Bible Commentaries
2 Peter 1

Verses 1-8

Exceeding Great and Precious Promises

2 Peter 1:1-8

INTRODUCTORY WORDS

It is not the fact of exceeding great and precious promises which primarily concerns me; it is my entering into a personal realization of those promises, and making them mine, God is willing to bestow His best things upon us, but we are unwilling to receive, or, at least we are unwilling to pay the price of blessing.

1. Many of God's best things are conditional. Grace operates apart from human worth; many promises operate upon human valor.

We can almost hear Christ saying, "How oft would I * * but ye would not." To us the Master's words mean, "I wanted to; you would not; I could not."

Once more we hear the plaintive note of the Lord, saying, "O that [Israel] had hearkened unto Me, I would."

God has many of His choicest blessings reserved for those who dare to go through with Him. The reigning is dependent upon the suffering; the crown is held for the cross-bearers; the rewards are laid by for those who fight the good fight of faith. These comparisons, however, lie in the blessings which accrue in the next age.

Is it not true that the same rule is potent during our earthly sojourning? How many things hinder the blessing! We ask and we have not, because we ask amiss, that we may consume it on our lusts. We seek to know God's wall in our lives, but we know not, because we are conformed to this world, and are not transformed by the renewing of our minds. We endeavor to serve with success and meet failure, because we have not tarried until we have been endued with power from on high.

Can we expect our faces to shine with the radiance of His glory, without going up with Him into the mount? Can we expect our lives to bear fruit, more fruit, much fruit, when we are unwilling to abide in Him? Can we expect our heart to be made pure and our garments to be kept clean and white, while we still tarry on forbidden ground and have fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness?

2. Many of God's best things are lying still unclaimed. Israel was commanded to place the foot on the land which was given her to possess. God said, "Ramoth Gilead is yours, and why sit ye still and possess it not?"

An old lady wrote "T" and "P" on the margin of her Bible, wherever she had tried and proved one of God's promises. How many promises are to us yet untried and unproven?

Isaiah, in Spirit, wrote, "Who hath believed our report?" Then, Isaiah added, "And to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed?" It seems to us that the Spirit makes the power of the Lord's arm dependent upon the faith of each follower of Christ.

Joshua had to march through the length and breadth of the land of promise in order to make it his.

We must stake our claim; we must camp upon it. The day is coming when our Lord will place one foot upon the land, and one upon the sea , and announce that time shall delay no longer. He will stand and claim His inheritance, putting down the antichrist and every power that opposes. Let us go and do likewise.

It is still true that, "Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon, that have I given unto you." If it is true, then let us march through the garden of His promises, and place our foot upon them all.

I. THE CERTAINTY OF GOD'S PROMISES (Romans 4:21 )

Did ever a Scripture carry a clearer, more certain note than this one: "He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God?"

Abraham believed that whatever God had promised, He was able to perform. The fact that he was old, and that Sarah was past age, did not concern Abraham. Against hope he believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations according to the Word of God.

In all sincerity do we believe that God is able to perform what He has promised? "Is any thing too hard for the Lord?" No? Then let us step forward as though He was about to do what He has said He would do. Nothing is impossible to him who believeth, for the simple reason that nothing is impossible with God.

Even now God seems to be saying, "Believe ye that I am able to do this?" God delights in dealing with the impossible. However, man's impossibilities become God's realities, only upon the channel of our faith, God will fulfill each promise to us, when we cast ourselves unreservedly, and in the full assurance of faith upon that promise.

If you place your eyes on your own resources, or upon your own environment, your faith will waver. Fix your eye of faith upon Him. Look not upon your own body, as good as dead; look at His promise. As Abraham saw his body growing weaker, his faith grew stronger. God is able to do exceeding abundantly above all.

II. PLEADING THE PROMISES (2 Chronicles 1:9 )

It was a fitting thing for Solomon to plead God's promise before the Lord. God had spoken, and Solomon was standing upon His Word. Is God unfaithful? Will He forget His holy promises? Will God say, and not do? Nay. Great is His faithfulness; it is fresh every morning, and renewed every evening.

