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1. "I know" — not perhaps precisely the day, or the place, or the manner. But death is not a stranger to my thoughts; my account is cast up, I am ready.

2. "That I must put off," or lay down; willingly, not on compulsion; not pulled down, but laid down. It is a metaphor drawn from a wager; the faithful man doth wager, and pawn his soul to God.

3. "This my tabernacle" — not my castle, or strong tower, or standing house; but a tent, a movable, a tabernacle.

4. "Shortly." The time is not so far off that I dream not of it; not likely to happen in another age, and creeping on by slow degrees. The sun is not descending, but ready to set; the messenger knocks at the door; the clock runs upon the last minute; the epilogue is on the stage; the taper at the last glimpse; the oak falling under the latest blow of the axe.

5. "As the Lord Jesus Christ hath showed me." It is a shame for me to be unprepared when such a Prophet hath certified me, both in prediction and example showing the way.

I. A RESOLUTION. "Knowing." The assurance of unavoidable death is a doctrine well known. Make a virtue of necessity; offer God that for a gift, which you are bound to pay as a debt.

II. A DISSOLUTION.

1. Personal. "I" — though a preacher, an apostle, etc. These singular deductions out of universal propositions, are profitable to men, and acceptable to God.

(1) Seeing we must die, do you pray for us, that we may do your souls good while we live (Ephesians 6:18, 19).

(2) Seeing our life is so short, do you apprehend the means while it lasteth (Hebrews 3:45).

2. Necessary. "I must." If heaven were to be had upon earth, saints should not dwell in tabernacles.

3. Voluntary. "Put off." The apostle calls himself a depository, that hath a jewel committed to him on trust, which he is willing to surrender.

4. Instant. "Shortly."(1) The less space a man hath allowed for his business, the more he should ply it. The fewer days, the fruitfuller lessons.

(2) The words of dying men have been most emphatical, most effectual. The last words of good men are best, as the last glare of the sun going down most clear. An admonition uttered by such a teacher, at such a time, to such an auditory, challenges good attention, great devotion.

III. A REVELATION. "Even as our Lord," etc.

1. Those who refer it to the manner, conceive this revelation to be given him (John 21:18, 19).

2. They that refer it to the time of his dying, understand it thus: That Peter should die, he knew in general; that he should die a martyr, he knew in particular; but that he should die shortly he could not know, except by some later revelation, in special. It is probable that where Peter wrote this Epistle, even there he received this revelation.

3. Now howsoever an apostle had some special premonstrance of the nearness of his end, yet this is not common, though old age and consumptions be certain forewarners of approaching death. We, too, have the more preparation, by how much we have the less revelation concerning the time and circumstances of our death.

(Thos. Adams.)

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KJV: Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the present truth.

WEB: Therefore I will not be negligent to remind you of these things, though you know them, and are established in the present truth.