Exposition on 2 Peter 1, Exposition · Verse 15
I will endeuour that after my deceaſe &c. Whence wee are to note that, Doctrine.Gods Miniſters ought to endeuour to their power, to doe good to Gods Church for aftertimes, as well as during their life time. Thus it was with Peter here; he was not only carefull of the Church in his generation, but alſo he deſired to take ſuch a courſe as that the people of God might remember his doctrine after his deceaſe. The like care was in the Prophets and Apoſtles; they did not preach in their times and generations only, but alſo they did write for the good of Chriſtians in after-times, as God alſo enioyned them, Iſay. 30.8.
ReaſonAnd indeede it makes much for Gods glory, that Miniſters ſhould doe as much good as poſſibly they can for the building vp of the body of his Sonne.
Secondly, LoueLove to the brethren ſhould ſtirre vsus vp if we be Miniſters, to this godly care.
Thirdly, the good of our owne ſoules; for I ſuppoſe that if a Miniſters writings many hundred yeeres after his death doe conuert ſoules, he ſhall not loſe the reward of that after good, which is done by his works, but aſſuredly his works ſhall follow him.
Vſe.This ſhewes the neceſſity of writing as well as of preaching. Preaching indeede is moſt profitable for the Church that now is; but for the ſucceeding Churches, writing is exceeding behouefull. And therefore many Miniſters are too much to blame this way: Firſt, ſuch as are not ſo much as carefull for the preſent good of the Church, liuing idle and neglecting preaching; ſo farre are they from reſpecting the future good of ſucceeding ages. Secondly, ſuch Miniſters are likewiſe to blame, which howſoeuer during their life time they preach, yet they doe not what they might for ſucceeding times; they doe not write though they be able, for the good of the poſteritie. Theſe ſucceede the Prophets and Apoſtles in the office: but not in Miniſteriall care and painfulneſſe.
Cunning fables. By cunning or ſophiſticall fables we are to vnderſtand erronious doctrin, ſuch as had no warrant from the word of God, but was hatched only in the braine of man. And erronious doctrine is fitly compared in this place and in many places of Paules Epiſtles, to fables. Firſt, becauſe as fables hauehave no truth in them, but are meerely forged and framed: ſo erronious doctrine hath no ſoundneſſe, or ſoliditie in it, but is falſe and lying; according to that in 1. Tim. 4 2. They ſpeake lies through hypocriſie.
Secondly, becauſe as fables are delightfull to an vnſanctified eare; ſo erronious doctrine is pleaſing and plauſible to vnregenerate and prophane perſons, yea, more plauſible then the truth. As it is ſaid, 2. Tim. 4.4. They ſhall turne away their eares from the truth, and ſhall be giuen vntounto fables.
Thirdly, becauſe as fables, although they delight for the preſent, yet they do not profit the hearers: euen ſo erronious doctrin, though it be neuer ſo glorious in ſhew, and neuer ſo pleaſing, yet it profiteth not the hearers, but leaues them in their ſinnes and vnregeneracie; according to that in Gal. 3.2. Receiued ye the ſpirit, by the works of the Law? that is, by the Iewiſh doctrine of the Law. Implying that the Galatians neuer receiued any ſpirituall good by falſe and erronious doctrin, which was obtruded vponupon them by the falſe Apoſtles.
Againe, erronious doctrine is compared to cunning fables, or ſophiſticall deuices: Becauſe as ſophiſters vſe much cunning and quercks, and fallacies to deceiue in arguing and diſputing; euen ſo erronious teachers are deceitfull workers, as the Apoſtle ſpeaketh, 2. Cor. 11.13. Yea, they lie in waite to deceiue with cunning craftineſſe, as we reade, Epheſ. 4.14.
Cunning fables we hauehave not followed. Hence Miniſters muſt learne, Doctrine.In their teaching and preaching to auoide errors and all euill deceit, to deliuer ſound doctrine, and that with pure pretence. This was the practiſe of Peter here, and of the reſt of the Apoſtles and Prophets, as appeareth both by their writings and by their proteſtations. I ſay the truth (ſaith Paul) and lie not, my conſcience bearing me witneſſe in the holy Ghoſt, Rom. 9.1. and, We are not as many, which corrupt the word; but as of ſinceritie, but as of God, in the ſight of God, ſpeake we in Chriſt, 2. Cor. 2.17. Yea it is manifeſt that theſe men dealt ſincerely with the word of God, in that they did not conceale their owne infirmities, but acknowledged them in their writings; as Matthew, that he was a publicane before Chriſt called him, Math. 9.9. And Paul, that he had beene a blaſphemer, a perſecutor, and iniurious, 1. Tim. 1.13. Whereas if they had beene deceitfull, they would hauehave kept cloſe their owne ſinnes. Yea, this is that which the holy Ghoſt requireth of all Miniſters, to wit, To be ſound and ſincere in the diſpenſing of Gods will. 1. Tim. 4.7. But refuſe prophane and old wiues tales, &c. 2. Tit. 1. 2. Tit. 1. But ſpeake thou the things which become ſound doctrine. 1. Cor. 4.2. And it is required of a ſteward, that a man be found faithfull.
Reaſon.And the truth is, that vnleſſe Miniſters deale truly and ſincerely in the preaching of Gods word, they loſe their reward. For if any mans worke burne, he ſhall ſuffer loſſe, 1. Cor. 3.15. Yea, they ſhall be liable to a curſe, for adding to, or detracting from the perfect will of God, Reu. 22.18.19.
Vſe.The vſe of this point may ſerue to reproue erronious and deceitfull Teachers, which ſophiſticate the word of God, by the mingling of their owne crotches and ſubtile diſtinctions to deceiue. Whether they doe this for their credit, that they might be eſteemed witty men; or for their gaine, that they might pleaſe humorous men, that ſo they might the more deeply inſinuate themſelues into their purſes: certaine it is, they runne counter to the holie Apoſtles and Prophets; they neuer learned their deceit of them: And they are ſucceſſors not of the Apoſtles, but rather of the falſe prophets, whoſe ſteps they follow.
Secondly, this may iuſtly reproue many people and hearers, which turne away their eares from the truth, and are giuen vntounto fables; as the Apoſtle ſpeakes 2. Timothie 4.4. How many be there in the world which had rather heare a witty ſpeech out of ſome profane writer, then a ſound ſentence out of Gods word? And how many be there that are more affected to the idle inuentions of Poperie, or to the vaine ſpeculations of Anabaptiſts, or to queſtions about ceremonies, and the gouernement of the Church, then in anie ſort to the ſolide truth? Oh, let ſuch remember here, that if Miniſters ought not to preach fables, then they ſhould not be giuen to them.
For we hauehave not followed. From the beginning of this ſixteenth verſe vntounto the end of the Chapter, the Apoſtle alledgeth many reaſons, why the Church is to heare him, and to hearken vntounto him. As firſt, becauſe he dealt ſincerely. Secondly, becauſe he was an eye-witnes vntounto that which he deliuered. Both theſe arguments are layd downe in this ſixteenth verſe. Thirdly, becauſe he was an eare-witneſſe, and this argument is layd downe in the ſeuenteene and eighteene verſes. Fourthly, becauſe in his teaching he did not ſwarue from the Doctrine of the Prophets. And this argument is laid downe in 19.20. and 21. verſes.