Entangled Again
Thos. Adams. 2 Peter 2:17-22 These are wells without water, clouds that are carried with a tempest; to whom the mist of darkness is reserved for ever.… I. A PROPOSITION. 1. "They have escaped." Next to the finding an unexpected benefit, it is a great happiness to escape an unsuspected danger; yea, the escaping of a great danger is more joy than the receiving of an ordinary benefit. 2. "The pollutions of the world."(1) The pollutions which we contract from the riches of the world. (2) The pollutions we derive from the honours and dignities of the world pride here challengeth the first place, and let her have it, even to be the queen of all sordid filthiness. (3) The pollutions we deduce from the pleasures of the world. Oh, what a torrent of turpitudes here stream in upon us! (a) Immoderate diet. (b) Drunkenness. (c) Lust. 3. "Through the knowledge," etc. (1) There is no knowledge to do good in corrupted nature and filthiness of the flesh. (2) There is no escaping out of this filthiness and corruption, but by knowledge. (3) No knowledge can deliver us, but that of our Saviour Christ. (4) No knowledge of our Saviour can effect this, but that which is sanctified with faith and repentance. II. A SUPPOSITION. 1. The easiness of falling back. "If" — it is no impossible thing. Yes, the commonness proves it too easy. Man goes forth in the morning weak and unarmed, to encounter with powers and principalities. To fight this combat he takes a second with him, and that is his flesh, a familiar enemy, a friendly traitor; the devil comes against him with his second, too, and that is the world. Soon doth the flesh revolt to the world, and both stick to Satan; so here is terrible odds, three to one. 2. The difficulty of recovering them, after their relapse. (1) "They are entangled," as birds are caught in an evil net; where the more they struggle to get out, the faster they stick. (2) "And overcome." That which puts a man from the use of his reason, and a Christian from his exercise of religion, overcomes him. The ambitious are overcome with the desire of honour, so that they are not their own men. Of all, the worldlings are basely overcome; for they think they have the world in a string, when the world hath them in a strong chain. (3) "Entangled and overcome" — put them both together. It is the depth of misery to fall under the curse of Ham, a servant of servants. III. A CONCLUSION. "The latter end is worse," etc. 1. Their sins are worse now than they were at first, therefore their estates must needs be so. 2. Besides all their other sins, they have the sin of unthankfulness to answer for. 3. Because custom in sin hath deadened all remorse for sin. 4. Because their hypocrisy prevents all ways of remedy. 5. Because they wilfully destroy themselves by renouncing all gracious remedies. 6. Because a relapse is even more dangerous than the first sickness; sooner incurred, more hardly cured. (Thos. Adams.) Parallel Verses KJV: These are wells without water, clouds that are carried with a tempest; to whom the mist of darkness is reserved for ever. WEB: These are wells without water, clouds driven by a storm; for whom the blackness of darkness has been reserved forever.