These two last explanations are sanctioned by the most learned interpreters; nor can they be easily rejected, in as much as they remove all difficulties from the text, which appears to assert, that Jesus Christ descended into hell, to preach to those men who lived before Noah, who, having passed through life in unbelief and impenitence, were therefore damned. But how can it be supposed that Jesus Christ should preach to those who had been dead for so many ages, as if they might be converted, and might repent of their transgressions? 'The opinion which states that Jesus Christ descended into hell, to announce his advent to the ancient patriarchs, and to deliver them from that species of prison where they had so long waited for him, is doubtless true; and we (Catholics) respect it, as an article of our faith; yet it may be doubted whether this be the meaning of St. Peter in this place.' Com. in loc.

5. HAMMOND. Thirdly, by his spirit is evidently here meant, that divine power by which he was raised from the dead after his crucifixion, and by which he means now to act revenge on his crucifiers, after a while, if they repent not, but in the mean time to preach repentance unto them. And that makes the parallel exact between the matter here in hand and the story of the old world. Here men are divided into two sorts, ver. 17, those that suffer for well doing the pious, constant, yet persecuted christians, and those that shall suffer for evil doing-the contumacious, obdurate, persecuting Jews and Gnostics; as there the violent and corrupt on one side, which were, after the hundred and twenty years, swept away with the deluge, and Noah (and his family) on the other side, who, by being set forth as an example of the godly, delivered out of temptations, 2 Pet. ii. 5, 9, appear to have been opposed and wronged by them. And therefore to prove (what was undertaken, ver. 17,) that, even in respect of this world, it is far better to be of the number of the persecuted, who shall be delivered, than of the most prosperous persecutors, which shall after a time be destroyed, as the example of Christ was very pertinent, ver. 18, who having suffered awhile, was raised in power to destroy the crucifiers; so the example of the old world is fitly made use of also,' &c. Annot. in loc.

SECTION CXVII.

For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God; and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?'-1 PET. iv. 17, 18.

THIS text is frequently quoted to alarm the unconverted, and is represented to have reference to final salvation on the one hand, and endless misery on the other. A different view is given below:

1. WHITBY. For the time is come, that judgment must, according to our Lord's prediction-Matt. xxiv. 21, 22, Mark xiii. 13, Luke xxi. 16, 17—begin at the house of God; and if it first begin at us believing Jews, what will be the end of them that obey not the gospel of God? And if some of the righteous scarcely be saved-i. e., preserved from this burning, ver. 12, being saved, yet so as by fire, 1 Cor. iii. 15-where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear in safety from these dreadful judgments which are coming on the Jewish nation? Prov. xi. 31.' Annot. in loc.

2. LIGHTFOOT. Then they shall deliver you up to be afflicted. To this relate those words of Peter, 1 Ep. iv. 17, "The time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God;" that is, the time foretold by our Saviour is now at hand, in which we are to be delivered up to persecution, &c. These words denote that persecution which the Jews, now near their ruin, stirred up, almost every where, against the professors of the gospel.' Heb. and Talm. Exerc. on Matt. xxiv. 9.

3. GILPIN. 6 Thus, amidst the general ruin which is coming upon these wicked times, the christian shall have his share. But his afflictions will be light, in comparison of that great overthrow which shall destroy the Jewish nation.' Expos. in loc.

4. MACKNIGHT. That the apostle is not speaking here of the difficulty of the salvation of the righteous at the day of judgment, will be evident to any one who considers, 2 Pet. i. 11-" Thus there shall be richly min

istered to you an entrance into the everlasting kingdom." What he speaks of, is the difficulty of the preservation of the christians, at the time of the destruction of Jerusalem. Yet they were preserved; for so Christ promised, Matt. xxiv. 13. But the ungodly and wicked Jews were saved neither in Judea, nor any where else.' Note in loc.` 5. CALMET. If the righteous be scarcely able to escape, in these days of wrath, what shall be the fate of the ungodly? When God began to exercise vengeance upon the Jews, he first permitted the christians to suffer many afflictions and persecutions; but after he had purified his church, and proved the virtue of his elect, he admonished them to depart from Jerusalem, and its borders, and to remove beyond Jordan. Ecclesiastical historians relate that they retired to Pella, under the protection of King Agrippa, a friend and ally of the Romans, to which place the violence of the war did not extend. But the remaining Jews experienced the fury and the power of their conquerors, who levelled the temple, and Jerusalem itself, with the ground, even ploughing the earth on which it stood, and slew eleven hundred thousand of the Jews. St. Peter alludes to Prov. xi. 31, If the righteous shall be recompensed in the earth, how much more the wicked and the sinner?" The apostle follows the version of the LXX. Com. in loc.

SECTION CXVIII.

But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. And many shali follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.'-2 PET. ii. 1—3.

THAT this passage should be interpreted with reference to this life, and not to the next, is admitted in the following quotations:

1. GILPIN. But as there were false prophets under the law, so shall there be false teachers under the gospel, who shall introduce vile heresies, denying even the Lord who bought them, and shall draw upon themselves a sudden ruin. They shall influence many, and deceive them through interested views, and bring great slander on the truth, till their destruction, which is advancing apace, shall suddenly overwhelm them.The swift destruction seems to correspond with the destruction of Jerusalem.' Expos. and Note in loc.

2. PYLE. Thus, I say, the prophecies of the Old Testament prove the truth of our religion. But as, in those former ages of the Jewish church, there were some false, as well as true prophets, so you know Christ and his apostles have foretold there would be the same mixture in the christian church, which predictions of theirs are now verified in those raging zealots of the Judaizing faction-a set of men that are broaching the most pernicious doctrines, by practising upon which, while they boast themselves as the peculiar and purchased people of God, they really renounce him that is indeed their Lord and Redeemer, and shall, in due time, feel the fatal effects of such obstinate malice and ingratitude. These people, by their violent zeal and plausible pretences, are like to seduce many converts to their party, to the great scandal of the christian name. They insinuate themselves into your affections, and strive to gain proselytes for temporal ends, and the gratification of their own impure passions. But that divine judgment, long since pronounced against the authors of such wickedness, is drawing on, and will soon overtake them.' Par. in loc. 24

SECTION CXIX.

'For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment; And spared not the old world, but saved Noah, the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly; And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes, condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly; And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked: (For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds ;) The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished.'-2 PET. ii. 4–9.

IN the following quotations, it seems to be admitted, that the day of judgment indicates a time of trial and discrimination on earth, thus allowing it to be similar to the other severe judgments, of which the apostle speaks; and although it is supposed that apostate angels are here mentioned, and that this misery shall be endless, yet this furnishes no proof that any portion of mankind shall fail of obtaining salvation.

1. GILPIN. Nor is this destruction, which is coming upon the Jews, an extraordinary instance of God's justice. Against enormous wickedness, he hath often executed severe judgments. The angels that sinned were driven from the presence of God. The old world was destroyed by a flood, and Sodom and Gomorrah by fire. But from the former of these calamities, Noah, who had endeavored to convert his unrighteous neighbors, was exempted; and from the latter Lot was delivered, who had all along opposed the wickedness of the country in which he dwelt. Thus mercy and judgment are equally tempered in the hands of God.' Expos. in loc.

2. PYLE. For however they may at present prevail, and whatever their malicious endeavors against you may be, rest yourselves satisfied, from all the course of the divine dispensation, that they are sure of their punishment, and you of a gracious and timely deliverance. Remember the apostate angels themselves reigned but a little