Wicked Men Compared to Painted Sepulchres

    WICKED MEN COMPARED TO PAINTED SEPULCHRES

    "Woe unto you Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, for ye are like unto whited Sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful without, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness," Mt 23:27.

    THEY are principally hypocrites which our Saviour resembles to whited Sepulchres; and how fitly they may be compared thereunto, is showed in the following parallel.

    SIMILE

    I. A painted Sepulchre appears as text saith, beautiful without.

    PARALLEL

    I. So vile hypocrites appear glorious and beautiful to men, as if they were real saints; they seem very devout in appearance and outward show, to those that only behold their outside, it is God only that sees the heart.

    SIMILE

    II. Sepulchres, though they appear beautiful without, yet they are very loathsome within.

    PARALLEL

    II. So hypocrites, though they may appear holy and religious men, or to the outward eye, yet are within vile and ungodly, full of pride, vain-glory, envy, malice, coveteousness, and every horrid and abominable lust, which makes them as loathsome in the sight of God, as a stinking Sepulchre is to us. "A wicked man," (saith Solomon) "is loathsome," Pr 13:5.

    SIMILE

    III. Those that make and beautify a Sepulchre, do it that its inward filth and pollution may not easily appear, or offend those that behold it; much pains, cost, and curiosity is bestowed upon the outside of it, whereas men matter not how filthy they are within.

    PARALLEL

    III. So the vile hypocrites, in all their outward shows, zeal, religion, and seeming piety, do it to hide their cursed ends, abominable lusts, and wickedness; for did they appear outwardly to all men what they are inwardly, they would be loathsome to all that fear God. They bestow much pains and cost, and show their skill and cunning, to carry it religiously and warily to men, whereas they take little or no care how filthy they are inwardly.

    SIMILE

    IV. Though a Sepulchre appears never so beautiful without, yet men know it is loathsome within.

    PARALLEL

    IV. So though hypocrites appear never so much like saints to the eyes of men; yet God knows and sees they are polluted and vile wretches inwardly.

    INFERENCES

    I. This shows what the abominable nature of sin is; it is here compared to a dead, putrified, and stinking carcase; what is more loathsome?

    II. It shows also the filthy, unclean, and abominable state of painted hypocrites, &c.