2 Peter 1

REFLECTIONS UPON CHAP. I.—It is an high honour to be instrumental in the conversion and sanctification of God’s elect. What precious faith, and multiplied grace and peace, come to them through Jesus’ righteousness and the powerful operations of his Spirit! Effectually he calls his people to a most glorious inheritance in heaven, and to a holy profession and practice in the way to it. Rich is that fulness of salvation which is given to them in the gospel promises: and great the deliverance from sin, and transformation into the likeness of God, thereby effected. Spiritual sloth indulged is as inconsistent with the gospel as the belief of man’s merit of eternal happiness. Grace must be added unto grace, and we must grow in each. Nothing less will prove our election, manifest our 147 title to heaven, or make us meet for it. So apt are professors to mistake or apostatize from the truth, that these things cannot be too often considered and inculcated: and the apprehended approaches of death ought to render both ministers and people the more active in their proper work. The truths of the gospel are too important to be dallied with, too certain to be discredited. And the more experience we have had of divine things ourselves, the more are we qualified to teach and recommend them to others. But it is on no human testimony, but on the infallible oracles of God, that our faith must be founded or practice regulated