teous be recompensed in
the earth, where shall the godless abide?" The same thing also is
said here by St. Peter. The righteous can hardly be saved and only
just escapes. The righteous is he who believes, yet in his faith,
even, _he_ has trouble and labor in order to persevere and be saved,
for he must pass through the fire. Where then will _he_ be found who
has not faith? If God gives thus to faith a shock that makes it
tremble, how can _he_ abide steadfast who is without faith? whence he
concludes:

V. 19. _Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God,
commit their souls to Him as a faithful creator, in well-doing._ That
is, they to whom God appoints suffering, that they have not
themselves sought out and invited, should commit their souls to his
charge. These are they that do good, abide in good works, fall not
away because of suffering, commit themselves to their Creator, who is
faithful. This is to us a great consolation. God created thy soul
without thy care or cooperation, while as yet thou wast not; so is he
also able to preserve it. Therefore commit thyself to Him, yet in
such a way that it be joined with good works. Not that you are to
think,--now I will not be afraid to die; you must see to it that you
are a true Christian and prove your faith by your works. But if you
go on so venturously, it will be wise to examine how it will go with
you. This is the last admonition which St. Peter gives to those that
suffer for Christ's sake. We pass now to

CHAPTER V.

V. 1-4. _The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an
elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and partaker of the
glory which shall be revealed. Feed the flock of Christ which is
among you, and take the oversight of it, not by constraint, but
willingly, not for the love of vile gain, but of a ready mind, not as
Lords over the heritage, but be ye examples for the flock. Thus when
the Chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive the enduring
crown._

There St. Peter gives a direction for the behaviour of such as are to
preside over the people in the spiritual government. He has already
said in the last chapter, that no one should teach or preach
anything, unless he be sure that it is the word of God, so that our
conscience may stand on the firm rock. For this is imperative on us
as Christians, that we must be assured what is well-pleasing to God,
or not. Where this is wanting none can be a Christian. Aft