mh_parser/vol_split/19 - Psalms/Chapter 19.xml

<div2 id="Ps.xx" n="xx" next="Ps.xxi" prev="Ps.xix" progress="27.52%" title="Chapter XIX">
<h2 id="Ps.xx-p0.1">P S A L M S</h2>
<h3 id="Ps.xx-p0.2">PSALM XIX.</h3>
<p class="intro" id="Ps.xx-p1">There are two excellent books which the great God
has published for the instruction and edification of the children
of men; this psalm treats of them both, and recommends them both to
our diligent study. I. The book of the creatures, in which we may
easily read the power and godhead of the Creator, <scripRef id="Ps.xx-p1.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.19.1-Ps.19.6" parsed="|Ps|19|1|19|6" passage="Ps 19:1-6">ver. 1-6</scripRef>. II. The book of the
scriptures, which makes known to us the will of God concerning our
duty. He shows the excellency and usefulness of that book
(<scripRef id="Ps.xx-p1.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.19.7-Ps.19.11" parsed="|Ps|19|7|19|11" passage="Ps 19:7-11">ver. 7-11</scripRef>) and then
teaches us how to improve it, <scripRef id="Ps.xx-p1.3" osisRef="Bible:Ps.19.12-Ps.19.14" parsed="|Ps|19|12|19|14" passage="Ps 19:12-14">ver.
12-14</scripRef>.</p>
<scripCom id="Ps.xx-p1.4" osisRef="Bible:Ps.19" parsed="|Ps|19|0|0|0" passage="Ps 19" type="Commentary"/>
<scripCom id="Ps.xx-p1.5" osisRef="Bible:Ps.19.1-Ps.19.6" parsed="|Ps|19|1|19|6" passage="Ps 19:1-6" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Ps.19.1-Ps.19.6">
<h4 id="Ps.xx-p1.6">God's Glory Seen in the
Creation.</h4>
<div class="Center" id="Ps.xx-p1.7">
<p id="Ps.xx-p2">To the chief musician. A psalm of David.</p>
</div>
<p class="passage" id="Ps.xx-p3">1 The heavens declare the glory of God; and the
firmament showeth his handywork.   2 Day unto day uttereth
speech, and night unto night showeth knowledge.   3 <i>There
is</i> no speech nor language, <i>where</i> their voice is not
heard.   4 Their line is gone out through all the earth, and
their words to the end of the world. In them hath he set a
tabernacle for the sun,   5 Which <i>is</i> as a bridegroom
coming out of his chamber, <i>and</i> rejoiceth as a strong man to
run a race.   6 His going forth <i>is</i> from the end of the
heaven, and his circuit unto the ends of it: and there is nothing
hid from the heat thereof.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.xx-p4">From the things that are seen every day by
all the world the psalmist, in these verses, leads us to the
consideration of the invisible things of God, whose being appears
incontestably evident and whose glory shines transcendently bright
in the visible heavens, the structure and beauty of them, and the
order and influence of the heavenly bodies. This instance of the
divine power serves not only to show the folly of atheists, who see
there is a heaven and yet say, "There is no God," who see the
effect and yet say, "There is no cause," but to show the folly of
idolaters also, and the vanity of their imagination, who, though
the heavens declare the glory of God, yet gave that glory to the
lights of heaven which those very lights directed them to give to
God only, the Father of lights. Now observe here,</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.xx-p5">1. What that is which the creatures notify
to us. They are in many ways useful and serviceable to us, but in
nothing so much as in this, that they declare the glory of God, by
showing his handy-works, <scripRef id="Ps.xx-p5.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.19.1" parsed="|Ps|19|1|0|0" passage="Ps 19:1"><i>v.</i>
1</scripRef>. They plainly speak themselves to be God's
handy-works; for they could not exist from eternity; all succession
and motion must have had a beginning; they could not make
themselves, that is a contradiction; they could not be produced by
a casual hit of atoms, that is an absurdity, fit rather to be
bantered than reasoned with: therefore they must have a Creator,
who can be no other than an eternal mind, infinitely wise,
powerful, and good. Thus it appears they are God's works, the
<i>works of his fingers</i> (<scripRef id="Ps.xx-p5.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.8.3" parsed="|Ps|8|3|0|0" passage="Ps 8:3">Ps. viii.
