[1.] It “shall” do so; it is not yet come to the effect, it is futwre. Hence many of them despised it, as that which would never be, 2 Pet. ii. 3-6.. But there are three things intimated in this word: Isé. That it is “in procinctu,” im readit- ness; not yet come, but ready to come: so is the word used to ex- press that which is future, but ready to make its entrance. 2dly. That it is certain, it shall and will be; whatever appearances there are of its turning aside, and men’s avoiding of it, it will come in its proper season: so speaks the prophet in a like case: Hab. ii. 3. 3dly. The foundation of the certainty of the coming of this fiery indignation, is the irreversible decree of God, accompanied with righteousness, and the measures which infinite wisdom gave unto | his patience. This was the unavoidable season that was approach- ing, when the adversaries had filled up the measure of their sin, and God’s providence had saved the elect from this wrath to come.
Obs. X. There is a determinate time for the accomplishment of all divine threatenings, and the infliction of the severest judgments, which no man can abide or avoid. He hath “appointed a day wherein he will judge the world.” So at present there is a sort of men “whose damnation slumbereth not,” concerning whom he hath sworn that “time shall be no more;’ which is the present state of the antichristian world.
Obs. XI. The certain determination of divine vengeance on the enemies of the gospel is a motive unto holiness, and a supportment
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under sufferings, in them that believe. “ Lift up your heads, for your redemption draweth nigh.” “What manner of persons ought we to be?” See 2 Thess. i. 7-10.
[2.] There is a description of those on whom this fiery indignation shall have its effect, and it is “the adversaries,”—rod¢ imevavriovg, He doth not say, those that believe not, ge pruet and obey not the gospel, as he doth elsewhere, when i he treats absolutely of the day of judgment, as in that place, 2 Thess. i. 8, 9, now mentioned; but it confines them unto those that are “adversaries, —who, from a contrary principle, set themselves against the Lord Christ and the gospel. This is the peculiar de- scription of the unbelieving Jews at that time. They did not only refuse the gospel through unbelief, but were acted by a principle of opposition thereunto; not only as unto themselves, but as unto others, even the whole world. So is their state described, 1 Thess, ii, 15, 16, “Who both killed the Lord Jesus, and their own pro- phets, and have persecuted us; and they please not God, and are contrary unto all men: forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles, that they might be saved, to fill up their sins alway: for the wrath is come upon them unto the uttermost.” They laid the foundation of this enmity in killing the Lord Jesus; but they rested not therein, they continued in their unbelief, adhering to their old Judaism, and their sins therein. Nor did they rest there, but persecuted the apostles, drove them out from amongst them, and all that preached the gospel; and this not only with respect unto themselves alone, and those of their own nation, but they set themselves with fury all the world over against the preaching of the gospel unto the Gen- tiles, and that of cursed malice, that they might not be saved. See instances of this rage, Acts xii, 45, xxii. 22, 23. They were pro- perly “the adversaries” whom the apostle intends; and thereforé the judgment which was peculiar unto them and their sins, in that fearful temporal destruction which did then approach, is intended herein, as well as the equity of the sentence as extended to the general destruction of all unbelievers at the last day.
Obs. XII. The highest aggravation for the greatest sin, is, when men, out of a contrary principle of superstition and error, do set themselves maliciously to oppose the doctrine and truth of the gospel, with respeet unto themselves and others.
Obs. XIII. There is a time when God will make such demon- strations of his wrath and displeasure, against all adversaries of the gospel, as shall be pledges of his eternal indignation. He will one day deal so with the antichristian, persecuting world.
[3.] What is the effect of this fiery indignation against those adversaries? “It shall eat them up,” or “devour them.” The expression is metaphorical, taken from the nature
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538 AN EXPOSITION OF THE [CHAP. X.
and efficacious operation of fire; it eats, devours, swallows up and consumes, all combustible matter that it is applied unto, or is put into it, That intended is destruction, inevitable, unavoidable, and terrible in the manner of it. See Mal. iv. 1, whence those expres- sions are taken. Only the similitude is not to be extended beyond
the proper intention of it. For fire doth so consume and devour —
what is put into it, as that it destroys the substance and being thereof, that it shall be no more, It is not so with the “fiery indignation” that “shall consume” or “devour the adversaries” at
the last day. It shall devour them as to all happiness, all blessed- —