Proverbs 24:9

The thought of foolishness [is] sin: and the scorner [is] an abomination to men.

Ver. 9. The thought of foolishness is sin.] The schools do well observe, that outward sins are maioris infamiae, of greater infamy; but inward heart sins are maioris reatus, of greater guilt, as we see in devils. See Trapp on " Pro 14:22 "

And the scorner is an abomination to men.] Witness Julian, Lucian, Porphyry, Julius Scaliger, that proud hypercritic (qui neminem prae se duxit hominem), Laurentius Valla, who jeered at other logicians, and extolled his own logic as the only best, calling it Logicam Laurentinam.

“ Iupiter hunc coeli dignatus honore fuisset,

Censorem linguae sed timet ipse suae. ” - Trithem.

But what an odious scorner was Quintinus the libertine, of whom Calvin complains, that he scoffed at every one of the holy apostles? Paul he called a broken vessel, John a foolish youth, Peter a denier of God, Matthew a usurer, En quomodo ille faetoris gurges putido ore suo blasphemare audebat! saith Calvin. a See how this stinking elf doth bark and blaspheme the saints. The basest can mock, as the abjects did David, Psa 35:15 and Tobiah the servant did Nehemiah. Neh 2:19 Scorners are the most base spirits. The Septuagint call them pests, Psa 1:1 incorrigible, Pro 21:1 proud persons, Pro 3:34 naught, Pro 9:12 &c.

a Calv., Inst. Advers. Libert, cap. 9.