A Brief Explication of the Last Fifty Psalms, Psalm 101
A BRIEF EXPLICATION Upon the last Fifty Psalmes.
PSALM CI.
DAvid, not being as yet entered in possession of his Kingdome, doth by direction of the holy Spirit, fall upon a consideration of the duties of a righteous Prince, which he setteth down as a rule, to be followed by himself and all Magistrates, obliging himself, to endeavour to conforme his Government thereto: wherein he is but a type and shadow of Christ, in whom alone the perfect performance of the duties here promised are to be found. The principal duties which David undertaketh to discharge, may be, for orders sake, reduced to the number of eight, according to the number of the verses.
Ver. 1. I Will sing of mercy and judgement, unto thee, O LORD, will I sing.
The first duty which he undertaketh, is, to delight himself in all royal vertues, required for the Government of good or bad subjects; and to make those duties his Song; and to approve himself to God for the sincerity of his intention in this undertaking. Whence learn, 1. All the duties of righteous Government may be comprehended under these two heads, mercy and judgement; for, mercy taketh in the care of the poor, needy, oppressed or injured; and judgement taketh in the care of equity, and righteous dealing among the subjects, with the rewarding of the good, and punishing of evil doers: mercy provideth for all good things which the subject needeth, and judgement provideth for their security, and for removing whatsoever evill may trouble them; I will sing (saith he) of mercy and judgement. 2. Such as are designed unto any calling, especially any publick charge, should prepare themselves for it: partly, by laying before themselves the duties belonging to the right discharge of such a calling: and partly, by bending of their hearts, and laying engagements on their spirits, for the faithful discharge thereof; for so much doth Davids example here teach us. 3 Duties of a mans calling, should both be studied unto, and discharged with some chearfulnesse and readinesse of minde; for, I will sing of mercy and judgement, importeth so much. 4. As it is expedient for the peoples better acceptance of a man to a publike charge, that his purpose to discharge his duty therein be published; so also it is expedient for the mans stirring up and fastening to his duty, that he engage his heart unto God; for, so doth Davids example teach us: Unto thee, O LORD, will I sing.
Ver. 2. I will behave my self wisely in a perfect way: O when wilt thou come unto me? I will walk within my house with a perfect heart.
The second duty which he undertaketh, when God shall come unto him to performe his promise, and put him in possession of the Kingdome, is, that he will cast a copie to all the subjects, of godly and wise behaviour in his own person and family, according to the rule of Gods Word. Whence learn, 1. He that purposeth to carry a publick charge well, must discharge the duty of a private man well in his own person, and make his own personal carriage exemplary to all who shall hear of him: for so doth Davids undertaking here teach us. 2. It is necessary for our personal carriage, and conversing with others, that we make the Lords commands our Rule; for that is a perfect way; and that we studie to make application of general rules prudently, according to the circumstances of time, place and person: for, this is wisdome, as Davids example doth teach: I will behave my self wisely in a perfect way. 3. Such as beleeve Gods promises, do long to have the performance of them, as we see in David, who had a promise of the Kingdome, and looked long for it: O when wilt thou come unto me? 4. In the performance of promises, the Lord maketh his approaches nearer and nearer unto the beleever, and then shall be the nearest communion, when God shal perform all that he hath promised unto us: for David calleth the giving unto him the possession of the promised Kingdome, Gods coming unto him: O when wilt thou come unto me? 5. A mans holinesse, righteousnesse and wisdome, is put to proof by his behaviour to his domesticks, with whom he doth most frequently and intirely converse: for herein doth David promise to give evidence of his walking wisely in a perfect way: I will walk within my house with a perfect heart. 6. To compleat a mans sincerity, it is necessary not only that he have a perfect way, and a prudent carriage in it, but also that he be upright in his heart, intentions, ends and motives; therefore David addeth, I will walk with a perfect heart.
Ver. 3 I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes: I hate the work of them that turn aside, it shall not cleave to me.
The third duty undertaken is, that he will be far from plotting of any wicked thing, and far from communion with any persons in an evil course, which is a proof of the uprightnesse of his heart, undertaken in the former verses. Whence learn, 1. A wicked designe is inconsistent with uprightnesse of heart, which hath an aime at pleasing of God, and at nothing else but what he will allow: I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes. 2 A man can hardly be free of an evil course, if he shal be tempted unto it, except he hate and abhor such courses in other mens practices; for he who is resolved to be upright, should say truly, I hate the work of them that turn aside. 3. Albeit an upright heart may be at unawares intangled in a sinful course; yet so soon as he doth perceive it to be such, he will quit it; therefore after David hath said, He hateth the work of them that turn aside, he addeth, It shall not cleave to me.
Ver. 3. A froward heart shall depart from me, I will not know a wicked person.
