A brief exposition of the First and Second Epistles general of Peter by Alexander Nisbet ...

Vers. 18. And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?

Here the Apostle cleareth his former argument, to this purpose, That if even justified persons, and holy walkers, had such a hard lot in the world, that they could not but with great difficulty, and through many fiery tryals win to the Kingdom of Heaven. Those who did cast off all Religion, and gave themselves up to all wickednesse, might expect in the day of God's reckoning with them, to find no place to shelter themselves from his everlast∣ing wrath; and therefore there was no reason why the Godly should fear them, or joyn with them in their evil wayes, to shun sufferings from them, seing their end should be so terrible. Hence Learn, 1. Although the sal∣vation of all that flie to Christ, and take themselves to the study of holinesse, be most sure, in regard of Christ's undertaking to cause them persevere till they come to it, Joh. 10.28. and the way to that salvation be in it self sweet, Prov. 3.17. and in regard of Christ's large allow∣ance of strength and comfort, easie to the renewed man, Mat. 11.30. Yet, considering the many fiery trials that are in the way, and the Believers own weaknesse, it is no easie matter for them to win through to the possession thereof; The consideration of which difficulty should be so far from discouraging them in the way, that it should provoke them to put on much resolution to hold on that way in Christs strength, notwithstanding all dif∣ficulties: for, not the possibility of the Elects losing sal∣vation, but the difficulty of attaining it, by reason of many trials, and their own weaknesse, is imported in this expression, as a motive to constancy, If the righteous scarce∣ly be saved, &c. 2. While the Lord's People are suffer∣ing, and wicked persons prospering, they should put their hearts frequently to consider how wofull, and un∣speakably terrible the end of these wicked enemies must be, when they shall be forced to appear before their

Judge, and shall find no place to shelter them from his fierce wrath, which shall pursue them to Hell, and tor∣ment them there for ever; that by such thoughts the suffering-Children of God, may be moved neither to envie them for their present prosperity, nor incline to joyn with them in their sinful courses, for eschewing trouble from them, Psal. 37.1, 2, &c. and 73.2, 17. but rather to endure sufferings from them, that they may not share with them in their wofull end: for, that the God∣ly might not run with their prospering persecutors to the same excesse of riot, nor faint under sufferings from them, The Apostle doth again represent to their hearts the con∣sideration of their unspeakably terrible end, by this other question, Where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear? 3. The consideration of this difficulty in the way of the Godlie's salvation, is sufficient to convince us, that their end must be unspeakably terrible, who are so far from taking paint to be saved, that they shake off all duties of Religion, as the word, ungodly, signifies; and give them∣selves up to all wickednesse, as the word, sinners, doth im∣port, and so hast their own destruction: for, so much is imported in the connexion of the first part of this Verse, with the latter; If the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?