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I. WHAT IS MEANT BY MAKING A MOCK AT SIN. There are three sorts of sinners who, in their several degrees, may justly be charged with this guilt.

1. Those who esteem it a piece of courage to despise all religion, and a greatness of mind to deride all the obligations of virtue.

2. Those who do not in words, but do in deeds, bring contempt upon religion. This practical insult upon religion; this contempt of virtue and goodness in men's lives and actions is really, in the sight of God, a making a mock at sin.

3. Entertaining so slight an opinion of the evil and danger of sin, as makes men who are not entirely profligate, yet content themselves with distant resolutions of future repentance, and in the meantime speak peace to themselves in the practice of unrighteousness, or in the enjoyment of unlawful pleasures

II. UPON WHAT GROUNDS OR REASONS MEN ARE TEMPTED TO BE GUILTY OF THE SEVERAL DEGREES OF THIS VICE.

1. As to those profane spirits who esteem it a mark of courage to despise all religion, the only ground these have to go upon is atheism and infidelity. The only foundation this kind of mockers build upon is the hope that there will be no future state, no judgment to come.

2. Those who pretend to believe a God, and yet live viciously, flatter themselves with a notion that sin is not of so dangerous a nature as the preachers of the gospel represent it to be.

3. Those who are really sensible of the necessity of true repentance and amendment, and yet at the present speak peace to themselves in the practice of unrighteousness, can only find a foundation in an artificial design of securing to themselves both worlds, and of ingrossing more happiness than either God or Nature designed them. This is a mocking of God, but more truly a mocking or deceiving of themselves.

III. HOW WEAK ALL THOSE GROUNDS REALLY ARE, AND HOW GREAT IS THE FOLLY OF ACTING ON THEM. As to the first kind of profane mockers, what is the state of such persons when God takes away their soul? Can they be sure there is no God, and no future state? The hardiest unbeliever never yet pretended to have demonstration in this case. As to the second kind, those who make profession, but live viciously, on a general expectation that sin is less dangerous, and God more merciful than is usually represented, God is not in the least likely to be imposed upon by an outward profession of service, which even an earthly superior would with indignation reject. As to the third kind, those who indulge at present, with promise to themselves of amendment by and by; it may be said that this folly is playing with death and sporting with destruction. It is the folly of letting slip opportunities which may never be retrieved. It is the folly of provoking God to cut us off in His wrath. It is the folly of incapacitating a man's self more and more for the doing of that which yet is of absolute necessity not to be left undone. The longer any man continues in sin, the more difficult it becomes for him to leave it off. He grows hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.

(S. Clarke, D.D.)

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KJV: Fools make a mock at sin: but among the righteous there is favour.

WEB: Fools mock at making atonement for sins, but among the upright there is good will.