swine wallowing in the mire,
and dogs devouring their own vomit. By Charles Simeon. There are but two classes of
people mentioned in the scriptures, and to one or other of them we
all belong. There is no intermediate category. Indeed, we cannot always determine
to which of these classes men belong, because we cannot discern
their hearts. But the all-seeing God, to whom
all things are open and exposed, will differentiate them from
each other, as easily as we distinguish cats from dogs. It is of infinite
importance that we should have this truth impressed on our minds,
for we are ready to rank among the wicked only those who are
guilty of heinous crimes, whereas all are wicked, who are not truly
converted to God. God's testimony respecting them
is applicable to them all, whether they are more or less wicked
in respect to gross sins. The openly debauched are surely
exceedingly loathsome in the sight of God. Let anyone but
notice their speech, and how replete is it with lewdness and
blasphemy, Let their character be marked and what evil dispositions
they manifest on all occasions. Let their conduct be scrutinized,
their drunkenness, their whoredoms, and all their other abominations,
and who must not confess the justice of that scriptural representation
which compares them to swine wallowing in the mire and dogs
devouring their own vomit. The more decent people, it is
true, do not appear so vile in the eyes of men. Yes, perhaps
they are even honoured and esteemed by others, yet they are loathsome
in the sight of God. What monsters of ingratitude
are the very best of unregenerate men! What inconceivable mercies
have they received from God, and yet they have never spent
one hour in humble and grateful thanksgiving! How loathsome then
must they be to the God of all grace! We confess that their
actions may have appeared good to men, but how have their hearts
appeared to the all-seeing God? Have they not been a very sink
of iniquity? Yes, so depraved are the very
best of men, that there are few, if any, who would not rather
die than have all the secrets of their hearts known to men,
as they are known to God. What then are such people but
whitewashed gravestones? No wonder that, however they
are esteemed among men, both their persons and their works
are an abomination to the Lord. The human heart is the most deceitful
of all things, and desperately wicked. Who really knows how
bad it is? But I, the Lord, search all hearts
and examine secret motives. Jeremiah chapter 17 verses 9
and 10