In Hebrews we read, "Sara * * judged Him faithful who had promised." Again we read that what "He had promised, He was able also to perform." Then let us plead the more sure word of His promises.

"All my springs are in Thee," said David. God is a veritable storehouse for any and every emergency. God's promises are His promissory notes. They are always. "Yea, and Amen, in Christ Jesus." Let us, then, draw on our account. Has God said, "The waters * * shall not overflow thee"? then plead His promise, Has the Lord said, "My God shall supply all your need"? then plead His promise. Has God said, "Lo, I am with you alway"? then plead His promise.

Promises are given for foundations upon which to build start building. Promises are given to be cashed in have you cashed in yours? Promises are given as a basis for prayer have you used them as your plea?

God lays His promise before you, and says, "Believest thou that I am able to do this?"

Some one has said that faith adds its "Amen!" to God's "Yea," and then takes its hands off and lets God work.

III. THE RICHES OF HIS PROMISES (2 Peter 1:4 )

When God gave His promises He gave them in line with our needs. It has seemed to us that there is a special promise for every hour of the day, for every step of the way.

God, moreover, made each of His promises ample for every need. In truth there is always a superabounding promise for our need. The promise goes beyond the necessity. This is the suggestion in our key text. "Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises."

There is, however, another suggestion. God's promises are made to cover each hour of stress. No matter how great the cry of the soul, the promise is greater; it is "exceeding great." God's promises are not circumscribed to "rowboat" weather, but are fitted to the storms of life's roughest sea.

Promises are potent factors. They meet real needs. They assure victory in real conflicts. Promises are great, yea, they are exceeding great. They are not only great and exceeding great, but they are precious.

Promises are made for pillows to the weary heart; they are made for tonics to the downcast spirit; they are made for lights to brighten the shadows of the valleys.

IV. INHERITING THE PROMISES (Hebrews 6:12 )

The Lord calls upon us to be "followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises." Too many have their inheritance centered in earthly things. How much better to follow with them who follow Christ, and have assurance of both the things which are now, and the things which shall be hereafter.

1. The promises are inherited through faith. It is not what we think, or feel, which inherits promises; it is believing. Emotional Christianity may belong to the realms of spiritual enjoyment; but faith inherits the promises. Trials, testings, sufferings, and persecutions may lie in the paths where promises operate, but faith inherits the promises.

2. The promises are inherited by patience. Faith operates through trials and testings and on to the consummation of the promises, That is, faith works without weariness; faith patiently waits the realization of every good word from God.

The Word says, "We are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end." It may be the last stretch of the track, as the runner presses toward the goal, that crowns him with victory. "Ye did run well," said Paul, "who did hinder you?" It is not the first spurt that counts; it is the patient continuance in the race that wins the prize. Shall we reach Heaven's highest marks, and the richest of Heaven's treasures if we falter by the way? "In due season we shall reap, if we faint not."

V. THE PROMISE OF THE SPIRIT (Luke 24:49 )

The Lord gave assurance of "the coming of the Spirit" to the disciples as He said, "Behold, I send the promise of My Father upon you." We could not leave out this aspect of God's promises, because here we have the Father's greatest gift to saints a promise of unspeakable glory.

The Lord is not slack concerning His promises. The Lord said, "I will send the promise of My Father." Thank God the Spirit came and He is here.

1. The Father's delight is in giving the Spirit. The Lord said, "If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your Heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask Him?" The Father knew that we could not walk alone, that we could not meet the powers of darkness which oppose, alone, so He sent the Comforter to walk at our side.

The Spirit came to transform us into the image of Christ: to take the things of Christ and show them unto us. The Spirit came to guide us into all Truth, to bring to our remembrance what the Lord had spoken unto us, and to guide us in the way that we should go. He came to us, that through us He might convict the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment. He came that He might empower our testimony, and make us strong to do God's will. The Spirit came to teach us how to pray, and to make intercession along with us as we pray. He came to give us access unto the Father. He came to bear us Godward on His wings of strength.

2. Have we entered into the possession of this promise of the Father? The Spirit came, and even now He indwells each believer's heart. There is, nevertheless, a vital part of the promise of the Father that can be realized only by being filled with the Spirit.

