Practical Commentary of 1 Peter Volume 2, Commentary · Chapter 2 · Verse 13
Verse 18.
And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and sinner appear?
IT is true then, that they are scarce saved, even they that endeavour to walk uprightly in the ways of God, that's the Righteous; here they are scarcely saved. That imports not any uncertainty or hazard in the thing it self to the end, in respect of the purpose, and performance of God: but only the great difficulties, and hard encounters in the way, that they go through so many tribulations and tentations, so many fightings without, and fears within: the Christian so simple and weak, and his enemies so crafty, and powerful.
The Oppositions of the wicked World, their hatreds, and scorns, and molestations, the flights and violence of Satan, and the worst of all, the strength of their own corruptions. And by reason of abounding corruption, such frequent, almost continual need of purging by afflictions and trials; to be still under Physick; to be of necessity at sometimes drained and brought so low, till there is scarce strength or life remaining in them.
And truely all outward difficulties would be but matter of ease, would be as nothing, were it not the incumberance of lusts, and corruptions within; were a man to meet disgraces and sufferings for Christ, how easily would he go through them, yea, and rejoyce in them, were he rid of the fretting impatience, the pride, and self-love of his own carnal heart; these clog and trouble worst, and he cannot shake them off, nor prevail against them without much pains, many prayers and tears; and many times after much wrestling, scarce finds that he hath gained any ground; yea, sometimes is foiled and thrown by them.
And so in all other duties such a fighting and continual combate with a revolting backsliding heart; the flesh pulling, and dragging downwards, when he would mount up, finds himself as a Bird with a stone tied to its foot, hath Wings that flutter to be upwards, but is pressed down with the weight fastened to him; what struggling with wandrings and deadness in hearing, and reading, and prayer: and that which is most grievous, that by their unwary walking, and the prevailing of some corruption, they sadden the Spirit of God and provoke him to hide his face, and withdraw his comforts. How much pain to attain any thing, any particular grace of humility, or meekness, or self-denial; and if any thing attained, how hard to keep and maintain it against the contrary party; how often driven back to their old point? if they do but cease from striving a little, they are carried back by the stream: and what returns of doubtings and misbelief, after they thought they were got somewhat above them; in so much that sometimes they are at the point of giving over, and thinking it will never be for them: and yet through all those are they brought safe home, there is another strength that bears them up, and brings them through: but yet these things, and many more of this nature argue the difficulty of their course, and that it is not so easie a thing to come to Heaven as most imagine it.
Inf. Thou that findest so little stop, and conflict in it, goest thy round of eternal duties, and all is well; art no more troubled; thou hast need to enquire after a long time spent in that way, am I right? am I not yet to begin? sure this looks not like the way to Heaven, as it is described in the Scripture; it is too smooth and easie to be right.
And if the way of the Righteous be so hard, then how hard shall be the end of the ungodly and sinner that walks in sin with delight; it were strange if they should be at such pains, and with great difficulty attain their end: and he should come in amongst them in the end, they were fools indeed; true, if it were so; but what if it be not so, then the wicked is the fool, and shall find he is, when he shall not be able to stand in Judgment, where shall he appear; when to the end he might not appear, he would be glad to be smother'd under the weight of the Hills, and Mountains, if they could shelter him, from appearing.
And what is the aim of all this that we have spoken, or can speak in this subject, but that ye may be moved to take into deeper thoughts the concernment of your immortal Souls. Oh! that you would be perswaded. Oh! that you would make in to Jesus Christ and seek Salvation in him; seek to be covered with his righteousness, and to be led by his Spirit in the ways of righteousness. That will seal to you the happy certainty of the end, and overcome for you all the difficulties of the way: what is the Gospel of Christ preached for? what was the blood of Christ shed for? was it not, that by receiving him, we might escape condemnation; nay this drew him from heaven, he came that we might have life, and might have it more abundantly.