1. What they are like--beasts. You have read many fables and apologues, wherein beasts are feigned to speak like men; but who would endure that theatre, where men be seen to play the beast? Such is the power of sin, it can transform men into beast. While idolaters turn beasts into gods, they turn themselves into beasts.
2. Wherein they are like them.
(1) The whole intendment of the beast is sensuality; and so of wicked men.
(2) Beasts cannot foresee the future, not’ provide for it.
(3) Beasts are not ashamed of their deeds; where is no reason, there is no sin; and where no sin, no shame. These have reason, yet are not ashamed of their abominations (Jer_8:12); and therein are beasts, or worse.
II. Their ordinance. “Made to be taken and destroyed.”
1. God is an absolute Lord over His creatures, and hath as just right of their disposition, as He had power of their creation (Mat_20:15).
2. God is always most just, nor can lie do other than what is perfectly good. His judgments are sometimes manifest, often secret, always wonderful, never unjust.
3. The will of God is the cause of all causes, in which we must make a stand; and neither beyond it, nor without it, seek for any reason.
4. God hath not ordained any to destruction without the respect of sin.
III. Their ignorance. “Speak evil of the things that they understand not.” Not to understand, is the infirmity of a man; to speak of that he understands not, is the part of a fool; bat to speak maliciously evil, is the part of a devil. They will not understand, they will not be silent, they will not speak well. If they will not know, let them hold their peace; nay, they will speak; but then let them give good words; nay, they will speak evil.
IV. Their vengeance. “Shall utterly perish in their own corruption.”
1. No cause doth more necessarily produce its proper effect, than sin doth naturally beget punishment.
2. Forbearance of punishment is no argument of immunity; though not presently, they shall perish.
3. Obstinate sin would make its own rod, were there none prepared. The grace of God resisted, turns to desperateness; and wicked men, like some beasts, grow mad with baiting. They cannot be quiet till they have wrought out their full destruction. (Thos. Adams.)
Sensuality
1. Sin, where it reigns, turns a man into a brute beast as it were. This is showed in all those places of Scripture where wicked men are compared unto brute beasts, either in general or in special, to horses, mules, dogs, swine, foxes, wolves, bears, lions, etc.
2. The fountain of all this sin and misery is the want of a right and spiritual judgment.
3. A sign of such a condition, that is, of a man turning to a brute beast, is to follow the passions of corrupted nature without reason.
4. Such men do corrupt also whatsoever natural goodness they have in them.
5. Such sinners are entangled in their sins, and kept unto destruction like as brute beasts in their snares, wherewith they are taken (2Ti_2:26; Lam_1:14). (Wm. Ames, D. D.)
