and promptness which appear in the other two books, always allowing for the difference between a narrative and a hortatory style.
It has been observed that “ the sight, and what it should do and reap, fills a great space in Peter’s letters.” Accordingly, we read that God’s salvation is ready to be revealed in the last time (1, 1.5); the angels desire to look into the mysteries of the gospel (1, 1. 12); Christ was manifested at the end of the times (1, 1. 20); the Gentiles shall behold your good works (1, il. 12); unbelieving husbands shall be convinced by behold- ing the chaste behavior of their wives (1, iii. 2); the apostle was a witness of Christ’s sufferings (1, v. 1), and an eye-witness of his majesty (2, i. 16); the elders must exercise oversight of the flock (1, v. 2). Similarly he speaks of the day of véscta- tion, or, lit., overlooking (1, ii. 12); Christ is the béshop, lit., overseer, Of souls (1, ii. 25); he who lacks Christian graces is blind, seeing only what is near (2, i. 9); Lot was vexed at seeing the wickedness of his neighbors (2, ii. 8); the wicked have eyes full of adultery (2, ii. 14).
Equally apparent is his readiness to apply what he sees and hears. ‘Not one thought,” says Canon Cook, “ connected with the mystery of salvation is presented without an instant and emphatic reference to what a Christian ought to feel, and what he ought to do. No place in the spiritual temple is so humble that he who holds it has not before him the loftiest sphere of spiritual action and thought. Injunctions which touch the heart most powerfully are impressed upon us as we contemplate the eternal glory, the manifestations of Christ’s love”” Thus we have sanctification of the spirit wnto obedience (1, 1. 2); be holy in Zéving (1, i. 15). The first epistle abounds in exhorta- tions to personal religion (ii. 10-18 ; iii. 1-16; iv. 1-11 ; v. 1-9). Christian graces shall make believers to be neither ¢d@/e nor un- Sruitful (2, i. 8); they shall not fall if they do these things (2, 1. 10); he exhorts to holy diving and godliness (2, iii. 1 ee
It is in such pointed and practical exhortations as these that the prompt and energetic character of the apostle reappears. Dr. Davidson observes that the writer is “ zealous, but mild, earnest, but not fervid;” a statement which is adapted to pro-