A Noble Endeavor and Desire
Thos. Adams. 2 Peter 1:12-15 Why I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though you know them… I. THE APOSTLE'S ENDEAVOUR. 1. The first thing required to this endeavour is learning. (1) They are dangerous teachers, that never were learners. While they will not be scholars of truth, they become masters of error. They must know their winds, ebbings and flowings, creeks and sea-marks, that will be fishers. Wherein consists this learning? Not in a theory of divers arts, but in the sober use and discreet application of divinity. (2) Some think a minister hath no great need of learning, because he is to speak to the unlearned (Hebrews 5:11, 12). 2. The next thing required to this endeavour is an honest and religious life. If this have been bad before thy calling, redeem it now. The minister that spends himself like a taper to light others, must not himself go out with an ill savour. An innocent life is a silent testimony of a good minister. 3. The last thing required to perfect this endeavour is constant labour. Pray the Lord to send forth labourers, not loiterers, into His harvest. II. THE APOSTLE'S PURPOSE. 1. "That ye may be able." All is for your sakes, this preaching, this remembering, this writing, all for you. 2. "After my decease," etc. The apostles did not only preach to us vocally while they lived, but even now also exemplarily by their former conversation, and still doctrinally by their holy rules. The words of a preacher die not with him, but live in the hearers' hearts, and shall either convert them here, or convince them hereafter. (Thos. Adams.) Parallel Verses KJV: Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the present truth. WEB: Therefore I will not be negligent to remind you of these things, though you know them, and are established in the present truth.