The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Peter — Section 24

St. Peter is an exan!ple to_ all Christian ministers. '!'hey m\ ,t watch for eouls; they must never weary m their work ; at all times and in all i:laces they should strive sometimes by word, always by example, to arouse men to a sense of the momentou~ imporlan_ce of the things _which belong to their peace. '!'hey are never "off duty," ae men are m other occupations; they should be always on the watch for opportunities of saving souls, of buildiug up believers in their most holy faith, of comfortin" the feeble- minded, of arou:,.~ng tbe careless, of warning, guiding, encouraging, acco:'ding to the needs of those with whom they have to do. 2. "The night cometh when no man can ,cork." St. Peter looks forward to his death with sweet and holy calmness ; he knew that it would be swift-the sharp death of martyrdom. He may have felt that it was nP,ar at hand; for he was an old man now, and the hour of which the Lord had spoken (John xxi. 18, 19) could not be long delayed. He calls it the putting off of his tabernacle. His earthly body was but as a tent, perishable, temporary; the tent was old, worn out; it could not last long. 'l'he apostle knew, like St. Paul, that he had "a building of God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens," and, knowing this, he could calmly await the dissolution of the earthly house of this tabernacle. But the approach of death, the thought that, when it came, it would be speedy, was a reason for more earnest work while there was time. It is good for us to keep the thought of our approaching death in continual remembrance, to accustom ourselves to reflect calmly and thoughtfully upon it. Such meditation throws a clear light upon the solemn meaning of our earthly life, on the deep importance of finishin" the work which God has given us to do. Sometimes we can do that work all th~ bett.er when the shadow of approaching dea.th is falling upon us. Our testimony seems more real, deeper, and more convincing, when it comes from men who a.re on the point of departure, whose immediate future is in the wor!d beyond the gra.ve. The thought of coming death will make true Christians all the more eager to work for God ; they will pray that Christ may be magnified in them, whether it be by life or by death; they will pray for a holy, peaceful death, not only for their own sakes, but also that others, seeing how Christian men can die, may be led to follow their faith, 'l'hey will work for the salvation of souls even on their death-bed, and they will do what lies in their power to leave behind them a legacy of holy example and holy memories, or, it may be, of holy writings, which may benefit those who remain. To such holy souls death is a departnre, an exodus, out of a life of sorrows into the land of promise, the heavenly Canaan. The Lord who died for them is with them when they die; he accomplished his decease at J erusa.lem for them. His death hath destroyed the power of the king of terrors, and taken away the sting of death ; his death was a depar~ure out of humiliation into glory. He told Peter once that he could not follow whither he was goin.:r then, but that be should follow him afterwards. And so now it is his will that all those whom the Father bath given him should be with him where he is. lL THE CERTAINTY OF THE TRUTHS OF THE GOSPEL. 1. They are not fables. There were many strange stories current, some among Jews, some among Gentiles; there were many legends, many myths. But the gospel history stands apart from all these in its unimpeachable truthfulness. It contains many wonderful works of power, many wonders of grace; it announces the future advent of our Saviour Jesus Christ. But all these are related with a simplicity which has the stamp of truth. The gospel speaks to us as with a voice from heaven; it awakens echoes in our hearts; it brings with it its own evidence. 2. They have the testimony of eye-witnesses. There were many eye-witnesses of the Lord's life and works-five hundred brethren at once had seen him after he was risen from the dead. But there were three who had rectived an august initiation into the holiest mysteries, who had been eye-witn~sses of his majesty when the splendour of the Divine glory flashed through the veil of human flesh, and saints long ago departed from the world came to do him homage, desiring, as the blessed angels desire, to look into the mysteries of redemption, and to understand something of the blessed and awful meaning of his most precious death. 3. The direct testimony of God the Father. On the day of the Transfiguration sure and irresistible proof of the Saviour's Divine majesty was vouchsafed to eye and ear alike. That radiant glory came from God the Father; the highly favoured three had then a foretaste of the glorious vision which the blessed shall behold in heaven according to the Saviour's prayer," Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given toe, be OH, r.1-21.] THE SECOND EPISTLE GENERAL OF PETER. 17