without falling, see 1 Iohn 2. 10.

2 Peter 1:12

Wherefore] seeing these things are so necessary for your salvation, I will carefully put you in minde of them, because that as I have the charge of procuring your salvation, I have also the will to do it Though ye] See Romans 15:14-15. John 2:21.

2 Peter 1:13

In this Tabernacle] that is to say, in this bodie, as 2 Corinthians 5:1.

2 Peter 1:16

For we] These things are worthy of perpetual meditation, because they are of a most pure, most certain, most divine Truth The power] it seemes that these two things must have a relation, to Christs glorie being ascended into heaven, and to his last comming to judgement, whereof his Transfiguration was an essay, Matth. 17. 1, 2. and therein consists the perfection of what he hath done for us, and what he accomplisheth in us.

2 Peter 1:17

From the Excellent] namely, from God himselfe, in his heavenly glorie.

2 Peter 1:18

The holy] that is to say, singularly chosen, for this apparition, and by the apparition sanctified for that moment, see Exo. l. 3. 5.

2 Peter 1:19

More sure] than those particular revelations which are not the foundation of Faith, but onely props and bearers up thereof; or this is spoken in regard of the greater credit which the believing Jewes gave to the doctrine of the Prophets, than to that of the Apostles, Acts 17:11. Others have it, Most firme In a darke place] namely, in your understandings, and in all the Jewish Church, which hath been enlightened by the prophetike word, during the night of Christs absence Untill the] untill your hearts be fully enlightened by the Spirit of Christ himselfe, who is the Sun of righteousnesse, and the morning-star of the Church, Rev. 2. 2. 28, and 22. 16. without having any more need, of the shadowes, figures, and weak directions of the Law.

2 Peter 1:20

Knowing] that is to say, in this reading of the Prophets, we must especially beware of understanding or interpreting them according to every mans minde or understanding, but according to the minde of the holy Ghost which revealeth it selfe, either by the clear events of the Gospel, or by the divine inspirations and expositions of his Apostles or by the comparing of the same Prophets, and their continuall consent, Acts 17:11.

2 Peter 1:21

For the] because it belongs onely to God, who is the onely authour of prophecie, to give the true sence of it Of God] namely, his chosen servants, who had a calling altogether divine, and the gift of his presence and inspiration in all their ministery.