3</scripRef>), and therefore they declare his glory. From the
excellency of the work we may easily infer the infinite perfection
of its great author. From the brightness of the heavens we may
collect that the Creator is light; their vastness of extent
bespeaks his immensity, their height his transcendency and
sovereignty, their influence upon this earth his dominion, and
providence, and universal beneficence: and all declare his almighty
power, by which they were at first made, and continue to this day
according to the ordinances that were then settled.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.xx-p6">II. What are some of those things which
notify this? 1. The heavens and the firmament—the vast expanse of
air and ether, and the spheres of the planets and fixed stars. Man
has this advantage above the beasts, in the structure of his body,
that whereas they are made to look downwards, as their spirits must
go, he is made erect, to look upwards, because upwards his spirit
must shortly go and his thoughts should now rise. 2. The constant
and regular succession of day and night (<scripRef id="Ps.xx-p6.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.19.2" parsed="|Ps|19|2|0|0" passage="Ps 19:2"><i>v.</i> 2</scripRef>): <i>Day unto day, and night unto
night,</i> speak the glory of that God who first divided between
the light and the darkness, and has, from the beginning to this
day, preserved that established order without variation, according
to God's covenant with Noah (<scripRef id="Ps.xx-p6.2" osisRef="Bible:Gen.8.22" parsed="|Gen|8|22|0|0" passage="Ge 8:22">Gen. viii.
22</scripRef>), that, <i>while the earth remains, day and night
shall not cease,</i> to which covenant of providence the covenant
of grace is compared for its stability, <scripRef id="Ps.xx-p6.3" osisRef="Bible:Jer.33.20 Bible:Jer.31.35" parsed="|Jer|33|20|0|0;|Jer|31|35|0|0" passage="Jer 33:20,Jer 31:35">Jer. xxxiii. 20; xxxi. 35</scripRef>. The
counterchanging of day and night, in so exact a method, is a great
instance of the power of God, and calls us to observe that, as in
the kingdom of nature, so in that of providence, <i>he forms the
light and creates the darkness</i> (<scripRef id="Ps.xx-p6.4" osisRef="Bible:Isa.45.7" parsed="|Isa|45|7|0|0" passage="Isa 45:7">Isa. xlv. 7</scripRef>), and sets the one over-against
the other. It is likewise an instance of his goodness to man; for
he <i>makes the out-goings of the morning and evening to
rejoice,</i> <scripRef id="Ps.xx-p6.5" osisRef="Bible:Ps.65.8" parsed="|Ps|65|8|0|0" passage="Ps 65:8">Ps. lxv. 8</scripRef>. He
not only glorifies himself, but gratifies us, by this constant
revolution; for as the light of the morning befriends the business
of the day, so the shadows of the evening befriend the repose of
the night; every day and every night speak the goodness of God,
and, when they have finished their testimony, leave it to the next
day, to the next night, to stay the same. 3. The light and
influence of the sun do, in a special manner, declare the glory of
God; for of all the heavenly bodies that is the most conspicuous in
itself and most useful to this lower world, which would be all
dungeon, and all desert, without it. It is not an improbable
conjecture that David penned this psalm when he had the rising sun
in view, and from the brightness of it took occasion to declare the
glory of God. Concerning the sun observe here, (1.) The place
appointed him. In the heavens God has <i>set a tabernacle for the
sun.</i> The heavenly bodies are called <i>hosts of heaven,</i> and
therefore are fitly said to <i>dwell in tents,</i> as soldiers in
their encampments. The sun is said to have a tabernacle set him, no
only because he is in continual motion and never has a fixed
residence, but because the mansion he has will, at the end of time,
be taken down like a tent, when the heavens shall be rolled
together like a scroll and the sun shall be turned to darkness.
