T ER. and violently, or with ſuch a Noiſe as is uſually cauſed by ſuch vio- lent and ſpeedy motions. p The Elements, in a natural Senſe, as integral parts of the Univerſe, Air, Water, Earth. q So ver. 12. where another Word is uſed in the Greeb, which properly f1gnifies melting, or being on fire, or burning, ſhall be Giflolved or deſtroyed. So the word fignifies, John 2. 19. and 1 Fohn 3. 8. r The habita- ble part of the World, though the Earth, as a part of the World, be included in the Elements Lefore-mentioned, yet here it may be taken with reſpedt to its Inhabitants, and the thinzs contained in it. / Not only artificial, Mens Works but natural, all that variety of Creatures, animate and inanimate, wherewith God hath ſtored this lower World for the preſent uſe ot Man; and fo all thoſe deleQtable things in which carnal Men ſeck their Happineſs.
11 Seeing then thar all theſe chings ſhall be diffol- ved, * what manner of perſons ? ought ye to be in a!! holy converſation and godlineſs » 2
'* Seeing the coming of the Lord will be ſo terrible, as to bring with it the Conſumption of the World, and the deſtruttion of thele things here below, upon which we are ſo apt to ſet our AffeRions. # How prudent, accurate, diligent, zealous, and every way excel- lent Perſons ? The Greek, word is often uſed by way of Admiration ot ſome ſingular Excellency in Perſons or Things, Marth. 8. 27. and Mark 13. 1. Luke 1. 29, « The words in theGreek are both 1n the Plural Number, and may imply not only a continued courſe of holy walking throughout our whole time, but likewiſe Diligence in the performance of all ſorts of Duties, and exerciſe of all thole ya- r!ous Graces wherewith the Spirit of God turniſheth Believers, in order thereto.
Chap. II]:
12 Looking for x, and || haſting unt» y the co- 4 Or, kzt- ming of the day of God >, wherein the heavens being "s the. on fire, ſhall be diſſolved, and the elements ſhall melc ©
with fervent hear.
x Pariently waiting tor, and expeRting. y By fervent Dctire of
it, and diligent Preparation for it. x The Day of the Lord, v. 10, 13 Nevertheleſs we, according to his promiſe «,
look for + new heavens, and a new earth b, wherein + 1tz. 5+.
dwelleth righteouſneſs c.
17.& 65,
a The places cited in the Margin, to which this Text ſeems to 22-
refer, ſpeak of a new ſtate of the Church here in the World, yet by way of allufion to the Renovation of the World, which 1s ul- timately there promiſed, and the Perpetuity of the Goſpei-Thurch till then, 1s thereby atſured. - b Inſtead of the prefent Worid which 1s to be conſumed by Fire, ver. 10. 12. or the firtt Heaven and Earth which paſs away, Rev. 21. 1. Theſe will be new Heavens, and a new Earth, either as to their Subſtance, or as to their Qua- lities, retined and purified from all Defilement, and free - trom all that Vanity to which the Creature was made ſubje& by the Sin of Man, Rom. 8, 20, 21, * 7.e. Perpetually abideth, and not on!y tor a time, Rom. 8. 11, and 2 Cor. 6. 15, and 2 7im. 1.14. c Either this may be underſtood of Righteouſneſs in the Abſtract, that together with the Deſtrucion of the World, the Kingdom of Sin ſhall be deſtroyed, and God's Ele&, the Inhabitants of the new VVorld ſhall be filled with Righteouſneſs, whereas before Sin had dwelt in them: Or elſe the Abſtract may he put for the Con- crete, and by Righteouſneſs may be meant righteous Perſons, who only ſhall be the Inhabitants of the new VVorld, the wicked being turned into Hell, Rev. 21. 27. And by this way of expreſſing it, may be implied the Perfe&ion of the Righteouſneſs ot tuch. Not only the new Heaven is mentioned, but the new Earth, becauſe the
| whole VVorld will then be the Pofieſſion and Kingdom of the Saints
who follow Chriſt wherever he goes.
14 Wherefore, beloved, ſeeing ye look for ſuch
things d, be diligent, * that ye may be found of him * x Cor. x.
e 1n peace f, without ſport, and blamelef g.
d Chriſt's coming to Judgment ; the Deſtrufion ot this VVorld ; 4 new Heaven, and a new Earth, in which dwells Righteouſneſs. e Chriſt the Judge. f At Peace with God, trom whence proceeds Peace of Conſcience, and an amicable, peaceable Ditpoſition toward others ; all which may here be comprehended. z Either, 1. By theſe words he means abſolute Perfe&ion ; and then he ſhews what we are to deſign and aim at in this Life, though we attain 1t not till we come into the other : Or, 2ly, A through SanRtification through Faith in Chriſt, a being got above fleſhly Luſts, and the Pollutions of the VVorld, and any ſuch Carriage as our Hearts may reproach us for, 1 Tim. 6.14. If it be objefted, That ſuch, ha- ving Sin ſtill in them, cannot be ſaid to be without ſpot, and blame- leſs, in the fizht of God. It may be anſwered, That though thev have Sin in them, yet being, through the Righteouſneſs of Chritt 1mputed to them juſtified in the ſight of God, and accepted 1n the Beloved, Eph. r. 6. he over-looks their Infirmities, and 1mputes no ſin to them, ſees no Spot in them ſo as to condemn them tor 1t. The Apoſtle ſeems here to retle& on the Seducers betore-mentioned, whom, ch. 2. 13. he had called Spots and Blemifhes ; and he per- ſwades theſe Saints to look to themſelves, that they mit be found of Chriſt (not ſuch as the other were, but) withwr por, and blame- leſs ; or, as it is Trantlated, Eph. 5. 27. without Blemiſh, 1, e, in a State of Sandtification, as well as Juſtification.
15 And account þ hat the long-ſuftering of our Lord z zs ſalvation &; even as our beloved brother / Paul alſo, according to the wiſdom 2 given unto him,
hath written unto you 7. h Reckon with your ſelves, and be confidently perſwaded ; or take for granted. 7 Viz. In his not yet coming to Judgment, and bearing with ſo much fin in the VVorld, without preſently punifh- ing it. & 7. e. Tends, or conduceth to Salvation, in that hereby he gives ſpace for Repentance to the Elett unconvertied, and allow- eth time tor the building up, and perte&ing thoſe that are convert- ed, ver. 9. 1 Not only Brother in Chriſt, as a Sint, but in Othce as an Apoſtle. m That eminent and- profound Knowledge 1n the
Myſteries of the Goſpel in which Pau! did excel, 1 Cor. SY 7. phe!.
8,
Phil. 1.10» 1 Thel\. 2. 13.X 5s
3” - Js
* Rom. 8. 19.
24» 1 The. 4. I 5s
Toe Pet. Io I6.
Chap. I.