Jeremiah 9:2-6

The self-opposition and futility of the sinner's life.

A strong argument against the practice of a thing may often be found in the supposition that it should become universal. This is valid in the case of the practices and desires of wicked men. The idea of Hobbes concerning the original state of human society is ingenious and conceivable from this very reason, were it not contradicted by the world's history.

I. ONE SIN ENTAILS ANOTHER, AND CRIME LEADS TO CRIME. (Jeremiah 9:3.)

II. UNIVERSAL WICKEDNESS PRODUCES UNIVERSAL DISTRUST AND MISERY. (Jeremiah 9:5.)

III. EVIL-DOING IS A WEARY AND FRUITLESS TOIL.

IV. ITS FUTILITY CULMINATES WHEN IT ROBS A MAN OF THE KNOWLEDGE AND FELLOWSHIP OF CLOD, AND EVEN OF THE DESIRE FOR THEM. (Jeremiah 9:6.)—M.