men's proud contempt of god.
Ps. X. 4, 5. The zvicked, through the pride of his counte?ia?ice, ivill not seek after God : God is not in all his thoughts: his toays are always grievous : thy judgments are far above out of his sight: as for all his enemies, he pujfeth at them,
PRIDE, when manifested in a flagrant manner, universally excites disgust ; so hateful is it, when divested of the specious garb in which it is generally clothed. But though all hate pride, when it appears in others, few are sensible how much it reigns within their own bosoms. In our converse with man, this evil disposition is ready to shew itself on every occa- sion : but in our conduct towards God, it is the fruitful parent of habitual neglect, and atheistical contempt. This is affirmed in the passage before us, in which we may notice, I. The state of the wicked —
It is not easy to conceive a more humihating description of their character than that given us by the Psalmist :
They " will not seek after God" —
[God invites them to seek his face, and promises that he will be found of them ; but they cannot be prevailed upon either by promises or threats : they will seek with eagerness an earthly object, that may make them happy ; but they account God unworthy of any notice or regard'^.]
"He is not even admitted into their thoughts" —
[It is astonishing to what a degree men often banish God from their minds. They will pass days, months, and even years, without one reverential thought of him, unless when they are alarmed by some awful providence, or awakened by some faithful discourse: and then, unless the grace of God prevent them, they will cast him out of their minds again as soon as possible, and drown their thoughts in business or dissipation''.]
They account ''his ways," as far as they know them, "grievous" —
a Job XXXV. 10. t' Job xxi. 14, 15.
504.1 men's proud contempt of god. 41
[Wlien urged to devote themselves to God in sincerity and truth, they conceive that such a state is unattainable, or, at least, incompatible with the common duties and offices of life. They call the indulgence of their lusts, liberty ; and the exercise of vital godliness, an intolerable bondage. Every part of the divine life is irksome to them, and that too, not occasionally, but " always," without any change or inter- mission.]
The "judgments of God are far above out of their
sight"—
[By the "judgments" of God we understand his word and works. Now these are not only out of their sight in some par- ticulars (for in some respects they are incomprehensible even to the most enlightened saints) but they are altogether fool- isluiess unto them''. When the mysteries of redemption are opened, they are esteemed by them as " cunningly-devised fables :" and when the marvellous interpositions of Providence are insisted on, they are ready to exclaim, with Ezekiel's hearers, " Ah! Lord God, doth he not speak parables**?"]
"As for all their enemies, they puff at them" —
[If God himself threaten them as an enemy, they dis- regard his menaces. The denunciations of his wrath are deemed by them unworthy of any serious attention. They even puff at them with contempt and disdain. They quiet all their fears, saying, like them of old, " Tush, God shall not see; neither will the Almighty regard it'':" "I shall have peace, though I walk in the imagination of my heart ^."]
In order to account for this state of things, let us trace it to, II. The real source of their wickedness —
We might trace this practical atheism to men's ignorance and unbelief: but the Psalmist suggests to us the true ground and occasion of it : it all arises from the pride of their hearts.
Men are too good, in their own apprehension, to
need God's mercy —