is the
promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things
remain as from the beginning of creation._ Yet are men swayed hither
and thither by a book concerning Antichrist, wherein it is written
that the people before the last day shall fall into such error that
they shall say, there is no God, and shall scoff at all that is
preached of Christ and the last day. That is true, whencesoever it
has been taken. But we are not so to understand it as that the whole
world shall say and hold such things, but the greater part. For that
time is even now at hand, and shall prevail yet more when the Gospel
shall come down among the people, when the proud ones shall lift
themselves up, and the secrets of many hearts break forth, which are
now hidden and unknown. There have even already been many who have
altogether rejected the idea of the coming of the last day.

Of such scoffers St. Peter here warns us, and tells us of them
beforehand, that they must come, and rush into this hazard and live
as they list. At Rome and in Italy this word is now at length
fulfilled, and they who come thence, bring such errors also forth
with them; for just as they have a long time perplexed themselves
therein, so, also, must they perplex the people by the same means.
And even though the last day were now before the door, such people
must come abroad. So shall be fulfilled that which Christ says, Mat.
xxiv.: "Just as it was in the time of Noah, so shall it also be at
the coming of the Son of Man; for as they were in the days before the
deluge, they ate, they drank, they married and were given in
marriage, even to the day when Noah entered into the ark, and they
knew it not till the flood came and swallowed them all; so, also,
shall the coming of the Son of Man be." Also, "The Son of Man shall
come at an hour when ye think not." Also, Luke xxi.: "This day shall
come as a snare, upon all that dwell upon the earth." And once more,
Luke xvii.: "As the lightning lightens over us from heaven, and
shines upon all that is under the heaven, so shall the Son of Man be
in His day,"--that is, so quick and unforeseen and sudden shall He
break in upon it, while the world shall be living above all, for
itself first, and shall throw God's word to the winds.

Therefore this shall be a sign of the last day that it is near, when
the people shall live as they list, according to all their lusts, and
such talk goes about among them as this: "Where is the p