Universal redemption of mankind, by the Lord Jesus Christ stated and cleared by the…

4. Their Apostasy is described by turning from the holy Commandment delivered to them, which is called the way of Righteousness, and to their former Vomit (which must needs be the state they were in before they turned Christians) and to the mire, after they were washed; And this state of Apostasy is opposed to escaping the pollutions of the World, by the knowledge of the ⟨p. 316⟩Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, so that it is left past doubt that it is the Lord Jesus Christ that bought them whom they are said to deny. And Jude saith of them, that they are twice dead, plucked up by the roots, by which it appears that after their first death, they had received some kind of new Life by Christ.

4. Their Apostacy is described by turning from the holy Commandment delivered to them, which is called the way of Righteousness, and to their former Vomit (which must needs be the state they were in before they turned Christians) and to the mire, after they were washed; And this state of Apostacy is opposed to escaping the pollutions of the World, by the knowledge of the ⟨p. 316⟩Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, so that it is left past doubt that it is the Lord Jesus Christ that bought them whom they are said to deny. And Jude saith of them, that they are twice dead, plucked up by the roots, by which it appears that after their first death, they had received some kind of new Life by Christ.

Lastly, Note, that here are many benefits which they received, which could not have befallen them, but through the Death of Christ; They could no other way have been washed, and have escaped the worlds pollutions, and have known the way of Righteousness, &c. yea Jude saith, They turn the Grace of God into Lasciviousness, therefore it was a sin against Grace: and all Grace is by the blood of Christ: yea it seems they had themselves some Grace, that is, (Mercy contrary to merit and tending to a recovery) which they so turned into Lasciviousness. And Peter in the next chapter shows that their Apostasy lay in a not-believing Christs second coming, because of his seeming delay, and therefore they gave themselves up to their Lusts, and said mockingly, Where is the promise of his coming? so that it is both evident that they were purchased by Christ, and that it is Christ that bought them whom they are said to deny.