The fourth duty undertaken is, in relation to the Court and places of trust: he will not have in his company, nor will countenance a perverse or wicked person; Whence learn, 2. Among the vices of the heart, frowardnesse, perversenesse and wickednesse, are most of all to be eschewed and abhorred, because those evils do harden the heart against admonition, and do make it incorrigible in an evil course, albeit a better course be shewen; therefore David denounceth war against such a disposition; A froward heart shall depart from me. 2. It is good for a King, and for his Court, and for his subjects, and for the standing of the Kingdome, that wicked, perverse, and impious men be out of credit in the Court, and not admitted to places or power of trust; for nothing can be more acceptable to God in the point of Government, nor more amiable to the subjects then this; for which cause David promiseth to the subjects beforehand, I will not know a wicked person; much more will Christ not know, but disclaim such a person.
Ver. 5. Who so privily slandereth his neighbour, him will I cut off: him that hath an high look and a proud heart will not I suffer.
The fifth duty undertaken, is the curbing of out-breaking wickednesse, especially of that which most hindereth the peace and welfare of the subjects, such as is privie slander, and open insolencie. Whence learn, 1. There is no sort of persons more pernicious to a King, or to his subjects, then is a privie slanderer, having credit in Court: for he is able to murther any subject, and ruine his State, by secret and false reports of him, while the innocent is ignorant of it, and wanteth all place to defend himself; and therefore this evil is to be severely punished by the Magistrate: Who so privily slandereth his neighbour, him will I cut off. 2 A Kingdom is not well ruled, except proud and insolent spirits, whose behaviour speaketh prodigality, strife, emulation and oppression, be taken order with and born down; Him that hath a high look and a proud heart, will not I suffer. And such, if they escape mens judgements, will not be winked at by Christ, in whom the truth of types is accomplished.
Ver. 6. Mine eyes shall be upon the faithful of the land, that they may dwell with me: he that walketh in a perfect way, he shall serve me.
The sixth duty undertaken, is countenancing and encouraging of the godly in the land. Whence learn, 1. The Magistrate should have a special care to countenance upright men, and such as fear God: Mine eyes shall be upon the faithful in the land. 2. It is good policy, for Kings to have in their Court and Councel such as are faithful; Mine eyes shall be upon the faithful of the land, that they may dwell with me. 3. He is to be held in our estimation for a faithful man, who walketh after the rule of Gods Commandments; for such, as he called faithful before, he expoundeth here to be such as walk in a perfect way; whether his heart be uprighr or not, doth belong to God to judge. 4. As it is good policy in a State, to have about the King or supreme Magistrate such as are Professors of true Religion, and of an honest conversation: so it is good thrift and husbandrie, for every man to choose such for their servants in the family; He that walketh in a perfect way, he shall serve me.
Ver. 7. He that worketh deceit, shall not dwell within my house: he that telleth lies, shall not tarry in my sight.
The seventh duty undertaken, is the purging out of discovered hypocrites, if they shall creep in into credit or trust. Whence learn, 1. Deceitful and false men, and counterfeit hypocrites, may escapemens observation, and creep into the fellowship of the godly, and climbe up to the Court, and get place in Kings houses; for so doth David presuppose here. 2. When men are discovered and found to be deceitful workers and liars, then such as have power should purge them out; He that worketh deceit, shall not dwell within my house; he that telleth lies, shall not tarry in my sight.
Ver. 8. I will early destroy all the wicked of the land, that I may cut off all wicked doers from the City of the LORD.
The eighth duty undertaken, is to suppresse all ungodlinesse in the land, and that for the good of religion, and furtherance of the welfare of the Church. Whence learn, 1. The duty of Magistrates is to suppresse all the wicked in their Kingdom, lest by indulgence shewen to them, they do multiplie, and so bear down the godly: I will destroy all the wicked of the land. 2. The more timously the Magistrate doth declare himself against all wickednesse, the more doth he what belongeth to his duty: I will early destroy all the wicked of the land. 3. Albeit it be not possible for any Magistrate, corporally to destroy all the wicked in the land, partly, because it is impossible to finde out every one; and partly, because the number of the righteous and sound hearted is few, and their power weak; and partly, because none can determine who they are in particular: yet a godly Magistrate may civilly destroy them all, by causing to execute civil punishments, and that Ecclesiastick Discipline be exercised against all them, who do not submit themselves to Gods lawes, till all men yield outward obedience: and unto this duty should every Magistrate set himself: I will early destroy all the wicked in the land. 4. The Magistrates duty is, by his power and by punishment of evil doers, to endeavour the welfare of Gods Church within his bounds, as the Minister of God appointed for that end: for David saith, I will early destroy all the wicked of the land, that I may cut off all the wicked doers from the City of the LORD. If the Magestrate shall punish open transgressions, the Church will be in better case: This was Davids resolution as a type of Christ, and howsoever in execution much was wanting in the type, yet Christ will performe all this exactly in his own appointed time, and in his own order, partly in this life, partly at mens death, and partly at the last day.