than that he can say he has heard it.
Therefore he goes along and gropes like a blind man on the way, in an
unconscious life, and has forgotten that he was baptized and his sins
were forgiven him, and is unthankful, and is an idle, negligent man,
who suffers nothing to go to his heart, and neither feels nor tastes
such great grace and blessing.

This is the admonition which St. Peter gives to us who believe, to
urge and enforce those works by which we shall evidence that the true
faith is in us. And, besides, this ever remains true, that faith
alone justifies; where this then is present, there works must
follow.--What follows further, now, is meant to strengthen us.

V. 10. _Wherefore, dear brethren, give so much the more diligence to
make your calling and election sure._ The election and eternal
foreknowledge of God is indeed in itself sure enough, so that man
does not need to make that sure. The calling is also effectual and
sure. For whoever hears the Gospel, and believes thereon, and is
baptized, he is called and saved. Since we then are also thereunto
called, we should apply so much diligence (says Peter), that our
calling and election may be assured with us also, and not only with
God. This is now such a mode of scriptural expression as St. Paul
uses, Eph. ii., "Ye were strangers to the covenant of promise, so
that ye had no hope and were without God in the world." For although
there is no man, neither bad nor good, over whom God does not reign,
since all creatures are His, yet Paul says he has no God who does not
know, love, and trust Him, although he had his being in God Himself.
So here, also; although the calling and election are effectual enough
in themselves, yet with you it is not yet effectual and assured,
since you are not yet certain that it includes you. Therefore St.
Peter would have us make such calling and election sure, by good
works.

Thus you see what this Apostle attributes to the fruits of faith.
Although they are due to our neighbor, that he may be benefited by
them, still the fruit is not to be wanting, that faith may thereby
become stronger, and do more and more of good works. Besides, this is
quite another kind of power from that of the body, for that grows
weary and wastes away if it is used and urged somewhat too far: but
as to this spiritual power, the more it is used and urged, the
stronger it becomes; and it suffers injury if it is not exercised.
For this reason did God introduce