---

I. From THE ERROR DISPROVED, observe that the time of Christ's coming must be patiently expected. Not rashly defined or determined. But is this such an error (James 5:8; 1 Peter 4:7; 1 Corinthians 10:11; Romans 13:12)? Why then should the apostle speak so vehemently against the nearness of Christ? I shall show —

1. That the apostle had reason to say that the day of the Lord was at hand.

(1) With respect to faith: for faith gives a kind of presence to things which are afar off (Hebrews 11:1). Therein it agrees with the light of prophecy (Revelation 20:12). The Second Coming is as certain to faith as if He were already come (Philippians 4:5).

(2) With respect to love. Love will not account it long to endure the hardships of this present world until Christ comes to set all things to rights (Genesis 29:20). Faith sees the certainty of it, and love makes us hold out till the time come about.

(3) As comparing time with eternity (Psalm 90:4; 2 Peter 3:8). The longest time to eternity is but as a drop in the ocean. All the tediousness of the present life is but like one rainy day to an everlasting sunshine (2 Corinthians 4:17).

(4) Paul speaks to particular men, whose abode in the world is not very long. Eternity and judgment are at hand, though Christ tarry long till the Church be completed (2 Peter 3:9). Now what is long, and afar off to the whole Church, considered in several successions of ages is short to particular persons. Christ is ready to judge at all times, though the world is not ready to be judged. The Coming of Christ is uncertain, that men in all ages might be quickened to watchfulness, and make preparation (Luke 12:40; Matthew 24:42).

2. The seducers had little reason to pervert the apostle's speech, and the apostle had good reason to confute their supposition that Christ would come in that age.

(1) To inquire after the time is curiosity (Acts 1:7). It is a great evil to pry into our Master's secrets, when we have so many revealed truths to busy our minds about. It is ill manners to open a secret letter. The practice of known duties would prevent this curiosity which tends not to edification.

(2) Much more was it a sin to fix the time (Matthew 24:86).

(3) The fixing of the time did harm —

(a)  It drew away their minds from necessary duties.

(b)  It pleased Satan who is the author of error.

(c)  It had a tendency to shake faith in other things when their credulity was disproved by the event.

(d)  It showed a diseased mind, that they were sick of questions when they had so much wholesome food to feed upon (1 Timothy 6:4).

(e)  It engendered strife.

II. THE EFFECT THIS ERROR WAS LIKELY TO PRODUCE. Trouble and unsettledness, in which is a two-fold metaphor, the one taken from a tempest, the other from the sudden alarm of a land fight.

1. Errors breed trouble in the mind: they do not only disturb the Church's peace (Galatians 5:12), but personal tranquility (Galatians 1:7). How? —

(1) They are on unsound foundation, and can never yield solid peace. We only find soul rest in true religion; others are left to uncertainties (Jeremiah 6:16).

(2) Because false peace ends in trouble. Every erroneous way is comfortless eventually. False doctrine breeds anxiety, and cannot quiet conscience; but truth breeds delight (Proverbs 24:13, 14; Matthew 11:28-30).

2. Christians should be so established as not to be easily shaken.

(1) Let us see how this is pressed.

(a)  From the encouragement of the great hope (1 Corinthians 15:58; Acts 20:24).

(b)  From its absolute necessity (Colossians 1:28).

(2) Let us inquire what is necessary to this establishment.

(a) A clear conviction of the truth, not some fluctuating opinion about it (James 1:8; 1 Thessalonians 5:21; 2 Peter 3:16, 17; Ephesians 4:14).

(b) A resolution to adhere to the truth. The heart must be established by grace as well as the mind soundly convinced (Hebrews 13:9; 1 Corinthians 7:37; Acts 21:13). This resolution of the heart is by faith and love (Hebrews 3:12; 2 Thessalonians 2:10; Ephesians 1:7).

(3) The opposite to this is inconstancy (Galatians 1:6; Matthew 11:7; Proverbs 14:15), of which the causes are —

(a)  Want of solid roofing in the truth (Matthew 13:5, 20).

(b)  Want of mortification (2 Timothy 4:10).

(c)  A readiness of mind which disposes men to conform to their Company, as the looking glass represents every face that looks into it (Jeremiah 38:5).

(d)  Want of a thorough inclination to God, so that they are right only for a while or in some things (1 Kings 2:28; Hosea 7:8).

(e)  Want of holiness and living up to the truths we know (1 Timothy 3:9).

(f)  Libertinism. Men think they may run from one sect to another as the wind of interest blows. They would die rather than change their religion, but think nothing of the differences among Christians when their turn is to be served.

(T. Manton, D. D.)

---

---

KJV: That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.

WEB: not to be quickly shaken in your mind, nor yet be troubled, either by spirit, or by word, or by letter as from us, saying that the day of Christ had come.