(2.) The course assigned him. That glorious creature was not made
to be idle, but <i>his going forth</i> (at least as it appears to
our eye) <i>is from one point of the heavens, and his circuit</i>
thence to the opposite point, and thence (to complete his diurnal
revolution) to the same point again; and this with such steadiness
and constancy that we can certainly foretel the hour and the minute
at which the sun will rise at such a place, any day to come. (3.)
The brightness wherein he appears. He is <i>as a bridegroom coming
out of his chamber,</i> richly dressed and adorned, as fine as
hands can make him, looking pleasantly himself and making all about
him pleasant; for <i>the friend of the bridegroom rejoices greatly
to hear the bridegroom's voice,</i> <scripRef id="Ps.xx-p6.6" osisRef="Bible:John.3.29" parsed="|John|3|29|0|0" passage="Joh 3:29">John iii. 29</scripRef>. (4.) The cheerfulness wherewith
he makes this tour. Though it seems a vast round which he has to
walk, and he has not a moment's rest, yet in obedience to the law
of this creation, and for the service of man, he not only does it,
but does it with a great deal of pleasure and <i>rejoices as a
strong man to run a race.</i> With such satisfaction did Christ,
the Sun of righteousness, finish the work that was given him to do.
(5.) His universal influence on this earth: <i>There is nothing
hidden from the heart thereof,</i> no, not metals in the bowels of
the earth, which the sun has an influence upon.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.xx-p7">III. To whom this declaration is made of
the glory of God. It is made to all parts of the world (<scripRef id="Ps.xx-p7.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.19.3-Ps.19.4" parsed="|Ps|19|3|19|4" passage="Ps 19:3,4"><i>v.</i> 3, 4</scripRef>): <i>There is no
speech nor language</i> (no nation, for the nations were divided
<i>after their tongues,</i> <scripRef id="Ps.xx-p7.2" osisRef="Bible:Gen.10.31-Gen.10.32" parsed="|Gen|10|31|10|32" passage="Ge 10:31,32">Gen. x.
31, 32</scripRef>) <i>where their voice is not heard. Their line
has gone through all the earth</i> (the equinoctial line, suppose)
<i>and</i> with it <i>their words to the end of the world,</i>
proclaiming the eternal power of God of nature, <scripRef id="Ps.xx-p7.3" osisRef="Bible:Ps.19.4" parsed="|Ps|19|4|0|0" passage="Ps 19:4"><i>v.</i> 4</scripRef>. The apostle uses this as a reason
why the Jews should not be angry with him and others for preaching
the gospel to the Gentiles, because God had already made himself
known to the Gentile world by the works of creation, and left not
himself without witness among them (<scripRef id="Ps.xx-p7.4" osisRef="Bible:Rom.10.18" parsed="|Rom|10|18|0|0" passage="Ro 10:18">Rom. x. 18</scripRef>), so that they were without excuse
if they were idolaters, <scripRef id="Ps.xx-p7.5" osisRef="Bible:Rom.1.20-Rom.1.21" parsed="|Rom|1|20|1|21" passage="Ro 1:20,21">Rom. i. 20,
21</scripRef>. And those were without blame, who, by preaching the
gospel to them, endeavoured to turn them from their idolatry. If
God used these means to prevent their apostasy, and they proved
ineffectual, the apostles did well to use other means to recover
them from it. <i>They have no speech or language</i> (so some read
it) <i>and yet their voice is heard.</i> All people may hear these
natural immortal preachers speak to them in their own tongue the
wonderful works of God.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.xx-p8">In singing <scripRef id="Ps.xx-p8.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.19.1-Ps.19.6" parsed="|Ps|19|1|19|6" passage="Ps 19:1-6">these verses</scripRef> we must give God the glory of
all the comfort and benefit we have by the lights of the heaven,
still looking above and beyond them to the Sun of
righteousness.</p>
</div><scripCom id="Ps.xx-p8.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.19.7-Ps.19.14" parsed="|Ps|19|7|19|14" passage="Ps 19:7-14" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Ps.19.7-Ps.19.14">
<h4 id="Ps.xx-p8.3">The Excellency of the
