Psalms 36:4

He deviseth mischief upon his bed; he setteth himself in a way that is not good.

The state and condition of an habitual sinner

I. The character of an habitual sinner. He is one who “deviseth mischief upon his bed,” his hours of leisure are employed upon it.

1. The time of retirement is the fittest and most likely season for religious influences to take place, and to have a due effect (Psalms 119:55). If ever our reason re-asserts its authority, it should be when there is nothing from without to interrupt its pretensions, or to oppose its claim. If ever religion can raise up our souls to God, it should be when our souls are free from all external impediments.

2. When this time of solitude and leisure is misapplied to contrivances for vice, it must needs improve those ill dispositions which it finds in the mind, and overspread it more and more with the contagion of sin.

II. To give some accounts, and to show some cause of his thus proceeding; of the abuse he puts upon his hours of leisure. “He setteth himself in a way that is not good.”

1. The abuse of a trust reposed in us all by a gracious Providence. We have a work to do, and a time assigned us for it. The work is improving our souls, and disposing all our faculties to a ripeness and capacity for eternal bliss. But how great will be the guilt which is contracted when the time allotted us to do the work of Him who sent us into this world for His glory, is employed to His dishonour, and in disobedience to His laws! To somewhat to forget, but more to betray a trust.

2. He who makes no advances forwards will certainly go backwards; he who has not laid in a fit provision for a good use of his time will certainly put it to a bad one. The ground we might gain in virtue will be gained to vice.

III. A further aggravation, and indeed a further reason of his sin. “He abhorreth not evil.” His affections are all wrong turned; and, being so, it is no great wonder that they should run riot upon wickedness.

1. That he abhorreth not evil is an aggravation of his sin, for it implies that his reason is subdued to it, and grace extinguished. It is a common progress to defend upon principle what had its rise from frailty; to proceed from infirmity to wilful guilt; and, from sinning against conviction, to sin away all conviction.

2. If a man loves and likes it, he will, at one time or other, be gained upon to embrace it. For a state of neutrality between vice and virtue is impracticable, and impossible to human nature. He who “abhorreth not evil “will soon abhor that which is good. (N. Marshall, D. D.)