But there were false prophets also — As well as true. Among the people — Of Israel. Those that spake even the truth, when God had not sent them; and also those that were truly sent of him, and yet corrupted or softened their message, were false prophets. As there shall be false — As well as true. Te... [ Continue Reading ]
The way of truth will be evil spoken of — By those who blend all false and true Christians together.... [ Continue Reading ]
They will make merchandise of you — Only use you to gain by you, as merchants do their wares. Whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not — Was long ago determined, and will be executed speedily. All sinners are adjudged to destruction; and God's punishing some proves he will punish the rest.... [ Continue Reading ]
Cast them down to hell — The bottomless pit, a place of unknown misery. Delivered them — Like condemned criminals to safe custody, as if bound with the strongest chains in a dungeon of darkness, to be reserved unto the judgment of the great day. Though still those chains do not hinder their often wa... [ Continue Reading ]
And spared not the old, the antediluvian, world, but he preserved Noah the eighth person — that is, Noah and seven others, a preacher as well as practiser, of righteousness. Bringing a flood on the world of the ungodly — Whose numbers stood them in no stead.... [ Continue Reading ]
It plainly appears, from these instances, that the Lord knoweth, hath both wisdom and power and will, to deliver the godly out of all temptations, and to punish the ungodly.... [ Continue Reading ]
Chiefly them that walk after the flesh — Corrupt nature; particularly in the lust of uncleanness. And despise government — The authority of their governors. Dignities — Persons in authority.... [ Continue Reading ]
Whereas angels — When they appear before the Lord, Job 1:6, Job 2:1, to give an account of what they have seen and done on the earth.... [ Continue Reading ]
Savage as brute beasts — Several of which in the present disordered state of the world, seem born to be taken and destroyed.... [ Continue Reading ]
They count it pleasure to riot in the day time — They glory in doing it in the face of the sun. They are spots in themselves, blemishes to any church. Sporting themselves with their own deceivings — Making a jest of those whom they deceive and even jesting while they are deceiving their own souls.... [ Continue Reading ]
The way of Balaam the son of Bosor — So the Chaldeans pronounced what the Jews termed Beor; namely, the way of covetousness. Who loved — Earnestly desired, though he did not dare to take, the reward of unrighteousness — The money which Balak would have given him for cursing Israel.... [ Continue Reading ]
The beast — Though naturally dumb.... [ Continue Reading ]
Fountains and clouds promise water: so do these promise, but do not perform.... [ Continue Reading ]
They ensnare in the desires of the flesh — Allowing them to gratify some unholy desire. Those who were before entirely escaped from the spirit, custom, and company of them that live in error — In sin.... [ Continue Reading ]
While they promise them liberty — From needless restraints and scruples; from the bondage of the law. Themselves are slaves of corruption — Even sin, the vilest of all bondage.... [ Continue Reading ]
For if after they — Who are thus ensnared. Have escaped the pollutions of the world — The sins which pollute all who know not God. Through the knowledge of Christ — That is, through faith in him, 2 Peter 1:3. They are again entangled therein, and overcome, their last state is worse than the first —... [ Continue Reading ]
The commandment — The whole law of God, once not only delivered to their ears, but written in their hearts.... [ Continue Reading ]
The dog, the sow — Such are all men in the sight of God before they receive his grace, and after they have made shipwreck of the faith. Proverbs 26:11.... [ Continue Reading ]