Scriptures.</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Ps.xx-p9">7 The law of the <span class="smallcaps" id="Ps.xx-p9.1">Lord</span> <i>is</i> perfect, converting the soul: the
testimony of the <span class="smallcaps" id="Ps.xx-p9.2">Lord</span> <i>is</i>
sure, making wise the simple.   8 The statutes of the <span class="smallcaps" id="Ps.xx-p9.3">Lord</span> <i>are</i> right, rejoicing the
heart: the commandment of the <span class="smallcaps" id="Ps.xx-p9.4">Lord</span>
<i>is</i> pure, enlightening the eyes.   9 The fear of the
<span class="smallcaps" id="Ps.xx-p9.5">Lord</span> <i>is</i> clean, enduring for
ever: the judgments of the <span class="smallcaps" id="Ps.xx-p9.6">Lord</span>
<i>are</i> true <i>and</i> righteous altogether.   10 More to
be desired <i>are they</i> than gold, yea, than much fine gold:
sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.   11 Moreover by
them is thy servant warned: <i>and</i> in keeping of them <i>there
is</i> great reward.   12 Who can understand <i>his</i>
errors? cleanse thou me from secret <i>faults.</i>   13 Keep
back thy servant also from presumptuous <i>sins;</i> let them not
have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be
innocent from the great transgression.   14 Let the words of
my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy
sight, <span class="smallcaps" id="Ps.xx-p9.7">O Lord</span>, my strength, and my
redeemer.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.xx-p10">God's glory, (that is, his goodness to man)
appears much in the works of creation, but much more in and by
divine revelation. The holy scripture, as it is a rule both of our
duty to God and of our expectation from him, is of much greater use
and benefit to us than day or night, than the air we breathe in, or
the light of the sun. The discoveries made of God by his works
might have served if man had retained his integrity; but, to
recover him out of his fallen state, another course must be taken;
that must be done by the word of God. And here,</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.xx-p11">1. The psalmist gives an account of the
excellent properties and uses of the word of God, in six sentences
(<scripRef id="Ps.xx-p11.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.19.7-Ps.19.9" parsed="|Ps|19|7|19|9" passage="Ps 19:7-9"><i>v.</i> 7-9</scripRef>), in each
of which the name <i>Jehovah</i> is repeated, and no vain
repetition, for the law has its authority and all its excellency
from the law-maker. Here are six several titles of the word of God,
to take in the whole of divine revelation, precepts and promises,
and especially the gospel. Here are several good properties of it,
which proves its divine original, which recommend it to our
affection, and which extol it above all other laws whatsoever. Here
are several good effects of the law upon the minds of men, which
show what it is designed for, what use we are to make of it, and
how wonderful the efficacy of divine grace is, going along with it,
and working by it. 1. <i>The law of the Lord is perfect.</i> It is
perfectly free from all corruption, perfectly filled with all good,
and perfectly fitted for the end for which it is designed; and it
will make the man of God perfect, <scripRef id="Ps.xx-p11.2" osisRef="Bible:2Tim.3.17" parsed="|2Tim|3|17|0|0" passage="2Ti 3:17">2
Tim. iii. 17</scripRef>. Nothing is to be added to it nor taken
from it. It is of use to <i>convert the soul,</i> to bring us back
to ourselves, to our God, to our duty; for it shows us our
sinfulness and misery in our departures from God and the
indispensable necessity of our return to him. 2. <i>The testimony
of the Lord</i> (which witnesses for him to us) <i>is sure,</i>
incontestably and inviolably sure, what we may give credit to, may
rely upon, and may be confident it will not deceive us. It is a
sure discovery of the divine truth, a sure direction in the way of
duty. It is a sure foundation of living comforts and a sure
foundation of lasting hopes. It is of use to make us wise, wise to
salvation, <scripRef id="Ps.xx-p11.3" osisRef="Bible:2Tim.3.15" parsed="|2Tim|3|15|0|0" passage="2Ti 3:15">2 Tim. iii. 15</scripRef>.
