A scorner is one that not only makes a jest of God and religion, but
bids defiance to the methods employed for his conviction and
reformation, and, as an evidence of that, 1. He cannot endure the
checks of his own conscience, nor will he suffer it to deal plainly
with him: He loves not to reprove him (so some read it); he cannot
endure to retire into his own heart and commune seriously with that,
will not admit of any free thought or fair reasoning with himself, nor
let his own heart smite him, if he can help it. That man's case is sad
who is afraid of being acquainted and of arguing with himself. 2. He
cannot endure the advice and admonitions of his friends: He will not go
unto the wise, lest they should give him wise counsel. We ought not
only to bid the wise welcome when they come to us, but to go to them,
as beggars to the rich man's door for an alms; but this the scorner
will not do, for fear of being told of his faults and prevailed upon to
reform.