And so I come to that place of Peter, which I shall but open before you, and so have done for this time; and I pray consider it diligently. 2 Pet. 1. 5. And besides this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, and to virtue knowledge. But mark how he prefaces before he comes to the words: Whereby (saith he) are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises, that by these you might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lusts. Now besides this, there is something else to be done: well, what's that? it is such a matter, as all diligence is to be given to it: Besides this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue. 'Tis not, 'tis not enough that you believe, but you must have moral virtue also: Add unto your faith virtue. I but suppose we have moral virtue, is not that enough? No▪ and to your virtue knowledge. You must not only have moral virtues, but you must know Jesus Christ. But suppose he hath knowledge, is not that yet enough? No; and to your knowledge add temperance, whereby you may be kept from the immoderate use of the things of this world. But suppose we have that, is not that enough? No; add to your temperance patience: you shall meet with many afflictions and crosses, and therefore you must have patience. But suppose we have patience, is not that yet enough? No; and to your patience add godliness: there must be a right worshipping of God ⟨p. 27⟩in his Service. Well, but suppose we have godliness, and do worship God after a right manner, is not that enough? No; add to your godliness brotherly kindness: you that are Saints are brethren, and therefore it is not enough that ye have the worshipping of God in a right way, but ye must agree together as brethren; add to your right worship and godliness brotherly kindness. But suppose we have that, is not that enough? no; add charity: brotherly kindness may be towards you that are brethren, but there must be charity towards all, to those that are not of the body. Well, but suppose we do these things, what then? Read vers 8. For if these things be in you and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. You complain that your hearts are barren, and that you lie as barren ground in the Family:
And so I come to that place of Peter, which I shall but open before you, and so have done for this time; and I pray consider it diligently. 2 Pet. 1. 5. And besides this, giving all diligence, add to your faith vertue, and to vertue knowledge. But mark how he prefaces before he comes to the words: Whereby (saith he) are given unto us exceeding great and pretious promises, that by these you might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lusts. Now besides this, there is something else to be done: well, what's that? it is such a matter, as all diligence is to be given to it: Besides this, giving all diligence, adde to your faith vertue. 'Tis not, 'tis not enough that you believe, but you must have moral vertue also: Adde unto your faith vertue. I but suppose we have moral vertue, is not that enough? No▪ and to your vertue knowledge. You must not onely have moral vertues, but you must know Jesus Christ. But suppose he hath knowledge, is not that yet enough? No; and to your knowledge adde temperance, whereby you may be kept from the immoderate use of the things of this world. But suppose we have that, is not that enough? No; adde to your temperance patience: you shall meet with many afflictions and crosses, and therefore you must have patience. But suppose we have patience, is not that yet enough? No; and to your patience adde godliness: there must be a right worshipping of God ⟨p. 27⟩in his Service. Well, but suppose we have godliness, and do worship God after a right manner, is not that enough? No; adde to your godliness brotherly kindness: you that are Saints are brethren, and therefore it is not enough that ye have the worshipping of God in a right way, but ye must agree together as brethren; adde to your right worship and godliness brotherly kindness. But suppose we have that, is not that enough? no; adde charity: brotherly kindness may be towards you that are brethren, but there must be charity towards all, to those that are not of the body. Well, but suppose we do these things, what then? Read vers 8. For if these things be in you and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. You complain that your hearts are barren, and that you lie as barren ground in the Family:
