Question. Whether all and every particular man be meant thereby, when it is said, that God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance?
Answer. The patience of God according to its nature hath that use and end, to lead all sinners unto repentance, Romans 2.4. and in that sense might their interpretation be admitted, who understand these words and the like of all and every particular man: But that the Apostle in this place hath speciall reference to the elect, it appears thereby, that he speaking of the beloved of God, verse 8. and reckoning himselfe amongst the number of us, saith, that God is long-suffering to us-ward, that is, towards those beloved, and is not willing that any should perish, that is, any of them: because Gods principall work towards men is the salvation of the faithfull, and therefore all his wayes tend thereunto, as unto the scope and mark whereunto they are directed.
Vse 1. This may serve to reprove the madnesse of those men that blame those things in God, which make most for their use and good, as these men do in the slacknesse of the Lords comming.
2. To admonish us, not to pervert these right wayes of God, but alwayes to apply them unto that use whereunto they tend, that is, to the furtherance of our own repentance and salvation.
Doctrine 5. The way of the Lord, when he commeth to judgement, shall be with swiftnesse, majesty and terrour.
This is gathered from verse 10.
First, it shall be sudden, because the houre and day thereof is not revealed, and because the most part of men expect no such thing. And it shall be full of majestie and terror, because it is the comming of the Lord not in humility, as his first comming was, but in glory.
Use. This may serve to admonish us, to prepare our selves accordingly against this comming of the Lord. For this use the Apostle presseth and exhorteth us unto in the rest of the chapter.
Verse 11. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godlinesse,