Bible Heaven/Bible Heaven.iso/spurgeon/ps10.3

Text File | 1993-03-21 | 7KB | 124 lines

                           EXPOSITION.

        The indictment being read, and the petition presented,
the evidence is now heard upon the first count. The evidence is
very full and conclusive upon the matter of _pride_, and no jury
could hesitate to give a verdict against the prisoner at the bar.
Let us, however, hear the witnesses one by one. The first
testifies that he is a boaster. "_For the wicked boasteth of his
heart's desire_." He is a very silly boaster, for he glories in a
mere desire: a very brazen-faced boaster, for that desire is
villainy; and a most abandoned sinner, to boast of that which is
his shame. Bragging sinners are the worst and most contemptible
of men, especially when their filthy desires,--too filthy to be
carried into act--become the theme of their boastings. When Mr.
Hate-Good and Mr. Heady are joined in partnership, they drive a
brisk trade in the devil's wares. This one proof is enough to
condemn the prisoner at the bar. Take him away, jailor! But stay,
another witness desires to be sworn and heard. This time, the
impudence of the proud rebel is even more apparent; for he
"_blesseth the covetous, whom the Lord abhorreth_." This is
insolence, which is pride unmasked. He is haughty enough to
differ from the Judge of all the earth, and bless the men whom
God hath cursed. So did the sinful generation in the days of
Malachi, who called the proud happy, and set up those that worked
wickedness (#Mal 3:15|). These base pretenders would dispute with
their Maker; they would--

        "Snatch from his hand the balance and the rod,
        Rejudge his justice, be the god of God."

How often have we heard the wicked man speaking in terms of
honour of the covetous, the grinder of the poor, and the sharp
dealer! Our old proverb hath it--

        "I wot well how the world wags;
        He is most loved that hath most bags."

Pride meets covetousness, and compliments it as wise, thrifty,
and prudent. We say it with sorrow, there are many professors of
religion who esteem a rich man, and flatter him, even though they
know that he has fattened himself upon the flesh and blood of the
poor. The only sinners who are received as respectable are
covetous men. If a man is a fornicator, or a drunkard, we put him
out of the church; but who ever read of church discipline against
that idolatrous wretch,-- the covetous man? Let us tremble, lest
we be found to be partakers of this atrocious sin of pride,
"blessing the covetous, whom Jehovah abhorreth."

              EXPLANATORY NOTES AND QUAINT SAYINGS.

        Verse 3.--"_The wicked boasteth_," etc. He braggeth of
his evil life, whereof he maketh open profession; or he boasteth
that he will accomplish his wicked designs; or glorieth that he
hath already accomplished them. Or it may be understood that he
commendeth others who are according to the desires of his own
soul; that is, he respecteth or honoureth none but such as are
like him, and them only he esteemeth. #Ps 36:4; 49:18; Ro
1:32|.--^John Diodati, 1648.

        Verse 3.--"_The wicked ... blesseth the covetous_." Like
will to like, as the common proverb is. Such as altogether
neglect the Lord's; commandments not only commit divers gross
sins, but commend those who in sinning are like themselves. For
in their affections they allow them, in their speeches they
flatter and extol them, and in their deeds they join with them
and maintain them.--^Peter Muffet, 1594.

        Verse 3.--"_The covetous_." Covetousness is the desire of
possessing that which we have not, and attaining unto great
riches and worldly possessions. And whether this be not the
character of trade and merchandise and traffic of every kind, the
great source of those evils of over-trading which are everywhere
complained of, I refer to the judgment of the men around me, who
are engaged in the commerce and business of life. Compared with
the regular and quiet diligence of our fathers, and their
contentment with small but sure returns, the wild and widespread
speculation for great gains, the rash and hasty adventures which
are daily made, and the desperate gamester-like risks which are
run, do reveal fully surely that a spirit of covetousness hath
been poured out upon men within the last thirty or forty years.
And the providence of God corresponding thereto, by wonderful and
unexpected revolutions, by numerous inventions for manufacturing
the productions of the earth, in order to lead men into
temptation, hath impressed upon the whole face of human affairs,
a stamp of earnest worldliness not known to our fathers: insomuch
that our youth do enter life no longer with the ambition of
providing things honest in the sight of men, keeping their
credit, bringing up their family, and realising a competency, if
the Lord prosper them, but with the ambition of making a fortune,
retiring to their ease, and enjoying the luxuries of the present
life. Against which crying sin of covetousness, dearly beloved
brethren, I do most earnestly call upon you to wage a good
warfare. This place is its seat, its stronghold, even this
metropolitan city of Christian Britain; and ye who are called by
the grace of God out of the great thoroughfare of Mammon, are so
elected for the express purpose of testifying against this and
all other the backslidings of the church planted here; and
especially against this, as being in my opinion, one of the most
evident and the most common of them all. For who hath not been
snared in the snare of covetousness?--^Edward Irving, 1828.

        Verse 3.--"_The covetous, whom the Lord abhorreth_."
Christ knew what he spake when he said, "No man can serve two
masters." Mt 6:24|. Meaning God and the world, because each would
have all. As the angel and the devil strove for the body of Moses
(#Jude 1:9), not who should have a part, but who should have the
whole, so they strive still for our souls, who shall have all.
Therefore, the apostle saith, "The love of this world is enmity
to God (#James 4:4|), signifying such emulation between these
two, that God cannot abide the world should have a part, and the
world cannot abide that God should have a part. Therefore, the
love of the world must needs be enmity to God, and therefore the
lovers of the world must needs be enemies to God, and so no
covetous man is God's servant, but God's enemy. For this cause
covetousness is called idolatry (#Eph 5:5|), which is the most
contrary sin to God, because as treason sets up another king in
the king's place, so idolatry sets up another god in God's
place.--^Henry Smith.

                       HINTS TO PREACHERS.

        Verse 3.--God's hatred of covetousness: show its justice.