The Character and Misery of the Wicked
W. Linn, D. D. Isaiah 57:21 There is no peace, said my God, to the wicked. I. WHO COME UNDER THE DESCRIPTION OF THE WICKED? In general, all who have never undergone a change of heart. 1. Some are grossly ignorant of the plain and essential doctrines of the Christian religion, amidst the best means to gain an acquaintance with them. 2. Some break out into open acts of wickedness. 3. Others, though free from gross immoralities, are yet wicked, because they neglect the duties of religion. There are sins of commission, and there are sins of omission. 4. There are some who adopt loose and dangerous principles, who allege, either that the Scripture is not true, or that the great doctrines, as generally taught, are not contained in it. 5. Among the wicked we must also rank the formalist and hypocrite. 6. They are impatient of restraint and reproof. II. IN WHAT RESPECTS THERE IS NO PEACE TO SUCH. 1. There is no peace to them with God. By their wickedness they wage war with Heaven, and the almighty King is angry with them every day. 2. There is no peace in their own conscience. 3. There is no peace to the wicked in a dying hour. By this is not meant that they shall undergo more pain of body than others. The pangs of dissolution are the same to all. Those, indeed, of whom the world was not worthy, have often suffered the most cruel and violent deaths. Nor is it meant that the wicked have never any composure in death, or hope of well-being hereafter. Some of them die as they have lived, stupid and thoughtless as beasts. Some good men may have fears and perplexities to the very last; and some bad men may remain unshaken, and die with more apparent confidence than the others. The fears of the good man cannot render his state less safe, nor the confidence of the bad render his less dangerous. Whatever their own sentiments are, it shall be "well with the righteous, and ill with the wicked." What awful spectacles have some of the wicked exhibited on a death-bed! 4. There is no peace to the wicked after death. They enjoyed with others the common bounties of Providence, and were sensible of pleasure. In these they placed their only happiness; but now all is gone, and they are tormented. Conscience can be quieted no more. (W. Linn, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked. WEB: "There is no peace," says my God, "for the wicked."