Prov. xiii. 5. A wicked man is lothesome, and cometh to
shame.
THE world in general uphold and countenance one another m their evil ways ; some will even " make a mock at sin," and glory in it. But God's testimony respecting the wicked man is, that, whatever
be his rank, or talents, or estimation among men, he is indeed " lothesome, and cometh to shame."
In these words we behold, I. The character of the wicked —
The wicked comprehend all who are not righteous — [Tliere are but two classes of persons mentioned in the Scriptures ; and to one or other of them we all belong. There is no intermediate character. "We indeed cannot always de- termine to which of these classes men belong, because we cannot discern the heart ; but God, to whom all things are naked and open, will distinguish them from each other as easily as we do sheep from the goats.
It is of infinite importance that we should have this truth impressed on our minds : for we are ready to rank among the wicked those only who are guilty of great enormities : whereas all are wicked who are not truly righteous ; all, who are not converted to God, and renewed in the spirit of their minds.]
God's testimony respecting them is applicable to them all, whether they be more or less wicked in respect of gross sins —
\_The openly profane are doubtless exceeding lothesome in the sight of God. Let any one but notice their conversation ; how replete is it with lewdness and blasphemy ! Let their tempers be marked ; what evil dispositions do they manifest on all occasions ! Let their conduct be scrutinized, their drunken- ness, their whoredoms, and all their other abominations ; and who must not confess the justice of that representation, which compares them to swine wallowing in the mire, and dogs de- vouring their own vomit ^ ?
The more decent, it is true, are not so vile in the eyes of men, (yea, perhaps they are honoured and esteemed) but they also are lothesome in the sight of God. What monsters of ingrati- tude are the very best of unregenerate men ! What mercies have they received from God ; what inconceivable love has been shewn them by the Lord Jesus Christ ; and yet they have never spent one hour in humble and grateful adorations. If they had laboured thus to win the affections of some worthless wretch, and after many years of unintermitted kindness were requited by him as they requite their God, would they not consider him as deserving of utter execration? How lothesome then must they be, whose obligations are infinitely greater, and whose conduct is inexpressibly more vile ! Their actions, it is confessed, may have been fair and specious : but what have their hearts been ? have they not been a very sink of iniquity ^ ? Yes ; so depraved
a 2 Pet. ii. 22. See also Job xv. 16. Ps. liii. 1— S. '^ Jer. xvii. 9. Gen. vi. 5.