Proverbs 14:32 The wicked is driven away in his wickedness: but the righteous has hope in his death. As to the death of a wicked man, here is — 1. The manner of his passing out of the world. He is "driven away." 2. The state he passeth away into. He dies in a hopeless state. The righteous hath hope in his death. He has the grace of hope, and the well-founded expectation of better things than he ever had in this world. I. HOW, AND IN WHAT SENSE, ARE THE WICKED "DRIVEN AWAY IN THEIR WICKEDNESS AT DEATH." What is meant by their being "driven away"? Three things; they shall be taken away suddenly, violently, and irresistibly. Whence are they driven and whither? They are driven out of this world, where they have sinned, into the other world, where they must be judged. They are driven out of the society of the saints on earth, into the society of the lost in hell. They are driven out of time into eternity. They are driven out of their specious pretences to piety. They are driven away from all means of grace, quite out of all prospect of mercy. In what respects may they be said to be driven away in their wickedness? In respect of their being driven away in their sinful, unconverted state. They die sinning, acting wickedly against God, loaded with the guilt of their sins, and under the absolute power of their wickedness. II. THE HOPELESSNESS OF THE STATE OF UNRENEWED MEN AT THEIR DEATH. Consider four things. 1. Death cuts off their hopes and prospects of peace and pleasure in this life. 2. When death comes, they have no solid ground to hope for eternal happiness. 3. Death roots up their delusive hopes. 4. Death makes their state absolutely and for ever hopeless. Exhortation. (1) Take heed that you entertain no hopes of heaven but what are built on a solid foundation. Beware of hope built upon ground that was never cleared. Beware of that hope which looks bright in the dark, but loses all its lustre when it is set in the light of God's Word. Beware of that hope which stands without being supported by Scriptural evidences. (2) Hasten, O sinners, out of your wickedness, lest you die in your sin. (3) Be concerned for others, lest they be "driven away." III. THE STATE OF THE GODLY IN DEATH IS A HOPEFUL STATE. 1. They have a trusty good Friend before them in the other world. 2. They shall have a safe passage through to the other world. 3. They shall have a joyful entrance into another world. Objection: How comes it to pass that many of the godly, when dying, are full of fears, and have little hope? Answer: The fears are usually consequences of states of bodily health; but they may be due to flagging spiritual life. Improvement: How to prepare for death, so that we may die comfortably. (1) Let it be your constant care to keep a clean conscience. (2) Be always watchful, waiting for your change. (3) Employ yourselves much in weaning your hearts from the world. (4) Be diligent in gathering and laying up evidences of your title to heaven, for your support and comfort at the hour of death. (5) Despatch the work of your day and generation with speed and diligence. (T. Boston, D.D.) Parallel Verses KJV: The wicked is driven away in his wickedness: but the righteous hath hope in his death.WEB: The wicked is brought down in his calamity, but in death, the righteous has a refuge. |
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