I. Scripture-light the most sure light ... delivered in three sermons on 2 Pet.…

1 As for the Mercy, and Blessing prayed for; it is expressed in four words; Perfect, Stablish, Strengthen, ¹and Settle you. Some think they are Synonymous, all intending the same thing, the confirmation and perseverance of those dispersed Christian-Jews. But though they may aim at the same general thing, yet there are several particulars under that general, which the words seem to point at. The first word, which we render Perfect, should (I think) be translated otherwise: It is the same word that is ⟨p. 427⟩used, Matth. 4.21. Mark, 1.19.² for mending of their Nets; and the same that is used, Gal. 6.1. You that are Spiritual, RESTORE such an one with the Spirit of Meekness; and it signifies such a restoring as is of unjointed Members. Now these Christians being scattered, the Apostle prays,³ that God would please to joint them again. Thus the God of all Grace, after you have suffered, and been shattered, bring you into order, restore, and repair you. But suppose that God restore, and mend us, yet we may fall again. True, but I do not only pray for you (saith Peter) that ye may be restored and mended; but that you may be confirmed, so as ye may not fall away, The God of all Grace stablish you also. The word signifies to fasten,⁴ and confirm, and establish: So Rom. 1.11. 1 Thes. 3.1, 2. But though we be so confirmed by the Grace of God, that we cannot fall away, yet we may be weak, and labour under great Infirmity: True, But I have prayed for you, that you may be strengthened also. But though we be strong, and confirmed, so as we shall never fall quite away from Grace; yet we may be unsettled: True, but I have not only prayed against your Apostasy, but against your unsettlement; The God of all Grace, restore, stablish, strengthen, and settle you, even as the Foundation of the House is settled. So that he doth not only pray for these Saints, that they may be restored, and put into joint in opposition to their scattering; but for confirmation, in opposition to Apostasy; and for settlement in opposition to all unsteadfastness; and for strength of Grace, in opposition unto weakness, the cause and ground of all unsettledness. Now these Graces he doth assure them of, by divers Arguments. 1. Some drawn from the Nature of God, he is the God of all Grace; not of Grace only, as the Syriac reads the words, omitting the word All; but he is the God of All Grace: