A00665:668
A commentary or, exposition upon the divine second epistle general, writtenA commentary or, exposition vpon the diuine second epistle generall, written
A commentary or, exposition upon the divine second epistle general, written by the blessed apostle St. Peter. By Thomas AdamsA commentary or, exposition vpon the diuine second epistle generall, written by the blessed apostle St. Peter. By Thomas Adams
London: printed by Richard Badger and Felix Kyngston for Jacob Bloome, 1633London: printed by Richard Badger and Felix Kyngston for Iacob Bloome, 1633
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
The Sum is: whosoever shall trust his salvation upon a starved faith, and not order his life by the pre-mentioned rules, errs in darkness, and holds not that way which the light of the Gospel hath directed him. He that hath the true knowledge of Christ will be fruitful, verse 8. He that is unfruitful, vainly presumeth the knowledge of Christ, vers. 9. So from the connection of both these verses, we find that true knowledge must precede sanctity of life. He that hath not these things is Blind: and he that cannot see well, cannot walk well, 1 John 2.4. Ye obey not, why? because ye know not, 1 Joh. 3.6. Whosoever sinneth, hath not seen him, nor known him. You sin, why? because you know not, 2 Tim. 3.6. Why are they laden with sins, and led away with divers lusts? Because they know not the truth, Ephes. 4.18. Why are they strangers from the life of God? Because their understanding is darkened. The Romanists pretend, that they will help men to heaven by ignorance,1 and by ignorance they shut them out. They keep the keys, and neither enter ⟨p. 183⟩in themselves, nor admit others. Every Christian in his Baptism hath taken press-money of Christ, to be his soldier, and to serve him in the field of this world, against his and our enemies: now he will fight poorly without weapons: he must have Gladium verbi, and Clypeum fidei; the Sword of the Spirit, and the Shield of Faith. And he must have these in his own hand: for he shall be smitten in his own person, therefore should resist in his own person: now shall he be content to bear the blows, and let another wear the sword? But, say they, there are many hard things in Gods Word, past common reach: true, and many easy enough, within their reach: there is milk for weak stomachs, and strong meat for abler digestions: there are fords for Lambs, and depths for Elephants. In the most champaign places, some mysteries are as hillocks, higher than the rest: in the steepest hill there is some footing, whereby we may come to that height, to discover the Land of Canaan.