A.D. 66. tience; and to pa- rage be supported by a careful Study and Knowledge of its true Principles; Thofe Principles back'd and fecured by a ftrict Abftinence from allSenfual and Unlawful Pleasures; and exert themselves in rendring you patient under Afflictions, conftant in true Worship of God, and loving and charitable, in your Thoughts and Behaviour to all your Chriftian Brethren. nefs, charity. 8 For if the fe things be in you, and abound, they make that you shall nei 8. These are the true Characters of a good Chriftian; and the only Things that will improve you in your Holy Profeffion. you, 9 But he that lacketh these things, is blind, and cannot fee far off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old fins. 10 Wherefore the rather, brethren give diligence to make your calling and election fure for if ye do these things, ye fhall never fall: 11 For fo an entrance fhall be mini 9. And the Chriftian, that neglects thefe Virtues, has lost all true Notions of his Religion, and forgotten the very End and Defign of his Baptifm. 10 & 11. Make the diligent Practice of thefe Duties, therefore, the only certain Condition of the Gospel Bleffings. And then, as you have done fured of the compleat Fruition of your Part, you may be perfectly afChrift's future and eternal Kingdom. ftred unto you abundantly into the everlafting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jefus Chrift. 12 Wherefore I will ftir 12 & 13. Wherefore though you cannot but, in general, know this to be the great Concern of your Christianity, yet, in this prefent State of Trials and Temptations, I could not but think it proper, once and again, to remind you of a thing of fuch infinite Importance: Efpecially confidering, I have but a fhort While ftir you up, by put- 14 Knowing that fhortly I muft put off ed me. 15 Moreover, I will endeavour that you may be able after my decease, to have these things always in remembrance. 16 For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jefus Chrift, but were eye-witnesses of his majefty. While to be your Living Remem- A. D. 66. brancer. of || Viz. Cru 14. For I expect, very foon to Die a Martyr for the Religion of Chrift, and, by the fame kind Death that He Himself was pleased cifixion. to foretel me I fhould. (See John xxi. 20.) 15. And therefore, I leave you thefe my Epiftles, to revive your Courage, and preferve you in Conftancy to the true Faith, after I am gone. 16. And you ought to look upon the Teftimonies of the Truth of your Profeffion (and particularly of this great Article of Christ's future Coming) given you by Me, and the reft of the Apostles, not like the uncertain Traditions and Forgeries of the Jewish Doctors; but as Truths confirmed by unfufpected Eye-Witneffes of the Life, Miracles, Death and Resurrection of Jefus Chrift; all which are Demonftrations of that great Article of his future Appearance, to be the Great Judge of all the World. 17 For he received when there came fuch 17 & 18. I my felf was one of them, who at his Glorious Transfiguration, upon the Mount, faw thofe Displays of the Divine Majefty, and heard the Voice from Heaven declaring Him to be the Son of God, the True Meffiah and Saviour of Mankind. (See Matt. xvii. 1. and Mark ix. 2, 3, &c. Luke ix. 28, r.) 18 And this voice 19. Now, A. D. 66. * 19 We have alfo take heed, as unto a 19. Now, all these kind of Evidences muft render our Religion of ftill more unconteftable Authority, as they are Facts that are the Completion of Ancient Prophecies. An Argumment, the moft obftinate Jews can never withstand. But, whatever Their Perverseness be, rest you fatisfied in fuch convincing Proofs. Read, and compare thofe Prophecies with the Tranfactions of Chrift, remembring the Predictions Chrift made concerning Himfelf; and you will find the Authority of the One to be as clear from the Other, as Light it felf; and, by ftill future concurring Circumftances, and the Bleffings of Chrift upon your honeft Endeavours, you will be more and more enlightened and confirmed in Truth and Excellency of Religion |. 20 Knowing this Arft, that no prophecy of the fcripture is of any private interpretation †. 