In which are some things hard to be under stood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other Scriptures, to their own destruction.
2 Peter Ill. 16.
This Peter said about the writings of one greater than himself. The implied advice appeals to all Bible-students. For the most part people search the Scriptures to find confirmations of their pet theories, rather than to learn what is really taught therein. A humorous writer has described the result of a total loss of every copy of the Bible,—the consequence, if every Scriptural passage should be miraculously blotted out from every other book. The entire Bible would be remembered,—at least all its important parts; but each sectarian would recall only the texts best suited to his views, and with which he was most familiar. The Quaker would recall what Jesus said of Closet Prayer. The Episcopalian would rememeber what Paul said about Bishops. The Unitarian would think of the passages mentioning the One God. The Trinitarian would be sure of certain doctrinal texts, such as the "three that bear record in heaven." The Presbyterian would be positive about Election passages, and the Methodist, about those which teach Free Will. The Millennarian would tell you what was recorded about a Second Coming of Christ; and the Universalist, that Jesus had received power over all flesh, that he might "give eternal life to as many as Thou hast given me." The Baptist would be strong about baptizo, and the Congregationalist would remember the admission of whole households to the sacraments. The Romanist would be clear that Peter was to be the corner-stone of the Church; and the Protestant, that Faith, rather than ritual and organization, was to be the grand requisite of religion.
