Both the epistles of Peter are catholic, addressed to the whole Church. In the former especially he speaks very fully, and forcibly, of the Lord Jesus Christ, and of the different ends and purposes of his advent. He declares him to have been " fore-ordained before the foundation of the world, but mani- fest in these last times for his people a." He specifies the end of his manifestation, which was, to " redeem his people by his blood," and to bear their sins in his own body on the treeb. He declares him to have been " raised up from the dead by the Father; that our faith and hope might be in Godc :" and he states, that by his " resurrection from the dead he hath begotten us again to a lively hope of an incorruptible, and undefiled, and never-fading inheritance d." He represents him further as " the foundation-stone upon which all his Church and people are built," and which will infallibly support them all for ever and evere. And, lastly, he speaks of him as gone into heaven as our forerunner, and as " reigning there above all the principalities and powers" of heaven, earth, and hellf.
In the epistle that is before us too, he had spoken fully to the same effect, declaring that " grace and peace were to be multiplied unto us through the knowledge of this Saviourg," who is the one source and fountain of all good, and has " by his divine power given us all things that pertain unto life and godliness11."
Now these things Peter had declared : and they are no other than what every minister of Christ must declare. His ordination to his office from all eternity, his execution of it in time for the salvation of a ruined world, his exaltation to glory, from whence he communicates all blessings to his people, and overrules every thing for their eternal good, this must be made known by every minister of Christ, and must be received by every child of man.]
2. The power with which he will come —
[At a future period, that same Jesus, who was crucified, shall appear again " in power and great glory1," and will come to "judge both the quick and deadV Then shall " his glory be fully revealed1 ;" and his kingdom be established for ever in the heaven of heavens"1.
These things also the Apostle affirmed. And what less could be declared by any one that has undertaken to preach the Gospel?
a 1 Pet. i. 20. b 1 Pet. i. 18, 19. and ii. 24.
c 1 Pet. i. 21. d 1 Pet. i. 3, 4. e 1 Pet. ii. .r>, 0.
f 1 Pet. hi. 22. e ver. 2. h ver. 3.
1 Pet. i. 7. k 1 Pet. iv. 5. ' 1 Pet. iv. 13.
i m ver. 11.