But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.
Ver. 9. But he that lacketh these] Those that add not to their stock of grace, shall have no comfort either from the time past, for they shall forget they were purged from their sins, or from thoughts of the time to come, for they shall not be able to see things far off, to sharpen their interests to the kingdom of heaven.
Cannot see far off] μυωπαζοντες, Being purblind, blinking. Lusciosi, qui siquando oculorum aciem intendunt ut certius aliquid cernant, minus vident quam ante, saith Vives. If weak sighted men look wistly upon a thing, they see it no whit the better, but much the worse.
And hath forgotten] As if he had been dipped in the lake of Lethe, and not in the laver of baptism. Various of the Spanish converts in America forget not only their vow, but their very names that they received when they were baptized.