It will give us an insight into things divine and a foresight of
things to come. It will employ us in the best work and secure to us
our true interests. It will make even <i>the simple</i> (poor
contrivers as they may be for the present world) wise for their
souls and eternity. Those that are humbly simple, sensible of their
own folly and willing to be taught, shall be made wise by the word
of God, <scripRef id="Ps.xx-p11.4" osisRef="Bible:Ps.25.9" parsed="|Ps|25|9|0|0" passage="Ps 25:9">Ps. xxv. 9</scripRef>. 3.
<i>The statutes of the Lord</i> (enacted by his authority, and
binding on all wherever they come) <i>are right,</i> exactly
agreeing with the eternal rules and principles of good and evil,
that is, with the right reason of man and the right counsels of
God. All God's precepts, concerning all things, are right
(<scripRef id="Ps.xx-p11.5" osisRef="Bible:Ps.119.128" parsed="|Ps|119|128|0|0" passage="Ps 119:128">Ps. cxix. 128</scripRef>), just as
they should be; and they will set us to rights if we receive them
and submit to them; and, because they are right, they <i>rejoice
the heart.</i> The law, as we see it in the hands of Christ, gives
cause for joy; and, when it is written in our hearts, it lays a
foundation for everlasting joy, by restoring us to our right mind.
4. <i>The commandment of the Lord is pure;</i> it is clear, without
darkness; it is clean, without dross and defilement. It is itself
purified from all alloy, and is purifying to those that receive and
embrace it. It is the ordinary means which the Spirit uses in
<i>enlightening the eyes;</i> it brings us to a sight and sense of
our sin and misery, and directs us in the way of duty. 5. <i>The
fear of the Lord</i> (true religion and godliness prescribed in the
word, reigning in the heart, and practised in the life) <i>is
clean,</i> clean itself, and will make us clean (<scripRef id="Ps.xx-p11.6" osisRef="Bible:John.15.3" parsed="|John|15|3|0|0" passage="Joh 15:3">John xv. 3</scripRef>); it will cleanse our way,
<scripRef id="Ps.xx-p11.7" osisRef="Bible:Ps.119.9" parsed="|Ps|119|9|0|0" passage="Ps 119:9">Ps. cxix. 9</scripRef>. And it
<i>endureth for ever;</i> it is of perpetual obligation and can
never be repealed. The ceremonial law is long since done away, but
the law concerning the fear of God is ever the same. Time will not
alter the nature of moral good and evil. 6. <i>The judgments of the
Lord</i> (all his precepts, which are framed in infinite wisdom)
<i>are true;</i> they are grounded upon the most sacred and
unquestionable truths; they are <i>righteous,</i> all consonant to
natural equity; and they are so <i>altogether:</i> there is no
unrighteousness in any of them, but they are all of a piece.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.xx-p12">II. He expresses the great value he had for
the word of God, and the great advantage he had, and hoped to have,
from it, <scripRef id="Ps.xx-p12.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.19.10-Ps.19.11" parsed="|Ps|19|10|19|11" passage="Ps 19:10,11"><i>v.</i> 10,
11</scripRef>.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.xx-p13">1. See how highly he prized the
commandments of God. It is the character of all good people that
they prefer their religion and the word of God, (1.) Far before all
the wealth of the world. It is <i>more desirable than gold,</i>
than fine gold, <i>than much fine gold.</i> Gold is of the earth,
earthly; but grace is the image of the heavenly. Gold is only for
the body and the concerns of time; but grace is for the soul and
the concerns of eternity. (2.) Far before all pleasures and
delights of sense. The word of God, received by faith, is sweet to
the soul, <i>sweeter than honey and the honey comb.</i> The
pleasures of sense are the delight of brutes, and therefore debase
the great soul of man; the pleasures of religion are the delight of
angels, and exalt the soul. The pleasures of sense are deceitful,
will soon surfeit, and yet never satisfy; but those of religion are
substantial and satisfying, and there is no danger of exceeding in
them.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.xx-p14">2. See what use he made of the precepts of
God's word: <i>By them is thy servant warned.</i> The word of God
is a word of warning to the children of men; it warns us of the
duty we are to do, the dangers we are to avoid, and the deluge we
are to prepare for, <scripRef id="Ps.xx-p14.1" osisRef="Bible:Ezek.3.17 Bible:Ezek.33.7" parsed="|Ezek|3|17|0|0;|Ezek|33|7|0|0" passage="Eze 3:17,33:7">Ezek. iii.
