February 28

Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. For the Lord knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.—Psalms 1:5, 6.

In the fifth verse the prophet shows that the state of happiness is founded upon a good conscience; and therefore it is no marvel if the ungodly suddenly fall from their imagined happiness. But there is involved in it a sort of concession; as if the prophet should tacitly confess that the ungodly indeed think well of themselves, and have their triumphs, as long as things are confounded in the world, as robbers revel in woods and caves while they are out of the judge's sight. But he says that things shall not be so jumbled evermore, and that when they shall be brought into due order, the ungodly shall be dispossessed of these their delights, so that they may perceive that they were but drunken when they thought themselves happy. We see now how the prophet avouches the ungodly to be miserable, because happiness is an inward good of the conscience. He denies not that before they are driven to the trial, all things go well with them, but he denies that they are happy unless they are sustained by solid and steadfast integrity. For by the trial of the good their integrity is found at length to be genuine. Moreover, although the Lord daily execute the judgment by which he putteth a difference between the righteous and the reprobate, yet because it is done in part only, it is meet we should raise our eyes higher, if we purpose to behold the congregation of the righteous whereof mention is made in this place. Even in this life the prosperity of the ungodly begins to fade away, as often as God putteth forth

6\* tokens of his judgment. For then being awakened, they are forced, whether they will or no, to acknowledge that they are banished from the company of the godly. But because this is not accomplished always, nor in all men, we must patiently wait for the day of the last revelation, in which Christ shall separate the sheep from the goats. Yet it is to be held, that generally the ungodly are appointed to misery, because their consciences are goaded with guilt, and because as often as they are called to give an account of their life, being as it were awakened from sleep, they perceive it was but a dream that they thought themselves happy, without looking into themselves. Nevertheless, forasmuch as things here seem to be tossed to and fro at a venture, and it is not easy in so confused a medley to discern what the prophet means, therefore he calls us back to another principle, namely, that God is the judge of the world. Whence it follows, that it cannot be possible but it must go well with the upright and just, and that utter destruction must light upon the ungodly. Therefore, although to outward appearance the pureness of the worshippers of God profits them nothing at all, yet as it is the peculiar office of God to defend them and to watch over their safety, they must of necessity be happy under his protection. And thence again we may gather, that because he is a sure avenger of wickedness, he will at length destroy all the ungodly, though he wink at them for a time. Wherefore, lest their imaginary felicity may deceive us, let us always, when in distress, place before our eyes the providence of God, to whom it belongeth to adjust the state of the world according to a perfect rule.