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wretched as his own. Therefore he is an adversary. When Adam was first placed in paradise, he envied his happiness, and led him into disobedience. So by one man sin entered into the world." And now that Christ had come to restore the world to God, Satan would be the adversary of every soul that should turn from darkness to light, from his power to God." Like a beast of prey, like a roaring lion, he walketh about, seeking whom he may devour. And if he find any not sober, not vigilant, any one out of his proper place, and venturing into danger; any one off his guard, so as to be easily surprised into sin; he seizes on him, as the lion on the flock which the shepherd has left, or on the lamb which has strayed from the fold.

But he who in his own person conquered Satan, has also enabled and instructed us to conquer him. Peter points out the means.

9. Whom resist, stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.

Among the various temptations by which the adversary might harass them, one would be this thought suggested to the mind:-If we were indeed chosen of God to be his people, he would not suffer us to be thus tried. The objection was cast against our Lord himself: "He trusted in God; let him deliver him now, if he will have him."1 Therefore St. Peter repeats what he had written before; it was no "strange thing which happened to them," "if they were tried in various ways: the same

1 St. Matt. xxvii. 43.

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afflictions are accomplished in their brethren that are in the world. "In the world they must have tribulation." They were not called unto rest, or peace, or comfort now; it might be the very reverse. might be, that their very calling, the religion which they had embraced, should prove a hindrance to their present ease.

How many persons, even to this hour, might lead a life of greater outward comfort, and escape both reproach and ill will, if in their sentiments or their practice they would conform to the world around them, the families they live with, or the companions with which they are associated? These need encouragement and comfort; and they find it in knowing, that the same afflictions have been accomplished in their brethren: that trials and difficulties have always attended the maintenance of serious religion.

Therefore they must constantly keep the end in view. Here was the contest, the trial: the reward, the crown, hereafter. And these very afflictions might all tend to their salvation through the grace of God working with them.

10. But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you. 11. To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

The storms and frosts of winter are as needful to healthy vegetation, as the milder air and genial warmth of summer. And so it often happens, that the words adapted by St. Paul in one sense to our blessed Lord, are applicable in another sense to his

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disciples, and they are "made perfect through sufferings." They are stablished, for instance, through temptation. We may suppose that through some doubts thrown in his way, or some evil thought suggested to his mind, a man's faith is shaken. This leads him to examine the foundations of his faith: he finds them fixed upon a rock and his faith is stablished on a firmer basis than before. Another is assailed by bad counsel, allured by bad example. He calls the Scripture to his aid, and finds it written, My son, when sinners entice thee, consent thou not." "O my soul, enter not into their assembly." "For all these things God shall call thee into judgment." Thus he comes out of the trial strengthened. He is stronger in the faith than before, because he has proved his armour and his weapons, and they have borne the attack. And so by degrees he is settled: fixed down upon an immovable foundation, which no tempests can shake, no assaults can overthrow. And yet this is not the effect of temptation or opposition in itself: they are but the means through which the effect is produced: God is the doer of it all; as St. Peter never allows us to forget, but says, May the God of all grace thus stablish, strengthen, settle you May He cause all the circumstances ye must pass through, all those trials and reverses ye must experience, to "build you up" in the faith," and give you an inheritance among them that are sanctified."

He concludes by recommending to them Silvanus, the christian brother by whose hands he sent the epistle; and states the object which he had in

writing, the same which had led Barnabas to visit the infant churches at Antioch, that he might exhort them" with full purpose of heart to cleave unto the Lord."?

12. By Silvanus,3 a faithful brother unto you, as I suppose, I have written briefly, exhorting, and testifying that this is the true grace of God wherein ye stand.

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13. The church that is at Babylon, elected together with you, saluteth you; and so doth Marcus my son.5

14. Greet ye one another with a kiss of charity. Peace be with you all that are in Christ Jesus. Amen.

2 Acts xi. 23.

3 The same (it is believed) as is called Silas in the Acts.

It was anciently supposed that by Babylon, Rome is signified, and that Peter wrote this from Rome. Certainly Babylon is the mystical name given to Rome in the book of Revelation. But the book of Revelation, like other books of prophecy, is full of em blems. Peter was merely stating the place from which he wrote: it was no case for the use of figures: nor is there any reason to believe that if he wrote from Rome, he would date from Babylon.

5 Marcus is supposed to be the evangelist. Peter calls him his son, as Paul calls Timothy his son; his "son in the faith."

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THE SECOND EPISTLE GENERAL OF PETER.

LECTURE XLI.

THE PROMISE OF GOD FOR THE RENEWAL OF MAN'S NATURE.

2 PETER i. 1-4.

A. D. 63.

1. Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ:

2. Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord.

St. Peter tells us afterwards why he wrote this second epistle addressing it to the same bodies of Christians as the former, after the interval probably of about a year. He was aware that his apostleship was drawing to a close, and that he should shortly be summoned from the world: so he chose to give a parting testimony, to leave a last injunction to them that were living in the like precious faith as he was prepared to die in. The prayer is, that grace and peace be multiplied unto them, through the only channel by which it can be conveyed through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. "This is life eternal, to know thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent." And if this is

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