17; xxxiii. 7</scripRef>. It warns the wicked not to go on in his
wicked way, and warns the righteous not to turn from his good way.
All that are indeed God's servants take this warning.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.xx-p15">3. See what advantage he promised himself
by his obedience to God's precepts: <i>In keeping them there is
great reward.</i> Those who make conscience of their duty will not
only be no losers by it, but unspeakable gainers. There is a
reward, not only after keeping, but in keeping, God's commandments,
a present great reward of obedience. Religion is health and honour;
it is peace and pleasure; it will make our comforts sweet and our
crosses easy, life truly valuable and death itself truly
desirable.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.xx-p16">III. He draws some good inferences from
this pious meditation upon the excellency of the word of God. Such
thoughts as these should excite in us devout affections, and they
are to good purpose.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.xx-p17">1. He takes occasion hence to make a
penitent reflection upon his sins; for <i>by the law is the
knowledge of sin.</i> "Is the commandment thus holy, just, and
good? Then <i>who can understand his errors?</i> I cannot, whoever
can." From the rectitude of the divine law he learns to call his
sins his <i>errors.</i> If the commandment be true and righteous,
every transgressions of the commandment is an error, as grounded
upon a mistake; every wicked practice takes rise from some corrupt
principle; it is a deviation from the rule we are to work by, the
way we are to walk in. From the extent, the strictness, and
spiritual nature, of the divine law he learns that his sins are so
many that he cannot understand the number of them, and so
exceedingly sinful that he cannot understand the heinousness and
malignity of them. We are guilty of many sins which, through our
carelessness and partiality to ourselves, we are not aware of; many
we have been guilty of which we have forgotten; so that, when we
have been ever so particular in the confession of sin, we must
conclude with an <i>et cetera—and such like;</i> for God knows a
great deal more evil of us than we do of ourselves. In many things
we all offend, and who can tell how often he offends? It is well
that we are under grace, and not under the law, else we were
undone.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.xx-p18">2. He takes occasion hence to pray against
sin. All the discoveries of sin made to us by the law should drive
us to the throne of grace, there to pray, as David does here, (1.)
For mercy to pardon. Finding himself unable to specify all the
particulars of his transgressions, he cries out, <i>Lord, cleanse
me from my secret faults;</i> not secret to God, so none are, nor
only such as were secret to the world, but such as were hidden from
his own observation of himself. The best of men have reason to
suspect themselves guilty of many secret faults, and to pray to God
to cleanse them from that guilt and not to lay it to their charge;
for even our sins of infirmity and inadvertency, and our secret
sins, would be our ruin if God should deal with us according to the
desert of them. Even secret faults are defiling, and render us
unfit for communion with God; but, when they are pardoned, we are
cleansed from them, <scripRef id="Ps.xx-p18.1" osisRef="Bible:1John.1.7" parsed="|1John|1|7|0|0" passage="1Jo 1:7">1 John i.
