2 Peter 2

2 Peter 2:1

THe people] of Israel Damnable] which leading men away from the foundation of faith and everlasting life, doe cast them downe into damnation Denying] either by a totall apostacie, or through want of sincere obedience, Titus 1:16. That bought them] who by the price of his blood, which they had professed by bapisme that they would be partakers of, had gotten the right and title of Lord and master over them, to make them his servants, see Hebrews 10:29.

2 Peter 2:2

Their pernicious waies] the Italian, their lasciviousnesse] namely, their false doctrines and evill examples which loosen the reines to all manner of licentiousnesse of the flesh, under the pretence of Christian libety, v. 18. Jude 1:4. Others their perditions, that is to say, their pestilent doctrines The way] namely, the profession of the Gospell shall be exposed to shame, and to the reproaches of the adversaries, see Acts 19:9; Acts 19:23.

2 Peter 2:3

Through covetousnesse] namely, under a faigned kind of speech, framed to a shew of piety, mildnesse, and charity, they shall endeavour to lay hold on your goods with the ruine of your soules.

2 Peter 2:4

Cast them downe] the Italian, abissed them; that is to say, having first driven them out of their heavenly habitation into the lowermost parts of the world, he keepes them there like prisoners chained up in horrible darknesse, without any light of grace, joy, and happinesse, untill that they be at the last day driven into everlasting torments, see Matth. 8. 19. Luke 8:31. Ephes. 6. 12:

2 Peter 2:5

A preacher] namely, who whiles he was preparing the Arke, exhorted and admonished the world to turne to the Lord, and desire a free forgivenesse of their sinnes, through faith in the promised Messias, which was the true righteousnesse by faith, by which himselfe was righteousnesse, Hebrews 11:7.

2 Peter 2:9

Knoweth how to deliver] that is to say, shall indeed deliver Out of temptation] namely, out of all calamities troubles and dangers by which he trieth those that are his, James 1:2. Revelation 3:10.

2 Peter 2:10

After the] flying out into a liberty of committing fornication, and all manner of lust, as those libertine hereticks which did arise in those daies, both did and taught, of which heretickes Jude also speakes Government] as well the publique government of Magistrates, as the private government of Masters, as a thing unfitting to be enduced by beleevers, who are the children of God, guided by his Spirit, and by himselfe freed from the Law. So did those false Doctors turne spirituall liberty which consisted in the free and willing doing of such things as one ought to doe, into a licentiousnesse of doing whatsoever they would, without any respect of honesty, or regard of government.

2 Peter 2:11

Whereas] this is spoken because that though the Angels were Gods Ministers on earth, to withstand the rage of evill Princes, and to execute Gods judgements upon them, and be also as Gods assistants and messengers, Dan. 4. 13. 17. Zechariah 1:10-11. Yet we never find in Scripture, that they did raile against powers, or offer them any injury, but did still with all respect leave the judging of their actions to God Greater] in the excellency of their nature, and height of their office above all the Potentates of the Earth Rayling accusation] that is to say, injurious, which is undecent for any grave and holy action of justice which is by such excesses prophaned.

2 Peter 2:12

Made to be taken] whose ordinary end is to be taken and slaine by Huntsmen. Which these false Doctors are like, as well in their bruitish sensuality, as in their unbridled licenciousnesse, and in their unfortunate end Of the things] that is to say, they take liberty to speake evill of, and defame such things as they have neither knowledge nor understanding in; especially your unbeleeving Princes and Magistrates, being not able to discerne how that in their office they may be Gods Ministers, though in their persons and abuse of their offices they be his enemies Corruption] namely, in their wicked and abominable life and conversation.

2 Peter 2:13

That count it] that doe put their chiefe good and delight, in pleasures of the flesh Spots] of the Church, and of holy assemblies; in the communion of which they professe themselves to be Sporting themselves] working in such sort, by their frauds and deceipst, that they through your bounties, doe get meanes to live deliciously; being called to your feasts, and sitting there in the chiefe seats While they] especially in the ordinary feasts of charity called Agape, see 1 Corinthians 11:20-21. Jude 1:12.

2 Peter 2:14

Having] shewing by their lascivious looks their inward burning lust That cannot] who doe not onely commit some sinfull act, through weaknesse or inconsideratenesse, but have gotten a habit, and make an ordinary practice of it Beguiling] drawing people that are not well grounded in faith and piety, to be companions in their misdeeds, and to assent unto their doctrines With covetous] to use all the snares and deceipts of covetousnesse for to gaine wealth.

2 Peter 2:16

The madnesse] through which, blinded with madnesse, he did strive to goe on against the will of God: but by the miracle of the Asses speaking, his presumption was abated, and confounded Of the Prophet] that is to say of the Soothsayer, Numbers 23:23. or he is called a Prophet, because sometimes he had true divine revelations, Num. 22. 20, 38. & 23. 5. & 24. 2.

2 Peter 2:17

Wels] that is so say, men who in truth and substance have nothing of that whereof they beare the name and likenesse Carried with] there being certaine clouds which yeeld no raine, but onely bring forth tempests and stormes: So these men carried by the divell, and by their owne passions, doe not inspire the Church with any pure and saving doctrine, but disturbe it with schismes, partialities, and heresies The midst] namely, the horror of internall punishments, which are opposite to the glorious light in which the Lord dwelleth, and of which he makes all those that are his, partakers.

2 Peter 2:18

When they speake] using a lofty and proud kind of stile in their manner of teaching, which is neverthelesse voyd of truth, and of any vertue of Gods Spirit Through the lusts] which they suffer to be committed under the shadow of Christian liberty Those that were] namely, your novice Christians, who were as yet weake in knowledge, faith, and practice Cleane escaped] the Italian, a little escaped; other coppies have it, those which were really and truely, &c. That is to say, true beleevers, who may be shaken by such temptations, but not over-throwne. Or, those who by professing the Gospell had taken the true way of saving themselves from the perdition of the world.

2 Peter 2:19

Is he brought] for according to the ancient custome, prisoners in the warres were the Conquerours slaves.

2 Peter 2:20

For if after] he proves that those, who after they have received the light of the Gospell, doe againe fall into the former state of sinne, are slaves to the divell and sinne without any redemption, like unto prisoners taken in the warres; because that by the said light and faith they have in some manner and for a time fought against the divell, and have at last been overcome by him, whereby he hath for ever possessed himselfe of them, Matth. 12. 43. whereas they who are under the divels peaceable and quiet possession, without any opposition of Gods Spirit, and being out of Gods Church Matth. 12. 29. may be delivered from it.

2 Peter 2:21

The way] namely, the doctrine and religion which teacheth true holinesse and righteousnesse pleasing to God, according to which, man ought to lead his life.