DISCOURSES 0 R SERMONS ON SEVERAL SCRIPTUREs.· T H E Folly of SINNERS, &c~ SE R M 0 N J. P R 0 V. xiv. 9· Fo9ls 111a~e a Moc~ at Sin. 337 WE are not generally to expect any Connexion either of Senfeor Sentences in this Book of thePrwerbs. Other parts of Scripture are like a rich Mine, where the precious Ore runs along in one continued Vein : But this is like a heap of Pearls ; which, tho• they are loofe and unfirung, are not therefore tile Jefs excellent or valuahlc. The Text I have now read is one of them, an entire Propofition in it fel(, Th • :~ without Relation to, or Dependance upon any ConteXt. ,, lo/~h~.--. In it we have thefe things confiderable. · Wonlr.· Fi,JI, The Cha,_a,. or Puiph'-fi' of wicked and ungodly Men; and they are I; faid to be fuch as mak1 a Mock at Sino S"ondly, Here is the Cenfure pail tipon them by the All-wife God, and the IL wifeft of Men ; they are Fools for fo doing: Foo!J make aMock at Sin. The Words are plain and obvious; only the Phrafeof making a Mock, may feem fubjelt to fome Ambiguity, and various Acceptations; and indeed the Scripture ufeth it in divers Senfes. Sometimes ic fignifies an abufing of others, by violent and lewd ACtions : So we read that the Hebrew Servant, fays Poti- G . phar's Wife came in unro me to mock me. Sometimes it fignifies an expofing of ,;.a. Ji• Men to Shame and Difhonour : So the wife Man tells us, Wtne is a Mocker. Prov ao 1 Sometimes it fignifies an impofing upon the Credulity of others, things thatfeem • · incredible andimpof!ible: So we read inGmejis, when Lot had declared to his Sons-in-law the Deftru8:ion of Sodom, it is faid, He feemed tmto them as one that G . mocked. Sometimes it is taken for a failing in our Promifes, and thereby de- 14~· tf. • fearing, and frufirating the Expeclations of others ; And thus Herod is faid to be mocked b; the 'vi{e Men, in Matt h. 2. 16. But none of thefe are at all congru. Mltth . ous to our prefent purpofe, nor applicable to the Words of the Text. 16• • a. There are therefore two ocher Acceptations of this Expreffion, frequently oc.. Wh.t"'r curring in the Holy Scripturn. · mt~tn~ bJ Fir(!, This \Vor<l Mock is commonly taken for fcoffing, or bitter taunting at M~thi.g. others. Thus our Lord and Saviour Jefus Chrift fuffered the Flouts and Derilions of an infolent ~ahble, who {et bim at nou$ht, and mocked !Jjm, as St. Luke Lu~c 2s.· fpeaks : Thus thole blelfed Marry" and Confiflors, that followed his Steps ar• "· faid to have endured tbe trifll of cruel Mockings, as the Apofile teHs us. .An'd in· ~eb. u . Xxx · deed 3 •
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