the source of life eternal, so it is the source of whatever is connected with that gift; as grace and peace. These are among the blessings of which he proceeds to speak, the blessings belonging to the Gospel.

3. According as his divine power hath given to us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:

4. Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

Having escaped the corruption that is in the world. We learn from this, that the state of the world is not a state to remain in, but to escape from; a state of corruption, through each man's lust, i. e. natural inclination, going in a contrary direction to the will of God: alienated from Him, and set upon this present world. Peter might think, first, of the corruption among his own countrymen. We learn from the histories of that age, that the wickedness of the Jews was such as might be expected to call down upon that nation the judgments which did soon overwhelm them. He would think also of heathen lands. Paul has left us (Rom. i.) a painful description of the corruption that prevailed amongst these: and we too well know that he did not make the picture too dark and gloomy. And if we look at the world as it is now :—though we may justly be thankful for what has been done by the Gospel-shall we find no reason why it should be called corrupt? Ask the parent who is anxious for the welfare of a child when he sends him to take his place among his equals, has he no cause to fear the corruption

St.

that is in the world ? The same lust, the same unsanctified or inordinate desire, whether of pleasure, or of honours, or of fortune, still prevails, and makes ، the course of this world” a course which leads away from God.

Such is the state of the world: and from this God has given us escape, through the knowledge of him who hath called us to glory and virtue. God hath given unto us all things that pertain to life and godliness, not as they were given to Adam, as part of his own nature, as belonging to the condition in which he was created; but as a special blessing, growing out of special means, and coming in the way of deliverance from evil; of escape from corruption; as the peace and comfort of his father's home was afforded to the prodigal, instead of the misery and famine of the "far country" from which he returned.

The apostle speaks of the method in which this blessing is conveyed. He has given us exceeding great and precious promises. Promises of forgiveness, though we have transgressed; promises of the favour and love of God; promises of everlasting glory are set before us. These promises affect the heart, and dispose it towards the attainment of salvation. It is the nature of God to attract by promise and it is the nature of man to be so influenced not to be forced or driven, but led and persuaded. "Come, follow me," said the Lord Jesus, "and thou shalt have treasure in heaven." Why will ye die, O house of Israel ?'' ،، O that thou hadst seen, even now in this thy things that belong unto thy peace!"

66

66

day, the

How often

would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathers her brood under her wings!"

To the heart which responds to these promises a new nature is imparted. The prophecy is fulfilled, "A new heart will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you. I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you a heart of flesh." Thus the divine nature is received into the corrupt nature: and the stream is made clear which was impure.

Certainly there is that in the nature of God, of which no creature can partake. His eternity; his omniscience; his power; his majesty a man can no more approach them, than he can approach the sun in its noon-day splendour. But the beams of light issue from the sun, and these man can receive and use through the faculties which he enjoys. And so when goodness, when holiness, which also belong to the divine nature, are imparted to him, he becomes partaker of the divine nature; his original nature is changed, he is renewed after his Maker's image: he is no longer carnal, but spiritual.

And there is an important meaning in the word nature. The new spirit which he receives is now a part of him; and the life of goodness and holiness becomes habitual, just as the opposite life is habitual to those who remain" servants of corruption.' When he speaks meekly, discreetly, and charitably : when he acts mercifully, and liberally, and courteously when he thinks piously, humbly, and gratefully it is not like the flowing of water which is violently forced out of its natural course, but like

1 Ezek. xxxvi. 26.

the stream which runs in its own proper channel. The bias, the tendency of his character is set in the right direction. Sometimes, indeed, the old nature prevails. "What man is he that liveth and sinneth not?" But as goodness is unnatural to the man who is without the knowledge of God in Christ Jesus, though sometimes he may do a good thing: so, on the other hand, to act wrong is contrary to the nature of one who lives on the precious promises of the Gospel. Moses, we know, was once surprised into wilful passion, and "spake unadvisedly with his lips." But this was against the divine nature implanted in him; and the Psalmist especially represents it as such, when he makes it a reproach against the Israelites that they so provoked Moses. And such must be the case with every man who is really partaker of the divine nature. His humble spirit must not be that of Saul, or of Ahab,3 taken up for a season it must be his habit to be of a contrite heart, and "tremble at God's word." And so in all the graces of the christian life; there must be a conformity to the will of God, arising out of the "renewing of the spirit of the mind." The difficulty must be, not to turn the practice from evil to good, but from good to evil; as was the case with that prophet of old, whose brother prophet deceived him, and only by dint of false assurances persuaded him to violate the command which he was desirous to observe. *

4

Thus it is, that the divine nature is begun here, and gradually prevails over the corruption in which 3 See 1 Sam. xv. 24. 1 Kings xxi. 27.

2 Ps. cvi. 33.

we are born. Hereafter it will be perfected, where there is no sin to tempt, no remainder of infirmity to yield, and no evil world to overcome.

LECTURE XLII.

THE QUALITIES EXPECTED IN A CHRISTIAN.

2 PETER i. 5—9.

5. And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;

6. And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness ;

7. And to godliness brotherly kindness: and to brotherly kindness charity.

To be "called to glory and virtue;" to be "made partakers of the divine nature;" to be "delivered from the corruption that is in the world:"-these are the privileges of Christians, as St. Peter had just before declared. He now speaks more particularly: and describes the features of the character which is produced when the human nature is renewed by the divine.

The qua

The foundation of the whole is FAITH. lities of which he speaks are to be added to faith. He concludes that those whom he addresses are "in the faith :" have received Jesus Christ as the author and giver of salvation, and of all things that accompany salvation. That faith is as it were the