7</scripRef>. (2.) For grace to help in time of need. Having prayed
that his sins of infirmity might be pardoned, he prays that
presumptuous sins might be prevented, <scripRef id="Ps.xx-p18.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.19.13" parsed="|Ps|19|13|0|0" passage="Ps 19:13"><i>v.</i> 13</scripRef>. All that truly repent of their
sins, and have them pardoned, are in care not to relapse into sin,
nor to return again to folly, as appears by their prayers, which
concur with David's here, where observe, [1.] His petition: "Keep
me from ever being guilty of a wilful presumptuous sin." We ought
to pray that we may be kept from sins of infirmity, but especially
from presumptuous sins, which most offend God and wound conscience,
which wither our comforts and shock our hopes. "However, let none
such <i>have dominion over me,</i> let me not be at the command of
any such sin, nor be enslaved by it." [2.] His plea: "<i>So shall I
be upright;</i> I shall appear upright; I shall preserve the
evidence and comfort of my uprightness; and I <i>shall be innocent
from the great transgression;</i>" so he calls a presumptuous sin,
because no sacrifice was accepted for it, <scripRef id="Ps.xx-p18.3" osisRef="Bible:Num.15.28-Num.15.30" parsed="|Num|15|28|15|30" passage="Nu 15:28-30">Num. xv. 28-30</scripRef>. Note, <i>First,</i>
Presumptuous sins are very heinous and dangerous. Those that sin
against the habitual convictions and actual admonitions of their
consciences, in contempt and defiance of the law and its sanctions,
that sin with a high hand, sin presumptuously, and it is a great
transgression. <i>Secondly,</i> Even good men ought to be jealous
of themselves, and afraid of sinning presumptuously, yea, though
through the grace of God they have hitherto been kept from them.
Let none be high-minded, but fear. <i>Thirdly,</i> Being so much
exposed, we have great need to pray to God, when we are pushing
forward towards a presumptuous sin, to keep us back from it, either
by his providence preventing the temptation or by his grace giving
us victory over it.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.xx-p19">3. He takes occasion humbly to beg the
divine acceptance of those his pious thoughts and affections,
<scripRef id="Ps.xx-p19.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.19.14" parsed="|Ps|19|14|0|0" passage="Ps 19:14"><i>v.</i> 14</scripRef>. Observe the
connexion of this with what goes before. He prays to God to keep
him from sin, and then begs he would accept his performances; for,
if we favour our sins, we cannot expect God should favour us or our
services, <scripRef id="Ps.xx-p19.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.66.18" parsed="|Ps|66|18|0|0" passage="Ps 66:18">Ps. lxvi. 18</scripRef>.
Observe, (1.) What his services were—the <i>words of his mouth and
the meditations of his heart,</i> his holy affections offered up to
God. The pious meditations of the heart must not be smothered, but
expressed in the words of our mouth, for God's glory and the
edification of others; and the words of our mouth in prayer and
praise must not be formal, but arising from the meditation of the
heart, <scripRef id="Ps.xx-p19.3" osisRef="Bible:Ps.45.1" parsed="|Ps|45|1|0|0" passage="Ps 45:1">Ps. xlv. 1</scripRef>. (2.) What
was his care concerning these services—that they might be
acceptable with God; for, if our services be not acceptable to God,
what do they avail us? Gracious souls must have all they aim at if
they be accepted of God, for that is their bliss. (3.) What
encouragement he had to hope for this, because God was his strength
and his redeemer. If we seek assistance from God as our strength in
our religious duties, we may hope to find acceptance with God in
the discharge of our duties; for by his strength we have power with
him.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.xx-p20">In singing this we should get our hearts
much affected with the excellency of the word of God and delivered
into it, we should be much affected with the evil of sin, the
danger we are in of it and the danger we are in by it, and we
should fetch in help from heaven against it.</p>
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