desires of their hearts " Even before they cry, he will
answer ; and whilst they are yet speaking, he will hear."^
Such, however, are not his feelings towards all : for, in perfect contrast with this, is,
II. His indignation against the wicked —
" Those that do evil" must also be here defined—
222 1 PETER; III. t& [2100.
[We do not comprehend under this character those who have yet some remaining infirmities ; for this were to confound, in one indiscriminate mass, the righteous and the wicked: it is the workers of iniquity who are here spoken of; even those who, in the general tenour of their lives, are acting contrary to God's mind and will ]
Against these God sets his face —
[It is impossible but that he should view them with dis- pleasure. He cannot forget what he has done for them, In sending his own Son to be the propitiation for their sins, and in striving with them by his Spirit to bring them to repent- ance : and when he sees how they requite these mercies, by holding fast their iniquities, by treading under foot his dear Son, and doing despite to his Spirit, he must of necessity be incensed against them. Accordingly, we are told that " he is angry with them every dayc;" that " he sets his face upon them for evil, and not for good'1 ;" and that he determines to execute upon them his wrathful indignation0. They, perhaps, are full of confidence in their own minds, and are saying, " I shall have peace, though I go on adding sin to sin." But this only ensures the evils which they will not deprecate : for God says, " The Lord will not spare that man ; but the anger of the Lord and his jealousy shall smoke against him ; and all the curses that are written in this book shall lie upon him ; and the Lord shall blot out his name from under heaven f." Instead of hearing his prayers, God further says concerning him, " I will deal in fury with him : mine eye shall not spare, neither will I have pity : though he cry in mine ears with a loud voice, yet will I not hear himp." Unhappy man ! whoever thou art, that livest in wilful sin ! this is thy lot ; and this, if thou die in sin, will be thy portion to all eternity.]
Observe, from hence,
1. Of how little signification are the opinions of
men —
[If thou art righteous, perhaps the world will condemn thee as an enthusiast : and if thou art countenancing them in their evil ways, they will perhaps applaud thee as rational and wise. But to what purpose do men condemn, if God approve; or approve, if God condemn? If God's eye be upon us for good, we need not fear either men or devils : but if God set his face against us, though the whole universe were confederate to protect us, they could afford no help: " Though hand join in hand, the wicked shall not be unpunished."]
c Ps. vii. 11. d Amos. ix. 4. e Deut. xxxii. 40 — 42.
' Deut. xxix. 19, 20. s Ezek. viii. 18.