against themselves from the Lord, and besides are struck
dumb from cursing and reviling the very One from whom they cannot
escape, how then will these wretched people endure it?

V. 12, 13. _But these are like unreasoning brutes, that are born, in
accordance with their nature, to be taken and destroyed; they speak
evil of that which they do not know, and in their own ruin shall they
perish, and receive therefrom the reward of their unrighteousness._
_Unreasonable brutes_, Peter calls them, as though they had within
them not a spark of anything that smacked of spirit, performed no
spiritual duty that they should do, but lived like the fool, and
became effeminate through a carnal life. But in that he says they are
naturally born to be taken and destroyed, it may be understood in a
two-fold manner: first, as of those that take and destroy, such as
the wolf, lion, bear, the sparrow-hawk and eagle,--so these grasp to
themselves, and tear away from others all they can, goods and honor.
Secondly, of those that shall be taken, crushed and destroyed at the
judgment of the last day.

_They count temporal enjoyment as the fullness of pleasure._ See how
indignant St. Peter is! I must not chide the young gentlemen so
grievously. They think if they only live well, and have good times,
then they have enough of all things, and are right well off; this one
can easily trace in their spiritual claim, when they say that whoever
touches them as to their property or their belly, is of the devil.
They themselves cannot deny this, that their whole system is framed
to this end, that they may have lazy and idle times, and all that can
suffice them. They will lade themselves with no trouble or labor, but
every one must make and devote enough for them. They must go to the
choir and pray. God has commanded all men that they should eat their
bread by the sweat of their brow, and He has imposed trial and
anxiety upon all. Meanwhile, these young masters would slip their
heads out of this noose, and busy themselves with kisses. But this is
the greatest blindness, that they are so dumb, and therefore hold
that such a shameful life is right and lovely.

_Spots are they, and blemishes._ They know not but that they adorn
Christianity, as the sun and moon do heaven, and are the noblest and
most precious jewels, like gold and precious stones; yet St. Peter
calls them spots of shame and blemishes. The true christian life
develops from faith, serves