21 For 20 & 21. These Predictions rightly compared and understood, cannot but, at the fame time fatisfy you, and confound your Adverfaries; especially thofe of the Jewish Part; For, * Ver. 19. A more fure Word- Not more fure than the Facts fpoken of in the 17th and 18th Verses; but more sure than the Cunningly devifed Fables in the 16th Verse. As unto a Light Shining in a dark Place; i. e. Though the 2 Cor. iii. 14, 15, 16, 17, 18. Or, perhaps, the Dark Place The Day: So the Gospel-Religion is called, Rom, xiii. 12, 16. The Day-Star: So Chrift is called the Day Spring, Luke i. 78. The Morning-Star, Rev. ii. 28. + Ver. 20. Of any private Interpretation. Note, iç imidúorag may be very properly rendred thus; None of the Prophetick Predictions of the Old Teftament [or at leaft, not the Generality of them] were of fo exprefs, clear, and plain a Nature, as to be their own Interpreters: 'Tis Chrift and his Gospel that perfectly opens 21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man but holy men of God fpake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. For, They, as well as We, do all A.D. 66. allow thofe Prophecies concerning the Meffiah, not to be Human Inventions, or the Suggestions of pri- I istas vate Fancy, but the clear Prectictions Tes & of Men Inspired with the Holy Ghoft. civ. And, confequently, 'tis impoffible but the Chriftian Religion, which is the Completion of those Prophecies, muft have the fame Characters of Divine Truth with the Prophecies themselves. θελήματι opens and explains them. And then the following Words, For Prophecy came not by the Will of Man, may have this Senfe, viz. For thofe Prophets, though truly inspired of God, yet could not prophesy concerning thefe Matters, when, or as much, and many Things, as themselves pleased, or their then prefent Hearers might defire; but were confined to the Dictates of the Holy Ghost. Now all the Obfcurities and Defects of their Doctrines are fully clear'd up, and fupplied by the Life, and Tranfactions of that Chrift of whom they prophefied. Thus the Sense of these three Verses is moft ingenuously and judicioufly Connected by Sam. Werenfels. Difcertat. Theolog. Differt. 10. Edit. Bafil. 1709. СНАР. CHA P. II. The CONTENTS. Warnings against Falfe and Heretical Teachers in the Christian Church. A black Account of their Principles and Practices. Their fevere Judgment and Condemnation. Their Characters exactly and principally agree to the Zealots among the Jewish Converts, among whom Nicholas of Antioch, mentioned Acts vi. 5. was the Broacher of a lewd Herefy; and whofe Followers are mentioned by St. John, Revel. ii. 6. and are thought by the Ancient Commentators to be here particularly referred to. A. D. 66. B falfe prophets alChap. i. fo among the people: 19, 20, 21. even, as there fhall be false teachers among you, who privily fhall bring in damnable herefies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves fwift deftruction. UT there were * I. TH HUS, I fay, the * PropheTies of the Old Teftament prove the Truth of our Religion. But, as in those former Ages of the Jewish Church, there were fome Falfe as well as True Prophets : So, you know, Chrift and his Apoftles have foretold, there would be the fameMixture in the Christian Church: Which Predictions of theirs are now verified in thofe raging Zealots of the Judaizing Faction: A Sett of Men, that are broaching the moft pernicious Doctrines, by practising upon which, while they boaft themselves as See Deut. the peculiar || and purchafed People of God, they really renounce him that is indeed their Lord || and Redeemer; and and Chap. fhall, in due Time, feel the fatal Effects of fuch obstinate iii. 3, 4. of Malice and Ingratitute ‡. Compare St. Jude's Epiftle. xxxii. 6. 1 Cor. vi. 20. this Epift. 2. These Note. * Ver. 1. Even denying the Lord that bought them. They who take this to be meant of Jefus Chrift are much mistaken. It was God the Father, the Lord of the whole World, the God of Jews and Chriftians, of whom it is faid- Is he not thy Father who hath bought thee? Deut, xxxii, 6. |