Vers. 1, 2.-Divine blessing by human channels. L THE TYPE OF MAN BY WHOM BLESSING COMES TO MAN. No one can take any thoughtful view of the book we call the Bible without learning how largely man is the channel of the Divine thought, the Divine emotion, the Divine grace. "Men spake from God, being moved by the Holy Ghost." And their individual manhood colours and tones their teaching. So that not alone by the writings of men, but by their lives-biographies that cluster round the Great Biography, either in resemblance or in contrast to it-men are taught, warned, comforted, stimulated, aod, in a sense in which St. Paul uses the word," saved" by man. In this passage is a type of the man by whom God blesses men. 1. In his manhood. "Simon Peter "-a name that recalls the story of his life, and discovers his temperament and unveils his ideaL The pearl is formed by some irritating substance causing discomfort, pain. So biography has its moral pearls. And St. Pater's is notable. There is pathos in the appeals of this letter, as we remem her how "Peter went out and wept bitterly." 2. In his office. "A servant and an apostle," This is the right order: first a bond man; then a herald, eager and brave, ll. THE OO111MON CONDITION ON WHICH MEN MUST RECEIVE THE OHIEF BLESSINGS OF GoD. Peter writes to those who "have obtained like precious faith." 'l'heir pos- i;cssion of that qualifies them to receive the blessings this salutation desires for them. "Like precious faith." "Like," not necessarily equal, but similar. "Prncious "-a favourite word of Peter's, used about "stone," "promises," "blood," "faith," having a douLle thou11ht--costly and cherished. "In the righteousness of our God and Saviour Jesus Christ." "Righteousness:" what is that? Well does Chan ock say, "Without it his patience would be indulgence to sin, his mercy a fondness, his wrath a madness, his power a tyranny, bis wisdom an unworthy subtlety." But this right- eousr,css 0"i ,·es glory to all. As we know it in Christ (1) it reveals itself; (2) it viuclicates itself; (3) it communicates itself. We cannot attain it or maintain it without Christ. III. 'l'HE SUPREME BLESSING MAN OAN DESIRE FOR MAN. "Graca and peace,, (11lre:i.rly noted in the first Epistle). Peace, the growLh of grace. "Be multiplied." 'lbese in large degree. "In the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord;" better translated, "full knowledge." Peter would recall his Lord's words in the upper room: "This is life eternal, to know thee the only true God, aud Jesus Christ, whom thou l:.,Et seut." From that knQwleclge, auq that a,lone, will ft9w gra,ge a,nd peace,-U, :Jt, 'r, CH. J. 1-21.] THE SECOND EPISTLE GENERAL OF PETER 33
Vers. 3, 4.-The be,7innin,7 of soul-salvation. These w01·ds, read in connection with what immeuiately follows (specia)ly_ if we, foll?wing Ellicott and Farrar, place a period at the end of the second verse), distinctly predicate certain thioas 0 about the beginning of rnul-salvation. I. GoD HAS GIVEN ALL THINGS NECESSARY for soul-salvation. Note: 1. The idea of soul-salvation. "Life and godliness." Observe the order. Vitality, then external piety. 2. The means of soul-salvation. (1) Many: "all things." So that first there is no room for excuse; second, the "all" of Goel challenges the "all" of man. (2) Divinely bestowed. "By his Divine power." What a use of infinite power-to save! II. Goel calls the soul TO A KNOWLEDGE OF HIMSELF as the beainnioe1 of soul- 0 ealvation. The "all things" come to us: 1. Through the call of God. God is the great Caller. Whence? 'l'o what? How? 2. Through knowing him who calls us. Not knowing about him, but directly knowing him. Probably Peter again has a reminiscence of the Last Supper: " 'l'his is life eternal, to know thee.'' III. God's call comes to souls BY THE REVELATION OF HIMSELF. "Called by his own glory and virtue." "Glory," majesty: what he is. "Virtue," energy: what he does. Both combined give the full revelation of God. IV. God's call comes to souls WITH INSPIRING PROMISES. "Precious." Note Pater's frequent word, meaning rare, prized. "Exceeding great." 1. In their origin. "The voice that rolls the stars along Speaks e.11 the promises." 2. In their substance. 3. In the multitudes to whom they are addressed. V. God's PURPOSE in soul-salvation is the HIGHEST we can conceive of. There is a twofold end. 1. "Escape the corruption that is in the world." (1) "Corruption," deadly evil; (2) "in the world," near, mighty; (3) "through lust." No evil can harm except through our own evil desires. 2. The other and higher end, nobler than the negative one just mentioned, is" become partakers of the Divine nature;" i.e. share in the very righteousness of God. Not mere forgiveness of sins, not mere remission of penalty, not safety from external perils, but the blessed attd holy purpose of God's love accomplished in our restoration to the Divine image.-U. R. T.