All saints have the Spirit, but not all saints have the fullness of the Spirit. It is one thing to have the Spirit indwelling; it is another thing to have the Spirit infilling.

Many of the promises of God reach into the great beyond; they abide their fulfilment in the Second Coming of Christ, or in the New Jerusalem. Here, however, is a promise that is for us now. Here is a promise written in the present tense. It is our immediate heritage.

VI. FULFILLED PROMISES (1 Kings 8:56 )

Unto Israel, by the hand of Moses, God had given many exceeding great and precious promises. As Solomon dedicated the Temple he said, in that memorable prayer, "There hath not failed one word of all His good promise, which He promised by the hand of Moses His servant."

When Jesus said to the nobleman, "Go thy way; thy son liveth"; then we read: "And the man believed the word that Jesus had spoken unto him, and he went his way." What was the result? He came and found it was so even as Jesus had spoken.

God's promises never fail. Not one word is lacking

Believe and trust thou yet shalt see

That God is true. Eternity

Shall find each promise verified,

Shall prove God's Word was certified.

When life is over we will be able to say, "The Lord hath performed His good Word." God's promises cannot fail, for God is true, and He is able to perform all that He has spoken. When the time of God's promises draw nigh, He will remember His words, and fulfill His pledges.

Beloved, we are heirs of God according to His promise. Let us, then, hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering.

Do we not believe that God is able to do what He has promised relative to coming things? We can almost hear His rebuke to any doubter, as He says, "Be still, and know that I am God." Again we hear Him say, "God cannot lie."

Let us close this study with a word from Habakkuk: "For the vision is yet for an appointed time * * though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry." Delays are not denials. Sometimes the Lord waits that He may prove Himself more gracious unto those who trust Him. Do not grieve the Lord by doubting His Word. He said what He meant, and He meant what He said.

Doubt not thy Lord will come

His promises are sure,

While sun and moon endure;

Why stand with anxious brow?

He cannot fail thee now,

Commit to Him thy way,

He'll turn thy night to day.

AN ILLUSTRATION

Once Mendelssohn was in the great cathedral in Fribourg, where was the greatest organ on the continent, and he felt a desire to touch the grand instrument. So he went up to the old man in charge of the place, and begged that he might be allowed to play on it. "No," said the old man, "this is a valuable instrument, and no stranger is ever allowed to touch it." "But," said Mendelssohn, "I will not harm it, and you may stand here and see that I do no damage." The old man at last yielded, and Mendelssohn mounted the organ-bench, and began to let his fingers wander at will over the manuals, and his feet over the pedals. The great organ pealed forth such melodies and harmonies that the old man was entranced, and exclaimed, "Well, who are you?" "My name is Mendelssohn," was the reply. "And yet," said the old man, as he burst into tears, "I had almost forbidden Mendelssohn, the great master of music, to touch this organ!" What discords would be hushed; what disharmonies would end; what music would fill our lives, if we only allowed the hands of a greater than Mendelssohn to play evermore upon the notes! No one but the Master can hush the discords, and make our lives one glad, continuous Hallelujah Chorus! Shall we not let Him?

"Praise, my soul, the King of Heaven;

To His feet thy tribute bring;

Ransomed, healed, restored, forgiven,

Who like thee His praise shall sing?

Praise Him? Praise Him!

Praise the everlasting King."

J. G. M.

Verses 1-21

A Call to Greater Things

2 Peter 1:1-21

INTRODUCTORY WORDS

1. The author of the Epistle. It is most refreshing and certainly inspiring to open the Bible and find an Epistle which is indited by the Holy Ghost, and which begins with the two words, "Simon Peter."

The opening verse says, "Simon Peter, a servant and an Apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith."

How blessed that the fisher of men, the rough, rugged, headstrong, backsliding, cursing Peter, who said, "I know not this Man of whom ye speak," should have his name enrolled thus at the beginning of one of two remarkable Epistles found within the Word of God. It plainly shows us what grace can accomplish.

Simon Peter, erstwhile fisherman and wanderer, became Simon Peter, under God, the writer of an Epistle. Simon Peter, also, will have his name, along with the others of the twelve who served Jesus, emblazoned in letters of gold upon the walls of the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, which cometh down from God out of Heaven.

