_Vse_ 1. This may serve to refute the Papists, who maintaine ignorance and commend it in the common people: they are sufficiently refuted by him, from whom they boast that they have received the Chaire, free from all error. For _Peter_ in this place, 1. Requires knowledge of all the faithfull, yea, and fore-knowledge too of those things whereby they might be confirmed against profane men and false teachers. 2. He presupposeth that all that were truly faithfull to whom this Epistle came, were already endued with this knowledge. 3. He presupposeth that his Epistles were so cleare and so easie to be understood that all the faithfull which should read them with godly minds, might understand out of them, and consequently out of the Scriptures, those things, whereby they being forewarned, might be fore-armed against those false deceivers whereof he spake. 2. To admonish us, not so to look for our confirmation, and strengthening from God, as that we should in the meane time neglect the knowledge of those things that tend thereunto, but to use all our endeavour both in generall to know those things that are absolutely necessary unto salvation, and in particular, those things that are necessary for us in our practise upon occasion of any temptation. Doctrine 12. _Besides knowledge there is required also unto the stedfastnesse of grace a continuall and vigilant heed._ This is gathered from this word, _Beware_. _Reason_ 1. Because knowledge is unprofitable, if it be not reduced to practise. Now practise in difficult things cannot be had without care and heed. 2. Because many are the fallacies wherewith we are assaulted, both in the Devill and his instruments that are without us, and in our selves also, by reason of that marvellous deceitfulnesse of our hearts, such as cannot be expressed. _Vse._ This may serve to exhort us, above all to take notice of our selves, and those things that tend to the strengthning and stablishing of us in grace. Doctrine 13. _It should be an argument to the faithfull to beware of the errors of some men, because they are wicked men, ungodly, and profane._ This is gathered from that title, _the error of the wicked_. _Reason._ Because all those things that have any agreement with ungodlinesse are to be shunned and avoided. Now those things that are in a speciall manner approved of by profane men, must necessarily have an agreement with profane ungodlinesse. _Vse._ This may serve to admonish us, by this means amongst others to strengthen our selves against divers errors, that are most pleasing to profane men. Doctrine 14. _♦Stedfastnesse and increase of grace are joyned together._ ♦ “Sedfastnesse” replaced with “Stedfastnesse” This is gathered from the connexion of verse 17. with the 18. _Reason_ 1. Because like as trees and all plants, and also living creatures, from which this metaphor is taken, are corroborated by growth, while they acquire greater and perfecter strength, so also do the faithfull.