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1. His exemplary industry and diligence in his ministerial work.

(1) The quality of his work, which was "to stir them up by putting them in remembrance," to keep the heavenly flame of love and zeal lively upon the altar of their hearts. He well knew what a sleepy disease the best Christians are troubled with, and therefore he had need to be stirring them up, and awaking them to their duty.

(2) The constancy of his work, "As long as I am in this tabernacle." The body is called a tabernacle, in respect of its moveableness and frailty, and in opposition to that house, "eternal in the heavens." And it is observable how he limits his serviceableness to them. Death puts an end to all our ministerial usefulness; but till that time he judged it meet to be aiding their faith; our life and labour must end together.

2. The motive stimulating him to this diligence; "knowing that I must shortly put off this tabernacle, even as the Lord Jesus Christ hath shewed me,"(1) He reflects upon the speediness or near approach of his death. "I must (shortly) put off this my tabernacle "(2 Timothy 4:6).

(2) The necessity of his death: It is not I may, but I must put off this my tabernacle.

(3) The voluntariness of his death; for voluntariness is consistent enough with the necessity of the event. He saith not, "I must be torn, or rent, by violence from it"; but "I must depose, or lay it down." The law of mortality binds all, good and bad, young and old, the most useful and desirable saints whom the world can worst spare, as well as useless and undesirable sinners (Romans 8:10).The continuance of these our tabernacles, or bodies, is short, whether we consider them absolutely or comparatively.

1. Absolutely. If they should stand seventy or eighty years, which is the longest duration (Psalm 90:10), how soon will that time run out!

2. Comparatively. Let us compare our time in these tabernacles.

(1) Either with eternity, or with Him who inhabits it, and it shrinks up into nothing (Psalm 39:5). Or(2) with the duration of the bodies of men in the first ages of the world, when they lived many hundred years.The reasons of putting off the earthly tabernacle so soon, are —

1. The law of God, or His appointment.

2. The providence of God ordering it suitably to this appointment. And both these in pursuance of a double design.

(1) By dissolving the tabernacles of wicked men, God pays that debt of justice owing to the first Adam's sinful posterity (Romans 6:23).

(2) By cutting off the lives of good men, God pays to Christ the reward of His sufferings, the end of His death which was to bring many sons to glory (Hebrews 2:10).

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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.