Perhaps, we, too, may press our way to some position of Divine recognition, and to some recognition in God's eternal glory, if we now prove faithful to our Lord.

2. The saints to whom the Epistle is addressed. These are called "them that have obtained like precious faith," The Apostle did not say "attained," but "obtained," because faith itself is a gift of God.

The method of their obtaining is written down thus: "through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ."

Thank God for such a statement! Our position in faith did not come to us through any righteousness of our own. It was faith by which we were justified, and it was faith through which we were proclaimed righteous.

The extent of our righteousness is the righteousness of God, and of Christ. We read He was made sin for us "that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him."

3. Future multiplications. Having announced the fact of their faith, Peter in the second verse adds, "Grace and peace be multiplied unto you." A little later we will talk about things being added to our faith. When we add, it is by an addition table. When God works, however, He works by the multiplication table.

Being saved, we have grace and peace. This was the result of our salvation. It was immediately received. However, grace and peace are multiplied more and more as we enter into the knowledge of God and of our Lord Jesus Christ.

4. Exceeding great promises. 2 Peter 1:3 mentions one of God's gifts to us. It tells us that "all things that pertain unto life and godliness" have been given unto us. 2 Peter 1:4 tells us that "exceeding great and precious promises" have been given unto us. How enriched we are!

The Apostle Paul wrote, "all things are yours." He then specified, whether "life, or death, or things present, or things to come." The Apostle Peter now adds the statement we have just read. It is a joy to know that all the promises in the Word of God are ours.

We would like to follow the example of the aged saint who wrote in her Bible opposite many a verse "T" and "P." When asked what these letters meant, she said they meant "Tried" and "Proved." She had placed these letters beside many precious promises. May God help us to do the same.

I. A CALL TO DILIGENCE (2 Peter 1:5-7 )

The Apostle Peter saw something in the Christian's life beyond the things which have been noted heretofore. He saw something beyond grace and peace, something beyond being made a partaker of the Divine nature, something more than escaping the corruption that is in the world through lust. Weigh well the words of 2 Peter 1:5 ; "And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue," etc.

1. What the Christian should add. The very word "add" is suggestive of increase; not only of increase, however, but of our own increasing. "Add" is not something that God does for us, it is something that we do for ourselves. We are to add to our faith virtue; to our virtue knowledge, etc. Perhaps, we might put it this way:

"We are building every day

A temple the world may not see:

Building, building, every day,

Building for eternity,"

Jesus Christ is the foundation upon which we build. We are saved by grace. Upon this fountain we may build gold, silver, precious stones, or we may build hay, wood, and stubble.

2. To this adding God wants us to give all diligence. We are not to be unmindful of the. part which we must play in our own destiny. We are saved apart from works, but being saved, we may work with all energy and with all skill.

Did not Christ say, "Lay up for yourselves treasures in Heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal?" Have we read: "Behold, I come quickly; and My reward is with Me, to give every man according as his work shall be?" Beloved, let us add to our "faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; and to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; and to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity."

II. A STRIKING CONTRAST (2 Peter 1:8-9 )

1. If these things abound in you. Some one may ask, "What is the ideal of Christian living?" It is not half so much the work that we do as it is the life that we live. When we think of rewards, we think of them as being given, unto us by virtue of our service. However, rewards lie pre-eminently in the realm of holy living.

It is through the addition of spiritualities that we may abound in spiritualities, becoming neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. Mark you, 2 Peter 1:9 tells us something else that is very serious. Let us notice it as our second point.

2. "He that lacketh these things." What does God say? He says that such an one is blind and cannot see afar off, and that he has forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.

A little babe is supposed to grow. A Christian is supposed to develop. He is to add, day by day, to that which God gave him when he was born again.

If the Christian remains a babe and fails to give all diligence in adding to his faith, God says that he is blind.

Alas, alas, how many Christians seem to be satisfied with being born again. They give but little, if any thought, to developing the glories and the beauties of a Christian character.

Why is the Holy Ghost dwelling within us? He is there in order to make us more and more like unto our Lord. Have we not read how we are changed from glory unto glory even as by the Spirit of the Lord? God wants us to be no longer children tossed to and fro. He wants us to grow up in Christ "in all things."

