Davids Harp Strung and Tuned, Book 1 · Psalm 15
PSAL. XV. foreign Or, A Pſalm of Doctrine, in which we have the Character of a ſound Chriſtian.
TWO parts it hath.
1. The firſt delivered in form of a Dialogue betwixt the Prophet and God, from ver. 1. to 5.The firſt part. Davids queſtion, Who ſhall dwell?
2. The Epiphonema, in the end of the laſt verſe.
1. The queſtion propoſed by David to God.
1. Lord, who ſhall dwell in thy Tabernacle?
2. Who ſhall reſt upon thy holy Hill? That is, becauſe all are not Iſrael, Ver. 1 which are of Iſrael; therefore David asks of God, 2The anſwer made by God, containing the Notes of a good man.who ſhall dwell as a true Member in the Tabernacle, or the Church Militant? and who ſhall reſt in the Church Triumphant?
2. To which queſtion God returns him this anſwer, containing very remarkable Notes of a lively Member of the Church.1In general.
1. In general; he is ſuch a man, who is,1Upright.
1. Upright in thought, hath an honeſt heart: He that walketh uprightly. Ver. 22Juſt.
2. Juſt in his deed: He works righteouſneſs.3True.
3. True in his word: He ſpeaks the truth in his heart.4Who eſchews evil; for he is not:
2. In particular; he is ſuch a man who eſcheweth evil:
1. In himſelf: duplicate page duplicate page
1. Ver. 3 For he is no ſlanderer; He back-bites not with his tongue.
2.A ſlanderer, &c. He is no wrong doer; Nor doth evil to his Neighbour.
3. He is no reviler, tale-bearer, or hearer of them; He takes not up a reproach, &c.
4. He is no favourer of ſin; in whoſe eyes a vile perſon is contemned.
5. 2He loves good men.He is no oppreſſor or extortioner; He puts not his money out to his poor brother to uſury.
6. Ver. 4 No briber; He taketh no reward againſt the innocent.
2.3He keeps his word. Such a man he is, That honours them that fear the Lord.
3. The ſecond part. His reward, eternal ſalvation.That ſweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not: He will be ſure to keep his word; Piety and Charity is his Character.
2. The Epiphonema hath it in theſe two points.
1. Ver. 5 The party to whom this priviledge belongs; He that doth theſe things: For the doers of the Law ſhall be juſtified: 2. Haec omnia haec.
2. The promiſe made to him; He ſhall never fall: The life of Grace, is the way to the life of Glory. Poteſt in momentum movere, ſed non in aternum. Reſurget.
The Prayer out of the fifteenth Pſalm, that we may lead a life worthy of a Chriſtian.
O Merciful and Bountiful God, thou ſole giver of Grace and Glory, who haſt made thy Tabernacle on Earth, Ver. 1 a Type of that celeſtial Manſion thou haſt promiſed us in Heaven, and haſt alſo taught us, that we muſt firſt ſojourn with thée in this, before we ſhall come to dwell with thée in thoſe everlaſting habitations.
Give us Grace, Ver. 2 that the whole old man of ſin being put off, we may walk uprightly before thée, addict our ſelves to work righteouſneſs, and ſpeak the truth plainly and ſincerely from our hearts; nor by diſſimulation deceiving, nor by fraud, falſhood, and lies, impoſing upon our Neighbour.
Suffer us not with our tongues to detract from any mans good name and reputation; Ver. 3 nor by falſe reports and whiſpers to backbite the abſent; let us not return evil for evil unto any, much leſs, evil for good; nor with a contented mind receive a reproach againſt them.
Never let us reſpect any mans perſon if wicked, Ver. 4 for their birth, wealth, power or glory, nor palliate or flatter them in their vices; but rather contemn all vile perſons, and on the contrary, highly honour and love all thoſe that fear the Lord.
Make us faithful in our promiſes, Ver. 5 and ſo religiouſly obſervant of our oaths, that neither profit nor neceſſity compel us, having ſworn to our Neighbour, to diſappoint him, Ver. 5 although it be to our own hinderance. Remove from us all covetous deſtres, and kéep us far from all unjuſt and oppreſſive contracts: O let us never be corrupted with bribes and gifts, to defend an evil cauſe, and pronounce an unjuſt ſentence.
Since thoſe that do theſe things ſhall never fall, or be removed from thy favour and preſence, vouchſafe to give us thy grace, that our poor ſouls (being purified from vitious habits, and adorn'd with theſe Robes of Iuſtice, Truth and Charity, and ſanctified by the merits of thy dear Son) may live with thée eternally in Glory, through Ieſus Chriſt our Lord. Amen.