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Prejudice or passion will miserably warp the judgment. It will hide from us what we know not, and cause us to pervert what we do know. This is exemplified in the friends of Job. Job had hinted to them the evil and danger of their conduct (Job 19:28, 29). And Zophar, irritated at the caution, replies with great severity. His words, however, though misapplied, suggest to us two very important truths respecting sinners.

I. THEIR PROSPERITY IS TRANSIENT. Of sinners, some make no profession of religion, and others a false profession. Each of these characters may enjoy, for a while, great prosperity. the profane are often exalted to places of dignity and power. They prosper in all their labours for wealth and preferment. They "triumph," as though no evil should ever happen unto them (Psalm 73:3-12). Hypocrites also frequently are held in estimation (Revelation 3:1). They are objects of envy to many an humble and contrite soul. They will boast of experiences which might well be coveted. And even attain considerable heights of joy (Matthew 13:20). But their prosperity will be of short duration. The hypocrite shall have a period put to his dissimulation. He shall soon appear in his proper character (Deuteronomy 32:35). In comparison of eternity, the duration of his joy will be "but a moment."

II. THEIR RUIN WILL BE TREMENDOUS. The ungodly will in due time be visited for their offences. They will then "perish."

1. To their own eternal shame.

2. To the astonishment of all that knew them. The question "Where is he?" refers primarily to the utter extinction of the ungodly. Address — "Know you not this?" Know you not that this has been so from the beginning of the world? Does not the Word of God assert that" it shall be ill with the wicked"? (Isaiah 3:11; Psalm 9:17.) Does not the most authentic history in the world prove it to have been so?

(Sketches of Sermons.)

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KJV: Knowest thou not this of old, since man was placed upon earth,

WEB: Don't you know this from old time, since man was placed on earth,