III. AN ABUNDANT ENTRANCE (2 Peter 1:10-11 )

Once more Peter says, "Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence." This must be a very vital matter. There is seme reason for Peter's great urge. God has a calling and election for saints, but He wants us to give diligence to make that calling and election sure.

Paul speaks of laying hold upon that for which he had been laid hold upon by Christ Jesus. The Lord places a wonderful prospective before us: a goal. He wants us to press towards that goal until we reach "the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus."

1. There is placed before us the everlasting Kingdom of our Lord. Our election has something to do with this Kingdom. Our adding to our faith, virtue; to our virtue, knowledge, etc., has something to do with this Kingdom. The Kingdom is the reign of our Lord Jesus Christ upon the earth. This reign is the great consummation of the Saviour's anticipated glory.

2. There is placed before us an abundant entrance into that Kingdom. Peter, in the Holy Ghost, definitely said, "Give all diligence, add, * * For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting Kingdom."

This expression carries nothing less than this truth: saints may enter into the Kingdom, and saints may enter abundantly into the Kingdom. We may be saved, as it were, by the "skin of our teeth," and we may be saved with added crowns and glory.

It is not just getting in that appeals to the true believer; it is getting in "abundantly."

Jesus said, "I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly."

Life will have an entering in, but an abundant life will have an abundant entering into the Everlasting Kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

IV. PETER'S AMBITION (2 Peter 1:12-15 )

The Apostle Peter, and the Holy Spirit in him felt so deeply about the need of adding to our early Christian experience, and felt so deeply the truth of the possibility of an abundant entrance into the Kingdom of Christ, that he experienced an holy ambition.

1. That ambition was to put the disciples always in remembrance of these things. Of this, in 2 Peter 1:12 , Peter said, "I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things." He even told them that, while they were established in the truth, he still would press the truth more strongly upon them.

2. That ambition was to stir up the saints by putting them in remembrance. This is in 2 Peter 1:13 : "to stir you up by putting you in remembrance." This shows added fire, added energy, and added ambition. He would not merely remind them, of how they might obtain an abundant entrance into the Kingdom, but he would stir them up about it. The Apostle Peter would endeavor after his own death to have these things always in remembrance.

3. That ambition was to be in operation after Peter's death. In 2 Peter 1:14 Peter acknowledged that he must shortly put off his tabernacle, as Christ had showed him. In 2 Peter 1:15 he said "Moreover I will endeavour that ye may be able after my decease to have these things always in remembrance." Thus, we have a very remarkable threefold urge on the part of Peter. Twice the saints are called to give diligence. Three times Peter speaks of putting them in remembrance, or having them in remembrance. The Coming of our Lord, and His Kingdom, and our abundant entrance, therefore, should hold no small place in the conception of the Christian.

V. THE SECOND COMING OF CHRIST (2 Peter 1:16 )

1. The Lord's Coming is not a fable. In 2 Peter 1:16 Peter comes out plainly to tell them of that of which he speaks. He has urged them to give all diligence, and to add to their faith virtue, etc. He has told them that through addition to their faith they might receive an abundant entrance into the Kingdom of Christ. Now, he tells them that that Kingdom is related to the Coming of Christ.

His first statement is that the Lord's Second Coming is not a cunningly devised fable . Paul gave warning against those who invented fables. With this Peter thoroughly acquiesced, because he spoke also of scoffers who would come in the last days. These scoffers were to deny the Lord's Coming, and to invent fables.

Here are Peter's words: "For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ."

2. The Lord's Coming is the power of Jesus Christ. It is a fact, and not a fable. The Lord Himself shall descend from Heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God." Jesus Christ said, "If I go * * I will come again unto you. Speaking in the same connection He said, "If it were not so, I would have told you."

The two shining ones said. "This same Jesus, * * shall so come in like manner." That the Lord is coming we have no doubt. He has given us His promise. His Apostles have restated it time and time again and, for our part, we freely voice our anticipation of Christ's Return as follows:

'Tis but a little while, and Christ will come,

A little while;

He's waiting in His high and Heav'nly Home

A little while:

He'll surely come; let not the world beguile,

He'll greet us with" His favor and His smile,

He'll tarry not, "His promise knows no guile,

"A little while."

