Notes on the Book of Psalms, Psalm 101
The ci. PSALM.
David drawing nigh towards the possession of the Kingdom so long promised and delaid, to forward the accomplishment, preingageth himself to God, that he will praise him for it, when he hath it, and serve him faithfully in it, both as a King and a pater-familias, in walking uprightly and avoiding sin carefully, neither countenancing it in himself nor othors, whether in Citie or Countrey, Church or Common-wealth, but on the contrary, the good and godly shall be they he will prefer and imploy.Psalm ci. A Psalm of David.
A Psalm made by David.
1 O Lord,1I will sing of mercy & judgement unto thee, O Lord, will I sing. when thou shalt in favour to thy servant have seated me in the throne, I will magnifie thy free grace and mercifull beneficence, in bringing me out of such trouble and hazard unto such an honour and dignity, as also thy righteousness and justice, when thou shalt have executed those judgements upon mine enemies, which thou hast threatned.
2I will behave my self wisely in a perfect way, O when wilt thou come unto me?2 When thou hast advanced me to it, I hope I shall walk worthy of it, my full purpose is with godly wisdom to order all mine affaires, and not be as most Kings are, wise to their own and their Kingdoms destruction, by exercising their policy to advance their tyranny, and governing by no rule of reason or justice, but by the arbitrary dictates of their own inordinate appetites, I purpose to be wise with other manner of wisdom, and to tread in quite other steps, in obedience to thy Laws and dispensation of Justice and good government to my people, when they are mine. Lord, when shall that day be, that thou wilt come in the full accomplishment of thy promises to me; I hope I shall not give thee cause to repent thee whensoever it is, for my purpose is to be both a good King over my people, and a carefull head over my Court and family, to breed my successours, and rule my servants and officers as well as my subjects in the fear of God, giving good example in my place to all under me both of innocency and sincerity.
3I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes: I hate the work of them that turn aside.3 I will watch against the temptations incident to that estate & condition whereof it is full, & will therefore purposely avoid occasions of evil, whereby I know beforehand I shall miscarry: if not carefully shunned, specially then when my power is almost equall with my will, therefore in a holy fear of sinning I will turn my back upon allurements; refuse their offers, and walk in a steady resolved course of holiness and righteousness, without coveting an evil covetousness, abusing my power to gratifie unlawfull desires, for I hate warping and back-sliding, such defection is extream distastfull to me, by Gods help such corrupt thoughts shall never lodge in my breast, nor such wickedness hang at my heels to hinder my progress in piety and good government, though I know before-hand the baits that will lie in my way, but I will not stoop to take them up.
4 I hope then to be rid of this heart,4A froward heart shall depart from me: I will not know a wicked person. which now by reason of my bitter afflictions is sore put to it, and oft enclines to discontent and untuneableness, but I hope then to be free from the temptation, and consequently from the distemper, and to be never the prouder for mine honour, which I come so hardly by, and which whensoever I have it, it must be of thy free gift, but of meek demeanour both towards thee above me, and my fellow-brethren though subjects, under me. And as I will not allow of wickedness in my self, so nor in any other, no wicked person, nor no person in the practise of any wickedness, shall have my countenance to credit him.
5 I know how incident Princes are to be misled by whisperers,5Who so privily slandereth his neighbour, him will I cut off; him that hath an high look, and a proud heart will not I suffer. and what false reports they hear by giving ear to flatterers and back-biters, to the unjust prejudice of the innocent, but I will take a course with such men, I will watch mine ears as well as mine eyes, & will severely punish those that I catch doing so, nor shall any proud vain-glorious fool draw me from an humble walking with God, such shall see that I know humility and Sovereignty are not incompatible but consistent, I will neither pride it over my brethren, my self, nor suffer any else because of his place or office about me to do so.
6 My countenance shall be to the good and not to the bad,6Mine eyes shall be upon the faithfull of the land, that they may dwell with me: he that walketh in a perfect way, he shall serve me. and my care shall be to find out such as are faithfull and sincere-hearted towards God, to entertain and imploy such who I know will also be faithfull and uncorrupt in their places, the man that is a practiser of piety and honesty, and in the course of his life walks steadily in those wayes, is he that I will be solicitous to enquire out, and prefer both in domestick and republick offices.
7He that worketh deceit shall not dwell within my house; he that telleth lies shall not tarry in my sight.7 If I may know it there shall no crafty dissembler, nor undermining oppressour harbour under my roof, nor be imploid as any Minister of mine, he that misinforms me thinking thereby to delude me, advantage himself, or disadvantage another, such an one shall pack out of my doores, he shall have no favour but all the discountenance I can give him.
8I will early destroy all the wi…ked of the land: that I may cut off all wicked doers from the citie of the Lord.8 It shall be my first and chiefest work, to weed out the notorious deboisheers generally in the Kingdom, that have inured themselves so to sin in Sauls licentious reign, as their is no hope of their amendment: and as it shall be my first work, so it shall be my constant course impartially to punish evil doers all the land over, and specially in Jerusalem the place of Gods peculiar abode and worship, that I may as near as I can bring all my people every where to be Gods people, holy worshippers of him by working a thorough reformation among them; most especially will I expunge them out of the sanctuary from officiating there, where such men are a scandall, and an eye-sore to God and all good men.