and admire the light: and yet to live as if we remained in darkness. The day-star must arise in our hearts, for the purpose which it is intended to fulfil to direct us to Christ, as "the light which lighteth every man that cometh into the world:” 8 to comfort us under the clouds of adversity and sickness: nay, to cheer us through our worst and latest trials, that even if we "pass through the valley of the shadow of death, we may fear no evil." For, for this has "the day-spring from on high visited us;""for this was the Son of God manifested," "" to guide our feet into the way of

peace." 9

LECTURE XLVI.

THE CERTAINTY OF DIVINE JUDGMENTS.

2 PETER ii. 1-9.

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: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth

not.

St. Peter had spoken of prophets-holy men who

spoke as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. But not all had been so inspired, who took upon themselves to prophesy. Base coin had been intermixed with the pure gold. There had been false prophets also, who deceived the Jews of old. Evil men spoke as Satan prompted them. For the sake of their own advantage they feigned what was pleasing, instead of uttering what was true; like those who flattered Ahab, and excited him to go and meet his death at Ramoth-Gilead.1

So likewise it would be in the church of Christ. Even so there shall be false teachers among you. They shall insinuate themselves privily, concealing the nature of their doctrines, but really denying the Lord, who gave himself for them, and whom they pretend to serve; having their own ends in view; making merchandise of you with feigned words through covetousness, as they who sold Ahab to his enemies. Many too should follow their pernicious ways: and the truth itself would suffer: the false disciples of Christ would bring a reproach upon his name.

These defied the judgments of God. Peter reminds them of these judgments; reminds all, not to presume upon his forbearance. Scripture furnishes awful examples, how such offenders bring upon themselves swift destruction: how their doom has been long determined in the sentence of God against the wicked, nay, long since pronounced in prophecy,* so that their judgment lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not. For though he is " merciful and long-suffering, not willing that any should perish;" yet, towards presumptuous transgressors, 1 Kings xxii. 1-7. 2 Jude iv.

3 Numb. xiv. 18.

and especially against those who cause others to offend, "our God is a consuming fire."

4. For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment;

5. And spared not the old world, but spared Noah the eighth person, 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 them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly;

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 his righteous soul from day to day with their 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.

Here the teachers of false doctrine, and the followers of false doctrine, are alike reminded of the danger that awaited them. Every wilful sinner goes upon the presumption of impunity; that God careth not for it ;"" he will not do good, neither will he do evil." This is contrary to all example of what God has actually done. Before our world was formed, we are told of angels that sinned, and kept not their first estate. God spared them not. It is the part of mercy to spare. But there are times when mercy cannot spare, and justice must prevail. So it was then. God cast them down into hell, and

delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment.

ד

Again in the days of Noah, when "all flesh had corrupted itself, and "the earth was filled with violence," 66 men regarded not the work of the Lord, neither considered the operation of his hands." They were not without warning: Noah, a preacher of righteousness, exhorted them to "seek the Lord while he might be found; to call upon him whilst he was near" he provided a way of refuge for himself, and admonished others to follow his example. But to no purpose: they persisted in their ways, as if the world was theirs, and its Maker had no power. But God displayed his power. He spared them not. They had argued that he would spare them. He spared them not, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly; and so left a proof to all future ages that he "will by no means clear the guilty."

Another signal example was furnished by the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha. The sin of those cities was "very grievous:" and the Lord did not suffer the inhabitants to await the common death of all men, but, turning their cities into ashes, condemned them with an overthrow. These too had been under "strong delusion:" they would not be persuaded of their danger. (Gen. xix. 14.) Lot, as the angel commanded the righteous Lot, who had been long vexed with the filthy communication of the wicked, he went out, "and spake unto his sons-inlaw, who married his daughters, and said, Up, get you out of this place; for the Lord will destroy this 7 Gen. vi. 12, 13.

8 Ex. xxxiv. 7.

S

city. But he seemed as one that mocked unto his sons-in-law." They treated his warning, as the old world had treated Noah's preaching: as an idle tale. But Lot had no sooner reached the place of safety which the Lord, "being merciful to him,” had prepared, than brimstone and fire rained upon those cities out of heaven;" and lo, the smoke of the country went up as the smoke of a furnace.”

All these things are left unto us as examples: showing that the Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptation, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished. For such is the object of this passage: a double object: first, to affirm the certainty of God's judgments: to leave an assurance to the false teachers who should hereafter arise and trouble the church, that there is " a vengeance of eternal fire," there is " indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish, to every soul of man that doeth evil." This Peter here declares: and holds up before us as proofs a host of angels, natures superior to ours, cast down from their high estate, and delivered into chains of darkness: whole cities turned into a monument of divine wrath: nay, the inhabitants of the world itself, overwhelmed by the word of his mouth and the blast of his displeasure.

But the same examples also prove that “the Lord knoweth them that are his," and delivers them from the calamities by which the wicked are destroyed. In all cases where false teachers prevail, those who continue stedfast to the truth are harassed with much temptation. They become the objects of persecution, and must needs be supported and comforted. These examples convey much encouragement. God