VI. THE LORD'S COMING ESTABLISHED BY THE TRANSFIGURATION (2 Peter 1:17-18 )

As soon as Peter had spoken of the certainty of Christ's Coming, he gave two proofs which established it, and carried it out of the realm of fables. The first proof we will consider.

The first proof is this: "But were eyewitnesses of His majesty." We remember how the Lord said, "There be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of Man coming in His Kingdom."

It was only shortly after Christ so spake, that Peter, James, and John went up with Christ into the mount where the Lord was transfigured. Peter now distinctly says that he was an eyewitness of the Lord's majesty, and then he adds, "For He received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to Him from the excellent glory, This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. And this voice which came from Heaven we heard, when we were with Him in the holy mount," The transfiguration, therefore, is a revealing of the Second Coming.

1. We remember that Christ was transfigured before them. His raiment was white and glistening. His face shone with a radiance surpassing that of the sun. Christ will thus appear in His Second Coming.

2. With Christ upon the mount stood Moses and Elias in glory. These men may well represent two classes who will be present at the Lord's Coming. Moses stands for the dead and buried in Christ whose bodies will be raised. Elijah stands for the living and raptured in Christ who will never die.

3. Peter, James, and John represent a third class: the earth-dwellers who will behold the glory of the Lord.

Thus we see that Peter knew of Christ's Coming in a very definite way. He. was an eyewitness of His majesty.

VII. THE LORD'S COMING ESTABLISHED BY THE PROPHETIC SCRIPTURES (2 Peter 1:19-21 )

Peter insists that he has not followed cunningly devised fables, for this simple reason, the Word of God is not a fable.

1. Peter calls the Word of God "a more sure word of prophecy," that is, a word of prophecy made sure. We dare not put any question marks by the side of the prophetic Scriptures.

There is a verse in Acts 13:1-52 which reads, "And when they had fulfilled all that was written of Him, they took Him down from the tree, and laid Him in a sepulchre." In other words, all of the prophecy was surely and literally fulfilled.

The prophecy of Christ's Second Coming is just as sure, and will be just as literally fulfilled. Christ said that not a jot nor a tittle would pass away until all should be fulfilled.

2. Peter calls the Word of prophecy a lamp in a dark place. He says that the prophetic Scriptures shine in a dark place. The dark place is the earth filled with sinful men. Truly it is dark just now, but, thank God, the saints have a Light in the darkness.

3. Peter stated that the prophecies were written by men of God "moved by the Holy Ghost." This is in the last verse of the lesson. "For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost."

How we thank God for such a statement! In this day when so many decry the Prophets, and seek to give us a shorter Bible, abbreviated, and with the vital light, the very core of the prophetic Scripture eliminated, we stand with Paul stating that we believe all things which were written in the Law and in the Prophets.

AN ILLUSTRATION

THE BEST OF WAYS TO THE BEST OF POSSESSIONS

"If a man should offer a lordship or a farm to another, and he should say, The way is dirty and dangerous, and the weather very troublesome, I will not look after it; would you not accuse the man of folly who thus loved his ease and pleasure? But, now, if this man were assured of a pleasant path and a good way if he would but take a little pains to go over and see it, it were gross folly indeed to refuse it." Such is the folly of those who refuse the. great inheritance of God. It were worth while to spend a lifetime in prison if thereby we could obtain the Kingdom of God; but we are not called to such suffering, the. way to eternal life by Christ Jesus is made plain and easy by the Holy Spirit who bids us believe and live. To believe that which is most surely true cannot be unpleasant to a sincere mind; to trust in One who cannot He cannot be a hardship to an honest heart. In fact, the way of true religion is the path of wisdom, and we know that her ways are ways of pleasantness and all her paths are peace. Who would not go to Heaven when Christ is the Way? the dearest, holiest, and happiest Way that can be conceived. Since the way to Heaven is heavenly, and the road to bliss is bliss, who will not become a pilgrim? My soul, be thou in love with the way as well as with the end, since thy Lord is the one as well as the other.